yet another electric fan topic...

yet another electric fan topic... - 09/03/10 12:44 AM

After reading the Mercedes fan threads it got me all excited and I decided I wanna run an electric fan in the truck. However the Mercedes swap is a tad outta reach for me at the moment, and I opted to use the Taurus fan instead. I think the Mercedes fan is overkill for my mild-mannered small block, and I can pick up the Taurus fan for around 30 bucks....has anybody else used the Taurus fan? I want to utilize the two speed capability too. Know of a suitable switch? I've heard VW may have a suitable one...seems like a viable option for us poor folks

Posted By: Pat_Whalen

Re: yet another electric fan topic... - 09/03/10 12:46 AM

Quote:

After reading the Mercedes fan threads it got me all excited and I decided I wanna run an electric fan in the truck. However the Mercedes swap is a tad outta reach for me at the moment, and I opted to use the Taurus fan instead. I think the Mercedes fan is overkill for my mild-mannered small block, and I can pick up the Taurus fan for around 30 bucks....has anybody else used the Taurus fan? I want to utilize the two speed capability too. Know of a suitable switch? I've heard VW may have a suitable one...seems like a viable option for us poor folks

Give me just a second and I'll post some pictures of my two speed Taurus fan install on my 80 Ramcharger.

Posted By: '84 D150 Shorty

Re: yet another electric fan topic... - 09/03/10 12:50 AM

You da man good sir

Posted By: Pat_Whalen

Re: yet another electric fan topic... - 09/03/10 01:02 AM

Here is the size of the fan compared to the radiator. This is the reason I'm heavily considering the MB fan. A large percentage of the radiator (specifically under the inlet) is not covered by the shroud and hence isn't cooled by the fan. Big bummer.

Here are the low and high speed relays. Taken from a Chrysler Concorde, they are 40 and 70 amp, respectively.

And here is the small Hayden controller. Not the best controller in the world, can only do single speed, but it is effective, and I will eventually be using a homemade PWM controller in conjuction with my Megasquirt ECU to control my fan.

Without spending a boat load on a dual speed controller, this is the next best option. I have the two speed relays wired in such a fashion that the fan never receives voltage on both legs (low and hi) which is a must, or you'll get to see just how much smoke they put in these things at the factory.

I have a small switch on the underside of my dash that is used as a selector. It normally sits in the Low setting, and when the temperature probe of the fan controller hits 180, the fan kicks on low. If for some reason I notice the temp continue to climb (haven't yet), I hit the switch, it kicks off the low speed relay and on the high speed relay.

I've also got this wired to constant power, so when I park the truck and get out, it continues cooling the radiator down until the temp probe says to stop. Nice little feature that you'll notice newer vehicles have.

Shoot any questions you have

Posted By: Azzkikrcuda

Re: yet another electric fan topic... - 09/03/10 04:55 AM

I have been running this fan on my car for 4 years. I use a Spal PWM fan controller wired to the high side and a 40 Amp fuse. http://www.spal-usa.com/fans/automated/accessories/fanpwm.html

Attached picture 6175051-033.JPG

Posted By: '84 D150 Shorty

Re: yet another electric fan topic... - 09/04/10 05:04 AM

Ok thanks for the installed pics guys! Looks good! So, I have found a way to tech it up a notch. By using a VW 2 stage switch and a Volvo fan relay switch, I believe it will be possible to use BOTH speeds on the fan, and have it all be AUTOMATIC! I am still hammering out the details, but I am positive this will work. A LOT of this info comes from a fella that did this on an RX7. Pretty cool. I will be posting pics and part info as well as proposed wiring diagrams and suggested part placement...stay tuned

Posted By: '84 D150 Shorty

Re: yet another electric fan topic... - 09/04/10 06:51 PM

Here is the Volvo relay I'll be using. My local pullapart has a couple Volvos that meet my criteria, so maybe ill get lucky. If not, its a dealer item...

Posted By: Pat_Whalen

Re: yet another electric fan topic... - 09/04/10 10:24 PM

Quote:

Ok thanks for the installed pics guys! Looks good! So, I have found a way to tech it up a notch. By using a VW 2 stage switch and a Volvo fan relay switch, I believe it will be possible to use BOTH speeds on the fan, and have it all be AUTOMATIC! I am still hammering out the details, but I am positive this will work. A LOT of this info comes from a fella that did this on an RX7. Pretty cool. I will be posting pics and part info as well as proposed wiring diagrams and suggested part placement...stay tuned

Saw that write-up while I was cruising the net in anticipation of doing my e-fan add. Never got around to following up on it though. Did sound feasible but I just threw it in there to get the truck running and test-able. Like I said earlier, most all of the pieces of my install will be coming out in favor of the larger, properly sized MB fan, a PWM controller, and megasquirt ECU to do all the thinking.

*EDIT*- Not sure why you think you'd have to use a VW 2 stage switch in order to make this work. The Volvo relay(s) will do everything you want it to do. The only other thing I'd consider is that if you're not going to want to fan on constant, you use an ignition-switched relay to feed the Volvo control unit. The Volvo setup is essentially the same thing as the two relays I've got setup in the above picture, with the exception of me using a switch to change to high speed as opposed to using a second thermal switch to kick on high. Could easily pull that switch out, put in a second, higher thermal switch and have that setup. I guess it just depends on which is cheaper to you, the volvo setup or the chrysler concord setup.

Posted By: '84 D150 Shorty

Re: yet another electric fan topic... - 09/05/10 04:33 PM

The reason I am gonna use this setup is for hands free automation. 1st stage on the VW switch activates the low speed on the fan, 2nd stage activates the high speed. This particular switch was designed to run TWO fans though, so when high kicks in, low is till active. This would detroy the fan motor if wired with traditional relays. That where the Volvo relay comes in. When low I triggered, it turns the fan on low peed. When high is truggered, even though low I still active at the VW switch, it SWITCHES inside the Volvo relay to high side only, effective acting as a 2 speed controller. This means that I don't have to manually hit a switch to toggle high or low on the fan, giving me a cooling fan sytem that operates like it would in factory designed system

Posted By: '84 D150 Shorty

Re: yet another electric fan topic... - 09/05/10 04:39 PM

I am going to feed the Volvo relay via a suitable relay. I like your idea of giving it a contant hot so it can continue to cool off after shutdown, like the factory does in newer cars

Posted By: Andrewh

Re: yet another electric fan topic... - 09/05/10 05:40 PM

I recommend you don't do that.
At least for me, I do mostly short trips around town, and found that killed my battery.
Unless you put some sort of timer on it to shut it off.

Posted By: Pat_Whalen

Re: yet another electric fan topic... - 09/05/10 07:20 PM

Quote:

The reason I am gonna use this setup is for hands free automation. 1st stage on the VW switch activates the low speed on the fan, 2nd stage activates the high speed. This particular switch was designed to run TWO fans though, so when high kicks in, low is till active. This would detroy the fan motor if wired with traditional relays. That where the Volvo relay comes in. When low I triggered, it turns the fan on low peed. When high is truggered, even though low I still active at the VW switch, it SWITCHES inside the Volvo relay to high side only, effective acting as a 2 speed controller. This means that I don't have to manually hit a switch to toggle high or low on the fan, giving me a cooling fan sytem that operates like it would in factory designed system

The Volvo "box" is just two standard relays inside that are wired in such way that when hi is active, low is deactive. That is easily accomplished with two standard relays and wiring them together so they perform the same task.

With the VW switch, you'll have to make sure if thermal contact 1 is activated (say at 180) and then thermal contact 2 is activated (say at 220), it doesn't unground contact 1, or it won't work with the Volvo relay block. You can still use the volvo block for hands-free operation of both speeds, and just install two thermal sensors in the engine.