Spal installation
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 91
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From: London, UK
Spal installation
Hi All,
I'm almost ready to install my new Dual Spal setup (fans, controller, relay harness) and alternator. Have all my bits except heavy gauge wiring for new uprated alternator.
I have a question about the spal controller though. I have read many posts about how "reliable" these are. Can anyone tell me if I run a manual switched +12v to the blue (air con) wire will this run both fans in override mode if any thing happens to the controller? I do not have a/c so I will have this wire spare.
Also being in the UK, now I have bought the parts I am kind of stuck with them. I am just looking for a way to turn the fans on in an emergency in case the controller fails on me.
Any help much appreciated
I'm almost ready to install my new Dual Spal setup (fans, controller, relay harness) and alternator. Have all my bits except heavy gauge wiring for new uprated alternator.
I have a question about the spal controller though. I have read many posts about how "reliable" these are. Can anyone tell me if I run a manual switched +12v to the blue (air con) wire will this run both fans in override mode if any thing happens to the controller? I do not have a/c so I will have this wire spare.
Also being in the UK, now I have bought the parts I am kind of stuck with them. I am just looking for a way to turn the fans on in an emergency in case the controller fails on me.
Any help much appreciated
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 290
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From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
I just finished installing a single 16". The controller wasn't working consistantly so i routed in a switch for the times it doesn't want to turn on by itself. Works good, but i just bybassed the controller with the switch.
T
T
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: London, UK
Did you bypass the controller with the blue (a/c) wire or did you use another method?
Thanks
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 290
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From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
I just grabbed a new peice of wire and switch and built my own bypass. Put the switch down under the steering wheel by the vacuum override for the headlights since there was a perfect sized hole there. I made the switch always hot, so i could run it with the car off just in case.
T
T
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 1
From: AL
Wiring up the blue wire and using the A/C control will "manually" turn on both fans whether or not the A/C works. This is how mine works right now (A/C not working). The 64 $$$ question: will this work if/when the controller fails - dunno. it might, but don't bet the vette on it . . .
better to plan ahead with your wiring harness to make swapping to the manual and thermostatic switch(es) easier when needed.
better to plan ahead with your wiring harness to make swapping to the manual and thermostatic switch(es) easier when needed.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 91
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From: London, UK
After studying the spal wiring diagrams I have thought about wiring a manually switched +12v (from inside the car) to the grey wire of the relay harness. My electrical skills are "not bad" but they are not brilliant either!
I am assuming by wiring in this way that if the switch is flipped it will activate the relay and switch on fan no. 2 to full power. Also I am assuming that if the controller craps out fan no. 2 will still work this way (assuming the relay doesn't fail as well!)
Is my thinking right?
I am assuming by wiring in this way that if the switch is flipped it will activate the relay and switch on fan no. 2 to full power. Also I am assuming that if the controller craps out fan no. 2 will still work this way (assuming the relay doesn't fail as well!)
Is my thinking right?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
I would find a parts house relay, put the heavy duty contacts from the alt output, direct, to the fans....then take one side of the relay coil to ground, the other to the a/c comressor clutch power lead...blue/green whatever....my car it looked green to me I have a '72.....
this way when you hit the a/c the fans turn on, controller be damned...
this way when you hit the a/c the fans turn on, controller be damned...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
With Gene, if your going to keep the Spall controller. They have some reliablility problems so I would lose it and o with a DCC unit. Connecting the relay as Gene suggests would give you a backup if the controller takes a dump
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 91
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From: London, UK
I would find a parts house relay, put the heavy duty contacts from the alt output, direct, to the fans....then take one side of the relay coil to ground, the other to the a/c comressor clutch power lead...blue/green whatever....my car it looked green to me I have a '72.....
this way when you hit the a/c the fans turn on, controller be damned...
this way when you hit the a/c the fans turn on, controller be damned...
my 79 has no a/c. The blue wire I was talking about earlier was the a/c control from the spal controller. Using this wire looks as though it will not have the bypass effect that I am looking for. Thanks for your help though
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 1
From: AL
tried to find other post with links to the dcc site but couldn't find; my attempt:
http://www.dccontrol.com/
http://www.dccontrol.com/componentsR1.htm
http://www.dccontrol.com/1.5ks.htm
http://www.dccontrol.com/15-ex.htm
the online instructions say to bring the power wire from the battery; they also have a filter that they recommend.
i don't have the spal instructions handy, but i don't recall these recommendations. i wonder if this could be the cause or contributor to short lived spal controllers?
http://www.dccontrol.com/
http://www.dccontrol.com/componentsR1.htm
http://www.dccontrol.com/1.5ks.htm
http://www.dccontrol.com/15-ex.htm
the online instructions say to bring the power wire from the battery; they also have a filter that they recommend.
i don't have the spal instructions handy, but i don't recall these recommendations. i wonder if this could be the cause or contributor to short lived spal controllers?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 91
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From: London, UK
sorry guys looks like I have it all wrong! I am looking to wire everything as bottom diagram on page 12, and in addition run a switched GROUND (not +12v) to the grey wire on the relay so that I can manually control the relay in addition to the controller running it. Will this work?
http://www.spalusa.com/fans/automate...ts/FAN-PWM.pdf
http://www.spalusa.com/fans/automate...ts/FAN-PWM.pdf
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 1
From: AL
looks like that would only turn on the second fan - might work like you want but not sure.
ir you run the blue wire through a switch to 12V, both fans will go to 100%.
either way, your relying on the controller. i've started making a wiring harness that i can carry with me to bypass the controller entirely just to get me home.
ir you run the blue wire through a switch to 12V, both fans will go to 100%.
either way, your relying on the controller. i've started making a wiring harness that i can carry with me to bypass the controller entirely just to get me home.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: London, UK
looks like that would only turn on the second fan - might work like you want but not sure.
ir you run the blue wire through a switch to 12V, both fans will go to 100%.
either way, your relying on the controller. i've started making a wiring harness that i can carry with me to bypass the controller entirely just to get me home.
ir you run the blue wire through a switch to 12V, both fans will go to 100%.
either way, your relying on the controller. i've started making a wiring harness that i can carry with me to bypass the controller entirely just to get me home.