Question for electrical engineers
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA
Question for electrical engineers
I just finished installing a dual electric fan set-up and had a question regarding wiring. I wired the fans directly from the starter where the battery lead goes in as some had suggested. They worked fine but the alternator showed an overcharge somewhere around 17 volts. I rewired them to the alternator and again they work fine and now the alternator is back to normal. Problem solved. My question is why did this happen? :confused:
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,665
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From: Twin Cities Minnesota
Re: Question for electrical engineers (R. Bruno)
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA
Re: Question for electrical engineers (427V8)
Wow- that is a great site but I will have to find some time to read it. From a cursory reading it seems that the current draw at the starter increased the needs beyond what the battery could handle so the alternator, sensing this was fooled into increasing the current flow back to the battery trying to make up for the draw but it never would because of where the current was being drawn from - between the starter and the alternator. At the alternator, the current is being produced for all the needs of the car so it will produce enough voltage to run the fans and other accessories as needed. Am I at least warm?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Question for electrical engineers (R. Bruno)
Wasn't it me that told you on another thread about this to switch your wiring around, pulling the fans current off the main alt stud directly???
I remember posting that, but not to whom.....
GENE
I remember posting that, but not to whom.....
GENE
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA
Re: Question for electrical engineers (mrvette)
Mrvette. I asked this question about wiring earlier but just got to getting it done. I got differing answers when I asked; some said off main battery cable others said off alt. If you were of the alt. stud crowd, you were (are)correct. :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Question for electrical engineers (R. Bruno)
At the time I replied, I was one of the earlier guys to suggest using the alt stud directly....that the battery/starter post was incorrect....
that site posted here earlier is a good one, but there is one slight technical error of little consequence, unless you are doing a custom car....
otherwise no bother....
GENE
that site posted here earlier is a good one, but there is one slight technical error of little consequence, unless you are doing a custom car....
otherwise no bother....
GENE
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA
Re: Question for electrical engineers (mrvette)
Mrvette- The Forum is great it is sometimes difficult to know who to listen to when getting advice. Maybe we all need to post resumes. Nice to know I now have it right. Hopefully, this will be the end of my wiring work.Thanks again for the help.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 845
Likes: 0
From: Ventura Harbor CA California
Re: Question for electrical engineers (R. Bruno)
All you are doing by running of the alternator post is putting a wire where it can be seen and a band-aid on the system. I would suggest you abandon and seal the 10 ga wire with the 12ga fusable link at the alternator and starter and tape into the loom. Then run an 8 ga to the horn relay and an 8 ga from the relay to a 60 amp breaker to the starter. I have (through relays) a Painless hot start, the fans, MSD, Jacobs MM,stutter box and the nitrous solinoids all running off the starter post with no over charging problems.
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