Electric Fan Setup????
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 326
Likes: 19
From: Napa CA
Electric Fan Setup????
I am currently running a Fastburn 385 in my 4-speed 69 convertible. For cooling I have a BeCool radiater and a dual spal fan setup.
I have something wired wrong as the fans are not shutting off and are draining the battery (it’s hard to look cool when you need a jump start!).
I would like the fans to come on a certain water temp, but then run for about five minutes after the engine is shut down.
Any help or suggestions?
Thanks,
Eric.
I have something wired wrong as the fans are not shutting off and are draining the battery (it’s hard to look cool when you need a jump start!).
I would like the fans to come on a certain water temp, but then run for about five minutes after the engine is shut down.
Any help or suggestions?
Thanks,
Eric.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: Electric Fan Setup???? (EricU)
I don't know much about the Spals, but my Flex-a-Lites came with an adjustable thermostat and A/C relay. Was there anything included with your fans to sense temp and adjust for it ? Maybe it's an option with the Spals :confused:
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 11
From: Schaumburg IL
Re: Electric Fan Setup???? (SmokedTires)
I think DeWitts have the "kit" for wiring with the relay and temp probe. If not, go to a Pep Boys and get a Hayden temp sensor setup for $35. Includes the harness, relay and temp probe. Bought one and it works fine.
On yours, make sure the wire for the fan turnon is not directly to battery or it will not shut off. There has to be wire from a ignition switched tap to get shut down when you turn the car off.
On yours, make sure the wire for the fan turnon is not directly to battery or it will not shut off. There has to be wire from a ignition switched tap to get shut down when you turn the car off.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,662
Likes: 7
From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Electric Fan Setup???? (EricU)
I don't know how your setup is wired, but on my setup that I got from DeWitt's, there is an orange wire that is supposed to be put to a switched 12V source. If it is hooked to a constant (unswitched) 12v it will run the fans untill the temperature drops below the cut off point of the thermo-sensor. If the sensor is located in the head or intake manifold it could take quite a while for the temp to drop below the cutoff point, probably long enough to drain your battery.
If you want the fans to run for 5 minutes or so, after you shut the engine off, then you'll have to rig up some sort of timer circuit to kill power to the relay.
If you want the fans to run for 5 minutes or so, after you shut the engine off, then you'll have to rig up some sort of timer circuit to kill power to the relay.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 11
From: Schaumburg IL
Re: Electric Fan Setup???? (Smokehouse69)
I would call DeWitts and talk to them about the wiring and timer. You need switched line (orange?). As far as hooking to a sensor, yes it will run for a long time after shutdown. The temp in the block goes to over 220 when you shut down and will take a long time to drop. Remeber there is not real flow at this point so all have is cooling the radiator and the water changing temp with the block.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 326
Likes: 19
From: Napa CA
Re: Electric Fan Setup????
Thanks guys,
I do have the temp switch and the relay, sounds like I did not wire it to a switched side of the ignition.
Does anyone know of a timer style relay that I could use to keep the fans running for a short time after the ignition is turned off?
Thanks,
Eric.
I do have the temp switch and the relay, sounds like I did not wire it to a switched side of the ignition.
Does anyone know of a timer style relay that I could use to keep the fans running for a short time after the ignition is turned off?
Thanks,
Eric.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,593
Likes: 631
From: Brighton
Re: Electric Fan Setup???? (EricU)
check out the thread below, there is a lot of fan info. As far as running for five minutes after key off, that would take a timer. I don't know why you want to do that because nothing is flowing through the radiator. You're not going to cool the engine, just the fluid in the rad. There is a wire in the spal harness that can be connected to the ignition or battery depending on how you want the system to operate. Sounds like yours is running to the battery. Find an ignition source and run it there, then the fans will shut off right away, the engine will cool down shortly after. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=617997
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,360
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From: Plano TX
Re: Electric Fan Setup???? (BigBadOrange)
Thats actually an interesting idea. I wonder why a lot of new cars do that ?(electric fans stay on after the ignition was turned off)