Manual fan switch
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
From: Gig Harbor WA
Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
Rich, GM already has it wired up to disable the fans over about 35 mph. So yeah, they only come on when it's hot and has no airflow.
I'm a bit old school, here. I think the definition of Carbon Based Life Form includes staying between the freezing and boiling points of water. I get uncomfortable when the temperature gauge is rolling up towards 212° F.
I've heard all the spiels about oil not lubricating at 180° F, economy increasing, emissions decreasing, et cetera, et cetera. My personal perference is to keep a water-cooled engine (okay, so there's some ethylene glycol in there, too) around 180 - 190° F coolant and oil temperatures. Gives you just that little bit extra margin when things get tough.
To each his own, though. The OP asked for opinions of a manual fan switch. Limiting us to that subject, I think that an automatic, airflow-triggered fan switch is to be preferred over the manual for the reasons I have previously stated - cost, ease of installation and automatic operation.
Rich
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
From: Gig Harbor WA
Well, I picked up a microswitch and am experimenting with the size of paddle needed for airflow to shut off the fan. I have concluded that the paddle can't be mounted behind the fan itself, otherwise when the fan turns on, it would blow on the paddle and turn itself off.
On, off, on off, on, offonoffonoffonoff. Doh!
So far it looks like the spring on the switch is going to either take a large paddle or I'll have to rig it up so the weight of the paddle tends to overcome the spring. Right now I have a cat food can taped on the switch to catch the breeze.
Details and pictures as the project progresses. This may take years.
Rich
On, off, on off, on, offonoffonoffonoff. Doh!
So far it looks like the spring on the switch is going to either take a large paddle or I'll have to rig it up so the weight of the paddle tends to overcome the spring. Right now I have a cat food can taped on the switch to catch the breeze.
Details and pictures as the project progresses. This may take years.
Rich
