electric fan, tarus fan, fan, tech

[ItsaCJ6]

Ok I used the funny tittle so it comes up on search....ya I know.

Any who here is the tech.. I picked up a 12 volt 30 amp continuous duty relay from Radio Shack for 8 bucks and change.

I have not hooked it in to my Fan yet, but the price was right.

[preach]

How about a part #?

[JeepCrawler98]

I think the fan at running draw is 30amps exactly - so you'd be cutting it exactly at the rated running capacity of the relay. On startup it draws almost 100amps - but that shouldnt be a problem cuz it wont be more than a few seconds.

Either way - let us know how it works out

[Damage, Inc.]

Yeah, it *will* be a problem. 'A couple of seconds' is a fricking lifetime in the electrical world. It'll probably work for awhile, but will fail you eventually, likely when you most need it.

[bigjeepguy]

Besides, at most napa/schucks etc, I think you can get a thirty amp one for less than $8.00

I think it draws over thirty amps for a "substantial" amount of time, especially after what damage said. I base this on the fact that when I turn my Taurus fan on, with my stock alternator (don't have the cash to change it yet), the headlights go really dim for about 3 seconds, and then slowly go back up (correlating with how much power the fan is using). I would think it would be a better idea to use that relay for the low output, and a bigger relay for the high output.

Anyway, are you going to run a thermostat at all? Are you going to use both outputs, or just one?

BTW the title is very much appreciated for those of us newbies that tend to search every once in a while.

[JeepCrawler98]

Well then - I guess I'm glad I'm running a continuous duty 85amp relay on mine (Napa ST85 - Continuous Duty Glow Plug Relay, also listed for use in Golf Carts) Keep in mind though too that the "rated" current draw for a relay is usually a few amps below what it can really handle. Unless you get the way cheapy made in china junk that falls apart as soon as you touch it. But for 8 bucks I hope you got something better than that.

[Balsax]

I tried a 30A and it didn't take long to fry! Like it was already said, the fan draws 30A after it's up to speed...It takes a heckofalot more just to start it!!! Get something like JeepCrawler98 is talking about. It will be cheaper in the long run and save you tons of grief!

[TJP]

ttt

[TJP]

ttt

[ItsaCJ6]

Good info... I am going to use the relay anyway and see what happens, since I purchased for another 8 bucks a 30 amp mini circut breaker and I already have a fuse holder. I have been runing my fan with just a switch and a fuse holder ,no problems so far with the 30 amp fuse. So I want to see how it works... using the relay

The main reason I doing this, since the switch has been working, is that I am rewiring this area for another reason and I am using Number 8 wire for the fan and wanted to ad somemore protection (fire is bad)


I'll get ya the part number Preach

[ItsaCJ6]

Originally posted by preach
How about a part #?

Here ya go.

275-226

[megolfer]

I just wired up my tauras with the starter relays first and it fried them. I went and got the ST85 from Napa and it works great. Ya it was $40, but know I wont be worried about it failing.

[thenodnarb]

why not use a solenoid?

[JeepCrawler98]

Sure that could work - but you need to make sure its a continuous duty, or 100% duty cycle, solenoid. Your average gasoline engine starter solenoid will not like being turned "on" for long periods of time.

[doctor_G]

I'm using a Bosch 75A for my Mark VIII fan. P/N 0-332-002-156, cost was around $20.

[HybridPOS]

I use a Bosch 75 amp, your fan will pull 33amp continuous, get something for twice the price and you wont have to replace it or have to worry about it on the trail.
Only makes sense to me....

[bigcamojeep]

Well these aren't cheap upgrades, but this is where my money goes. The permacool fans move 2950 cfm and draws only 9.9 amps. Flex-lite fans don't have the same cfm rating and generally draw 19.9 amps. I used a Perma cool on my built 305 in my YJ and never had a cooling problem. As far as power goes, 8 gauge wire is plenty big enough, and a 30 amp relay should be plenty. but remember to ground DIRECTLY to the battery, not the body.

Personally, I like Centech's fan controller. It's got the 30 amp relay inside, and it's got an electric sensor, not the leaky radiator hose probe.

http://www.centechwire.com/catalog/cooling/fc2p.shtml approx. $75

http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...14&prmenbr=361 approx $85

[thenodnarb]

Originally Posted by JeepCrawler98

Sure that could work - but you need to make sure its a continuous duty, or 100% duty cycle, solenoid. Your average gasoline engine starter solenoid will not like being turned "on" for long periods of time.

explain "don't like"
not saying your wrong, but what factors lead to a solenoid not "liking" the cycle length.

I understand a relay. the contacts can overheat and "fry" on lesser duty relays. it is my understanding that solenoids pull a large pin to connect the working circut. the only thing I can imagine wearing out and overheating are the windings that conrol the pin. so please explain

[LilRocky]

You're on the right track.
Little details like resistance and heat come into play.

[HybridPOS]

A solenoid is a coil of insulated or enameled wire wound on a rod-shaped form made of solid iron, solid steel, or powdered iron. Devices of this kind can be used as electromagnets, as inductors in electronic circuits, and as miniature wireless receiving antennas.

In a solenoid, the core material is ferromagnetic, meaning that it concentrates magnetic lines of flux. This increases the inductance of the coil far beyond the inductance obtainable with an air-core coil of the same dimensions and the same number of turns. When current flows in the coil, most of the resulting magnetic flux exists within the core material. Some flux appears outside the coil near the ends of the core; a small amount of flux also appears outside the coil and off to the side

[JeepCrawler98]

Originally Posted by thenodnarb

explain "don't like"
not saying your wrong, but what factors lead to a solenoid not "liking" the cycle length.

I understand a relay. the contacts can overheat and "fry" on lesser duty relays. it is my understanding that solenoids pull a large pin to connect the working circut. the only thing I can imagine wearing out and overheating are the windings that conrol the pin. so please explain

That's exactly it - unless you get the proper solenoid of course.

[Recurve]

What's the deal with the relay that the Taurus uses? Is it mucho dinero? Anyone tried to snag one when they got their fan?

[ItsaCJ6]

Got the radio shack relay hooked up today........All is good. I am still using the switch instead of a temp sensor. Amp draw on high was only 28 using my meter and inrush was not a problem I put in smaller fuses to determine the inrush threshold and It pops 15's but not 20's so I am running with it...will see how it does in the long term..

[guinea13]

I went to AutoZone and asked for a 75amp relay. I even gave them the part # for the bosch. They had no clue. They sold me a Ford taurus fan relay. Is there a reason that now one is using a stock ford taurus fan relay? It was only $10.

[HybridPOS]

it was only $10? What is it rated at? Does the Taurus Fan controller take up some of the heat on the amperage?