Electric fan controller wiring with relay?

paczowski123 · Dec 18, 2012

I'm going to be starting on my electric contour fan upgrade here shortly and I wi be using a fan controller and a relay but I'm a little confused on how the wiring will work using the controller and the relays. Does anyone have access to well described write up of where to wire in the relays in relation to the controller and fan etc? I'm assuming since the fans pull so much curren they cannot be ran directly off the controller And would need to trigger a relay using the controller but I cannot think of how I would do this? Would I just wire the relays into the signal wire off the controller that would normally go to the fans etc? Any help or diagrams would be greatly appreciated!

MikeH686 · Dec 19, 2012

You would wire the controller in series with the signal or trigger wire that powers the relay that sends power to the fan... make sense?

paczowski123 · Dec 19, 2012

Yes I'm just trying to picture how I'd do that. In the diagram in this link I'm assuming its go in series with the red and black wire that go to the fan:
http://www.gearheaddiva.com/3031/how-to-wire-your-electric-fan-controller/

But what would I connect the other three prongs to on the relay? That's where I get confused it what all the prongs on the relay would connect to.

MFE92 · Dec 19, 2012

If you're using the controller explained in those instructions, you don't need a relay at all. The controller serves as the relay.

That said, if you're using another setup that does require a relay, the "Bosch style" relay terminals are universally consistent. Terminals 85 and 86 are your low-current inputs, the ones from the switch you're using to control the circuit. It really doesn't matter which one you treat as positive and which one you treat as negative. Terminal 30 is your high-current input, the one that will actually power the device you're switching, usually Battery Positive. Terminal 87 is what you connect to the device you want to power. So, when you (or the temp sensor) flip the switch, 85 and 86 get current, which energizes the relay and closes the circuit between 30 and 87, and your device comes on.

paczowski123 · Dec 19, 2012

So would a controller such as that one or the one I'm looking at is the FAL variable speed one that has soft start not need a relay? Don't the fans for te Taurus or contour pull a lot more than 30amps which is what most of those are rated for?

MFE92 · Dec 19, 2012

No, the FAL VSC does not need a relay, and its soft-start feature wouldn't work through a relay anyway. It works by pulse-width modulation, so it's sending short bursts of power for a second or two until it sends full power. That's no way to run a relay. FWIW I run one with a Contour fan with no trouble at all.

paczowski123 · Dec 19, 2012

Oh we'll then that takes away much of my confusion then. Thanks for all the help! I will venturing to the local pull a part here in a few minutes to try and track a fan and a 3G down. Hopefully I'm in luck!

paczowski123 · Dec 19, 2012

Im assuming the controller your using is the FAL 31165 which used the soft start and to 60-100% cycle? Was it fairly easy to set up and get functioning properly?

paczowski123 · Dec 19, 2012

Success!!Scored what looks to be a almost new replacement remanned 3G from a 96 tortise 3.0 and my cooling fans from a contour in great shape! Even checked the part # from autozone and it is indeed a 130 amp! now just got to order the controller and my radiator and ill be ready to install!!

View attachment 137639

MFE92 · Dec 19, 2012

I'm using the 33054 which is the controller in the 33165 kit. Or something. Same controller. Yes, it's pretty easy to set up.

http://forums.corral.net/forums/articles/898470-installing-taurus-fan-vsc-5-0-a.html
http://forums.corral.net/forums/gen...01-taurus-fan-flex-lite-33054-vsc-how-do.html

paczowski123 · Dec 19, 2012

Well it seems I will be going back to the yard again in the next day or so. I tested the fans once home jumpers from a spare battery I had laying around and only one fan came on. Luckily I bought the 3.00 39 day warranty. Unless I'm missing something and one of the fans won't work when connected straight from battery + and - or has to run off the other fan being connected than the larger of the two fans in my setup does not work

adumb · Jun 2, 2015

Good info in this thread. I was having a little confusion about using a relay with the vsc but the explanation makes sense why I don't need one.

Does it matter if you put the power and ground wires directly to the battery? I have my power to the hot side of the solenoid and my ground to the frame behind the battery

jrichker · Jun 2, 2015

MFE92 said:
No, the FAL VSC does not need a relay, and its soft-start feature wouldn't work through a relay anyway. It works by pulse-width modulation, so it's sending short bursts of power for a second or two until it sends full power. That's no way to run a relay. FWIW I run one with a Contour fan with no trouble at all.

For those of you not familiar with the term pulse width modulation, here's an explanation

Electric fan controller wiring with relay?

paczowski123

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Mine is only two inches though.

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Electric fan controller wiring with relay?

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Mine is only two inches though.

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