ELECTRIC FAN ON TOGGLE SWITCH

CONCRETEWARFARE · Aug 5, 2007

Ive searched alot and cannot find a deffinate answer really. I have the 3.8 taurus fan and I want it hooked up to a toggle switch. This is a track only car so im not worried about forgetting to turn it on while in traffic or what not. My question is how do I do this without starting a fire. Everything I read says what didnt work for people. What will work? THANKS.

fastranger347 · Aug 5, 2007

run a wire from your battery to a fuse holder with a 40 amp fuse then run the wire to a toggle switch that is rated for at least 30 amps then run that wire to the 2nd speed on the fan and make sure to use a minimum of a 10 gauge wire, 8 guage would be better if you can get it

Fett · Aug 5, 2007

Taurus fans have a nasty spike when they initially come on, especially if you use the high side of the fan. You might want to use a 70 amp fuse, and use a maxi-fuse not a normal fuse. I melted one of those, and I have a 70 amp relay that powers the fan.

Mustang5L5 · Aug 5, 2007

Use the toggle switch to activate the switching leg of a Bosch 75amp relay.

That's how i do mine.

Use 10G wiring off the POS side of the starter relay to the 75A relay, and then onto the fan. Then use 18g wiring for the switching side of the relay. Tap into a Ignition ON power source (or constant if you want to run the fan with the car off) and then install a toggle switch and then wire it to the relay.

The switching side of the relay sees virtually no load..maybe 1A tops. So you are safe there.

fastranger347 · Aug 5, 2007

relays are the better way to go i use two 30 amp units in parallel in conjuction with a 40 amp fuse, but he asked for directions off a toggle switch and thats what i gave him

85_SS_302_Coupe · Aug 5, 2007

Mustang5L5 said:
Use the toggle switch to activate the switching leg of a Bosch 75amp relay.

That's how i do mine.

Use 10G wiring off the POS side of the starter relay to the 75A relay, and then onto the fan. Then use 18g wiring for the switching side of the relay. Tap into a Ignition ON power source (or constant if you want to run the fan with the car off) and then install a toggle switch and then wire it to the relay.

The switching side of the relay sees virtually no load..maybe 1A tops. So you are safe there.

That's how i run mine except i run the controller unit that has the heat sensors that goes into the radiator hose....because every damn time i've ran a toggle i end up forgetting that it's on and run my battery down.

RYC CUKR · Aug 5, 2007

Mustang5L5 said:
Use the toggle switch to activate the switching leg of a Bosch 75amp relay.

That's how i do mine.

Use 10G wiring off the POS side of the starter relay to the 75A relay, and then onto the fan. Then use 18g wiring for the switching side of the relay. Tap into a Ignition ON power source (or constant if you want to run the fan with the car off) and then install a toggle switch and then wire it to the relay.

The switching side of the relay sees virtually no load..maybe 1A tops. So you are safe there.

My Taurus fan is hooked up pretty much the same way.

Mine is a a two speed fan so I have two relays. The low speed relay is hooked into a ignition on source and the high speed is on a switch.. For a DD I think this is the best way, other than a controller, since you don't have to worry about accidentally forgetting to turn the fan on. But for a track only car just a switch with a relay would be fine.

Mikie · Aug 5, 2007

Not to hijack the thread, but I wanted to do an e fan like the taurus unit. Can you use relays and wire it up basically to the accesory fuse so that it runs on high the whole time the car is running? This eliminates the toggle all together.
Any ideas?

Mustang5L5 · Aug 5, 2007

Mikie said:
Not to hijack the thread, but I wanted to do an e fan like the taurus unit. Can you use relays and wire it up basically to the accesory fuse so that it runs on high the whole time the car is running? This eliminates the toggle all together.
Any ideas?

Yes, do what i just posted, except skip the toggle. You will still need a good sized relay like the bosch 75A. Then tap into the hot wire on the low coolant sensor switch for the switching leg of the relay.

Anytime the key is in the on position, the fan will run. It won't run in ACC.

I usually run with my fan on all the time. Only time i shut it off is when i make a 1/4mile pass. I turn it off, make my run and on the return road flip the switch back on.

My cooling system works so well i don't need the fan on most of the time, but i run it anyway. One of these days i will wire it up with a temp-actuated switch, and a 3-way toggle to switch between "constant on" "OFF" and "temp switch activated". I have the wiring all schemed up lol

One thing i want to do is a warning light. I can't figure out how to do this electrically though. I have an Autometer mechanical temp guage in my a-pillar and i want to mount a yellow LED next to it. If the fan is not spinning, i want the LED to illuminate. If the fan is on, it shuts off. I could wire it up so that any voltage on the power wire would open up a normally closed relay and turn the light off, but if the fail fails, the light would not go on. I need to figure out a way that i can sense the current draw to turn the fan off. No current draw, light goes on.

dtlionsfan · Aug 5, 2007

I used a heavy gauge wire from battery to 70 amp relay and the switch on the dash made a ground to the relay to activate the fan.Works great.

jrichker · Aug 5, 2007

Want just the toggle on and off? Just don't install the $15 thermostat switch.

onefstsnake · Aug 5, 2007

I pretty much wired mine like jrichker said.

Just one 30A relay wired to the fan/batter/and ground.
Then a wire that runs to a toggle to turn it off and on with.

I really like this setup but wouldnt recomend it if other people drive the car. Wouldnt want to have someone forget to flip the fan on...

Sicarius428 · Aug 6, 2007

Definately use a relay with a fuse. You don't want that much power going into the cab of the car.
Kevin

CONCRETEWARFARE · Aug 6, 2007

Thanks for all the great replies guys. I decided to go with jrichkers way since he was so helpful with my last electrical issue and it works great. It seems the safest also and thats good since im terrified of fire in cars lol.

tmoss · Aug 6, 2007

You got good advice and took it - kudos to you. Electrical systems that have unrated parts used (10A switch and 18ga wire running a 40amp fan) is probably the most frequent casue of fires in cars that have been electrically modified in this hobby.

onefstsnake · Aug 6, 2007

Sicarius428 said:
Definately use a relay with a fuse. You don't want that much power going into the cab of the car.
Kevin

Isnt a relay somewhat like a fuse?

If you put 60A through a 30A relay its not going to work very long.

Mustang5L5 · Aug 6, 2007

No a relay is not a fuse. You can't garantee the relay will fail and break the connection. The contacts could weld shut from the overcurrent and now you have a potential fire

87Mustang351 · Aug 6, 2007

what year tarus do u guys get the fans from im intersted in this!

CONCRETEWARFARE · Aug 7, 2007

Im not sure of the year mine came out of but its out of a 3.8 taurus.

87Mustang351 · Aug 7, 2007

ok, thanks ill call the junk yeard and see what i can find!....how do they cool the motors?

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