Wiring up toggle for electric fan...need assistance.

[DMAN302]

Well my DC control unit will not be available untill late next week and in the mean time I would like to run the fan on a toggle switch in order to get me back on the road, what components aside from the toggle will I need? Thanks guys.
Derek.

 

[HISSIN50]

Derek, if you have a 30+ amp relay, that should hopefully be enough for this short term use.

I'd run a boogered together relay and a switch for now. You could also just simply switch ground to the fan if you wanted (if run-time will really be kinda limited)

Not much help I know............

Good luck bud.

 

[srothfuss]

I too would use a relay and then wire that up to a toggle so that you do not pass current through the switch itself which could turn into a fire hazard (if you had the fan on long enough.)

 

[DMAN302]

Can I get a brief descript on the wiring of the relay and the switch...what a pain I am eh?! I will only be wiring the high speed side of the fan.

 

[DMAN302]

Oh and recomend wire size would be great help as well.

 

[HISSIN50]

I'd use an SPST or SPDT relay (that covers most relays out there; SPDT's are quite common).

Terminal 30: Fused battery power. Use 8 or 10 AWG wire.

Terminal 87: 8 or 10 AWG to the fan + lead.

Terminal 86: connect to accessory (only key-on hot) 12 volts. You can use 18 AWG and find a source under the hood (I think some folks use the coolant overflow sensor feed, for instance).

Terminal 85: Also 18 AWG. This terminal has a wire going from it to the 'accessory' terminal on your manual switch (see below for more info).

NOTE: 85 and 86 are the control side of the relay, hence only needing 18 AWG wire (they carry ~250 mA of current).



On the switch: Run 18 AWG wire from the "power" terminal to a decent ground inside the car (the ground need not be stellar). From the 'accessory' terminal, connect this wire to terminal 85 (as mentioned above).

Then run an 8 or 10 AWG wire from the fan's - terminal to a solid ground in the engine bay (this ground does matter - it should be decent).

This should work for ya. If anyone disagrees or sees a typo, please speak up.

 

[trents99]

FWIW I run mine off a toggle only. The PO had wired it in and it worked fine for a year and then crapped out one day. He ran the hot side through the switch so I changed it and ran the ground through the switch and fused the hot side with a 30a fuse. It's worked so far but I'm a bit lucky I guess. I drive my car to work only pretty much and that's in the middle of night and early morning coming home so I rarely have to switch it on.

I have a DCC sitting on the counter but I'm waiting until I get a chance to hide the wires on the drivers side before I wire it in.

 

[jrichker]

You might try a Haden 226206 fan controller - it has a 30 amp relay & Advance Discount Auto Parts has them for $27.

Use the diagram below, just skip the 75 amp Bosh relay & wire the fan directly to the Hayden controller. The wiring instructions for it will be in the controller package.

 

[DMAN302]

I found a 5 post relay in my drawer but don't know the rating on it (amps) and it is not marked...any way to know the rating on this pc...the internet has failed me as to what rating it is.

 

[HISSIN50]

I found a 5 post relay in my drawer but don't know the rating on it (amps) and it is not marked...any way to know the rating on this pc...the internet has failed me as to what rating it is.

Any names or part #'s on it?

Look at the terminals for little numbers. If you see an 87A in the middle, that's likely an SPDT. If you see 87 in the middle (there'd be two 87's and no 87A), that's likely a driving light relay.

Either would work (lookin for clues here). JR should know better than I, but I havent seen many automotive relays that were rated under 30 amps.

 

[DMAN302]

Hey Jt 87a IS in the middle..the part is a Niehoff #RL33181 5 pole relay.
View attachment 456954

 

[bynummustang]

I have my E-fan on a on/off toggle. I have no problems with it. I only have to run 10 minutes at a time. I thought you have a Al Radiator, if you do, the highway (60+) will push enough air through.

 

[DMAN302]

good to know thanks!!

 

[HISSIN50]

Derek, I'd bet that would work ok. If you have concerns, the parts house should have a 30 amp relay for 5 bucks USD or so.

I couldnt find any info on that relay (I was too lazy to try and find Niehoff's parent website though. Stuff like that drives me nuts on dial-up).

It's really your call on how you want to do it (a toggle switch could work for you, for the short interval till Brian's controller arrives). Or just try that relay out real quick (rig it up in the engine compartment with short runs of wire/jumper wires, and see if it spins the fan decently). If so, run the wire to the interior and make it halfway decent.

Good luck bud.

 

[DMAN302]

well this weekend is a wash..so email from brian indicates he's running behind and looks to be shipping "early next week"...with the inlaws and all this weekend I might just wait it out...don't know, I just want to cover my bases if the boys want to head out thursday night. I don't get out much and really like the cruise night so we'll have to see what happens. Regardless thanks so much guys for the help, you have me set and ready to 'get er done' if I need to.

 

[HISSIN50]

Derek, I hate to recommend things like a toggle switch alone (I've done it before, but I toggled ground). But for a night to see the boyz, I bet it would work alright for you, and it'd take like 15 mins to install in some half-arshed fashion.

Or just do a relay all under the hood where the fan runs with the key on (at all times). For a drive or two, it shouldnt be an issue (having the fan run constantly) and it saves running wires and switches to the passenger compartment.

FWIW, some of the 94-95 guys run their high speed fan whenever the key is on, and have done so for years (I wouldnt do it, but it shows that a fan can work alright if run like that).

Sorry to hear about the backlog with the controller. It'll be worth it (I actually thought about it and your car earlier while I was idling in 100*F with my fan continuing to ramp up . I take recommendations I make real seriously, and I think you'll be happy once you get the controller).