B2Fresh Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 Just installed an electric fan in my B210 and it's all wired up but the ignition wire. What wire in the engine compartment can I wire it too.? Or do I have to go straight into the dash to wire it.? 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 You should wire it to a sensor that turns it on/off when needed. If it's on with the ignition it's running all the time and you may as well have left the mechanical one running. If you install a switch you have to remember to turn it on and off and what if someone else drives it? or stolen and over heated? There are any number of reasons why you may not be in or be able to turn it on. The last thing you want is to be watching the heat gauge and turning it on and off. To be worthwhile, something should be at least the same as the thing it replaces, if it has any advantage this is even better! The main reason for a thermal switch is to make this totally automatic and and fool proof. I spliced a short length of pipe in the lower rad return line with a sender that energizes a relay connected to the battery. Almost never comes on except maybe stop and go or at the lights. After shut down there is always some 'heat soak' of the cooling system that is hot weather will expel some coolant out the over flow. The fan is always connected to the battery so it can even come on after I park to cool it down. I pulled the sensor from a rad in the wrecking yard. I didn't worry about the on off temp as all vehicles run close to the same temp. Found a plumbing steel pipe bung with the same thread and drilled a hole in my pipe section and welded the bung in. The fan is from a VG33 Xterra 2 Quote Link to comment
G-Duax Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 May I add, that you should run the fan through a relay, so that the temp switch doesn't carry the full currant load. Even though the fans are stated at only drawing 20-30 amps, use an 80 amp relay, as in-rush currant will kill the 40 amp relays in about 6 months. The el-cheapo plastic electric fans last about 2 years, so in 1 year, 11 months, plan on buying a back-up. 2 Quote Link to comment
B2Fresh Posted March 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 Censer is hooked up, relay is hooked up all positive leads are fused and all grounds are grounded. Only thing I need to do is hook up the ignition wire lead.. In just trying to wire it some where in the engine wiring harness "If" possible.. 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 13, 2017 Report Share Posted March 13, 2017 Hook to the fusible link. That fan will draw a lot of current and even more when starting. Have power to it at all times.... it doesn't have to go through the ignition. If the key is off it may come on in hot weather for 2-3 min after you leave the car, so what? it will shut off. 1 Quote Link to comment
B2Fresh Posted March 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2017 Cool.. Thanks 1 Quote Link to comment
B2Fresh Posted March 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2017 Ok I need to route that ignition wire on another lead instead of the fuse link.. Need another option to conect it too.. 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 15, 2017 Report Share Posted March 15, 2017 If you have fuses in line connect it to the positive battery terminal. I fused mine with a 50? amp and drew power from one of the fusible links at the positive cable because it was easiest. 1 Quote Link to comment
B2Fresh Posted March 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 Is the fusible link a costant power source or does it have power when turn on the key (ignition).? I'm pretty sure I know the answer.. 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 The fusible link(s) are connected to the positive battery terminal. One usually goes to the headlamp switch, one to the fuse box and one to the ignition. Sometimes there is only one or maybe two. They are all live or 'hot' at all times. 1 Quote Link to comment
B2Fresh Posted March 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 I need to conect it to a lead that turns on when I open the ignition on and shuts off when I turn the ignition off.. 1 Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 Do you have an electric choke on your carberator? That would be hooked to ignition.. 2 Quote Link to comment
B2Fresh Posted March 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2017 I believe I do.. I'll do a test light on it and if it then I'm in.. Thanks 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 17, 2017 Report Share Posted March 17, 2017 If you have a temp sensor that turns on a relay to power the fans.... The electric fan draws a lot of power and even more on sudden start up. It does NOT need to be run through the ignition switch. It can be left with power on at all times just like your brake lights, horn, clock and interior lights. It just sits there until needed. If the fan is on when you shut off the engine it really should keep cooling. All engines continue to heat up after they are shit off too. I've had my fan come on after I shut off the engine to cool the rad down.... big deal, it ran for maybe a min before shutting off. If you connect to the auto choke or idle cut solenoid or the coil you risk blowing the fuse while driving. 1 Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted March 17, 2017 Report Share Posted March 17, 2017 He's only trying to trip positive side of the relay coil with ignition... that should take around .1amp to trip the coil.. I can't imagine it would effect anything.... if he was trying to power the fans with it I would say no way... 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 17, 2017 Report Share Posted March 17, 2017 If that was the case the fan would be on all the time the ignition is on. Might as well have a mechanical fan on. The point of an electrical fan is it isn't needed 99.3% of the time so why have it on? 1 Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted March 17, 2017 Report Share Posted March 17, 2017 Mike I understand what your saying. I believe he said he has the temp sensor for the negative side of the coil.... so It will only be on when engine is hot and ignition on... 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 17, 2017 Report Share Posted March 17, 2017 Again mine is connected to the fusible link and hot at all times. The sensor only closes when the temp passes a pre determined point so there is no draw on the battery. And again, if on the ignition switch the fan cannot come on after you shut the car off. The engine temp always goes up right after you turn it off. It can pass the boiling point in hot weather and expel coolant into the coolant recovery can. 1 Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted March 17, 2017 Report Share Posted March 17, 2017 Your definitely correct I have mine connected like you do too mike, and I added a switch to turn things on just incase the temp sensor failed.... B2fresh seemed really intend on using an ignition source on the relay I was just trying to answer his direct question... 2 Quote Link to comment
B2Fresh Posted March 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2017 I appreciate you guys for the help.. I just want to avoid any cooling problems when I just replaced my radiator with a new one and I really don't want to take a long trip and I get stuck on the side of road do to something so simple as missconected wire.. I guess I'm just being overcautious. 1 Quote Link to comment
B2Fresh Posted March 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2017 Thanks for everyone's help and input.. I finally got everything hooked up and wired up and the fan is working like a charm and temp stays a normal.. 1 Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted March 20, 2017 Report Share Posted March 20, 2017 So which way did you end up wiring it? 1 Quote Link to comment
B2Fresh Posted March 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2017 Wired it to the fuse link and added a fuse to it just to be causious.. Sounds stupid but just playing safe by adding the extra fuse.. 1 Quote Link to comment
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