Fan Controller

MrMopar64 · February 01, 2006, 10:59:29 PM

Hi Guys
I'm getting ready to put 2 electric fans on the Rambler and was wanting some input on a fan controller
I don't have anywhere to put a sender in the engine so I'm looking for one that either uses the Auto Meter gauge sender or one that you put the probe in the fins in the radiator I've been looking at the adjustable ones
I have found several of both but they run from $18 @ Auto Zone $100 @ Dakota Digital to $160 @ Fatrodders and of course they "all" claim to do the same thing :?

So guys let me know what you think........

Thanks
MM64

Pep · February 01, 2006, 11:16:55 PM

Why not look at production sensors......most go into the radiator ( easily soldered in ) or as I'm doing, finding some access to the water, like in my water pump...or in the manifold, or siamese off the temp sender.

donsrods · February 01, 2006, 11:25:54 PM

On my 5.0 powered truck I've been running one of the adjustable ones that have the hard wire that lays up against the radiator, and it senses the heat, and turns the fan on and off. I think it is the autozone type (bought it a few years ago) and it had been performing well I occasionallly adjust it to come on sooner or later, and it seems to respond ok.

Just a side note, electric fans are one place you will want to run a relay. It will make sure you get a full 12 volts to the fans, because even a slight drop in voltage slows the fans down, providing less cooling.

PeterR · February 02, 2006, 08:37:27 AM

QuoteI'm getting ready to put 2 electric fans on the Rambler and was wanting some input on a fan controller
I don't have anywhere to put a sender in the engine

A fan control should monitor the radiator water temperature not the engine temperature.

QuoteI'm looking for one ...... that you put the probe in the fins in the radiator I've been looking at the adjustable ones

I first used the probe type that fit between the fins as a quick and dirty alternative to pulling out the radiator and soldering in a switch flange, but found the unit to be so effective that I have fitted several others by choice. They have an adjustable cut in temp, an internal relay and also an isolated feed for override by aircon or manual switch.

rumrumm · February 02, 2006, 12:44:57 PM

I purchased a plate from Rt 66 out of St. Louis while at GG Des Moines that fits between the intake manifold and the water neck. It has two drilled and tapped holes for additional sensors. I used Centech's automatic fan control unit (which is about the size of a pack of cigarettes) so I could adjust the temperature at which the fan would come on. Easy to hook up and a very slick way to go.

alchevy · February 02, 2006, 05:32:46 PM

I just purchased a fan controller from Spal - the folks that made my fan. I hope to install it soon. This one has two settings, a low one and a high one. When the temp gets to the low setting (default set at 160 degrees) it turns the fan on at 50% speed. Then when the temp reaches the high setting (default set at 200 degrees) the fan goes at 100%. Says that it saves the wear & tear on the fan because it is not running all of the time at 100%. It can be mounted in one of several locations including your gauge sender. It can also be set at whatever temp you want instead of using the default settings. Also, it will work with two fans.

The one from Centech sounded like a good one too.
AL

EMSjunkie · February 02, 2006, 08:09:58 PM

I'm running one from Speedway.
it gets its info from the gauge.

can also be wired into your trinary switch to kick the fan on
if the high side pressures get a little high.

I like it, works pretty good.

just my .02

Vance

Crosley.In.AZ · February 02, 2006, 10:17:02 PM

I bought an adjustable fan controller unit from Carquest..... temp probe into the rad fins.

I have got it adjusted where I like it. fan comes on usually when i stop for a traffic light

MrMopar64 · February 03, 2006, 12:26:10 AM

Thanks for all the info guys

MM64

speedracer · February 03, 2006, 11:00:21 AM

Quote from: "donsrods"On my 5.0 powered truck I've been running one of the adjustable ones that have the hard wire that lays up against the radiator, and it senses the heat, and turns the fan on and off. I think it is the autozone type (bought it a few years ago) and it had been performing well I occasionallly adjust it to come on sooner or later, and it seems to respond ok.

Just a side note, electric fans are one place you will want to run a relay. It will make sure you get a full 12 volts to the fans, because even a slight drop in voltage slows the fans down, providing less cooling.

Hey Don
you probably already read my post, but after reading yours sounds like you know alot about fans etc. Can you give me some advice on what type electric fan, location, relays, shrouds etc.
Thanks Johnny

speedracer · February 04, 2006, 08:14:05 PM

Quote from: "rumrumm"I purchased a plate from Rt 66 out of St. Louis while at GG Des Moines that fits between the intake manifold and the water neck. It has two drilled and tapped holes for additional sensors. I used Centech's automatic fan control unit (which is about the size of a pack of cigarettes) so I could adjust the temperature at which the fan would come on. Easy to hook up and a very slick way to go.

Hey Lynn where did you say you got the plate and controller? I tried finding it and couldn't. I'm hooking up a electric fan instead of the flex fan that I took off. Thanks Johnny

Crosley.In.AZ · February 04, 2006, 09:50:40 PM

Quote from: "speedracer"Hey Don
you probably already read my post, but after reading yours sounds like you know alot about fans etc. Can you give me some advice on what type electric fan, location, relays, shrouds etc.
Thanks Johnny

Where is that jackstands fellow..... he knows plenty about the amp draw per CFM produced from electrick fans.

donsrods · February 04, 2006, 10:54:51 PM

[/quote]Hey Don
you probably already read my post, but after reading yours sounds like you know alot about fans etc. Can you give me some advice on what type electric fan, location, relays, shrouds etc.
Thanks Johnny[/quote]

Johnny: Well, I don't know how much I actually know about them, but since I live in Florida, overheating cars are a real concern of mine. So I have talked to as many professionals and picked their brains as much as possible to try to keep my own projects from boiling over.

The last straw with my '27 was at Daytona 5 years ago. As we crept along in heavy bumper to bumper traffic along A1A, my temp gauge was getting higher and higher. The car had been on the road for about 7 years, and the cooling system was getting more tired all the time. When the car finally boiled over, I swore it was time for a rebuild on the entire car, that is why it has been sitting for 5 years now. That was the last time I drove it.

But to answer your question, with what little knowledge I have........It seems the secret to keeping a car cool is to have sufficient radiator capacity in the first place, and have the rest of the cooling system in good condition. Also, always run a thermostat, because it will keep the water flow slow enough to let it actually get cooled while in the radiator. (if the water is circulating too fast, it blasts through the radiator too quickly to get the heat extracted from it)

Secondly, if the car cools down once you leave the traffic light and start down the road, it usually means the airflow from the wind going through the radiator is capable of cooling the engine, but that your electric or mechanical fan is not pulling enough air to do the same thing. It could mean the fan isn't getting enough current ( and is running at less than full speed) or that it is too small (ideally, you want a fan that is about as big as your radiator finned core) You may also need a shroud to direct the air through that fan.

As for relays, what they do is allow you to feed a lot of current to something while triggering it with a small amount of current. They also level out the current pulses, keeping the voltage true all all times. If you simply ran the electric fan through a switch, you would have a certain drop in current because of the resistance of all the wire, etc. But if you come straight off the battery with heavy gauge (maybe like 12 gauge) wire, right to a relay, then run the relay straight to the fan., you will get good current flow to that fan.

Think of it this way: If you have an electric fan at home, and you put it on low speed, it moves a certain amount of air. But if you bump it up to high speed, it moves so much more. By getting as much juice to the electric fan on your car as possible, you are simply pulling (or pushing) so much of that cooling air over the radiator.

As for the thermo switches to turn the fan on and off automatically, I really know very little about these. My roadster used one screwed into the intake manifold, and my Jeep uses one mounted right in contact with the radiator. From what I hear, you get a more accurate turn on if you do it right from the radiator. I think if you go with a reputable company, any of their products are probably good, and proven to work ok.

Finally, some of the replys to this thread have stressed the importance of having the timing correct on the car, and using vacuum advance on the distributor. From everything I have heard, this is very correct.

Anyways, thanks for the nice words, but I find that there are so many people on this forum who REALLY know what they are doing. I have sort of just bumbled along in my car building, made every mistake in the book, and if I can offer something that I have found some workable solution to, then I owe it to the person asking the question to put in my 2 cents worth. Sometimes my answers get a little wordy, but I feel if a person asks a question they should be given as much detail as possible so they have a clear picture of what you are trying to explain.

Don

speedracer · February 05, 2006, 02:26:24 PM

thanks Don, I really apprecate people like you, I myself try to do the same. I was a member at SRS and some of the guys over there seem to get a kick out of making you feel stupid and thats why I'm here. Just could'nt handle that kind of attitudes.
Thanks again, johnny

donsrods · February 05, 2006, 04:23:34 PM

I've logged on to a few of those forums, and never participated because of the way answers were given, and the attitude of some of the participants. I did participate for awhile on another forum, and the men and women there treated each other well and with respect, just like here. They are having some computer problems, keeping me from getting on a lot, so my Son suggested this site to me. I'm glad I found it, and feel comfortable here, and among friends.

I think the fun of this hobby is sharing and helping our fellow car nuts out. I have learned a lot from some of the posts I have seen here, and there are some really smart/ educated people on here. To me, it makes me feel good to be able to answer or ask a question and get or give an answer that is easily understood and helpful. I.ve also learned that sometimes there are no right or wrong answers, as there can be 20 different ways to do something.

Who knows, maybe some day we'll all hold an RRT Nationals, and get to actually meet one another, face to face. Wouldn't that be great?