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Rev · 08-13-2001, 07:53 PM

I've had several of these after market auxillary electric fans, some with the supplied thermostats. If everything always worked as it was supposed to, you could wire directly to the battery and have the thermostat turn the thing off and on as needed. NONE of the thermostats I've had (they stick a probe into the radiator) have worked for very long, maybe a month or two.

What I would do and have done is put in a relay to the electic fan allowing activation only when the ignition swith is on. The main juice can still come directly form the battery conection and you can still have the thermostat in the circuit for however long it lasts. I just got a relay (30 amp) from Radio Shack or Pep Boys for $5-10.

With it wired directly to the battery and relying soley on the thermostat, you have to walk away with the fan still running and trust the thermostat to turn it off after it cools down enough. My experience says that those thermostats aren't reliable.

My advice is to wire the activator of the relay to the ignition switch, the main juice from the relay to the battery and forget the thermostat. Then you just turn it on as needed but it will only come on when the ignition switch is on.

Rev

------------------
'66 Coupe, 306, 300 HP, C-4, 13.97 e.t., 100.3 mph
1/4 mi.

[This message has been edited by Rev (edited 08-13-2001).]

08-13-2001, 07:53 PM	#3
Rev Registered Member Join Date: Nov 1998 Location: Houston, Tx. Posts: 3,887	I've had several of these after market auxillary electric fans, some with the supplied thermostats. If everything always worked as it was supposed to, you could wire directly to the battery and have the thermostat turn the thing off and on as needed. NONE of the thermostats I've had (they stick a probe into the radiator) have worked for very long, maybe a month or two. What I would do and have done is put in a relay to the electic fan allowing activation only when the ignition swith is on. The main juice can still come directly form the battery conection and you can still have the thermostat in the circuit for however long it lasts. I just got a relay (30 amp) from Radio Shack or Pep Boys for $5-10. With it wired directly to the battery and relying soley on the thermostat, you have to walk away with the fan still running and trust the thermostat to turn it off after it cools down enough. My experience says that those thermostats aren't reliable. My advice is to wire the activator of the relay to the ignition switch, the main juice from the relay to the battery and forget the thermostat. Then you just turn it on as needed but it will only come on when the ignition switch is on. Rev ------------------ '66 Coupe, 306, 300 HP, C-4, 13.97 e.t., 100.3 mph 1/4 mi. [This message has been edited by Rev (edited 08-13-2001).]