M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: KenC on January 15, 2009, 05:42:10 PM
-
Has anyone ever wired an electric directly to an acc(ignition) source? I'm wondering if it's easier to simplify the whole conversion by bypassing all of the temp-sensors. Would there be harm in having the fan run all the time when the car is running? The one connected to the crank does, so I would assume no.
Is there an easy ACC point to hook up a positive lead?
-
From what I've read, when they constantly run, they put too much strain on the alternator. Is there a way to find a low current one that is sufficient?
-
Low current in electronics usually means low power or low rpm etc etc If its on all the time it will just take really long to properly warm up and then when its warm it wont keep it cool enough (especially if you live in a warm climate)
First up if your gonna run it constant run it off a relay not off direct ignition because they usually draw up to 20a. Ive got mine running off a thermatic switch which is excellent. Been running for about a year without an issue and ive never had it overheat on me.
for a low current draw i suggest a single 16" fan. They do the job fine.
-
You can wire a switch and manually turn it on/off. It's not that much harder to wire to the temp sensor...I helped a buddy with his SPAL fan kit from Bimmerworld and it wasn't too bad.
-
Theres no point to this. Its really easy to setup an electric fan to run off the existing circuit and temp switch. All the information is already in the forum.
-
Theres no point to this. Its really easy to setup an electric fan to run off the existing circuit and temp switch. All the information is already in the forum.
+1
-
If you get a proper temp switch setup you won't have to do much wiring. You only have to shove the temp sensor into the radiator fins and hook up a few wires. With many of them you can even hook up an auxiliary turn on to the AC and delete the fan up front. I've got a 16" unit hooked up this way and it works perfectly and comes on with the AC as well.
-
Theres no point to this. Its really easy to setup an electric fan to run off the existing circuit and temp switch. All the information is already in the forum.
Can't get mine to work with the temp switch. I think my switch is faulty... will get another and switch.
-
I just ran my electric fan to the wires that once turned on my compressor, so when I hit the a/c switch instead of my compressor turning on (ripped out my whole a/c system) my electric fan switches on....you have to do it manually, but it saves the alternator/battery the strain of running the fan all the time. =P Plus I prefer to do things manually. ;)
-
I just ran my electric fan to the wires that once turned on my compressor, so when I hit the a/c switch instead of my compressor turning on (ripped out my whole a/c system) my electric fan switches on....you have to do it manually, but it saves the alternator/battery the strain of running the fan all the time. =P Plus I prefer to do things manually. ;)
So you don't have AC? I have it and definitely want to keep it. Swamp-back/ass is unpleasant.
-
Is there a definitive, step by step writeup on this somewhere, complete with part/model numbers?
Theres no point to this. Its really easy to setup an electric fan to run off the existing circuit and temp switch. All the information is already in the forum.