PuckPuck
05-31-2005, 07:40 PM
Well I made a post a while ago about getting a device to change the fan turn-on temps. I don't have an ADC chip, and will not buy one just to do this. I will not flip a switch just to turn on the fans either, as that's not acceptable. I want something that will "automatically" turn on the fans when the tempature rises, without any input required by me.
Well after trying a few different products, I really like what Derale had to offer. They make 2 types of switches. One uses a probe that goes into the radiator fins, the other goes into your cooling system, via an MPT fitting. Besides how they read the temps, the units are virtually identical in operation. I ended going with the unit that has a probe to go into the radiator core, which was quite easy to install. The units are actually made to drive the fan motors directly, however I still wanted to go through the built in relays we have, so I had to add yet another relay to the mix to take the power coming from the Derale unit, and get a ground output in the end to drive the stock low speed fan relay. You may be able to get around getting the other relay, by doing some funky wiring and using the relay that comes with the unit, but I wasn't going down that road.
The unit itself has a small dial, which requires a small flat head screwdriver to turn. It's range is at least 175-200* but it could be more, I just never ventured that far. Mine are set to turn on at about 194*.
I drove aroudn today in 80* weather, doing only city stop and go driving in traffic. Typically I would go past 210* easy in this situation. Today it didn't go past 198*, and even then it only stayed at 198* for a few seconds before dropping. Typically I'm now running bout 185* in the city and 176 on the highway. I'm still running a stock radiator, with a 160* t-stat.
The unit cost me 40$ shipped. A very small investment. You can get more info on the Derale units here (http://www.derale.com/electricfanaccess.shtml)
Well after trying a few different products, I really like what Derale had to offer. They make 2 types of switches. One uses a probe that goes into the radiator fins, the other goes into your cooling system, via an MPT fitting. Besides how they read the temps, the units are virtually identical in operation. I ended going with the unit that has a probe to go into the radiator core, which was quite easy to install. The units are actually made to drive the fan motors directly, however I still wanted to go through the built in relays we have, so I had to add yet another relay to the mix to take the power coming from the Derale unit, and get a ground output in the end to drive the stock low speed fan relay. You may be able to get around getting the other relay, by doing some funky wiring and using the relay that comes with the unit, but I wasn't going down that road.
The unit itself has a small dial, which requires a small flat head screwdriver to turn. It's range is at least 175-200* but it could be more, I just never ventured that far. Mine are set to turn on at about 194*.
I drove aroudn today in 80* weather, doing only city stop and go driving in traffic. Typically I would go past 210* easy in this situation. Today it didn't go past 198*, and even then it only stayed at 198* for a few seconds before dropping. Typically I'm now running bout 185* in the city and 176 on the highway. I'm still running a stock radiator, with a 160* t-stat.
The unit cost me 40$ shipped. A very small investment. You can get more info on the Derale units here (http://www.derale.com/electricfanaccess.shtml)