top hose electric fan switch

[grinder]

Hiya

Ive been toying with the idea of putting an electric fan in the FC for a while now

BUT based on that im cheaper than cheap , i want a cheap way of switching the fan on and off , but not with a switch , i want an automatic one

So i have been ebaying for a top hose switch but they arent cheap .. SO .. what about a top hose adapter tube with a fan switch off say a car/motor bike plumbed into it

As long as it can react to the water temp , i dont see an issue ??

So i was looking at one of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/38mm-Water-Temp-Joint-Pipe-Temperature-Gauge-Radiator-Adapter-Hose-Sensor-Blue-/271208256484?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f254593e4

and then maybe drilling it out to accept one of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RADIATOR-FAN-TEMP-SWITCH-MAZDA-MX-5-1989-1998-50398-/221090949874?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item337a0c2af2

OK , i dont know at what temp the MX5 switches at , but im sure i could find out

So what do you all think ?? Cheap option or just out of my mind

Cheers

Stu

[grinder]

Looks like a MX5 is on at 90 degrees and off at 85 degrees

I dont know it that is suitable .. any idea when a fan SHOULD start on a FC ??

[boosted]

Needs a relay to switch the power onto the fan but other than cheap mod!

[grinder]

Yeah i wouldnt have it switching thru the sensor .. thats uber silly

[Hobbawobba]

That is pretty cheap if it\'d work aye haha. I\'ve just got myself a Kenlowe single speed 16" fan and a Davies Craig controller. Seems like a good unit although I haven\'t installed them yet. Not especially cheap either! Haha. Although if you have to buy wire and relays, it doesn\'t seem too bad?

I got it from here http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/fan-controllers-thermostats/davies-craig-digital-thermatic-ewp-fan-switch,

Temp sensor goes between radiator fins, so you don\'t have to cut hoses
Adjust when your fan(s) will come on
Displays in C or F along with set temp and current temp:mmmm

Let us know what you end up doing aye. Keen to see the result :cheers

[grinder]

£48 isnt too bad though

Least you just buy it and dont have to worry about modifying anything

[Prof]

I used one of those top hose adapators and switches with a relay - but only as a backup if the emanage didn\'t kick in when it should.  The two relays worked in parallel.
 
The only issue that you might face, is if the water level is too low and the hose switch isn\'t in the water flow anymore - then it could be running as hot as hell and not trip!  However, if the water level was that low, the stock sensor in the rad should sound the buzzer (assuming that circuit isn\'t bypassed like it was on mine ;-))
 
A better option is one of the fan controller devices that has it\'s own radiator mounted sensor, and controls the fan motor directly - no relay needed.  But it\'s money :-(

[boosted]

Quite a neat solution...only issue i see is you dont get much cable length for the temp probe. which limits where you can neatly mount the unit.

[grinder]

so are the ones that slot into the rad fins better then

And in theory , you could mount the item upside down - so that the probe comes up thru the bottom not down from the top

If its not water tight you have issues anyways

[yasiryassin]

i bought this for my set up.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200929164720

just wired it up with a maxi fuse and relay

used this as a guide for wiring - http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/efaninstall.htm
i chose to use the 1st wiring diagram, so the fan will stay on after the car is switched off, to help cooling

[shaunwil]

I went a more expensive route because I had no room ! http://www.revotec.com/acatalog/EFC_Self_Sealing_Fittings.html Works quite well in the FD.

Before you ask I ran out of outputs on the ecu to just wire it straight to a relay !

Shaun

[grinder]

yasiryassin : Where did you stick the probe then ??

[Hobbawobba]

^ They just slide into the radiator hose aye. I think some people dab a little sealant where it goes in, so it doesn\'t drip out

[yasiryassin]

the probe actually just slots between the rad fins. have not fully tested it out yet to see where is best to mount.
but i think i read online that just needs to be top corner, where the upper rad hose is, somewhere around there should be the hottest point- not sure if this is correct.

you could slide the probe into the rad itselft, under the rad hose. but i didnt like that idea, as thought it wouldnt get a good seal, and i didnt want to risk the probe breaking and flying around the coolant system

[Hobbawobba]

Oh my bad. I thought those ones could only go into the hose aye:2Confused But yeah I think placing it towards the fins near the top radiator hose is where they\'re supposed to go.

you could slide the probe into the rad itselft, under the rad hose. but i didnt like that idea, as thought it wouldnt get a good seal, and i didnt want to risk the probe breaking and flying around the coolant system

Yeah I wasn\'t too keen on that either aye. I didn\'t want the extra long wire they use to be all over my bay either haha. Thats why I ended up with my Davies Craig 0444 unit I mentioned earlier:Giggle