Electric cooling fan
Electric cooling fan
So I have this overheating/over cooling problem. When running normally, with air passing through the engine compartment, I have over cooling. When not much air is passing through, in traffic, it overheats. I asked a question on the forum if anyone had fitted a Kenlowe kit. I don't think anyone had.
So I thought rather than pay between £100. £160. for a kit, just to see if it would work or not, I had a look around. I found a 9" fan on ebay for £19.99 and a temperature controller for £8.85. Switch and wire I had in stock so about £30 all in. I fitted the fan on the outside of the inner wing with cable ties. Routed the cables around the engine compartment and through the bulkhead. I have fitted the sensor pick up on the top corner of the radiator stuck to it using instant metal to give a good contact and used a plate attached to the side of the rad to also keep it in place.
When I rebuilt the car I installed a couple of extra 12v feeds under the dash just in case. I picked one of these up for power. I built a mounting plate for the controller unit and manual override switch. I have secured it to the screw that fixes the centre console to the heater on one side and the steering column bolt on the other side. I have great difficulty bringing myself to cut holes where there shouldn't be holes. I have covered the plate in leather cloth to match the dash.
I have tested it out and it works very well. I have set it to cut in when the engine temp gauge reads 90 deg which is about 86 on the rad temp controller. Under test so far it has slowed the temperature rise down considerably. I can see the read out increasing by about 1 degree in 4 minutes so traffic lights and slow moving traffic are taken care of. With the fan running the heat it pushes out under the wing is quite substantial compared to the mechanical fan at tick over. I do also have the rubber surround fitted around the radiator which I think probably helps. I think I might fit the fan on to the radiator over the winter between the rad and the wing, as it is thin enough to fit. As to the over cooling I think I will fit a thermostatic valve in the oil feed to the cooler. I think that should help a little.
So I thought rather than pay between £100. £160. for a kit, just to see if it would work or not, I had a look around. I found a 9" fan on ebay for £19.99 and a temperature controller for £8.85. Switch and wire I had in stock so about £30 all in. I fitted the fan on the outside of the inner wing with cable ties. Routed the cables around the engine compartment and through the bulkhead. I have fitted the sensor pick up on the top corner of the radiator stuck to it using instant metal to give a good contact and used a plate attached to the side of the rad to also keep it in place.
When I rebuilt the car I installed a couple of extra 12v feeds under the dash just in case. I picked one of these up for power. I built a mounting plate for the controller unit and manual override switch. I have secured it to the screw that fixes the centre console to the heater on one side and the steering column bolt on the other side. I have great difficulty bringing myself to cut holes where there shouldn't be holes. I have covered the plate in leather cloth to match the dash.
I have tested it out and it works very well. I have set it to cut in when the engine temp gauge reads 90 deg which is about 86 on the rad temp controller. Under test so far it has slowed the temperature rise down considerably. I can see the read out increasing by about 1 degree in 4 minutes so traffic lights and slow moving traffic are taken care of. With the fan running the heat it pushes out under the wing is quite substantial compared to the mechanical fan at tick over. I do also have the rubber surround fitted around the radiator which I think probably helps. I think I might fit the fan on to the radiator over the winter between the rad and the wing, as it is thin enough to fit. As to the over cooling I think I will fit a thermostatic valve in the oil feed to the cooler. I think that should help a little.
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Re: Electric cooling fan
3 more pics
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- Posts: 33
- Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 8:03 pm
Re: Electric cooling fan
Hi its r1021 here ian I also want to carry out this mod could you please tell me how it is wired including fuseing thanks.
Re: Electric cooling fan
Japanese spec cars already have one fitted and it kicks in regularly in traffic
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- Posts: 33
- Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 8:03 pm
Re: Electric cooling fan
Hi Paul mine is a UK spec mate so no aircon or fan
Re: Electric cooling fan
Hi Ian. This is how I connected it up. I am sure there are different and better ways but I just wanted to see if it would improve things and it does. I think it could be better if I attached it to the radiator. I have taken the supply from the starter positive connection and run the cable through a grommet on the drivers side bulkhead and back through that grommet with the feed to the fan and the two wires to the sensor .I extended the sensor wires to reach from the rad to the cab. I have picked up earth at the most convenient existing earth. I have connected it to a continuous feed so it will run when the ignition key is off. You can take it from a switched feed if you want, whatever suits your need.I used 2.5 cable. I have also put in an illuminated switch (minimum 10 amp) to switch on the fan manually if needed. I decided not to put a relay in the circuit. Too complicated and more to go wrong. Keep it simple. The fan draws about 7 amps so the 10 amp in line fuse should be OK. I am sure someone will tell me if not.
You could forget the controller and just use the manual switch if wanted
Got the 9" fan from http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-Electric- ... 3a7677c19c
Got the controller from ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10A-12V-Digit ... =undefined
To set controller hold the down button for 5secs. Display reads off or on. Off is settings locked On is settings unlocked (can be altered)
CP is the degrees below the switch on temp that it switches off. If the temperature (HA) is set at 95 deg it will then switch off at 86 deg if CP is set at 9 deg.
You can play around with the controller buttons to see what changes what. The instructions are in translated Chinese so not easy to understand.
If you need any more info let me know
You could forget the controller and just use the manual switch if wanted
Got the 9" fan from http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-Electric- ... 3a7677c19c
Got the controller from ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10A-12V-Digit ... =undefined
To set controller hold the down button for 5secs. Display reads off or on. Off is settings locked On is settings unlocked (can be altered)
CP is the degrees below the switch on temp that it switches off. If the temperature (HA) is set at 95 deg it will then switch off at 86 deg if CP is set at 9 deg.
You can play around with the controller buttons to see what changes what. The instructions are in translated Chinese so not easy to understand.
If you need any more info let me know
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Last edited by prop on Thu Jul 24, 2014 11:00 am, edited 4 times in total.
Re: Electric cooling fan
Is the link to the controller above correct?
The description says 220V, however there is a 12v one on a different link
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10A-12V-Digit ... =undefined
The description says 220V, however there is a 12v one on a different link
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10A-12V-Digit ... =undefined
Re: Electric cooling fan
I got a 220v one for another job. Copied the wrong link sorry, correct link now quoted.