How to: Electric fan Install (The Basics)

There are many ways to hook your Electric fan up. Here's how I did it.

Dan

Nice, simple diagram Dan. Thanks for taking the time to share.

Thanks Dan, this will be very helpful when it gets warmer. Does it matter what kind of fan, or will any electric fan do?

There are 1000's of different fans that will work. For the warmer the climates & larger engines choose a fan with a higher CFM. If using the fan a just a booster with your mech fan then you can use a smaller fan.

Dan

Hey Dan, I ran my fan w/a 20 amp fuse to a battery source with 12ga wire, then I ground side switched it. Should I be using a relay? toad

Toad I recommend always using a relay but if you switch is on the ground side and rated higher than you fuse and fan draw I guess it would work fine. Although I would think it would cause your switch to have a very short life....

My 2c.

Dan

Dan -

Is there a specific place to install the thermal switch or will I have to drill and tap a hole? If there is already a place to put one, where is that located?

- Charlie

I'll throw my two cents in for what it's worth. Keep in mind mine van is an A100.

I used a 16" Hayden Automotive 3710 electric fan, "pusher" mounted on the front of the radiator. I also changed the mechanical puller fan to a Summit "heavy duty" high flow fan.


I used an inline 18amp fuse and switched the hot with a Doorman 30A "Conduct-Tite" LED toggle switch.

link

I just cut a piece of 1" angle iron, painted it black and mounted it to the bottom edge of the dash to hold my switches. You can see it on the bottom left by the head light switch in this picture:



I didn't use a temp relay because I didn't want to pay for one, the switch is lighted so I can see its on if I get out of the truck.

Yeah, I just bought two fans and am now in process of picking up the rest of the pieces for the install. Honestly, I believe that I am too lazy or forgetful to remember to turn off the fan every time I get out. So, I am going to go with the temperature switch for convenience and peace of mind.

Charlie,
What's it going in?

The best place for any switch in or near the radiator. Do not swap your "Idiot" light switch for a thermal switch in the block. Since the block heats up and stays hot for extended periods your battery will have a very short life. Installing it on the radiator side of the thermostat is where it needs to be, either in the top of the housing thermostat(Not the bottom part)with a screw in switch or a push through radiator fin type. This will allow the fan to run and draw from your battery only when really needed and make sure your thermal switch and thermostat are rated the same ie: 180-170 degrees. Having them different will cause you engine temp to flux out of it's optimal temp range causing your fan to run far more than needed and gas mileage to drop significantly due to the engine working harder than needed.

Dan

Dan -

Thanks for the reply. This will be installed on a inline 6 230. I believe most of the major parts are original, including the radiator.

Since I have been looking at your diagram, I have been trying to source all the parts for the install. I believe that I can get most of them from a major autoparts store. Would recommend getting a new thermostat when I get the thermal switch, to make sure they are the same temp rating?

Charlie,
My Sportvan has the 230 as well. Here's what I did. Installed a 16" pusher fan in front of the rad. and bought a thermostat cap with a port on top, installed a 180-170 thermal switch and thermostat. Wire as in my diagram and all is good. But as always you need a good clean radiator or none of this will matter. I also tunneled the front of my doghouse and while doing so I also installed a smaller 12" fan relayed to my brake switch so when I step on the brake it kicks on keeping the airflow while at stop lights or stop & go traffic.

Dan

*** If you pull out your Thermostat and look at the bottom on the brass button it will tell you the (Opening) temp.. ei: 180=180-170/165 degrees (Generally a 10 degree drop between opening and closing....)

Dan -

Thanks for the info, very helpful. Before is it's all done, I'm sure I will have a few more questions.

- Charlie

NP, anytime. It's what we're all here for.

Dan

Dan -

I have sourced all the parts except for the thermal switch. When I picked up the thermostat housing it has the threaded hole for the coolant temp sensor. Is there a specific sensor/switch that fits the hole and has a corresponding thermostat? When the store looked up the part, it said that the temp sensor was not available on the vehicle. Well, duh. So is there a vehicle that uses the correct temp sensor/switch that fits the hole or should I look elsewhere? Thanks.

- Charlie

Charlie,
I did some searching on eBay to find my switches and bought couple of them with different ranges to test what works best in my van. As you can see in the picture above in post #12 I had to get a couple of brass fittings but it works fine. Most parts stores carry several temp range thermostats for our vans so the trick is just getting the ranges to match between the two....

Dan

All be it a V-8, my thermostat housing has room for 2 sensors. One for a temp gauge and one could be used for a thermo switch. Is there any kind of a custom thermostat housing you could use that would give you both.