I broke down and bought one this weekend and now need to wire it. After spending a lot of time REMOVING wiring from the engine compartment (starter solenoid to trunk etc) I am hesitant to add any. Are any of you just running the fan with an ON/OFF switch and not thermostatically controlled? I will run through a relay etc but don't want the added wires of the controller. Thoughts? I am also hoping to be able to eliminate the engine driven fan after this install.
I ran mine with just a toggle switch for many years. If you do, use the switch to supply the ground. One less "hot" wire under the dash looking for a short.
You could also consider driving a relay off of a wire that's hot when the car is running. That way you don't have to worry about forgetting to turn it on and having the car overheat. In the past I've also been silly enough to leave it on and forget about it until the battery was dead. Since then I've learned from my mistakes and I have a two speed Lincoln fan with two thermostatically controlled switches that are on two relays that only come on when the engine has electrical power. WORKS GREAT! And most of it is hidden under the shroud of the fan.
Street car, I would run switch and thermo switch! I don't know of anyone that hasn't forgot to turn switch on or off. Nothing else, they make a switch coupler you can fasten on a hose and have it kick on at any temp.
Hey Mavaholic...I don't mean to offend...but isn't the wire coming from the fan to the switch still constantly hot??? :16suspect
I ran it always on for a while, but when the weather is cool, it takes forever to heat up. I put in the thermostatic fan switch so it now stays off until 190, then kicks off at 175. Now, while sitting in the garage on a 90 degree afternoon, it will cycle for about 1 minute on, 4 minutes off, and keep the temps right where I want them. I haven't done any serious driving since I installed it, but i am guessing it will stay off most of the time. It was only a couple extra wires, but worth the hassle.
But Scott, I have seen your wiring mess!!! That was my motivation to move the solenoid to the trunk. Do you also run the engine fan?
the hot wire gos to the battery or somthing hot...and ground gos to the switch from switch to ground which is a GREAT idea , cause you wont have to worry about shorts as much...
I have cleaned up most of the mess...did I not post "After" pics? Don't need the belt driven fan if you have electric installed.
I knew I was going to get myself in trouble. Yes, there is a current draw between the switch and the power supply. But one side of the switch is still a hot wire. Granted it won't short and burn because of that resistance or current draw (the fan) that is in line. It's still a hot wire, but it's not nearly as dangerous as a line directly from the battery. Either way...it needs to be fused. Sorry, my sarcastic sense of humor doesn't always come across in writing!
