Best eFan Controller???
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 54
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From: Right here
Best eFan Controller??? I'm wanting to setup dual Spal Electric Fans on my pickup (it is an '03 GM vehicle with an ECM with two signal wires available)
I'd like to avoid having to use relays since those can blow causing the fans to not work (I'll probably install some sort of manual override for safety) so I was looking at PWM Fan Controller by Derale at http://derale.com//products/electric...n-probe-detail
I was hoping to use my ECM signal wire(s) in place of the temp sensor stuck in the radiator fins. Is this Derale Fan Controller a good unit?
Does anyone have any suggestions for something similar that has a proven track record of working well?
I'd like to avoid having to use relays since those can blow causing the fans to not work (I'll probably install some sort of manual override for safety) so I was looking at PWM Fan Controller by Derale at http://derale.com//products/electric...n-probe-detail
I was hoping to use my ECM signal wire(s) in place of the temp sensor stuck in the radiator fins. Is this Derale Fan Controller a good unit?
Does anyone have any suggestions for something similar that has a proven track record of working well?
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 54
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From: Right here
I found what I was looking for at http://www.autocoolguy.com which is a PWM fan controller by Radio Research LTD
I was wrong in thinking my ECM could provide the signal for this unit as far as temp is concerned. I was thinking since the ECM knows the temp, it should be able to provide the signal, but the guy that runs this company says their PWM system requires it's own temp sensor.
The unit is $174.00 but that's cool considering it has soft start technology that prevents high amp start up of the eFans, it has a fail safe feature to run the fans if the unit or the temp sensor fails, and when you turn off the vehicle the fans run for one minute to continue cooling the radiator coolant
I just need to see if my radiator has a port for their 3/8 brass threaded sensor. If not, I'll need to use their inline sensor in my bottom radiator hose which is easy to do.
I was wrong in thinking my ECM could provide the signal for this unit as far as temp is concerned. I was thinking since the ECM knows the temp, it should be able to provide the signal, but the guy that runs this company says their PWM system requires it's own temp sensor.
The unit is $174.00 but that's cool considering it has soft start technology that prevents high amp start up of the eFans, it has a fail safe feature to run the fans if the unit or the temp sensor fails, and when you turn off the vehicle the fans run for one minute to continue cooling the radiator coolant
I just need to see if my radiator has a port for their 3/8 brass threaded sensor. If not, I'll need to use their inline sensor in my bottom radiator hose which is easy to do.
I think this is way overpriced and your fear of relays
going out is misplaced (provided you size them right,
like use the OE replacement P/N).
At its simplest, this job could be done with one Selco
thermostat (get them in 5 degC setpoint increments
from Digi-Key) potted to your radiator outlet and let
that switch the relay coil. Badda-bing. Keep your
tank 10-20 degrees below thermostat crackpoint and
you're good.
You do not need fancy PWM / linear fan control, a
bang-bang (thermostat) controller will do the job
just fine as long as the relay can take the cycling,
which a properly selected and protected (kickback
diode / snubber) one will.
going out is misplaced (provided you size them right,
like use the OE replacement P/N).
At its simplest, this job could be done with one Selco
thermostat (get them in 5 degC setpoint increments
from Digi-Key) potted to your radiator outlet and let
that switch the relay coil. Badda-bing. Keep your
tank 10-20 degrees below thermostat crackpoint and
you're good.
You do not need fancy PWM / linear fan control, a
bang-bang (thermostat) controller will do the job
just fine as long as the relay can take the cycling,
which a properly selected and protected (kickback
diode / snubber) one will.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 54
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From: Right here
After researching this, PWM provides numerous features and benefits that are superior to other options so spending a few bucks to better protect my engine while running eFans is the best option for me.
Lots of guys are doing PWM and I'd imagine some vehicle manufacturers are going with this on their new cars that use eFans as well.
I spent years working in the auto repair business and I saw numerous engines get way, way too hot due to relays blowing out causing the eFans to not work and these was OEM setups from the vehicle's manufacturer so one would think the company that built the car would use the proper relays to ensure no overheating.
So, relays are not nearly as reliable as solid state technology not to mention softstart that prevents amp spikes which is probably what causes relays to go bad.
Lots of guys are doing PWM and I'd imagine some vehicle manufacturers are going with this on their new cars that use eFans as well.
I spent years working in the auto repair business and I saw numerous engines get way, way too hot due to relays blowing out causing the eFans to not work and these was OEM setups from the vehicle's manufacturer so one would think the company that built the car would use the proper relays to ensure no overheating.
So, relays are not nearly as reliable as solid state technology not to mention softstart that prevents amp spikes which is probably what causes relays to go bad.
i had to replace a failed pwm module for radiator fan on a 2003 jeep grand cherokee wanna say at around 50k miles.
on paper running a dc electric motor via pwm is mostly better. but for what you want to do im sorry it is wasted money and much of what you are saying about relays is not true. and if you were told relays are not reliable consider the source. and yeah relays can fail... anything can fail... way easier and economical to pop out a $10 or less relay that you can keep a spare of. and i believe the handful of relays in the gm underhood fusebox are all the same except for the double pole one for the radiator fans.
on paper running a dc electric motor via pwm is mostly better. but for what you want to do im sorry it is wasted money and much of what you are saying about relays is not true. and if you were told relays are not reliable consider the source. and yeah relays can fail... anything can fail... way easier and economical to pop out a $10 or less relay that you can keep a spare of. and i believe the handful of relays in the gm underhood fusebox are all the same except for the double pole one for the radiator fans.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 54
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From: Right here
I do know that solid state technology is replacing relays on all sorts of machinery, not just on automobiles. Computers in the modern age have brought forth all sorts of better, more reliable ways of doing things.
Time will tell if it lasts or not, and $174 is not going to break me... if it craps out, there is a fail safe override where I can manually turn on the fans so this is going to work out great!
Time will tell if it lasts or not, and $174 is not going to break me... if it craps out, there is a fail safe override where I can manually turn on the fans so this is going to work out great!
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