A/C Fan Power

[KenC]

How may amps does the AC fan draw? Is it powerful enough for a radiator fan?

[jlevie]

You have all the power you could ever want for a radiator fan at the power block on the firewall. That would mean adding a fuse (30a is fine), a relay, and thermo switch to operate the fan. The relay and fuse can be purchased from any auto parts have. You can get an 82C thermo switch from BavAuto or other places. Assuming you have the standard thermostat in the car (80C) the 82C switch is just right.

The more fun part is figuring out a way to mount the fan. Don't even think about using the "through the radiator" mounts. They will eat a hole in a a cooling tube eventually.

If you don't have A/C in the car, a pusher fan, or even the aux fan, mounted in front of the radiator is the simplest solution. But if the car still has A/C, you need both the aux fan and a puller fan. In either case, a fan rated for 1800CFM is desired.

[nando]

the stock fan draws something like 16 amps, and yes it's plenty for a radiator fan.

my 2100cfm fan draws 13 amps FWIW.

being in the PNW, you don't need any extra stuff. Everything is already in the stock harness - the relays, the fuses, the thermoswitch. you do need the different thermoswitch so the fan turns on sooner though. And I used the stock A/C fan as the only engine, and I still had A/C - both worked flawlessly.

[KenC]

I was thinking a little about converting to an electric fan, but I'm trying to simplify the wiring and such.

Would it be possible to run a 7 amp fan constantly? Or is that too much strain on the electrical system?

http://www.siliconeintakes.com/product_info.php?cPath=15&products_id=1025&osCsid=dadd6bae8176f80b9464e47ebfc58099

[smonkbmw]

i ran my a/c fan on my swap car. just hit the a/c button when it got a little hot. ran no problems in stop and go traffic in the middle of summer.

[gearheadE30]

My big volvo fan draws 27A on start; about 10 constant after that when the car isn't moving. I used the stock harness but thicker gauge wiring. So far so good, but I havn't gotten around to pulling the factory aux fan yet.

[nando]

I was thinking a little about converting to an electric fan, but I'm trying to simplify the wiring and such.

Would it be possible to run a 7 amp fan constantly? Or is that too much strain on the electrical system?

http://www.siliconeintakes.com/produ...64e47ebfc58099

a 7 amp fan is going to be too weak to cool effectively on hot days. you don't want it running all the time anyway, that's why there's a thermoswitch. ;)

the wiring is already pretty simple, you basically need everything it has (relays, fuses, etc).

[KenC]

a 7 amp fan is going to be too weak to cool effectively on hot days. you don't want it running all the time anyway, that's why there's a thermoswitch. ;)

the wiring is already pretty simple, you basically need everything it has (relays, fuses, etc).

The 7amp one I linked above pushes 1800 CFM. Still too weak?

I guess I'll have to do a little research on the thermo/relay wiring. Link to a good thread?