what ignition wire can support 35-40 amps?

[dwadia]

I just got one of those Dif-2 electric fan controllers off ebay, and it works ok, but the problem is it stays running for 2.5 minutes every time i turn off my engine, even if i only start it for a few seconds. Apparently this is built in to the controller and there's no way to turn that feature off. However it drains my battery too much. When i turn my engine off, i want my fans off.

I had a local shop install the controller and he explained to me that as long as it's connected to a 12-volt wire as its power source, this will be unavoidable. The only way to have it work as i want is to connect it to an ignition wire as its power source, so when i turn the key off the unit gets no power. I think the fans are at least 25 amps, and an ignition wire would already have to supply power to something else, so is there any ignition wire that you guys know of which could safely support this kind of amperage?

[Sir]

use a relay.

[HalveBlue]

Use a relay x 2!

You could also wire up the the fan controler to a switchable source. A lot of people hook up their fans to the AC switch.

Personally, I would just see if you can find adjustable relay from Flex-a-lite. It has an adjustable temp setting so your fans will only kick in at a preset temp.

[dwadia]

I honestly don't know what a relay is (yet), but from what i can gather from what HalveBlue said, it might already have one. The fan controller i got has a separate adjustable temp. setting for each fan. This is the reason i got it - before that, the fans were coming on as soon as i turned my key. It does work to keep the fans from coming on immediately, but the thing is when i remove my key from the ignition, i want my fans to turn off regardless of the temperature. I do have a switch inside the car for it, but it only can keep it constantly on. Right now there's no way to turn it constant off.

What about a power wire from an ignition-controlled source? I'm sure the guy at the shop must have had a reason for suggesting that to me - he's pretty good with this stuff and if there was a simpler solution i would be surprised if he didn't think of it.

I'd be glad to hear any suggestions (or if someone wants to tell me a little about relays :-) For now i'm going to see if i can find out about relays on google.

[the head]

http://www.r1200gs.info/howto/relay.html
http://www.bcae1.com/relays.htm

there is a little bit on relays and how they work

basically you wire your 12 volt source into the input and the fans to the output then an ign power to the trigger and the last pin goes to ground....easy easy

[MELLO*SOS]

:stupid:

As said above you'll be best off wiring in a new relay. It's cheap & painless.

Basically; you take power right off the battery with good gauge wiring through your relay to the fans. Then you run a "remote switch" thin gauge wire to the cockpit to a low amp toggle/pushbutton switch, which switches the relay (high current side that fan is hooked to) on and off.

[Replicant_S14]

I'd be glad to hear any suggestions (or if someone wants to tell me a little about relays :-) For now i'm going to see if i can find out about relays on google.

The link labled "KA24DE: How to wire your Altima radiator e-fans ~ Schematic!" in mello88s sig has everything you need even though you aren't using Altima fans. The current draw is the same or close enough.

2.5 minutes with the fans running shouldn't drain your battery btw.

[dwadia]

Thanks for those links. The first one in the head's posting helped clarify things, then the second one confused them again:o It's good information but i have to read through that one more slowly - it gets a little complex. But i do get the general idea. That Altima e-fan schematic was also very helpful.

Mellow88 suggested a cockpit switch wired in between the relay and the fans. I just want to make sure i understand correctly, this is optional, right? What i understand is that this could act as an override constant-off switch, but even without this switch, if the relay is triggered by an ignition power source (such as the fuel pump), it would still turn the fans off when the key is removed. Is this correct?

[Replicant_S14]

What i understand is that this could act as an override constant-off switch, but even without this switch, if the relay is triggered by an ignition power source (such as the fuel pump), it would still turn the fans off when the key is removed. Is this correct?

That's correct.

[shayrgob240]

I honestly don't know what a relay is (yet)

basically a relay is a device that allows low current to control high current through the use of a coil.

Howstuffworks.com gives an awesome explanation of how it works. I suggest you check it out. peace

[g6civcx]

Or you can search for my posts with the word relay in it. I cover this topic at least once a month.