Electric fan wiring issue

[opponheimer]

Installed a 3.8l taurus fan, wired the high setting with a 50A relay. The post #30 on the relay (terminal that goes straight to the fan power) gets really hot, and it has a good soldered connection, to the power wire.


Is it normal for relays to get hot? should i get thicker gauged wires?

I tried wiring the high setting before on a stock nissan relay and the same problem happened, the exact same post started to overheat.

What the hell.

[crazybb]

use at least a 10 gauge wire and make sure that you have a good clean ground..

[datsun510dude]

yes, its normal to get warm, especially moving 50amps. Out of curiosity, what kind of relay are you running?
If im not mistaken there are 2 speeds for that fan, and the low draws about 50 amps and high draws 75-80? ( i remember someone posting such info after using the search for this topic)
If I were you, id be using a relay like this
http://www.034motorsport.com/product_info.php?cPath=57_59&products_id=405

[datsun510dude]

use at least a 10 gauge wire and make sure that you have a good clean ground..

10 gauge wire can take about 55 amps
8 gauge can take about 73 amps


so i looked and found this
1995 Ford Taurus (3.8L)
Dual speed
low: ~2500 cfm, Amp draw ~23.75A
high: ~3800cfm, Amp draw ~46.5A

http://zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=173441&highlight=amp+draw

So, that 50 amp relay is workin at almost 100% efficiency....yeah, itll get hot then for sure....id probably upgrade to a larger relay (like the 4 post relay in my last post) if your going to use the high speed, but from what i have read, a lot of people are happy with the fan on "low" speed.....

[Anto]

low is more than enough for cooling. i heard hi sucks massive power, dims your lights and shit haha. try wiring the low and hi wire together at the same time. yee haw

[RUTH'LESSDET]

good info I'm in the process of picing up a taurus fan and was wondering the same thing

[opponheimer]

actually high doesnt dim my lights, its just really loud. I might run only low though for the simple fact that i dont want to burn the fan up sooner.

I had overheating problems last weekend. I have a s13 sr w/ 4-row fmic and A/C with stock s13 automatic radiator

[datsun510dude]

you may want to use the low on a thermo switch...and then high on a manual switch for the times you need that extra cooling power....
high SHOULDNT dim your lights and if it does....your electrical system may not be up to par\
found some cool info on a Datsun electric fan install site
http://www.jrdemers.com/280ZX/overheat/overbase.html