Electical fan wiring help (12v ignition source)

[silviaguy240]

so i have everything wired up, but for my thermo control i either need to hard wire it to the battery or set it up with a ignition source. my problem is choosing something that is goes hot when the ignition is turned on, i just hate figuring out what to tap into. i have the thermo unit setup on the passenger strut tower and i have like 5 ft of wire they gave me to use, im not sure what would be easiest to tap into. what i need to do is the thin red wire.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e210/silviaguy240/fan.png

[VNG704]

well it's been awhile since I've looked at my e fan wiring but if you have a thermo switch setup then you could power wire it straight to the battery. Have the temp sensor poke right into the radiator fins (mine is up by the top driver side corner) It won't turn on until the temps hit your set temp anyway. just make sure you use relays and fuses.

[a fuzzychnchila]

I have mine wired to the wind shield wipers power haha been driving like this for over a year and works fine... that power doesn't go hot till the ignition is turned :)

[JDMRIDDAZ]

try engine cont fuse in front fuse panel on pass side if it s13..

[codyille]

I have mine wired to the wind shield wipers power haha been driving like this for over a year and works fine... that power doesn't go hot till the ignition is turned :)


As do I with no problems!!!

[GSXRJJordan]

Wow, you guys are something.

Be very cautious when wiring anything into an existing system, as the OEM systems can't take much increased load without melting wires/blowing fuses. If all you need is an ignition switched source to activate a relay, tapping into the fusebox (where the ignition relay is) or the windshield wiper +12V wire (light green) works... but again, make sure you're not pulling current through there for your fans/lights/whatever else you want to wire in.

Creating extra junctions in the engine bay leads to problems most of the time because it's exposed to the elements ~ make sure you're connections are mechanically sound before you solder, then solder and either heat shrink or do a hell of an electrical tape job to seal it all up.

[xpertsnowcarver]

^^To add, but in regards to getting power from the wiper circuit.

If I recall correctly, the wiper power goes through a circuit breaker. So, if one runs electric fans and wipers at the same time on the same circuit, the circuit breaker could kick on, putting you out of luck. No wipers and no electric fans.

[HemiCharger]

^^To add, but in regards to getting power from the wiper circuit.

If I recall correctly, the wiper power goes through a circuit breaker. So, if one runs electric fans and wipers at the same time on the same circuit, the circuit breaker could kick on, putting you out of luck. No wipers and no electric fans.


I use the battery terminals for both fans wired straight to a switch in the cockpit. I have forgotten to turn the switch off a couple of times and had to get a jump. The best way IMO is to use the samco upper rad hose with the switch terminal built in it and use a honda thermal sensor running to a control unit. Use a relay and all should be good. I just have not gotten off my lazy ass to go do it yet but I will...

[GSXRJJordan]

There's not enough juice in any of the existing circuits to run a pair of fans. You've got to set up your own fuse and relay.

Oh, and the factory setup doesn't use circuit breakers, only fuses and fusible links.

I use the battery terminals for both fans wired straight to a switch in the cockpit. I have forgotten to turn the switch off a couple of times and had to get a jump. The best way IMO is to use the samco upper rad hose with the switch terminal built in it and use a honda thermal sensor running to a control unit. Use a relay and all should be good. I just have not gotten off my lazy ass to go do it yet but I will...

You forgot to mention a fuse... that's the most important part!

[HemiCharger]

There's not enough juice in any of the existing circuits to run a pair of fans. You've got to set up your own fuse and relay.

Oh, and the factory setup doesn't use circuit breakers, only fuses and fusible links.



You forgot to mention a fuse... that's the most important part!

oh yeah I got a inline fuse too a 30 for 40 amp can not remember but yeah that is important do not want to catch shit on fire.

[silviaguy240]

oh, hey. i just put it to the battery. i wasnt really reading the whole "straight to battery for thermo control" thing correctly which is what i have. so yea they work fine. and should i put a relay in somewhere or something or is the 30a fuse thats provided enough?

heres what i did

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e210/silviaguy240/fan2.png

[GSXRJJordan]

Your fan controller is acting as the relay, so that's fine. As long as you've got a fuse in there and that ignition-switched +12V lead isn't pulling 30A for the fans, you're fine.

I should also note that if you just hook up the thin red wire to the battery, the only difference is your fans will stay on until the car is cooled down, even if the car is off. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Food for thought.

[fliprayzin240sx]

^^^Thats actually how I had mine hooked up at one point. Stays on till the sensor detects it lower than 70 degrees or what ever the thermo is set to.

[rsibley22]

I have mine wired to the wind shield wipers power haha been driving like this for over a year and works fine... that power doesn't go hot till the ignition is turned :)

haha! that's how mine was when i bought my car ,but it was kinda sketch in the rain as the wipers moved probly 3-4 slower than they would. Now i just have the fans hooked to a power switch in the cabin till i get a thermostat fan control ish