Altima Fans killed my Relays

[pbcstylez]

Here it is:

I am running dual altima fans on a s14, wired to a Greddy MSS. I have both fans wired to run on High each fan is wired to its own 30A relay and 30A fuse. Both relays are wired to trigger on a ground signal sent out by the MSS. Recently only one of my fans turn on effectively. The other never triggers, and the reason is due to burnt out relays. I have replaced the relay twice now. Since these buggers are not cheap to replace. I would like to seek you advice on how I should go about to debug my issue.

#1 I dont know why my relays keep burning out? Could it be excessive current draw?

#2 Could it be that my fans are drawing more than the relay is rated for? 30A? (but than my fuse is also 30A, I would suspect my fuse would blow first).

#3 I have visibly checked for shorts, and cannot locate any.

[orion::S14]

You need more relays...I run 4.

One for low, on fan #1...one for high on fan #1.

One for low on fan #2...and one for high on fan #2.

Less current through each, and they won't burn out.

I've never had an issue, in +3 years with that setup.

- Brian

[undesiredshoe]

You have two 30amp fuses for each fan?? Im only running one 20amp for both fans. After the fuse, the wires run in parallel to two relays. It could be that theres something wrong with your circuit and the fuses need to blow but they dont because they are rated too high. I would try two 7.5amp fuses and if those blow when you fans turn on then move up to a 10amp fuse.

[pbcstylez]

You need more relays...I run 4.

One for low, on fan #1...one for high on fan #1.

One for low on fan #2...and one for high on fan #2.

Less current through each, and they won't burn out.

I've never had an issue, in +3 years with that setup.

- Brian

I run only one speed per fan, therefore I dont need 4 relays.

You have two 30amp fuses for each fan?? Im only running one 20amp for both fans. After the fuse, the wires run in parallel to two relays. It could be that theres something wrong with your circuit and the fuses need to blow but they dont because they are rated too high. I would try two 7.5amp fuses and if those blow when you fans turn on then move up to a 10amp fuse.


I am running one relay per fan. If I put in lower rated fuses, I would just keep blowing them until I got to ~<30A, which is what the fan is supposed to draw. I dont see what this is supposed to accomplish?

Thanks for the suggestions guys, keep them coming....

[wangan_cruiser]

try to run higher amp relays 40amp/50amp. im thinking you are overloading them.



btw i never ran em but how much amp to crank the initial turn on with the fans?

[GSXRJJordan]

It's extremely odd to be burning automotive relays... you tested the coils of the "burned out ones" and they don't click any more?

What are the fans rated at for power consumption?

[undesiredshoe]

I run only one speed per fan, therefore I dont need 4 relays.




I am running one relay per fan. If I put in lower rated fuses, I would just keep blowing them until I got to ~<30A, which is what the fan is supposed to draw. I dont see what this is supposed to accomplish?

Thanks for the suggestions guys, keep them coming....

So you are running two relays with two 30 amp fuses? I know each fan is not going to draw up to 30 amps as I am using a 20amp fuse to feed power to both fans.

Can you draw how you have your fans setup or take a picture?

[pbcstylez]

i figured it out, my relays werent getting full 12V, I had a loose ground

[NemeGuero]

Yah, I was gonna say check your grounds.

You may need more relays if you're running the fans on high power.. .but w/e

[BigVinnie]

The altima fans are rated at 12V, 30AMP

I bridged the wires together per each fan. Both sets of wires run in low, the purpose is when you kick in the secondary set of wires it sets it to high as it increases the amprage.
I use the Flex a lite thermostatic switch with 30amp fuse, FUCK relays...

[kognition]

Yea, like GSX Jordan said above.... relays don't burn out easily. And it is usually the signal coil that burns out from too much current.

[NemeGuero]

You should use relays. The thermo switch should just kick on the relay or if some shit goes bad your flex a lite will die instead of your relay not giving power.