JDM Fan controller

[Brian]

Here is the deal, dudes.

I picked up a big fat radiator for my car, right? yeah. right.
Also, I got a big fat electrical fan with it. cool. pun.

Now, here is what I want.

I'd like to get a wicked JDM fan controller for it.

I've been looking around just a bit for some and so far I have 2 options that I see.

I like the Pivot one.
The BILLION one I do not like because it looks like a 60mm gauge.

I think HKS makes one too, but it might have a sprayer kit or something.
My gooogle is being crap right now, so searching is hard.


Does anybody have a suggestion for me for a badass JDM fan controller.

I don't want USA junk.

[projectRDM]

Pivot. Small, compact, some units double as a water temp gauge too. Very easy ti install and stash anywhere.

[Flicktitty]

SARD
Sard Racing M.F.C. Multi Fan Controller (http://www.rhdjapan.com/jdm-low/Sard-Racing-M-F-C-Multi-Fan-Controller-10263)#
HKS
HKS Fan Controller - HKS (http://www.prostreetonline.com/x/hks-fan-controller.asp)

[LongGrain]

i'm pretty sure greddy makes one, also DIF, but i'm not sure if DIF is usa or not.

i have heard good things about both.

if you want to be ultra JDM like me you can just run your fans to a switch

[racepar1]

USA, JDM, etc.... ALL made in taiwan. Get the DIF dual fan controller, it's probably made in taiwan too but it's cheaper than the "JDM" made in taiwan stuff.

[Brian]

yeah I saw the DIF on phase2..... never heard of it. I voted NO on it.
I thought about just doing a switch, but I need lights and bullshit.
PIVOT is in the lead so far. very basica and straightforward.

I already have a Yashio Factory temp gauge that I don't want to get rid of. Looks like it uses the EXACT same sensor as the Pivot (and GReddy for that matter)...

[LongGrain]

lights? what do you need lights for,

i thought you lived in cali where the sun shines 24/7 :keke:

[Brian]

lights. doodads.
bells and whistles....

[Brian]

the SARD one is nice. JDM is good on it. But, it is a little too basic I think. Needs more doodads.

[japslapsilvia]

greddy MSS, works great, you can use it for 2 fans, and stagger the temps at which the fans turn on, also you can use it for water temp.

you can also do one fan and a sprayer....or what ever else you want to trigger with, water temp, speed, or RPM.

[Brian]

I only have one fan though. No need for 2 things.
No sprayer either....


Question.


With the Pivot one, it comes with water temp and then fan control at certain temp.
I want to keep the Yashio gauge (obvious trick points)... so can I run both things off the one water temp sensor? How would I do that?

[Brian]

http://www.intakeone.com/images/Pivot/index_PIVFCG_B.jpg
retail price is pretty low too...
I think this is what I might end up getting...

[LongGrain]

I only have one fan though. No need for 2 things.
No sprayer either....


Question.


With the Pivot one, it comes with water temp and then fan control at certain temp.
I want to keep the Yashio gauge (obvious trick points)... so can I run both things off the one water temp sensor? How would I do that?

you can probably do that, you would just need to cut off the temp sensor on your fan controller and splice the wires into the wires for your yashio gauge.

i am no wiring guru or anything so dont quote me, but it sounds like it would work just fine.

[japslapsilvia]

i would think you would have to use a Diode
BUT
you may just be able to tap into the CTS just like ur Yashio gauge

dunno if it will cause any interference

Edit
wait does the pivot run a seperate sensor?

and does the YF use stock CTS?

[Brian]

yeah I assume thats what I can do... seems pretty solid and straightforward.

Also, the Pivot one gets priority because I have the Pivot headlight controller too...

[Brian]

what is a "CTS"?

edit: oh i bet it is coolant temp sensor, huh?

[bejota180sx]

i was just gonna say that CTS...

just get the pivot one, pretty simple and im guessing that you can use the yashio toy thingy you so much want to keep... since it uses the same sensor, im guessing the stock one? you could splice it in 2 places and have them read from that same sensor... i don't know if this would affect the sensor... thats the only problem i would see if it does then your screwed if not, go for it...

[Brian]

http://www.intakeone.com/images/Pivot/index_PIVFCG_B.jpg

I'm pretty sure they both use this exact same sensor... that one in the bottom left corner. (I know GReddy uses the exact same one too).

I have the metal YF temp sensor adaptor too. The one you put in the rad. hose.

[japslapsilvia]

greddy MSS uses stock CTS (coolant Temp sensor)

[Brian]

CTS must be some stock thing, right?

I have no idea where that is or what it looks like.

[LongGrain]

yea when you see CTS it is referring to the stock coolant temp sensor.

that pivot fan controller with the water temp display is sweet, i think i might get one for my car.

[Brian]

oh... for those that might tell me to just keep the stock fan..

on my s14 all I had was the AC fan. It turned on when I turned the car on. thats all.
Never had anything else. It seemed to keep the car pretty cool most of the time.

So, on my new car I will run a stock KA again, and I just got a big Spearco radiator. I figure I should probably not have cooling issues.

[projectRDM]

There's three different Pivot models, but I don't know which ones are still in production. Their site is hard to follow and most online retailers don't know the differences.

1) Uses the OE CTS, dual output for fans. Wire it all in right at the ECU.

2) Uses it's own sender, threads into a 1/8 BPST port IIRC, dual fan output.

3) Does both oil and water temp display, senders for each, dual fan output.

I have the second version, love it. Easy to use.

[Jtuned_andy]

DiF works great, easy install, operates two fans on different temeratures. Use it on my ride with no problems.

[Brian]

yeah the second one, thats what i want.
I think that is the picture I posted.

it SEEMS they are all discontinued.

[Brian]

The DIF one looks terrible.
That is NOT an option.

[racepar1]

The DIF one is mounted in the engine bay so you can't see it. I know you want another doohickey to play with in the car. :ghey: LOL

[Brian]

oh god, in the engine bay?
what is the benefit of that? NOTHING.
:)

[sillyvia13]

lol... Brain I can tune your ecu to have a fan controller for cheaps.
BUT no bells or whistles. but I can program a launch controller and a rev limter... there/s flames and fireball explosions!!! instead of lame ass bell and whistles toot toot.

lmk.
the pivot shit looks good.
but I am cheappppppppp, plus you know what my extra money goes too....lol
Peace brosefhhhh

[Brian]

Lol.... I can't handle tuned computers.

Stock KA or bust.

[Om1kron]

the SARD one is nice. JDM is good on it. But, it is a little too basic I think. Needs more doodads.

It's a fan controller, fans either spin low, or hi.. the controller add's a range to their operation. So they don't come on at full blast, if you're looking for import tuner bullshit to add to your car get one that has a water spray function added to it so you can add one of those cool spray kits to your intercooler for show points.

Otherwise, deal.

it's that simple dude.

http://www.frsport.com/DIF-Universal-PWM-Fan-Controller-Variable-Speed---Introductory-Price--_p_10337.html

That's the one I've been eyeballing for my car, just not ready to pull a 200 dollar trigger on it just yet. Otherwise you can do like the rest of the jdm guys out there and wire it into your stock fan relay, no jazzy electric box to draw battery current, just on or off when the car tells it to.

[Brian]

Okay cool.
I 100% will NOT be getting the DIF one.
scratch it off the list.

I don't want a sprayer for anything.
I don't think I am looking at "import tuner bullshit". I'm not even sure what that is.

[96Turbo]

I've got a pivot....it's the tits

only gripe is that it only dispays in *C....but i'm adjusting

mine has capability to display oil temp too, which would be cool if i didn't already have an oil temp gauge.

It taps into the stock coolant sensor so you don't need to worry about mounting an extra sensor, and other than that you only really need a basic 5 prong relay

PM me with any questions, i think i've got the owner's manual in a PDF if you want

[racepar1]

It's a fan controller, fans either spin low, or hi.. the controller add's a range to their operation. So they don't come on at full blast, if you're looking for import tuner bullshit to add to your car get one that has a water spray function added to it so you can add one of those cool spray kits to your intercooler for show points.

Otherwise, deal.

it's that simple dude.

DIF Universal PWM Fan Controller Variable Speed **Introductory Price** (http://www.frsport.com/DIF-Universal-PWM-Fan-Controller-Variable-Speed---Introductory-Price--_p_10337.html)

That's the one I've been eyeballing for my car, just not ready to pull a 200 dollar trigger on it just yet. Otherwise you can do like the rest of the jdm guys out there and wire it into your stock fan relay, no jazzy electric box to draw battery current, just on or off when the car tells it to.

That one isn't pretty enough for Brian, he wants lights and digital readouts and other non-sense! LOL!

:love:

LOL!

[Brian]

C* is what I want. I don't know how to reaf Farenheit.

I've got oil temp meter already..and pressure for that matter.

again, I have no idea where the stock Coolant sensor is... and I really don't know what a 5 prong relay is or what to do with it.

[Brian]

That one isn't pretty enough for Brian, he wants lights and digital readouts and other non-sense! LOL!

:love:

LOL!


duhhhh

engine bay is for a cool valve cover as well as a cool grounding kit in the near future. Hopefully one with a little blinky light.

[Flicktitty]

hook it up to a switch wired to a disco ball.

[Brian]

meh... no that doesn't help me.

Russ, want to sell yours to me?

[racepar1]

duhhhh

engine bay is for a cool valve cover as well as a cool grounding kit in the near future. Hopefully one with a little blinky light.

You could put those clear radiator hoses with neon lighting too! FTMFW! Oh, and like 30 tiny nitrous bottles hidden in the passenger's seat! LOL!

I would get the DIF one because I'm cheap and I don't care about cool doohickeys. I like the pivot one that you posted a pic of though. It's simple, small, and still has flashy lights and digital displays!

[Om1kron]

peace be with your new car!

[96Turbo]

C* is what I want. I don't know how to reaf Farenheit.

I've got oil temp meter already..and pressure for that matter.

again, I have no idea where the stock Coolant sensor is... and I really don't know what a 5 prong relay is or what to do with it.

stock coolant sensor is on the intake manifold in the front

you're going to tap into the wire that runs to your ecu (from coolant sensor)

then, you wire the trigger wire (from fan controller) to the relay to switch on your fan. for relay wiring, just search for any basic e-fan install

pertty simple....

[Brian]

I think I'll have somebody do it for me.
sounds pretty difficult.


from what I can tell, the fan has a red wire and a black wire coming out of it. I assume one is for power and one is for ground.

[96Turbo]

I think I'll have somebody do it for me.
sounds pretty difficult.


from what I can tell, the fan has a red wire and a black wire coming out of it. I assume one is for power and one is for ground.

true

fan controller sends out a ground signal when water reaches desired temp

this ground should be connected to the relay which supplies ground to the fan (you don't hook the wire from fan controller directly to the fan cuz it would draw too much current and fry the controller)

It's really not THAT complicated....took me about an hour of research and 2 hours of work

[Brian]

where is this "relay"?

[sillyvia13]

Lol.... I can't handle tuned computers.

Stock KA or bust.
Nah bro, You have no idea.
Its sick.
I have a tuned na ka. and it goes really well!
I can send you a chip if you wanna try it out!
LMK!

Peace broski.

[96Turbo]

where is this "relay"?

on the shelf at any autoparts store

just a generic 5 prong relay...

[Brian]

ok, then what?

where do I put that generic 5 prong relay?

[sillyvia13]

I can sell you a Chip sure.
If you can sloder it in. $50 shipped with a na ka tune stage 3.
I can put a few other tunes on it for future booooooost also.

[sillyvia13]

ecu sees cooltant temp reading from sensor, then you set temp where eva! and your good.

[GSXRJJordan]

Wow.

You may have problems running two devices off the same sensor - the sensor varies resistance based on temperature, but I don't know how well either device deals with doubling the impedance. Cliff notes: try it and see if they both still work.

As far as wiring up a standard Bosch-style relay - it has 4 (or 5, don't worry about pin 87a) pins on the bottom, that are labelled:
85/86 - these are the "coil" that get the "signal" to turn on the other pins - wire one of these to +12v and the other to your fan controller.
87/30 - these are the "power" pins, so wire one to fused +12v and the other to your fan's red wire. Black wire on the fan goes to a good ground location.
If you want to be cool, wire the "coil" +12v to the same +12v you use for 87/30. Keeps wires running to the relay at a minimum.

That's it buddy :) Enjoy your doodads.

[96Turbo]

ok, then what?

where do I put that generic 5 prong relay?

don't make me "let me google that for you"

search them shits....there's 4 wires you hook up to the relay (one prong is left empty).....

Wow.

You may have problems running two devices off the same sensor - the sensor varies resistance based on temperature, but I don't know how well either device deals with doubling the impedance. Cliff notes: try it and see if they both still work.

As far as wiring up a standard Bosch-style relay - it has 4 (or 5, don't worry about pin 87a) pins on the bottom, that are labelled:
85/86 - these are the "coil" that get the "signal" to turn on the other pins - wire one of these to +12v and the other to your fan controller.
87/30 - these are the "power" pins, so wire one to fused +12v and the other to your fan's red wire. Black wire on the fan goes to a good ground location.
If you want to be cool, wire the "coil" +12v to the same +12v you use for 87/30. Keeps wires running to the relay at a minimum.

That's it buddy :) Enjoy your doodads.

correct, but the Pivot uses a switched ground, and you've explained how to wire it up with a switched (+)....right?

[Brian]

blew my mind.... whoaaaaa.

I'll give it a shot one of these days.

[GSXRJJordan]

correct, but the Pivot uses a switched ground, and you've explained how to wire it up with a switched (+)

Negative. The way I described it energizes the coil when the pin connected to the controller goes low (switched ground) - the other side of the coil is +12v. The coil doesn't activate the relay until it has power passing through it, I.E. one gets +12v and the other gets ground.

[Brian]

12s Vs +s AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[GSXRJJordan]

Lol Brian, I'll wire it up for you if you let me put "GSXRJJORDAN" somewhere on your car, with glitter. Might even supply the relay, fuse, and glitter.

[96Turbo]

Negative. The way I described it energizes the coil when the pin connected to the controller goes low (switched ground) - the other side of the coil is +12v. The coil doesn't activate the relay until it has power passing through it, I.E. one gets +12v and the other gets ground.

i think i gotcha. So the +12V "signal" and the ground from the fan controller basically "switch on" the relay.....which connects the fan to the power source

i wired mine up so that it has a constant (+) supply, and the ground is being switched through the relay (with a fuse inline)

any adverse effects to having it wired this way?

[GSXRJJordan]

i think i gotcha. So the +12V "signal" and the ground from the fan controller basically "switch on" the relay.....which connects the fan to the power source

i wired mine up so that it has a constant (+) supply, and the ground is being switched through the relay (with a fuse inline)

any adverse effects to having it wired this way?

Lol we're sayin the same thing like a synonym, man. +12v signal = +12v constant supply. I just like to use the word "signal" so that people understand this lead doesn't have any real power going through it (like the +12v "87/30" lead does).

[96Turbo]

Lol we're sayin the same thing like a synonym, man. +12v signal = +12v constant supply. I just like to use the word "signal" so that people understand this lead doesn't have any real power going through it (like the +12v "87/30" lead does).

no, i'm talkin about the "supply"....the heavy gauge shit that runs through the relay to the fan.

I have it so that when the relay switches, it supplies (-), not (+) to the fan. (fans always are connected to (+))

i'm assuming it doesn't really matter, since it's just completing the circuit...but i wanna be sure

[GSXRJJordan]

no, i'm talkin about the "supply"....the heavy gauge shit that runs through the relay to the fan.

I have it so that when the relay switches, it supplies (-), not (+) to the fan. (fans always are connected to (+))

i'm assuming it doesn't really matter, since it's just completing the circuit...but i wanna be sure

It's all good. Doesn't make any "more" or "less" sense. Definitely works.

[sillyvia13]

system overload.

[Brian]

yeah, my brain exploded...
guts everywhere.

[projectRDM]

You guys are over complicating the fuck out of this.

You don't need a relay, the car already has one. In fact, it has two. One for low speed, one for high speed.

Choose which one you want to use. Cut the plug off the OE fan, use the power and ground lead coming from which ever relay you've chosen (actually it'll just be the power lead, the ground comes from the chassis, but we know that).
Find the trigger wire from the ECU, either at the ECU or at the relay. I *think* the two triggers are blue/green and orange/blue, but I'm not sure. Hit that trigger wire with the Pivot unit. Once tied in, the Pivot provides the ground trigger to the OE relay, thus turning on the fan. if you're keeping the OE fan you can use the dual outputs and trigger both high and low. Preset the unit at whatever temp you want it to come on, the second output triggers 5 degrees later.

Done.

And my unit is switchable between C and F, for those people who aren't Metric. Silly Americans.

IntakeOne.com Auto car performance parts and accessories (http://www.intakeone.com) used to have a load of Pivot stuff, check there. I'm not selling mine. Unless you buy the car with it. For $20k.

Or go here = http://www.pivotusa.com/tempcontrol/pivstc.htm , that unit has the oil sender but reads the OE CTS.

[Brian]

Russ. jackpot.

[sillyvia13]

Russ. jackpot.
I told ya.
your bells and whistle come at get cost. :dead:
the ecu, you plug it in. lmao! :wiggle:
$50 shippppppped
you wont. :2f2f:

lol
I will get a ecu chipped for you, I will send it, you will love it. and you can advertise it for me!

na ka ftw!!!:whip:

[96Turbo]

Russ, does that method apply to all S chassis?

As i recall, my SOHC S13 only had a small E fan for the A/C condenser. Would that relay circuit be beefy enough to power 2 aftermarket fans?

[smelly240]

The sr doesnt have a output for a fan (just a/c)... you have to change the bin and use the pin that was for aiv. (pin 111) i dont know shit about KAs tho.

[projectRDM]

Russ, does that method apply to all S chassis?

As i recall, my SOHC S13 only had a small E fan for the A/C condenser. Would that relay circuit be beefy enough to power 2 aftermarket fans?

SOHC I'm not sure about, I'd need to look at a schematic since I've only touched two SOHC cars ever. No one has any around here that I've worked on.

DOHC S13s have a real fan/relay but it's only a single speed, so in that case you'd want to add a relay for the second fan. It's basically one fan per relay, the circuits are 30A per, most fans will pull up to 20A at high speed.

I read more and found this model too: http://www.pivotusa.com/tempcontrol/pivfcg.htm and if you read through they list an XL version, that's the one with no sender, it connects to the OE CTS. So basically those units are the same design, one uses the OE sender, one has it's own sender. I have the regular version with the sender, not the XL version.

[Rittmeister]

I've got the Pivot. I've had it for several years now and I think it's excellent. Straightforward install, and fairly idiot-proof. I only wish it read in fahrenheit.

The unit I got actually reads two sensors. It's supplied with one. You can use that one to read water temp or oil temp, or you can read water temp off the OEM coolant sensor as mentioned above.

I have mine set up to read coolant temp off the factory sensor, and I have the supplied sensor in the oil pan reading oil temp. You can set the readout to show one or the other or toggle between them every few seconds.

FWIW, I had originally wanted the HKS but it was on national backorder at the time. I'm actually glad I ended up with the Pivot, it was less expensive and works quite well.

[Brian]

Hmmm, perhaps a better bet for me would be the Pivot that reads from the OEM sensor, that was I can still keep the Yashio dude with his own sensor and not hack into it to try and get double the fun...

[japslapsilvia]

yes. that would work.
cant you configure the YF gauge to trigger a ground signal and use it for fan control as well?

[Brian]

You must not know me.
Me, modify electronics?

[sillyvia13]

Russ, does that method apply to all S chassis?

As i recall, my SOHC S13 only had a small E fan for the A/C condenser. Would that relay circuit be beefy enough to power 2 aftermarket fans?
yup, sohc has a fan controller, BUT I dont have boards for them, go to moates.net get a 8 bit socket and a chip to match.

I will sell you a used sohc ecu, $25 and then have someone solder in socket.
Send me your chip plus $10 to burn tune for sohc.

Will have luanch controller, fan controller, and rev limiter.
You can real time tune sohc now also. DOhc REAL time COMING SOON! or its here and I have been to busy to learn it..

[projectRDM]

I've got the Pivot. I've had it for several years now and I think it's excellent. Straightforward install, and fairly idiot-proof. I only wish it read in fahrenheit.


Someone else mentioned that, weird. Mine has a dipswitch on the back to change it over, it looks like the Super unit with both water and oil reads Celsius only, whereas the other two are switchable.

[corey240]

Flexalite sells a very simple one. Its cheap, and works. Im buying one after christmas.

[Brian]

that does not sound JDM at all...

[japslapsilvia]

Brian wants only the best that JDM has to offer....no plain jane crap..he needs all the bells and whistles....lights alarms.....all the coolest dooodadds in the world...and with the convince of "plug n play" so if you suggest something that doesnt fit the above criteria.........DONT waste ur time!!

[Brian]

damn right.

preach it, sister.

[corey240]

And people complain the economy is going to shit.:blah:

[Brian]

Hey look, keep it on topic please.

[Temple240]

I love my HKS controller. It tapes into the ecu sensor and has a digital readout (F or C), can control 2 fans or one high/low, you can set a warning temp, control meth injection, set it up to read out for an additional two sensors (oil temp or another water temp), and I think it even does more. Its really simple to use and I only paid $100 for it new. Problem is that its discontinued.

[Brian]

Do they provide the tape or do you have to find some on your own?

[96Turbo]

yup, sohc has a fan controller, BUT I dont have boards for them, go to moates.net get a 8 bit socket and a chip to match.

I will sell you a used sohc ecu, $25 and then have someone solder in socket.
Send me your chip plus $10 to burn tune for sohc.

Will have luanch controller, fan controller, and rev limiter.
You can real time tune sohc now also. DOhc REAL time COMING SOON! or its here and I have been to busy to learn it..

I've got an RB25 now :bigok:

but i'll sell ya my SOHC ECU to fuck around with??

[GSXRJJordan]

I was trying to avoid using the factory relays Russ, but thanks for chiming in with the proper way to do it - I used that method on my S13, worked fine. Blue/orange is the lead for the "high" fan relay ground signal, and that's the one you want to use (I think the low is only 20a?).

Lol Brian, let me glitter my name somewhere in your car, I'll solve all your wire/relay/tape problems =P

BTW - he meant "tap" into your ECU wire, not "tape". And yes, they provide the tap.

[japslapsilvia]

I love my HKS controller. It tapes into the ecu sensor and has a digital readout (F or C), can control 2 fans or one high/low, you can set a warning temp, control meth injection, set it up to read out for an additional two sensors (oil temp or another water temp), and I think it even does more. Its really simple to use and I only paid $100 for it new. Problem is that its discontinued.

another problem is that you cant set 2 fans to turn on at different temps.

[Brian]

BTW - he meant "tap" into your ECU wire, not "tape". And yes, they provide the tap.


;) I know.

[projectRDM]

I was trying to avoid using the factory relays Russ, but thanks for chiming in with the proper way to do it - I used that method on my S13, worked fine. Blue/orange is the lead for the "high" fan relay ground signal, and that's the one you want to use (I think the low is only 20a?).

Lol Brian, let me glitter my name somewhere in your car, I'll solve all your wire/relay/tape problems =P

BTW - he meant "tap" into your ECU wire, not "tape". And yes, they provide the tap.

They're both 30A, and you're right on the wire color, I had it backwards.