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View Full Version : Wiring fan to thermostat?

iamwesley
07-08-2005, 09:30 AM
Can someone explain to me how to wire my electric fan to a thermostat. I want it to turn on only when it gets hot. I had my permacools wired to to the ignition and they didnt last long. Can someone explain to me what is needed and how it works?
PROJECTRB240SX
07-08-2005, 09:35 AM
The Thermostat Is Just A Ground.... You Put The Thermostat In The Hottest Portion Of The Cooling System (head, Radiator Return, Between Cylinders, Etc.), Then Wire The Ground Wire From The Fan To The Thermostat And The Power From An Ignition On Source To The Power (recommend A Spst 30a Relay).

I JUST REALIZED I ONLY GAVE YOU INFO FOR THE THREADED STYLE OF THERMOSTATS.

FOR THE BULB STYLE YOU CAN EITEHR CLAMP IT INTO THE UPPER RADIATOR HOSE OR PUSH IT INTO THE UPPER RADIATOR HOSE. THIS STYLE NORMALLY USES THE HEAT FROMT HE BULB TO ACTUATE A RELAY SWITCH ON A SEPERATE CONTROL UNIT BUT ESSENTIALLY ITS THE SAME WIRING.
g2ic02
07-08-2005, 09:36 AM
i am not sure how to wire it up(I have never really looked), but i have the adjustable thermostat from my perm-a-cool fan if you want to buy it from me.
Replicant_S14
07-08-2005, 10:22 AM
There's already a thread about this very thing and it's recent.

One thing I didn't see in this or the other thread is that there's already a reliable fan control circuit on the car. At least on my car (s14) there is. If your new fan pulls more current than the existing circuit can handle you can always just add relays and wiring to the existing control.
projectRDM
07-08-2005, 11:41 AM
^ Agreed. The OE setup is more than efficient for most applications. Trusting one of those janky ass probes that insert into the radiator isn't very smart, they're far from reliable.
iamwesley
07-08-2005, 12:35 PM
^ Agreed. The OE setup is more than efficient for most applications. Trusting one of those janky ass probes that insert into the radiator isn't very smart, they're far from reliable.

So how would I wire the fan to the OEM setup?
statik
07-08-2005, 05:00 PM
There's already a thread about this very thing and it's recent.

One thing I didn't see in this or the other thread is that there's already a reliable fan control circuit on the car. At least on my car (s14) there is. If your new fan pulls more current than the existing circuit can handle you can always just add relays and wiring to the existing control.

Which circuit are you referring to? The only one i can think of is the a/c condensor fan, which I believe only comes on when the a/c is running.
240Driver39
07-08-2005, 10:40 PM
Trusting one of those janky ass probes that insert into the radiator isn't very smart, they're far from reliable.

sadly i found this lesson out 3 weeks ago...lasted bout 2 years...but took a dump one day...ah well, it was a good run.
projectRDM
07-09-2005, 12:46 AM
Which circuit are you referring to? The only one i can think of is the a/c condensor fan, which I believe only comes on when the a/c is running.


You believe poorly.

Fan comes on low speed at 202 degrees, high at 212. It also runs on high when the A/C is engaged.
DJPimpFlex
07-10-2005, 03:11 AM
well I went about it another way. I got a painless wiring kit for my fans. Pretty easy. I had to make a thermostatic switch housing and insert it into the coolant line (cut the hose and put it in the middle, but I works perfect now. Fuully automated and comes on when I want it to and shuts off the same. Heres a link.

Wiring Kit (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7972960556&category=33600&sspagename=WD1V)
statik
07-10-2005, 09:04 AM
You believe poorly.

Fan comes on low speed at 202 degrees, high at 212. It also runs on high when the A/C is engaged.

does it output different voltage for the low speed/high speed?
projectRDM
07-10-2005, 10:32 AM
Nope. 12V on both inputs to the motor.

On S13s, it's only a single speed.
projectRDM
07-10-2005, 10:35 AM
So how would I wire the fan to the OEM setup?

Take the OE fan out, use the existing leads to wire to both fans, low for one and high for the other if it's a pair, otherwise directly to the low side if it's a single fan.

For additional cooling you can ground the ECU signal and run the fan all the time, but that generally is too much and doesn't allow the engine to warm up as easily. You can also wire in a switch, or buy a fan controller like the HKS or Pivot units to turn the fan at a preset temp.