Electric fan question

[Bones Jackson]

Does this sound like the motor is going bad in my fan? I can turn the fan on and it will run for about 30 seconds and blow the 20 amp fuse. I put a 30 in and same thing but runs about 45 seconds. Is the fan motor slowly going bad, thats why its pulling more and more amperage?

 

[moparpoor]

High amperage draw is usually the sign of brushes and armateur going south.

 

[Budnicks]

From your description it sounds like it's worn out, maybe even the bearing/bushing armature or brushes bad, bad electrical connections or seeking ground/bad ground.... How old is the fan ?, What amperage draw is/was the fan rated at ?, Did you have a relay inline with the fan & fuse ?, Is the wire properly sized ?, Is your charging/battery system up to par ?... Just a suggestion, In the future {if you don't already have it}, all 12 volt DC electronics , especially electric motors & electric pumps {electric fans or water/fuel pumps etc.} each component should be run threw a properly rated relay, properly rated arming switch, properly sized fuse, properly sized wires & grounds, it's less draw on the battery/charging system, a 30-40amp Bosch, box type relay or larger if you have larger amperage draws, electrical components will usually last longer... There is a great site with tech & products for 12 volt DC automotive electronics www.madelectrical.com good luck

 

[67 coronet]

put a meter on it and see if it slowly draws more or if its a sudden short.if its slow updraw most likely the fan,if it is sudden could be loose wire or contact point.did you check to see if the fan has any wobble at the bearing?

 

[Bones Jackson]

I'm using a 30 amp Bosch style relay. The fan is out of a Ford taurus I beleive and used to work fine. I used the taurus fan because it fit very nice and the shroud overs the radiator perfectly. I didnt see an aperage rating on the motor. All I found was it was made by Depo. I'm thinking about dropping it off at a shop nearby that repairs electric motors and see what he says.

 

[moparpoor]

If it is a depo unit it is junk.They are a cheap chinese import used in the collision industry.They are usually imported or sold as Tong Yang.I have more problems with that garbage then its worth.Save yourself the headache and throw it in the garbage.

 

[Cranky]

Probably won't be cheap but you could go to Ford and get a replacement since it fits so well...or go to a wrecking yard and see if you can find a Ford part and have it rebuilt...?

 

[Bones Jackson]

If it is a depo unit it is junk.They are a cheap chinese import used in the collision industry.They are usually imported or sold as Tong Yang.I have more problems with that garbage then its worth.Save yourself the headache and throw it in the garbage.

Its definitly a Depo brand. I thought about changing it, but would one flexalite keep my car cool enough? I'm going to race it and cruise around town. The Depo fan moved a ton of air before this problem.

 

[67 coronet]

Its definitly a Depo brand. I thought about changing it, but would one flexalite keep my car cool enough? I'm going to race it and cruise around town. The Depo fan moved a ton of air before this problem.

if you can find any kind of # on it,look it up online.see if you can find the cfm rating and try to match it with a better fan.

 

[Bones Jackson]

Found out this fan is out of a 04 Mercedes C class and pulls 50 amps on start up and 40 continuous. Thats probably why I'm blowing 30a fuses. Doing a little digging I've heard this is a popular set up.

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Number=6035723&page=

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

Is that Bosch relay the one that came with the fan? If not try a new relay, mine is set up to plug in and out of a socket with adjustable temp setting got from oriley.

 

[Propwash]

Found out this fan is out of a 04 Mercedes C class and pulls 50 amps on start up and 40 continuous. Thats probably why I'm blowing 30a fuses. Doing a little digging I've heard this is a popular set up.

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Number=6035723&page=

Wow...Seems like that would raise some serious havock if a guy was running a 50-60AMP alternator. I didn't see in the thread but the guy must have been running an upgraded Alt system?

 

[Budnicks]

Damn 50amp draw

Wow...Seems like that would raise some serious havock if a guy was running a 50-60AMP alternator. I didn't see in the thread but the guy must have been running an upgraded Alt system?

:iamwithstupid: Damn that's a big amperage draw for a electric fan, I bet it moves some air if it draws 50 amps, that's more amperage than my whole house fan draws, you would need a 100amp alternator just to keep up with the rest of the electrical & ignition, plus keep the battery charged... I have 2 Be-Cool aluminum bladed high flow fans 1)16" 2950cfm puller with custom shroud 12amp draw & 1) 13" 1650cfm auxiliary pusher 8amp draw 3600cfm total on a 479ci stroker wedge some time street driven, mid 9 sec N/A & mid 8sec ET on N20 race motor, with an electric water pump flowing 37gpm & a 4 core down flow 22" aluminum rad., no issues ever overheating, runs at 180*-190* all day long, even while cruising, in traffic or slow cruising, I just turn on the 13" pusher fan just to be safe...

 

[Budnicks]

Bingo

Found out this fan is out of a 04 Mercedes C class and pulls 50 amps on start up and 40 continuous. Thats probably why I'm blowing 30a fuses. Doing a little digging I've heard this is a popular set up.

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Number=6035723&page=

Well there you go...problem found, Now just need to solve it...

 

[Bones Jackson]

:iamwithstupid: Damn that's a big amperage draw for a electric fan, I bet it moves some air if it draws 50 amps, that's more amperage than my whole house fan draws, you would need a 100amp alternator just to keep up with the rest of the electrical & ignition, plus keep the battery charged... I have 2 Be-Cool aluminum bladed high flow fans 1)16" 2950cfm puller with custom shroud 12amp draw & 1) 13" 1650cfm auxiliary pusher 8amp draw 3600cfm total on a 479ci stroker wedge some time street driven, mid 9 sec N/A & mid 8sec ET on N20 race motor, with an electric water pump flowing 37gpm & a 4 core down flow 22" aluminum rad., no issues ever overheating, runs at 180*-190* all day long, even while cruising, in traffic or slow cruising, I just turn on the 13" pusher fan just to be safe...

9 sec car on the street is awesome! I got it running last night, wired a car audio 60a fuse from the battery distribution block I have under the dash to the fan. used the little trigger wire as my switch. I have a 75 amp powermaster alt now, probably gonna need a bigger alternator.

 

[Budnicks]

100amp alt..

9 sec car on the street is awesome! I got it running last night, wired a car audio 60a fuse from the battery distribution block I have under the dash to the fan. used the little trigger wire as my switch. I have a 75 amp powermaster alt now, probably gonna need a bigger alternator.

Thanks, unfortunately I sold that engine short block combo, I still have a stout full roller, aluminum head, original 383ci/B-engine base block & crank, with all the same set up, just a different short block, not the big hp 479ci mid 9sec ET engine, I needed the money, had to sell something, the 90+ less cubes still drives real well, I haven't been to the track with the current set-up.... That would probably be a good idea, to have a higher amperage output alternator, you should have something like 20% over what you need in alternator amperage output, add up all the usage, ignition ?, fans ?, pumps ?, stereos ?, & the regular basic std. automotive electrical stuff takes like 30-36 amps to maintain a positive 12vlt. charge... I would think a 100amp alternator is the minimum needed... Good luck, at least you know what it was now, I think Powermaster has a 140amp 1 wire or Chrysler dual field high out-put unit {used on police cars} or possibly a GM or MSD unit they aren't cheap though, $200 range & up, to start....

 

[Bones Jackson]

I'm going to take a ride over to Summit and price out a 140 amp this weekend.