PWM radiator fan controller

[ra_28]

Hi All

Looking at running my two Spal 10" radiator fans with a PWM controller. I know the the Autronic SM4 will be able to control the module but I'm trying to find what module to use?

I can see the Autronic have made a module before but they seem to be nil stock and they are in Sweden I've also read about using Evo 8 or volvo fan controllers.

Has anyone used a PWM controller before? What did you use.

Cheers
Alex

[jondee86]

I got one of these...



From here... eyeR Interceptor: 25Amp PWM FET Module Add-on
Hooked it up to a PWM output from my ECU, but had a bit of a fail the first time I had the car out, so by-passed it and just reverted to on/off control. When I get interested again, I'll go back and see what I did wrong

Cheers... jondee86

[ra_28]

Ok thanks jondee86, that's a start. I'll try and make contact with him to see if they still make them. Would be good too see it working correctly as doesn't seem to be much feed back on the net about reliability, how well they work?

Was looking at the auto Cool 85a model but that utilises its own sensor.

[allencr]

http://www.toymods.org.au/forums/tec...hermofans.html

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http://www.toymods.org.au/forums/tec...ml#post1197841

[jondee86]

... doesn't seem to be much feed back on the net about reliability, how well they work?

When I got interested in this, I had a look around, and there were a couple of places offering nice PWM controllers. They were farkin expensive, and as you say, all wanted their own dumb probe stuck between the radiator fins. I also had a look at a BMW controller. That was multiplexed from the BMW ECU, and no way was I going to try and unravel that.

I think I over-complicated the job... wanted to start the fan at about 40% duty cycle, so needed to use a couple of ECU outputs. One for on/off and one for ramping up according to ECU water temp sensor reading. Works fine for the moment as on/off as it is not a big power fan. Just would be nice to get the ramp up part working one day

Cheers... jondee86

[ra_28]

http://www.toymods.org.au/forums/tec...hermofans.html

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http://www.toymods.org.au/forums/tec...ml#post1197841

Thanks Allencr, I've read those but that's not quite what I'm trying to do. They are a fixed speed where as a PWM will allows a sliding scale from 0% - 100% speed adjustment.

When I got interested in this, I had a look around, and there were a couple of places offering nice PWM controllers. They were farkin expensive, and as you say, all wanted their own dumb probe stuck between the radiator fins. I also had a look at a BMW controller. That was multiplexed from the BMW ECU, and no way was I going to try and unravel that.

I think I over-complicated the job... wanted to start the fan at about 40% duty cycle, so needed to use a couple of ECU outputs. One for on/off and one for ramping up according to ECU water temp sensor reading. Works fine for the moment as on/off as it is not a big power fan. Just would be nice to get the ramp up part working one day

Cheers... jondee86

I see Haltech do a solid state 100amp relay. I'll also look into them.

http://www.haltech.com/wp-content/up...y-HT030202.pdf

Edit:- Seems like Jaycar have this relay also.

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=SY4086



Alex

[George]

I prefer Volvo-style setup with 2-stage thermal switch and 2-speed fan (or 1-speed fan+ballast resistor). In this case fan starts at low speed if coolant temp is above~60 degrees C.

PWM controllers do tend to fail due to overheating/improper powering/grounding, and in some cases they can induce decent amount of interference with efi system.

[dumbass]

use the haltech solid state relay
u can buy them form jaycar for 48 bucks
well worth it
or spal make a pwm controller to suit their fans but it might cost u a new bum hole