convert viscous belt fan to electric fan

[rion]

just wondering if any tsikoteers have experienced converting belt-driven clutch fan to electric fan.

did it gain additional power? and did the engine run cooler?

and also, has anyone put an electric pusher fan in front of their radiator and yet still left the standard viscous fan in place?

[speedyfix]

you will gain power because there is less load on the engine. but the clutch fan can theoretically cool better because it speeds up as the rpm goes up.

i've put a push fan on my car but that was just to aid in a/c cooling which suffered after the intercooler went in.

[alwayz_yummy]

in inspection sa surplusan, pano po mo malalaman kung fan ay mount front or back ng radiator? pag pinatakbo ba?

diba pag electric na yung fan, mas constant na ang rpm nun than sa clutch fan na connected sa engine?

[utk505]

in inspection sa surplusan, pano po mo malalaman kung fan ay mount front or back ng radiator? pag pinatakbo ba?

depends on the blades rotation

diba pag electric na yung fan, mas constant na ang rpm nun than sa clutch fan na connected sa engine?

right , pero mas malakas parin ang clutch fan

[rion]

I notice that our belt driven fans has limit speed. nag freewheeling nalang siya...

I have no plans right now, but just wondering how do you remove it? it's not as easy as removing the fan right? I mean removing the blades will still consume power unless you have to do something about the belt and other connections right?

[kinyo]

removing the blades would have practically elimated the fan as a load on the engine

for an electric driven fan, you might need to install a thermostat switch so that the motor will not have to run continuously, otherwise it would not last long and the carbon brushes of the motor would need replacement regulary as well as its bearings

in some cars, the fan motor is not powered at all when the car is at some speed where wind speed is enough to cool the radiator and the thermostat stays at "off" state

[Yoda]

I notice that our belt driven fans has limit speed. nag freewheeling nalang siya...

That's normal if the engine is cold. Try running the engine to its operating temperature, then shut it down. The fan shouldn't be "free-wheeling" at this point if your viscous coupling is still intact.

I have no plans right now, but just wondering how do you remove it? it's not as easy as removing the fan right? I mean removing the blades will still consume power unless you have to do something about the belt and other connections right?

It should be. You can't reroute the belts and leave out the fan gear since that one's also connected to the water pump.

[rion]

removing the blades would have practically elimated the fan as a load on the engine

for an electric driven fan, you might need to install a thermostat switch so that the motor will not have to run continuously, otherwise it would not last long and the carbon brushes of the motor would need replacement regulary as well as its bearings

in some cars, the fan motor is not powered at all when the car is at some speed where wind speed is enough to cool the radiator and the thermostat stays at "off" state

I see thanks.

is there a thermostat with adjustable temperature switcher available localy? I also want to put one in my van's intercooler. manual kasi yung switch...

That's normal if the engine is cold. Try running the engine to its operating temperature, then shut it down. The fan shouldn't be "free-wheeling" at this point if your viscous coupling is still intact.

It should be. You can't reroute the belts and leave out the fan gear since that one's also connected to the water pump.

that figures. sometimes, medyo iba yung tunog. yung fan pala ang nag-turn on-off. thanks.

I just thought since the main fan has two belts. maybe there is a way to make it one belt or something making it more lighter.


how about adding a pusher fan? since belt driven fan has a on-off pala, where in heavy and hot traffics, or vans with no much airflow since radiator is under the driver seat. will it make the belt fan on free-wheeling state most often? giving the engine a lighter load?

[Yoda]

I just thought since the main fan has two belts. maybe there is a way to make it one belt or something making it more lighter.

Two belts? Never seen such a setup. Disregarding the aircon compressor and the power steering pump, it's usually just a single belt looping through the crank, alternator and water pump, forming a triangular drive. The gear on the water pump attaches to the fan also, so the same gear drives both devices.

Pano ba yung pagkaka-layout nung sa yo? Care to describe it in detail or post a pic?

how about adding a pusher fan? since belt driven fan has a on-off pala, where in heavy and hot traffics, or vans with no much airflow since radiator is under the driver seat. will it make the belt fan on free-wheeling state most often? giving the engine a lighter load?

Usually, nilalagyan ng pusher/auxiliary fan to augment the main fan, eg. the latter is too weak to provide sufficient cooling. If you're sure the aux fan can cool the engine by itself, then you can probably remove the main fan para wala na talagang load sa engine mo. Just make sure, as others have already stated, that you install a thermostatic switch on the electric fan so it's not always in operation.

HTH.

[rion]

Pano ba yung pagkaka-layout nung sa yo? Care to describe it in detail or post a pic?

this is the best angle that I could take...



the source has 4 belts. the main fan with the water pump has 2 belts, then connected to the alternator (2 belts too). 1 belt each for aircon and power steering.

looks like hindi nga dapat galawin yung belts kahit dalawa no? maybe the parts related to on-off belt fan should be touched instead?

Usually, nilalagyan ng pusher/auxiliary fan to augment the main fan, eg. the latter is too weak to provide sufficient cooling. If you're sure the aux fan can cool the engine by itself, then you can probably remove the main fan para wala na talagang load sa engine mo.

medyo takot pa po ako sa removing main fan ngayon.

I just want to learn for future plans. hehe...

the least I can do now siguro is lagyan nalang ng Aux/pusher fan in front IF IT WILL REALLY make the belt fan on free-wheeling mode in most times...

what do you think po?

[Yoda]

the source has 4 belts. the main fan with the water pump has 2 belts, then connected to the alternator (2 belts too). 1 belt each for aircon and power steering.

Ok, I see what you mean now. I take it back, nakakita na ako ng ganyan. Iba lang yung pagkakaintindi ko when you said "2 belts".

looks like hindi nga dapat galawin yung belts kahit dalawa no? maybe the parts related to on-off belt fan should be touched instead?

Yeah, leave the 2 belts alone.

the least I can do now siguro is lagyan nalang ng Aux/pusher fan in front IF IT WILL REALLY make the belt fan on free-wheeling mode in most times...

what do you think po?

In theory, yes. The push fan will be the one that cools the radiator/engine, effectively taking over the main fan's job, so hindi na kakagat yung viscous coupling. Other factors could screw up the theory of course.

[OTEP]

wiretap_md converted the viscous fan of his first Vitara into an electric type. He was pretty successful at it. Unfortunately, he lost the Vitara to a freak accident on the SLEX.

[rion]

Ok, I see what you mean now. I take it back, nakakita na ako ng ganyan. Iba lang yung pagkakaintindi ko when you said "2 belts".

I knew it! it was because of my poor communication skills.

In theory, yes. The push fan will be the one that cools the radiator/engine, effectively taking over the main fan's job, so hindi na kakagat yung viscous coupling. Other factors could screw up the theory of course.

I see thanks.

wiretap_md converted the viscous fan of his first Vitara into an electric type. He was pretty successful at it. Unfortunately, he lost the Vitara to a freak accident on the SLEX.

sir Otep, was he able to use a thermal switch? is there a thermostat with adjustable temperature switcher available here?

[OTEP]

I think he went full manual [he's a control freak] :D

[rion]

I see. thanks po.

looks like sa ebay lang mabibili yung thermostat switch.

[cocoy]

its fairly easy to do right? all you to do is remove the fan assembly and bolt the pulley thing back onto the water pump.. we did a conversion to our old suzuki LJ80 ute back in papua new guinea. but we jst used a manual switch.. the reason we had to do the conversion was because the original fan conected to the engine would not fit anymore because we change the stock engine with a datsun 1200,, the other reason for having the electric fan was that we could switch it off when we cross waist deep river crossing.....

[speedyfix]

i think companies like greddy will make multi switching systems which can be used to activatethe fan.

[wiretap_md]

Speaking of electric fans...

I just reinstalled my electric fan setup to Kiddo Jr. I salvaged my otherwise "new' radiator from Kiddo Sr. last week including the Thermotec electric fan setup that was attached to it as well as the thermoswitch. So far its working well. My rig runs better now.

I'll try to post pics tomorrow.

[wiretap_md]

Hear are the components of my setup:

Flexalite puller electric fan (14inch):


Adj. Temp Sensor
Turns fan on/off at the desired temperature. Dial-adjustable 180-240F. Gives the freedom to set one temperature for occasional high-demand use, then reset for highway or day-to-day driving.

[rion]

wow hanep sir wiretap_md!

1. saan mo po yan nabili?

2. Thermotec electric fan with a thermoswitch? does it mean there is a sending unit to automaticaly switch on/off and set speed?

3. and wala po ba problema?

4. did it improve performance?

5. sino si Kiddo Jr?

ang daming tanong...