SPAL-PWM-V3 & Black Magic 150 Install
10-22-09, 01:30 PM
#27
Cut the ground wire eh? Good to know that SPAL is still producing a circuit with a major defect as this is the exact same advice they gave me due to their old circuit sharing a signal and power ground.
You're making me want to get the new version as it sounds like it's working for you. This winter I'll be losing the extra output on my Microtech in favor of using it to drive the BAC valve so I'll need some way of controlling the FAN. But it's hard to justify spending another $130 on top of the $80 I have already spent on the previous version especially when it sounds like SPAL still didn't get it right...
You're making me want to get the new version as it sounds like it's working for you. This winter I'll be losing the extra output on my Microtech in favor of using it to drive the BAC valve so I'll need some way of controlling the FAN. But it's hard to justify spending another $130 on top of the $80 I have already spent on the previous version especially when it sounds like SPAL still didn't get it right...
Oddly enough, I didn't run into the shutdown problem at all until I put the FD alternator in. The alt's voltage output has been logged and fan current draw re-measured, so I don't know if it brought on the change, or if it was coincidence.
Minus the overcurrent protection feature (which I don't need anyway), it's been performing perfectly. Though I would suggest to anyone that does buy one to just go ahead and have the circuit disabled before installing it.
10-23-09, 09:20 AM
#30
There needs to be a way to disable the fan above a certain vehicle speed as at some point there will be more air coming into the car from forward movement than the fan can push. At that point, it's not doing any good and is only doing harm. This is why locked up clutches on mechanical fans is a bad thing. They overheat at speed. Have you seen any issues at freeway speeds for extended periods of time?
10-23-09, 02:18 PM
#33
There needs to be a way to disable the fan above a certain vehicle speed as at some point there will be more air coming into the car from forward movement than the fan can push. At that point, it's not doing any good and is only doing harm. This is why locked up clutches on mechanical fans is a bad thing. They overheat at speed. Have you seen any issues at freeway speeds for extended periods of time?
10-23-09, 02:40 PM
#34
No clue. Just asking. I know some aftermarket electric fan shrouds have little "valves" for lack of a better word that open if pressure through the radiator exceeds a certain amount, regardless of if the fan is running or not. All that matters is results and it appears to be fine.
10-23-09, 03:47 PM
#35
No clue. Just asking. I know some aftermarket electric fan shrouds have little "valves" for lack of a better word that open if pressure through the radiator exceeds a certain amount, regardless of if the fan is running or not. All that matters is results and it appears to be fine.
One of the reasons that I have recently changed from my Taurus fan to the Mark VIII fan is the Mark is 18". It literally goes from top to bottom, from tank to tank with fan blade. It has more fan than shroud so the open area is quite a bit higher than my old 15-16" Taurus fan. I think it will allow a little more airflow when the fan is off.
