Previous in Forum: automobiles   Next in Forum: Water stain
Close
Close
Close
5 comments
Rate Comments: Nested
Active Contributor

Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 11

thermoswitch to run radiator fan

01/11/2009 5:53 AM

We use a thermoswitch to switch on the radiator fan at the set temperature and switch off the radiator fan at the desired engine temperature after cooling. Now I want to change the connections so that the radiator fan runs even if the switch fails. please suggest me how can i do the same?OR if there is any type of sensor/switch(combined RTD and thermistor) which wil show continuity even under "off" condition?

Register to Reply
Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.
Guru
United Kingdom - Member - Not a New Member Hobbies - Musician - New Member Hobbies - Fishing - New Member

Join Date: May 2006
Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK. Going under cover.
Posts: 9684
Good Answers: 468
#1

Re: thermoswitch to run radiator fan

01/11/2009 7:33 AM

"... please suggest me .... if there is any type of sensor/switch(combined RTD and thermistor) which wil show continuity even under "off" condition? ..."

Such a device is commonly called a piece of wire .

__________________
"Love justice, you who rule the world" - Dante Alighieri
Register to Reply
Guru
Hobbies - RC Aircraft - New Member Hobbies - Automotive Performance - New Member Hobbies - DIY Welding - New Member

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Fort Lauderdale Florida
Posts: 5708
Good Answers: 123
#2

Re: thermoswitch to run radiator fan

01/11/2009 10:47 PM

I am not sure I understand why you want to change a system that has been working so well. But I would like to offer some ideas for you to think about. In the cars that use the system you describe, they add an additional circuit to turn the cooling fan on whenever the air conditioning compressor is turned on. This would allow the back up to the thermal sensor you have now, with no additional switch needed. Another way to achieve what you ask, is to find the fan temp sensor, and run an item described in post #1 to a switch installed within driver's reach. If the sensor has two terminals, you will need two of the items from post #1. Good luck.

__________________
Bob
Register to Reply
Power-User

Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 120
Good Answers: 14
#3

Re: thermoswitch to run radiator fan

01/12/2009 3:25 AM

About the only way that it could be set up is to use a separate latching relay and wire the relay in parallel to your existing thermostatic switch with a different temperture sensing switch that would be set at a temperture that is higher than what is now activating the fan and once it latched in it would not release until the power to the relay was broken. If you did set up a system such as this then you would also need to have a indicator that would show that the system has been activated so that you would know that you needed to repair the primary system. Hope this helps

__________________
Jim
Register to Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member Safety - ESD - New Member Hobbies - Fishing - New Member

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Near Frankfurt am Main, Germany. 50.390866N, 8.884827E
Posts: 17996
Good Answers: 200
#4

Re: thermoswitch to run radiator fan

01/12/2009 6:25 AM

If you place a second thermo switch in parallel to the first one and one fails in the open condition, the other will still control the fan correctly.

Check from time to time to make sure that both are still in a working condition using an Ohmeter.

Its probably a good idea to also have a remote thermometer that you can read to allow you to check on the actual temperature from time to time..... a normal switch also wired in parallel to the thermo switches will allow you to switch the fan on any time you wish!!

__________________
"What others say about you reveals more about them, than it does you." Anon.
Register to Reply
Guru
Canada - Member - Specialized in power electronics

Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Montreal, Canada.
Posts: 1372
Good Answers: 80
#5
In reply to #4

Re: thermoswitch to run radiator fan

01/12/2009 9:46 AM

Good idea. The second switch should turn on a few degrees higher so that it never operate unless the first switch fails open. This way you double the life time of the system.

__________________
Experienced is earned, common sense is taught, both are rare essentials of life.
Register to Reply
Register to Reply 5 comments
Copy to Clipboard

Users who posted comments:

Andy Germany (1); bob c (1); JohnDG (1); Jspeop (1); marcot (1)

Previous in Forum: automobiles   Next in Forum: Water stain

Advertisement