Thermo fan in Sierra

[Pep]

Hi all
Will a standard altenator with a 550CCA Batt
in a 1.3L Sierra, be able to take a thermo fan out of a KE Laser,
or do i need to install a bigger alt
Thans Pep

[small talk]

Not entirely sure but if you set it up with a relay it should be fine. Anyone with one on there zooks??

[chimpboy]

I don't know what a zook alternator puts out, but I'd be cautious about it. Your thermatic fan could easily pull 15A or so at 12V, probably 10A at a minimum. If you aren't running any other extras then that might be okay, but if you are running, say, a pair of spotlights as well than you could be putting an extra 30A load on your alternator that may only be a 35 or 50A unit to start with.

So, what I am saying is that I don't have an answer but I can tell you that you should definitely research further before you go ahead with it.

This is probably a bigger issue on a 4WD since off-road, your fan will run a fair bit more than on a road car (where vehicle speed gets the airflow instead).

[Bad JuJu]

Mine has been in for 13 mths now.... no problems, still using the stocko 45A Alt.

[Pep]

Thanks for your input guys,
I'll get the thermo checked to see how many amps it pulls, and i
will definetly wire it up with a relay and a thermo switch.
Can anyone tell me how many amps a set of spotties draws with standard 100w bulbs?
I know there a formula for this but i can remember it
Thanks Pep

[Bad JuJu]

Can anyone tell me how many amps a set of spotties draws with standard 100w bulbs?
I know there a formula for this but i can remember it
Thanks Pep

Amps=Watts/Volts

[DamTriton]

Can anyone tell me how many amps a set of spotties draws with standard 100w bulbs?
I know there a formula for this but i can remember it
Thanks Pep

Amps=Watts/Volts

about 17 amps

[sudso]

I just put an electric fan in my Rodeo (cheaper than a new fan clutch) I did buy a new aftermarket one but it leaked after 2 months and wouldn't "lock up" any more so they replaced it and the new replacement did the same thing.
I got my money back.
Anyway I have a Bundy which was running a grunty fan ex BMW which I hijacked for the Rodeo and with a 30A relay and 30A fuse it blew the first time I switched it on after I wired it up.
So I bought a 70A relay and a 40A fuse and it's good now.

Anyway it would pay to seek the advice of an auto electrician before you choose a fan because if your alternator cant power everything then they will draw power from your battery's reserve and may flatten it.
sudso

[Pep]

Thanks for all your help guys.
i think i'll wait until i've put a large altenator into the zook
before i put the thermo in, as it's not a prob on road but over the weekend
4 wheelin it ran between 1/2 and 3/4 i
kept having to go for quick drives to get som air flow.

[-Scott-]

Anyway I have a Bundy which was running a grunty fan ex BMW which I hijacked for the Rodeo and with a 30A relay and 30A fuse it blew the first time I switched it on after I wired it up.

In this case, it was probably the start surge which was blowing the fuse - I doubt the fan is drawing more than 30A continuous.

If you were using glass fuses, you may have got away with a 30A anti-surge fuse. But a 40A fuse works too.

Scott

[chimpboy]

If you don't go wheeling alone much, you could consider putting in a thermo fan and seeing if you end up with a flat battery or not. Then if you do, you know you need a bigger alternator, so you unhook the thermo fan until you have fitted one.

This could be a good option if you already have the fan or you can get the fan really cheap.