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Generator and electric fans

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drooartz

drooartz

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Okay, I'm just thinking out loud here as the Tunebug so far is holding temps just fine, even up the long grades I've tackled so far.

Can you run an electric fan (pusher, in addition to the engine fan) with a generator? It does get hot here in the summer, and with the steep roads around a bit of extra cooling could potentially be handy. Could be nice to be able to reach over and hit a switch if things get start to heat up.

Thoughts? Waste of time to even think about?
 
I think your OK even if it did get a little warm may be drop a thermosat range lower. I run mine in texas and it well it gets darn hot here. It nevers over heats however if its just stupid hot I have had it get warm when sitting in traffic I know I have no busness being in traffic but it has got a little hot but as soon as I am rolling back to normal. That being said I'm running on near flat ground low alt. your running mountian grades at high alt. So you may run warmer than me in the same temp situation. Still think I would just wait and see no sense in hang a fan on front if your not going to need it and it would just block air flow when not used.
 
You can not run a pusher AND a puller fan, this creates turbulence in the middle, right about where the radiator sits and no air flows as it should.
If you want to install an electric fan, remove the original fan blades from the waterpump pulley.
 
Thanks... I wasn't planning on anything yet, just curious. Good to know about not running both. I don't expect I'll have to do anything, but I do like to ask questions!
grin.gif
 
I believe the electric fan would be needed most at an idle or low rpm. Having grown up with generators I remember how the headlights would dim, the heater fan would slow, and the signal lights would blink slower at a stop sign.
If you really want an electric fan it might be better to have an alternator too.
 
I have an electric fan on my bugeye, mainly because the car came with it. The PO lived in the desert up near Sacramento, so he needed it. He set it up to run continuously.

I now have it on a thermostat. It comes on when the coolant temperature reaches about 190F, and that only happens on hot days in traffic.

My fan pulls about 6 amps. Given that the generator is good for about 20 amps, it's fine, as long as you don't have any other big electrical loads. The generator does not keep up with this load at idle (generators don't put out much power until you get up to about 1800 RPM) but that's why you have a battery.

Obviously, if you have an electric fan, it has to be set up to blow in the same direction as the engine fan. Switching the leads will change the fan direction, so this is easy to do.

I have an alternator now, not just because of the fan. It's because of the halogen headlights, electronic ignition, electronic fuel pump, fan, and so on. With the generator, and the headlights on, the current drain on the battery was scary, even at speed. Also, the alternator does a much better job of keeping the battery properly charged, and that translates to longer battery life.
 
I run nothing but an elec fuel pump and the stock stuff. Have never had a batt go flat or had to charge one although I do have two batt chargers, had a boat.

The old generator is a very workable peice of gear.
 
Thanks. I'm not looking to switch any time soon, just curious as to what my options are. The only non-stock electrical item I have is a electric fuel pump, all else (including lights) is stock.
 
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