New argument for efans!

[Skandocious]

Remember the 14HP with a mechanical fan was with a locked clutch, which rarely happens!

And Chris still hasn't addressed the efficiency of the alternator, and electric motor, which I brought up.....

Just like Ryan said-- your only experience electrical loss WHEN the fan is running, which in my experience is about 5% of my normal driving.

Where is the temp sensor / controller?

You're correct, I forgot about the temp switch as well as the in-dash switch-- I'll add those to the list.

 

[Bob Ayers]

Just like Ryan said-- your only experience electrical loss WHEN the fan is running, which in my experience is about 5% of my normal driving.
.

I hope you have corrected your setup, because the e-fan should run whenever the AC compressor is engaged.

 

[SuperCab]

Why would it have to run when the ac is on?

 

[radialarm]

Two more cents from the forum clown!!!

I noticed a large amout of performance gain by changing to an e-fan, but only at highway speeds. I gained smooth even throttle response at 45mph and above, and more mph than before. Before when I got stuck behind someone going 45-55mph and tried to go around I had to drop back down to 4th gear. Now I just move over and go, no more waiting for it to get to 65 or 70 it's there quicker.

As for failure I've experienced that as well. I built failsafe features into my setup, and even when my main fan failed my engine never overheated. I do carry spare parts for these types of problems. I also used factory Ford parts where I could in the event of a failure while I was traveling. I have also had failures with engine driven fans. There have been instances where fan belts have broken, fan blades have broken etc..., and all of those have resulted in overheating or serious vibration issues.

A side note, I no longer have to worry about chopping up the neighbors cat if it happens to climb under my hood!!!

It all works out to this If you don't want an e-fan or don,t want a performance improvement stay with your engine driven fan, but if you want a little more power and performance, then go for it.

 

[Bob Ayers]

Why would it have to run when the ac is on?

The AC condenser requires air flow across it whenever the AC compressor is running.

 

[Raptor22]

On an engine that comes stock with 210hp, you can feel 10hp difference. It might be a tad less noticable if you have a truck that's out of the factory at 320 hp, or if you have a PSD. I know I could feel a difference when I dumped my mechanical fan.

Ryan

Probably more so on my engine that came with 160hp from the factory. Might be interesting to see how losing the mech. fan effects the torquey 300.

 

[Skandocious]

I hope you have corrected your setup, because the e-fan should run whenever the AC compressor is engaged.

Mine has been setup like that since the start, and you know that Bob, you've seen my wiring schematics.

Even still-- if I'm running the A/C and I get on the highway, I generally flip the switch to the off position because it would be a horrible waste of energy to drive long highway distances with the fan running. Once I get to my destination, flip the switch back to auto.

 

[Skandocious]

And Chris still hasn't addressed the efficiency of the alternator, and electric motor, which I brought up.....

I did address the efficiency of the alternator + efan in my first post.

At 33amps the electrical fan is only drawing about 400 watts, which is less than 1 HP

 

[O'Rattlecan]

Just went to check my e fan in my computer.

Don't worry - it scared me too. The fan is fine.

Ryan

 

[Raptor22]

Just went to check my e fan in my computer.

Don't worry - it scared me too. The fan is fine.

Ryan

My Zalman9700 is still turning from 3 years ago at 2700 RPM...

 

[5.0]

.

3 pages... woot woot!



So, what do we have so far?




Electric fan possibilities of failure...

fan motor
fuse
relay
temp control device
connector/wire possibly



mechanic fan...

fan clutch does not work, causing overheat (yes it happens)
fan blade can crack (fan goes through hood or radiator)
fan clutch comes apart (fan goes through hood or radiator)
water pump failure from imbalance of fan blade (fan goes through hood or radiator)
broken fan belt



I have personally had and have seen many more problems with mechanic fan systems failing than electrical fans. In fact, I have not had, nor do I know anyone that has had any problems with a factory installed electric fan.

If I were to install an e fan into a mechanic fan vehicle, I would do it with a factory fan pulled from a vehicle at the junkyard. Spare fuses and relays can easily fit in my glovebox and can be replaced with no tools. An over ride switch can be placed under the dash for if the fan temp controller would fail. Suppose an e fan component quits working... with a very small amount of creative wiring under the hood, a wire can be ran from the battery through a fuse and directly to the fan (this can be prewired through a heavy switch for "just in case"), thus making the only part of an e fan system that could leave me stranded being the motor itself.

I'll take an e fan, thanks.



.

 

[Skandocious]

If I were to install an e fan into a mechanic fan vehicle, I would do it with a factory fan pulled from a vehicle at the junkyard. Spare fuses and relays can easily fit in my glovebox and can be replaced with no tools. An over ride switch can be placed under the dash for if the fan temp controller would fail. Suppose an e fan component quits working... with a very small amount of creative wiring under the hood, a wire can be ran from the battery through a fuse and directly to the fan (this can be prewired through a heavy switch for "just in case"), thus making the only part of an e fan system that could leave me stranded being the motor itself.

You make a very good point here. Almost every component of my efan setup can be fixed on the road quite easily, with the exception of the fan itself. Of course I have a spare t-bird fan in my garage so I can fix that as soon as I get home too.

 

[radialarm]

 

[RangerPilot]

I'll say that a select few aircraft use E-fans as well when on the ground, as the big fan out front isn't all that great for cooling large-displacement, tightly-cowled engines.

They're also used for avionics cooling in virtually every aircraft I can think of. I would imagine if people will trust $50,000 radio stacks to E-fans, one could trust an engine to it.

 

[d-kuzmen]

Of course someone who hasn't done it would say this... You absolutely CAN feel the difference. Ask any of the efan guys on this site.

It's all in your head! You just think you "feel" the difference because thats what you want to beleave your hard work wasn't done for nothing.

 

[Skandocious]

It's all in your head! You just think you "feel" the difference because thats what you want to beleave your hard work wasn't done for nothing.

I know what a placebo effect is, I'm not a moron. The efan has noticeable and measurable results. Period. If you can make a compelling argument that 13-14 additional horsepower is a complete waste of time, then by all means, please do.

 

[lil_dq]

Well it made more than two pages but I don't see it lasting much longer! HAHAHA

 

[SuperCab]

I say it isn't worth it because I have a working mechanical fan.

It's not even a clutch fan, it's fixed. I'm probably losing 50hp with it, but quite frankly Skan, I don't give a damn.

Why bother? What do you really need 10 extra horse power for anyway?

 

[Bob Ayers]

I know what a placebo effect is, I'm not a moron. The efan has noticeable and measurable results. Period. If you can make a compelling argument that 13-14 additional horsepower is a complete waste of time, then by all means, please do.

13-14 HP is an exaggeration! As I posted previously a mechanical fan clutch rarely locks up entirely!!!! So, your "new argument for e-fans" doesn't hold water!!!

 

[Skandocious]

13-14 HP is an exaggeration! As I posted previously a mechanical fan clutch rarely locks up entirely!!!!

I have no problem agreeing with your arguments, Bob, so long as you can cite some evidence for your claims.