That's along the lines of what I am going to do, just not using flex-a-lite. Goal is to come up with an install that can be done for under $100. What's the fan you are using? The link doesn't show a fan.

EDIT: my bad, missed that you were talking about the controller and not the actual fan. I'll be honest, think you are wasting money with the controller. Like the theory of it with dual fans, but if you are going to run a single 16", doubt it's going to variable speed that much. Also make sure that you are doing this because you believe it would work, I'm NOT recommending it to anyone until I can install it myself, test it with my equipment, and a week or two of 95 degree driving.

 

I know a little about electrons and agree with the amp surge at startup. And I don't like the turning on and off. (loud fan noise then no noise then loud fan noise) It looks like the VSC will reduce startup surge and minimize the cycling due to the variable speed range. I've spent way too many hours looking at electric fan setups and controllers and haven't found anything as good.

 

Again, I like the theory of it and can see where it would do wonders with dual fan set ups, just think the primary use of it in a single fan app would be the soft start, which probably isn't a huge deal on a lone fan.

Not saying it has no purpose or anyone shouldn't do it, I'm going to focus my set up on keeping the price down. Think that controller runs $100 or so (could be wrong on that, feel free to correct me if it's cheaper) and for my own install I want to keep the parts list to the minimum...less to go wrong.

Would be open to adding it after the fact, though, if I felt the fan was still cycling too often, or the amp spike was fairly significant off of a single fan. I plan on trying 3 different fans for my testing to find the best bang for the buck, and lowest drawing unit. Also going to do before/after dyno's to show what the true gains are. Think that is routinely over blown as well.

 

Excellent!
multiple fan tests and dyno runs?
Then we can call you the "fan man"

IIRC, the cheapest, best place to buy the controller was Jegs for about $115.

I'm thinking about this fan:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Champ...Q5fAccessories

 

Great price, wish they would list the amps though. I want to try 3 fans because I want to test multiple 'cheap' fans to see if they flow anything close to advertised. Figure I can always sell the 2 I don't end up keeping and only lose 50 bucks or so, which is worth it for me to satisfy my curiosity. Only fan I've decided on for sure is a Proform unit from summit.

I did read up more on the VSC controller, and honestly think you're wasting your money on it to buy it for a single fan right away. This goes back to a discussion we had a week or so ago when I was disappointed in the fastman, and bolt on performance. I'm getting tired, past my bedtime..lol..so if I'm missing anything feel free to correct me.

The controller initially ramps up to 60 percent. Any fan testing I've done, the amp spike is the initial 0-50 percent range as the real load on the motor is getting it going from a dead stop. I can see where it would help on the larger fans, like they recommend, because 2 fans ramping up would create a huge spike, easily 60-80 amps. By going to 60 percent on dual fans, they would drop that to say, 40 amps. I don't think a decent single 16" fan will top 30 at start up, which isn't really a huge hit to the system. So at that same 60 percent, you have somewhere close to 20 amps, and you are basically paying 100+ for 10 amps.

Also, and this is the biggie, assuming it works by cutting voltage to the motor, which then slows speed. I work with true frequency drives every day, and have seen plenty of motors fail because they didn't handle that function well. My guess is you could run into issues with that if you aren't sticking with flex-a-lite fans?

 

I just ordered the fan.

However, I'm going to think some more about the controller. You make a good point about the variable frequency drives causing motor failures. I might have to call Flexalite and ask them if they are varying the voltage or maybe doing PWM, etc.

I think we have a meter at work that will measure up to 50amps. So, I'll play with the fan, measure the amps and get a sense for the noise it makes when it turns on and then decide on the controller.

 

Drop me a note on what you find out when you get it, probably won't get serious about my work on it until July when it's warmer up here, and I have a bit more free time.

 

I'll be watching you guys. I want to do this to my V10. Did it to my Power Wagon and Ramcharger and it made a noticeable benefit, but not sure the V10 isn't too much motor.

 

i would like to know what amps its going to draw from my alternator. i'm pretty sure the stock alternator wont be able to handle it with the fans kicking in and out. just curious. i'll be following this as well. it wont be for a while before i can do it myself though lol

 

Really?
Then, how much can the stock alternator handle?