Another fan ?

[02P3wZ71]

Well, I got my LS1 fans in and found they drain a heck of a lot of power when they first kick on. I thought I might solve that problem with a 130 amp alternator, which I installed and it helped a lot except for that initial surge of power. Is there something that I can install, say like a capacitor like on a stereo system, to help keep that intial power surge from happening? I mean, on the Camaros that the fans came from, does it have the same effect on those cars like it does the trucks? I don't recall any Camaros or Firebirds I've driven having a surge like that. Anyone have an answer to this?

[honkydaddy]

Where's your relay power from

[L82gofast]

A cap is not a bad idea but it would need to be good size. I run a 200amp and my voltage will still drop when they first come on. Just the way it is I guess.

[02P3wZ71]

Would a cap from a stereo system work on the fans? My relay power comes from a switched ignition wire under the black box.

[GMCwantsLS1]

Originally posted by 02P3wZ71@Jan 19 2004, 03:53 PM
My relay power comes from a switched ignition wire under the black box.

Your power wire that runs the fan should be a 10Ga wire that runs directly from the alt, battery, or starter thru a inline 40A fuse to the relay. I might have read this wrong but you can use a switched wire to turn on the relay coil, but you don't want a switched source supplying the power for your fans. I never notice my fans are on unless I'm outside the truck and hear them.

[agreif]

I have the same problem that he does. When they first kick on (I oinly notice it if I am sitting idle) you hear it kick on and the gauges start to flicker just slightly. THis is with the fans a 150W RMS amp running. I just wired it up per flex-a-lite controller instruction which runs the power right from the bat (through an amp) to the coltroller. now I have a alt whine that increases with RPM and is worse (loudest) between 1000 and 1700.

Andrew

[honkydaddy]

Does the Alt. whine when the fans are off.

[Bandit]

Grounds, Grounds, Grounds! Your ground wire has got to be at least the same gauge as your power wire and be as short as possible. Clean. paint free grounds are what you have to start with. Also, did you upgrade your charge wire when you upgraded the alternator? The stock charge wire is way to thin and can not handle the load. Go with at least an 8 gauge wire from the alternator, 4 is better but bulky.


Bandit!

[1978steven]

02P3wZ71, you should definately start with the charging system wire upgrade an then see where you are sitting. There will more than likely always be a draw when the fans first come on and you are at idle. The alternator is not making much power at idle especially if you are running lights, a/c, stereo, and so on. The cap might help a little but I don't think you would benifit as much as you would if you upgraded your charge wire/wires. You already have the Optima battery right? Upgrade those wire you should notice a good overall improvement in not just the fans but the electrical system. This will help everything not just the fans, if you notice the draw from the fans figure in the stereo, a/c, headlights/foglights, or anything you have added to the system. You would benifit more from the wire upgrade than the cap (the cap is just a stored surge of electrical power for whatever you hook it to), and for the price of one you might as well go to dual batteries.

[agreif]

Originally posted by honkydaddy@Jan 19 2004, 07:53 PM
Does the Alt. whine when the fans are off.

Yeah

Also, did you upgrade your charge wire when you upgraded the alternator? The stock charge wire is way to thin and can not handle the load. Go with at least an 8 gauge wire from the alternator, 4 is better but bulky.[/b]

I never upgraded the alt, the whine is making me worry that I should.