How to check if fan is working?

[NCAD]

I am reading on haynes manual where it says use "fused jumper wire" to connect fan directly to the battery.

What is "fused jumper wire"?

And how exactly do you connect it directly to the battery?

Thanks

[sc15]

i did mine with speaker wire. i went from the fan, to the battery, to a switch.

[cefiro80]

I did mine the same way

[UltraMagneticAL]

Originally Posted by NCAD

I am reading on haynes manual where it says use "fused jumper wire" to connect fan directly to the battery.

What is "fused jumper wire"?

And how exactly do you connect it directly to the battery?

Thanks

a wire with a fuse in series with a switch. the wire should be rated for whatever the current draw is of the fan. speaker wire might be toooo small.

[NCAD]

thanks but where exactly can you get this "fused jumper wire"? walmart?

[UltraMagneticAL]

radio shack should have most of this stuff. you need a fuse holder, a fuse (the rating depends on the fan's current draw), and wire. you'll have to connect them together yourself. if you can solder, it would be much cleaner. but i think the fuse holders have screw terminals for pretty easy connections.

[NCAD]

ok thank you. bear with with me please, i don't have the first clue about car electrics.

so i bought a wire says 18gauge, max 15 amps, max 180 watts. i don't know what it means but can i just attach them to "+" and "-" on the battery and connect it directly to the fan?

[UltraMagneticAL]

Originally Posted by NCAD

ok thank you. bear with with me please, i don't have the first clue about car electrics.

so i bought a wire says 18gauge, max 15 amps, max 180 watts. i don't know what it means but can i just attach them to "+" and "-" on the battery and connect it directly to the fan?

No. you will need to put a fuse for circuit protection and a switch to turn the fan on/off. i don't know what your fan is rated, but your wire and fuse should be rated no less than 125% of the continuous load drawn by the fan. actually, since it's going to be pretty hot in the engine bay, you'll need to get the next bigger conductor size. short circuits cause fires...and the proper protection can prevent that. i'm an electrical engineer, so i've seen my fair share of electrical fires.

[NCAD]

so do i need 2 fuses and fuse holders for both - and +? and where do i attach the switch?

[UltraMagneticAL]

JUst one fuse

BATT (+) => FUSE => SWITCH => FAN => BATT(-)

[NCAD]

i'll try that. thanks

[drummingpariah]

That'll definitely work. I'm in the process of rewiring my whole Datsun, from the ground up. It didn't have a fusebox in it before. If you're looking for an actual upgrade from the system you're using, go to an aviation/hobby store and get some aviation circuit breakers. They're essentially the same as fuses, but you don't have to replace them when they blow. I'm not entirely sure why auto manufacturers aren't using them yet.

Maybe because switches intimidate people?

[sc15]

k here's exactly how i did mine. i cut my cables for the fan. connected the speaker wire, you cut one strip of the wire. then one end goes to the negative, and the other end goes to the positive. do not cut the other strip. then they run to the switch. and walla. i didn't use a fuse since the cable is short and i dont see any chance of the cables touching and fucking anything up. it's up to you though. really.

[MortsAccord]

Before anyone ever installs a fuse, splices a wire or modify anything that has to do with elctricity, they should read this: FUSES

[TOP END MS]

They just mean to put a fuse between a peice of wire so you dont short the fan electricals. If you just tap the power wire of the fan to the battery quickly, you will know if it works.