Variable radiator fan speed controller

EastMT

EastMT

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What is the name of the devise that varies the speed of the brushless radiator fans to prevent the sudden load of the fans turning on and off via a relay? The devise kept the fans running at a slow speed instead of turning them off. Is there any reason not to use one in a sandcar? Any suggestions of a make and model you have used?

 
Exactly what you called it  :classic_biggrin:  Several styles of variable speed controllers for radiator fans on the market. I would take a look on Summit or Jegs. Curious as to why you want to add this to your car? Is your electrical system undersized and struggles with fan start up? IMO, why add the complexity, just another item to possibly fail/troubleshoot. 

 
Sandkist said:
Exactly what you called it  :classic_biggrin:  Several styles of variable speed controllers for radiator fans on the market. I would take a look on Summit or Jegs. Curious as to why you want to add this to your car? Is your electrical system undersized and struggles with fan start up? IMO, why add the complexity, just another item to possibly fail/troubleshoot. 
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I have two 20 amp fans on the new radiator and the varying load/speed just seems like a good idea for 40 amps instead of turning it on and off. 

 
Your battery will absorb the inrush current from your fans without an additional issue provided it is sized correctly. Think about what happens with your starter motor and that is considerably more amperage. 

 
several ways/options out there. delta pag has fan ecu's and controllers available separately,

https://deltapag.com/

devin vanderhoof has a great video on using factory gm fans and controlling with holley 





 
Sandkist said:
Your battery will absorb the inrush current from your fans without an additional issue provided it is sized correctly. Think about what happens with your starter motor and that is considerably more amperage. 
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Thanks for the information.

 
17 hours ago, Kevin said:

several ways/options out there. delta pag has fan ecu's and controllers available separately,

https://deltapag.com/

devin vanderhoof has a great video on using factory gm fans and controlling with holley 

Click to expand...
Thanks for the info and the link.

 
The vid Kevin posted is a good one, but you must have "brushless" PWM fans.  99.9% of the fans on the market are NOT this type.

If you don't have PWM fans it's bit more complicated than you're describing it.  The easiest and cheapest way is for you to have different set points for the fans.  One comes on at 180, the other at 200 for instance.  There are options to make standard fans operate like PWM but they aren't cheap. 

This guy makes cool controllers to do this.  Unfortunately his website a disaster.....

https://www.autocoolguy.com/home

 
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Don't SPAL brushless fans already come with everything installed to do what the OP wants to do?

My buddies brushless fans vary in speed based on coolant temp from a probe installed into the radiator.

They have a button override to force the fans to go full speed if desired, but other than that, the fans speed up/slow down based on coolant temp.

 
One thing to consider is having a manual “override” switch to turn on a fan / fans as well.

 
lincster said:
Don't SPAL brushless fans already come with everything installed to do what the OP wants to do?

My buddies brushless fans vary in speed based on coolant temp from a probe installed into the radiator.

They have a button override to force the fans to go full speed if desired, but other than that, the fans speed up/slow down based on coolant temp.
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You have to buy a specific sender for them.

https://www.kartek.com/parts/spal-38-npt-thread-temperature-sensor-for-new-style-plus-series-brushless-fans-175f-off-195f-on.html

 
Kraut_n_Rice said:
The vid Kevin posted is a good one, but you must have "brushless" PWM fans.  99.9% of the fans on the market are NOT this type.

If you don't have PWM fans it's bit more complicated than you're describing it.  The easiest and cheapest way is for you to have different set points for the fans.  One comes on at 180, the other at 200 for instance.  There are options to make standard fans operate like PWM but they aren't cheap. 

This guy makes cool controllers to do this.  Unfortunately his website a disaster.....

https://www.autocoolguy.com/home
Click to expand...
Thats what I was thinking of, the PWM style. Unfortunately my fans are just the standard brushless that come on the CBR radiators. I’ll have to use a solution like you mentioned controlling each at a different temperature. Thanks for all the info!

 
BaBaBouy said:
One thing to consider is having a manual “override” switch to turn on a fan / fans as well.
Click to expand...
No matter what I do I intend to have a manual way to turn the fans on. 

 
Lingenfelter VSFM-002 Variable Speed DC Brushless Fan & Pump PWM Controller

he Lingenfelter VSFM-002 is designed to provide the PWM speed control signal needed to operate variable speed OEM and aftermarket DC brushless cooling fans and fluid circulation pumps. The speed can be controlled based on a temperature sensor input signal or a simple switched input for on/off type control.

The VSFM-002 can be used to control primary engine cooling fans, auxiliary engine cooling or other fluid cooling fans or to control variable speed pumps for engine coolant, intercooler fluid or other related fluid circulation applications.

- Temperature based fan speed control of DC brushless
variable speed OEM and aftermarket fans
- Temperature based pump speed control of DC brushless variable speed OEM and aftermarket electric water pumps for engine cooling, intercooler fluid cooling etc.
- Simple direct speed % control of DC brushless devices using switched input activation

Features:
- Two sets of easily adjustable device control switches
- Start Temp option sets the initial on temperature for the devices
- Max Output Temp option sets the temperature for the maximum device speed
- The VSFM-002 provides a linear output speed control between these two settings
- The same switches are also used to set speed% in direct device speed control mode
- Works with OEM and aftermarket DC brushless electric fans & coolant pumps made or sold by: - GM, Spal, Bosch, Cooper Industries, Pierburg, TechAFX
- Can be used to control multiple devices when all devices are the same input type
- Over-ride input available for AC system related activation, manual over-ride etc
- High setting output indicator to trigger a warning light or auxiliary systems
- 0-5 volt output of temperature sensor or fan/pump target speed %
- Send temperature or pump speed to an ECM, data acquisition system or a gauge
- Works with many OEM and aftermarket IAT, ECT, EGT, TFT and other sensors, including: GM IAT, ECT, TFT and oil temperature sensors
- AEM, Autometer and other similar fluid temperature sensors
- Bosch OEM ECT, IAT and other temperature sensors
- GM, AC Delco, AEM, Bosch, GE EGT and other PT200 RTD sensors

Benefits:
- Allows almost any vehicle to use the new high output variable speed DC brushless cooling fans and fluid circulation pumps. Can be incorporated into aftermarket cooling systems
- Provides a wide temperature control range allowing these fans to be used in a broad range of applications without having to purchase different sensors or modules for each application
- Uses readily available and durable OEM or common PT200 platinum RTD sensors
- Control DC brushless fans and pumps without a temperature sensor via direct speed % control

Specifications:
- Activation is adjustable from 0-350 degree F in 10 degree increments for IAT, ECT, TFT
- Activation is adjustable from 0-990 degree C in 10 degree increments for EGT/RTD sensor 0 to 1800 deg F
- Speed percentage adjustable in 1% increments when in speed control mode
- High temperature glass filled Nylon enclosure & fully epoxy potted circuit board for increased durability
View Instructions
Lingenfelter-VSFM-002-Variable-Speed-Fan-&-Pump-Temperature-&-Speed-Controller_2_540x540.png

 
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