Ford style starter solenoid on a Taurus fan

buckshot500

buckshot500

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Clover S.C.
If I were to use these for the two speed electric fan, I would run the feed wire through the two larger posts, correct?

The switch would run to the smaller post, on a three post solenoid. The other switch wire going to vehicle ground.

Anyone know what the other small post is for on the same type solenoid? The kind that come with four posts, is what I'm asking.

I can prolly find both styles at the pick-n-pull.
 
well they are under $10 new and come with a lifetime warranty at advance would not pick and pull that

There are 4 and 5 pin models...usually the two other pins are constant 12v power and key on acc power IIRC....for connecting other items.
 
BTW I am sure there is a good reason, but dern if I can think of it, why do you want to run a fan through a starter solenoid?


If you do go that route get one rated for continuous duty...the starter solenids are rated for short cycle duty (only cranking 4-5 seconds per use) and will burn up quickly in your intended operation.
 
The starter sol. will not last they are not rated for cont. duty. We tried running them back in the day on stereo systems and after a week or two they'd burn out.
 
The ford solenoid -- at least the p/n I used is rated for continuous duty. Been using it for 3 or 4 years on my Taurus fan. I'll get the p/n that I used if I can read it.
 
IIRC from the reading I did on pirate, the Taurus fan has a start up amp draw of around 70-80 amps, then it drops off to like 20 amps after that. I used a solenoid that was continuous duty, that looks like a Ford style. It never failed. I can't remember the part number, but I bought it at NAPA for like 30 or 40 bucks. I think the application was for a golf cart.
 
An ice cube relay would be under $10....rated in excess of 100A at 12vdc...and designed for continuous duty

For that matter I have to wonder why more folks dont upsize the wire and run it through a thermostatically controlled switch, unless it for disabling for deep water, which could still be acheived through a break toggle on (-) side
 
I believe the continuous duty solenoid from napa is an echlin st402 it is about $40. O'riellys sells it also, I believe it is listed as a battery isolator relay or solenoid for a 1991 F350 with the 7.3 diesel from either place. I use it to disconnect power from my winch when it isnt in use via a toggle switch on the dash. It should work fine for a fan relay but the above mentioned 40 amp regular relay is what I usually use on the Taurus fans that I have wired up before
 
1 relay for both....
 
Caver Dave said:
"Ice Cube" relay...
ashop.advanceautoparts.com_wcsstore_CVCatalogAssetStore__599_full_3996786_bwd_r3177_main.jpg

Available at most parts houses in MANY different amp ratings & cheap...
Click to expand...


bingo....
you can get what we use to call a dice relay...which is as shown but has 5 pins in the 5 sided die configuration
trigger 1 trigger 2
common
output 1 output 2
 
Caver Dave said:
"Ice Cube" relay...
ashop.advanceautoparts.com_wcsstore_CVCatalogAssetStore__599_full_3996786_bwd_r3177_main.jpg

Available at most parts houses in MANY different amp ratings & cheap...
Click to expand...
SkyHiK5 said:
bingo....
you can get what we use to call a dice relay...which is as shown but has 5 pins in the 5 sided die configuration
trigger 1 trigger 2
common
output 1 output 2
Click to expand...

OK so they are available in 80 amp versions?

Also, I don't understand the little schematic on the side

I've copied the four pin type's instructions in a way that I can understand.

Let me ask this way, in the four pin version #87 is the (fused) feed from battery.
#86 goes to switch & then to ground, via switch throw.
#85 gets grounded.
#30 goes to accessory, then ground. (Via accessory's ground lead.)

Is the five pin version the same except for #87a?
What does #87a go to? the other fan feed?
How can I feed both fan (speed) wires with one like this?
 
The 4 pin and 5 pins wire up the same other than the 87a terminal.

85 goes to ground on the low current side
86 goes to 12v on the low current side
They are the wires that "turn the relay on". You could put a switch on either one. When the switch is on the relay "energizes."

30 should go to battery feed (12v) through a fuse rated at the amperage the relay is rated for.
87 would go to an accessory that is turned on when the relay is energized.
87a would go to an accessory that is on when the relay is NOT energized.

If the relay is "off" (the switch on 86 or 85 is off) then 30 and 87a are connected. If the relay is "on" then 30 and 87 are connected.

So basically you would hook 30 to your battery through a fuse. Hook 87 to the fan. Ground #85 (I usually use the relay mounting screw for this with a short jumper wire). Then hook terminal 86 to your dashmount toggle or temperature controlled fan thermostat, which is then hooked to ignition hot (12v when the key is on, so you dont leave the fan on and kill the battery when the engine is off accidentally).

Since the Taurus fan is a 2 speed, you would hook one relay to the low side and another wired identically to the high side with two switches on the dash (one high, one low), or just hook one speed up to which ever fan speed will keep your engine cool.
 
Tim C said:
The 4 pin and 5 pins wire up the same other than the 87a terminal.
85 goes to ground on the low current side
86 goes to 12v on the low current side
They are the wires that "turn the relay on". You could put a switch on either one. When the switch is on the relay "energizes."
30 should go to battery feed (12v) through a fuse rated at the amperage the relay is rated for.
87 would go to an accessory that is turned on when the relay is energized.
87a would go to an accessory that is on when the relay is NOT energized.
If the relay is "off" (the switch on 86 or 85 is off) then 30 and 87a are connected. If the relay is "on" then 30 and 87 are connected.
So basically you would hook 30 to your battery through a fuse. Hook 87 to the fan. Ground #85 (I usually use the relay mounting screw for this with a short jumper wire). Then hook terminal 86 to your dashmount toggle or temperature controlled fan thermostat, which is then hooked to ignition hot (12v when the key is on, so you dont leave the fan on and kill the battery when the engine is off accidentally).
Since the Taurus fan is a 2 speed, you would hook one relay to the low side and another wired identically to the high side with two switches on the dash (one high, one low), or just hook one speed up to which ever fan speed will keep your engine cool.
Click to expand...

So if low speed keeps it cool enough, then 87 is the low side's feed.(on while switch is off)
,
High side would be fed by 87a. (on, while switch is in the "on" position.
Now it makes sense. So the four pin relay's #30 terminal should also be the fused 12V supply from battery.

The instructions I copied must have been from an "Imported" manufacturer, backwards, but still works.

Now I just need to locate a 5 pin relay, rated for 80 amps/14VDC!

Thanks for the "splainin"!!!:beer:

& thanks to all in this thread for your help! Now I can get on with the install.:huggy:
 
Tim C said:
Since the Taurus fan is a 2 speed, you would hook one relay to the low side and another wired identically to the high side with two switches on the dash (one high, one low), or just hook one speed up to which ever fan speed will keep your engine cool.
Click to expand...

and if you hit both switches at the same time, you're gonna make the windings work against each other, increasing amperage draw and slowing down the fan... No.

If you MUST run the switches manually, you can still do it with 2 relays.

#1:
85/86 - switch wires, take your pick how you want to run them.
30- fused from the battery
87 - to the high speed winding on the fan
87a - to relay #2 terminal 30

#2:
85/86 - as above
30 - from relay #1's 87a
87 - to the fan's low speed winding.

This will not allow you to energize both windings at the same time.

Also, you'll want to put a diode between the 12v+ wire and ground, so that when you shut the fan off and it's spinning down, it doesn't turn into a generator and create a big arc when the relay disconnects - it will prolong the relay's life.

try a google search for 80amp SPDT relay - I found mine that way a few years ago.
 
ST85 is what I've been runningfor the past several years. Its pricey, but is rated high enough.
 
Rich said:
and if you hit both switches at the same time, you're gonna make the windings work against each other, increasing amperage draw and slowing down the fan... No.
Click to expand...

What I'd like to do, is have the low speed just come on with the Ignition. There would be a switch to shut off the main power feed to both speeds, for water crossings.

For the high speed, I'd like to throw another switch, to have it come on. if that needs to kill the power to the low speed wire, so they don't both run together then that's how I'll need to wire it up.

Y'alls help is greatly appreciated!:beer:
 
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