 Electric Radiator Fans: Practical cooling from the mens mall to your coach! Part III [message #92627] |
Mon, 19 July 2010 21:46  |
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Well, I finally got the test I wanted yesterday, it was cooler by a few degrees then saturday, but locally I couldnt find the heat I needed, so I started looking around at the usual hotspots in the southland, and decided to make a run up to Canyon Country/Santa Clarita where the forcast was for low 100s. this route also offered me some grades to climb up the 405, 5 and 14 freeways which would load up the engine, so at about 2pm I hit the road. coach had about 2/3rd full of fuel full water tank, and the Alternator was still the stock unit as I have not installed the CS 144 yet.
For the first part of the drive across the west LA basin was routine, the traffic was moving along at 65 MPH and the temp was abut 80. coolant temps hung around 200* though I noticed that there was not much of a "Ram Air" cooling effect as the temps still climbed and would cycle the fans about every minute. we got to the first climb over the sepulveda pass which is about a 5 mile climb before dropping into the valley, I could feel the air getting hoter as we approched the valley but still no noticable difference in the function of the fans temps were hovering around 200-205 on my Summit temp gauge.
The second leg of the trip took us across the San Fernando valley an mid 90 temps again the fans would cycle though they stayed on for longer intervols this time, they were set to come on at 210* and off at around 195 by the time we got to the I-5 we were firmly in the grip of 100 degree temps and the fans kept the coolant at 205* and this time they stayed on. finally on 14 climing the hill into Santa Clarita we were greeted by 105* temps and under load climbing at about 38 MPH the coolant temps edged just to about 210-215 the fans were on full tilt, coming down the hill the fans pulled the coolant temps back below 200 and breifly shut down before they cycled again. this time we hit the streets of Santa Clarita, and saw a temp sign in the shade that was at 103*. with no AC in the coach the temps were over 110! oooooo rah! the GF was bitching about the heat, anything over 80 and she starts sweating, I dont sweat till almost 100 so I'll roast if I have to, gives me an excuse to pound a cold beer later...
Well after driving around a bit I stopped at a gas station and readjusted the fan controller to allow a little more had space, I let it cycle a few times then hit the streets to get back to the pleasent upper 70s I had left. we pulled a grade the fans would come on and hold temps under load to 205-210 degrees the hottest it touched was 215 breifly and that was with 105 outside.
I was dissapointed by the seeming lack of any ram air cooling and that the fans had to cycle at all at freeway speeds. now that I know this system will work, I will refine it a little and seal the fan shrouds with pipe insulation to keep air from being pulled in from across gap between the fan and radiator. also I will move the temp probe to a spot right next to the inlet to get a more steady cycle. Next hot day should provide another oppertunity for further proofing of this system. I am also using the stock radiator, so I imagine that with an aluminum rad, these fans would really hum along...
I should add there will be a video uploaded of this little trip sometime this week...
73 Canyon Lands, (a.k.a. The Yellow Submarine) West Los Angeles CA
[Updated on: Mon, 19 July 2010 21:57] Report message to a moderator |
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