Date:         Tue, 1 Apr 2003 14:07:13 -0500
Reply-To:     David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Subject:      Re: Van runs hot in traffic jams
Comments: To: Steve Delanty <laurasdog@WEIRDSTUFFWEMAKE.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <5.1.1.6.0.20030401082040.00a71710@mail.gct21.net>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Tue, 1 Apr 2003, Steve Delanty wrote:

> Plus, the electric is turned
> *off *most of the time when the vehicle is in motion
> and only eats power when the cooling system
> requests it...

This reminds me of something interesting I've noticed.

I added two LEDs to my fan circuit, so I can see when (if) the fan
switches turn on.

The high-speed one is on the coil side of a relay and works as expected.
The low speed doesn't use a relay, though, and at highway speeds the LED
will glow.  Clearly, the fan is windmilling and generating enough voltage
to light the LED.

So now I'm wondering.  If I put a snubber circuit on there to slow down or
stop the rotation, would it prolong the life of the fan bearings?  Or
would it be counterproductive somehow?


David Brodbeck, N8SRE
'82 Diesel Westfalia
'94 Honda Civic Si