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Date:         Sat, 26 May 2007 16:57:09 -0400
Reply-To:     Kenneth Lewis <kdlewis@NORTHSTATE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kenneth Lewis <kdlewis@NORTHSTATE.NET>
Subject:      Re: Fabricating a radiator fan on indicator light,
              with surprise ending!
Comments: To: rubatoguy@COMCAST.NET
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=original

Todd, Here is how I did it, and it had an unexpected benefit. I used a momentary contact push button with an LED built in. Very similar to the player buttons used on coin operated Atari arcade games of the 80s. ;-/ If I was going to do it over I would use a toggle switch. I removed the relay that controls the radiator fan's high speed. To which I removed the metal can top and soldered a wire to each of the four terminals inside. The metal can got a hole drilled into the top to accept said wires before being reassembled. I am going from memory so this part is vague. The LED was attached to the wires that went to ground and the plus terminal of the fan. I am sure there was an appropriate resistor in series. The switch contacts went to the other two wires, +12 volts and the relay coil's control line. As expected, the LED lit brightly when the fan was energized and mashing the button forced the fan on. The unexpected result was; as you started to drive, air flowing through the radiator made the fan's propeller rotate. This caused the motor to act as a generator and produce voltage, in turn illuminating the LED to about half brightness. Benefit? As long as the LED glows at any speed above 15mph you know the fan's bearings have not bound up! QED. YMMV, Ken Lewis http://neksiwel.20m.com/ Vanagon mods, tech info and O2 sensor help


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