Toggle Switch and SPAL Fan

[pgermond]

Any of you guys experience any problems with running your SPAL fan off the toggle provided by Unique? Yesterday, coming home from the Nor Cal breakfast in near 100 heat, I flipped on the fan but the toggle felt a bit odd - like no clicky-clicky. The switch is DOA.... just wondering if the current for the fan is to much for these toggle switches over time (3-years). Temps in the low 90's mañana, so I plan on replacing it with one of the spares.

Just curious.....

[Naumoff]

Lucas switches are very delicate.

It shouldn't have a big draw as my SPAL fan came with a relay but I did get the thermostat switch and that harness came with a relay.

If you don't have a relay for the fans I would install one or two.
The relay coil has a small amp draw and the relay takes the heavy load of the fans.

[pgermond]

Tony,

No relay... direct connect. Any specifics on the relay?

Thanks in advance.

[bstandley1]

Phil,

I bought a Bosch SPDT 20 AMP relay to use my Spal Fan on Ebay for around $5.00 . I found the following diagram as a guide http://www.ado13.com/techs/relay.htm
Hope this helps ...

Bob

[Naumoff]

Phil,
I bought relays for my headlghts from the local auto parts store in the fog light area. They are very good quality and come with a wiring diagram.
They will work on the fans.

[Jeff 427]

Phil,

I got the relay and wire kit from Spal. I ran the wire inside the loom from Unique and used the factory toggle switch.

[JeepSnake]

Phil,

First, Rick is correct on toggles - none of them seem to be really high quality. Gives you a real warm & fuzzy feeling when you start thinking about how many toggles are in airplanes, ships, and other fairly critical machinery...

Second - you really need to go to a relay for powering the SPAL, if for no other reason than to get the rated performance out of it. With the two OEM fans running on the car, I think I remember reading something like 10.75 V at the leads on the motors. So, hooking the SPAL straight to that would have dropped voltage more, and it wouldn't generate its full flow. Instead, I just spliced in to the OEM fan lead for the trigger wire on the SPAL relay, then pulled the actually fan power straight from the alternator connection with a #10 (I think?).

Good luck!

[pgermond]

Thanks for all the input..... I'll work on it today.

[davebetts]

I added the Spal to the original "egg beaters", all three run when I switch the dash toggle. No issues, worked for three years now, switch feels good, but a spare would be smart.

[pgermond]

I added the Spal to the original "egg beaters", all three run when I switch the dash toggle. No issues, worked for three years now, switch feels good, but a spare would be smart.

That's the set-up I have no issues for 3+ years, then nothing, nada, fineto. I should consider myself lucky since this is the only thing that has died on me while on the road.... no problems with the ignition switch, master cylinders, clutch slave, etc.

[Tony Radford]

I've also got three fans (including 16" Spal) running through one of the dash toggles. I've been running it for 3 or 4 years. Maybe my time is near. Seems like a reasonably heavy duty switch though.