Mark VIII & SPAL V3

[FULMNTE]

Well,

After talkeing to SPAL online trying to figure out how to wire in a high-speed bypass, it will need 3 external relays to get this done.
So I chickened out and ordered one of these new DIF pwm Controllers. It has everything I want and handles 50 amps continous load.

Anyone wants to buy a never run SPAL V3 unit?

[85_SS]

Well at least they responded to you... I still haven't heard back. I'll likely be selling my SPAL V3 as well.

[Chad-1stGen]

Who makes or what is the DIF pwm controller?

[85_SS]

I'm going to take a stab in the dark and guess he's talking about DC Controls - I had one of those years ago and it died after getting caught in a light rain. Their customer service was terrible as well - I waited over 3mo (ignored emails and empty promises) for a replacement before finally asking for a refund instead.

I usually try to "keep it simple" and it seems to be the way to go with fan control. Relays generally never die, and controllers seem to be extremely flaky from my experiences. I've had three die on me altogether - the one DCC unit, and two early model SPAL units (one stopped working, one stuck on 100% all the time).

[woody80z28]

I spent $200 on SPAL crap and have never had it work right, it's definitely the older version. My $10 HD relay works like a champ though.

[FULMNTE]

Not DC, this one
http://www.frsport.com/DIF-Universal...-_p_10337.html

[claytonisbob]

Im running a Mark VIII Fan with a 70amp relay and a PAC-2700. Works perfectly. Probably a little over kill actually. I got it thinking I could wire the fan to two speeds (which I later found out you can't) If I ever replace the fan though, I'll do dual fans and the controller can change the turn on times to each fan indiviually.

The controller:
http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.c...641/prd641.htm

The relay:
http://order.waytekwire.com/productd...POWER%20RELAY/

[85_SS]

Some Mark VIII's are two speed - I have bench tested mine and it is indeed a two speed fan, so I will be wiring it that way. Here's some options for both single and two speed wiring:

http://www.motortopia.com/files/cars...Thumbnail1.jpg



http://www.motortopia.com/files/cars...Thumbnail1.jpg



The following is only required because of the draw of a Mark VIII fan on high, and the fact it's nearly impossible to find a 5-pin 70A+ relay:
http://www.motortopia.com/files/cars...Thumbnail1.jpg


If anybody wants a better quality pdf/jpg, I could send a copy.

[LSX1STGEN]

Check out Delta controller. Best around with variable speed...

http://www.dccontrol.com/0820.htm

[85_SS]

Check out Delta controller. Best around with variable speed...

http://www.dccontrol.com/0820.htm

...DC Controls - I had one of those years ago and it died after getting caught in a light rain. Their customer service was terrible as well - I waited over 3mo (ignored emails and empty promises) for a replacement before finally asking for a refund instead.

Just as unreliable as SPAL from my experience, only with worse customer service.

[shep]

Anyone ever looked at a speed controller for a robot. http://www.myskunkworks.net/servlet/...ers/Categories or http://www.robotpower.com/products/osmc_info.html they are not plug and play but should be able to handle any fan you can come up with.

[FULMNTE]

Check out Delta controller. Best around with variable speed...

http://www.dccontrol.com/0820.htm

I have checked them out before. I am just not a big fan of in-radiator temperature sensors.... Hence I will give the DIF controller a try...

[85_SS]

After finding out that the Mark VIII fan was too much for the SPAL V3 to handle, I decided to scrap the whole controller idea and make up my own harness/diagrams for a hopefully trouble free system. I designed it so that it operates much like an electric fan in newer cars. It also has a high speed manual override switch, as well as feedback through a single RGB LED for the various states (high/low/AC).

Here's the final schematic and wiring diagram I designed:





Mark VIII fan installed:





Relays/custom harness wired up and ready to go:


(figured I may as well make use of the Maxi-fuse holder from a painless 70A wiring kit I decided not to use)


Relay rack fits nice and snug next to battery (one more relay was added for proper LED control due to fan motor feedback on opposite speed):



And finally here's the LED in the different stages (mounted at manual override switch/temp gauge):

Off:


Low Speed:


High Speed:


A/C:


It will be nice to finally have a trouble free, fully operational fan setup - beats the unreliability of these worthless controllers out there!

[Declawed69]

This thread is awesome! Would be great for a how to section, lots of good info.

Thank you for saving me from buying a spal controller for a mkVIII fan.

[85_SS]

Not a problem, I had to go through it anyways in order to decide what I wanted to do, and figured I may as well share as I know a lot of people like to use this fan.

[85_SS]

Due to the unexpected operation of the Hayden controller with the engine off, I have made one final change to the diagram so that the fan will only run with the car on.
What was happening is the fans would run for a minute or two when the car turned off (as expected and designed for). I expected this might happen 2-3 times as the coolant would increase in temp again a few times once the fan stopped. This did happen, but the odd part was after a while the controller would call for the fan to be on for a split second every minute or so and this went on basically until the car naturally cooled down. This wasn't good for the battery and left me with just enough juice to crank the car over a couple times. I didn't like the idea of possibly getting stranded with a dead battery, so I made a minor change that only allows the fan to run with the ignition on:

http://www.motortopia.com/files/cars...Thumbnail1.jpg


http://www.motortopia.com/files/cars...Thumbnail1.jpg


On a side note, regarding how to tell the difference between the 1 and 2 speed Mark VIII fans, I put this quick image together for reference:

[zman1969]

this needs to be stickied! good job guys!