Talking about fans...

[dickymint]

Since ive had the SEAC it has blown two rad fan fuses.
The previous owner warned me of this (he fitted a seperate fuse holder and "heavier cable" cos it melted the original)
Also on ebay there are some 40Amp spade fuses on sale
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15329&item=7902101981&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
stating its a common TVR problem.
Is this the case? or is it likely I have an iffy joint/connection?
I have "borrowed" a 40 amp circuit breaker from work and am tempted to fit it. Any thoughts?

[jmorgan]

Is the fan on its way out? I have fitted 2 fans and they come in well under the 30 fuse and relay fitted (on paper) Is the new fuse holder just doing the fan or has something else found its way on to that circuit. And can you get a suitable meter in just to check the draw?

[dickymint]

jmorgan said:

Is the fan on its way out? I have fitted 2 fans and they come in well under the 30 fuse and relay fitted (on paper) Is the new fuse holder just doing the fan or has something else found its way on to that circuit. And can you get a suitable meter in just to check the draw?

Found a receipt for new fans fitted a couple of years back.
Will be taking a "tong tester" to it tonight to check the draw.
The Kenlowe kit I fitted on the 350i had to have a 25Amp fuse to each fan so maybe thats the problem ie. the standard wiring is for a single fan and TVR didn't think it neccessary to upgrade this for twin fans!!
Cheers Jeff.

[jmorgan]

My new fans are 8 amps each. Got them in parrallel. Cable is up to the job.
I would be wary of fitting a bigger fuse until I knew what was going on.

[streaky]

Fans (on cars) generally don't draw a lot of current. I'd check what's going on before uprating the fuse ... took much risk of fire IMHO - Streaky

[dickymint]

The twin 16" kenlowes on the 350i are rated at 20Amp each.Not sure whats on the SEAC other than they are Kenlowe.

[jmorgan]

Thinking about it, wonder where I got the 8 amps from? Better have a look for the paper work.

[dickymint]

Here be the Kenlowe spec..
www.kenlowe.co.uk/fans/consumers/fans06.html
I got the 16" wompers

[wedg1e]

streaky said:

Fans (on cars) generally don't draw a lot of current. I'd check what's going on before uprating the fuse ... took much risk of fire IMHO - Streaky

I have seen 5A running and 24A stall (startup) currents before now. It's the stall current that tends to take out the fuse; what they really should fit is an £8 circuit breaker with the appropriate overload curve... oh, but that would put £1000 on the price of the vehicle wouldn't it. Sorry, I forgot.

Ian

[dickymint]

wedg1e said:

streaky said: Fans (on cars) generally don't draw a lot of current. I'd check what's going on before uprating the fuse ... took much risk of fire IMHO - Streaky I have seen 5A running and 24A stall (startup) currents before now. It's the stall current that tends to take out the fuse; what they really should fit is an £8 circuit breaker with the appropriate overload curve... oh, but that would put £1000 on the price of the vehicle wouldn't it. Sorry, I forgot. Ian

yep thats what I'm going to fit but can't find a 30Amp one. Do you think 40Amp would be a problem Ian?

[streaky]

wedg1e said:

streaky said: Fans (on cars) generally don't draw a lot of current. I'd check what's going on before uprating the fuse ... took much risk of fire IMHO - Streaky I have seen 5A running and 24A stall (startup) currents before now. It's the stall current that tends to take out the fuse; what they really should fit is an £8 circuit breaker ...

Or a "slow-blow" type? - Streaky

[SLB]

Just got back from a week away sunning ourselves in deepest Devon. Saw a Silver Chim in Salcombe and that was it for the whole week.

Originally the car kept melting the plastic fuses ( not blowing them) due to damgaed and corroded wires at the back of the fuse board. It would only do this in very hot whether when the fans were permanently on and the high resistance caused the excessive heat. I tried to find a replacement fuse holder but the closest I could find was only rated to 20 amps, and the original TVR sticker thing in the glove box said 25 amps. I found a beefier 30 amp seperate one so fitted that with some nice beefy cable, but only fitted a 25 amp fuse. For all of that long hot spell last August it worked like a dream and the fans seemed to run slightly faster as they drew a higher current.

I can't recall the car ever blowing a 25amp fan fuse, so perhaps this is a new problem. You could try a 30 amp fuse as the fuse holder is now rated at that. Good luck.

[dickymint]

Cheers Steve - I forgot to bring the tong tester home to check the startup ampage but its definately surging at over 25 Amp. Like Wedg1e says it would be on startup only and would then tail off. Ive got a 40 Amp breaker, sounds high but I did a calibration on it and it trips at 32 Amp so am confident that its "safe" to use and its much easier to reset than fitting new fuses (especially when in traffic)
Hope you enjoyed Salcombe, I know it very well and the drive around Batson Creek at sunrise in a Wedge is awesome. I'm looking at 2 pictures of Salcombe above me fireplace as we speak.