Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

A PO replaced the original fan on my Elan Sprint with a thermostatically controlled electric fan. The power to the fan thermostat has a fused link. One end of the fused link has deformed and broken away. I'm wondering if it would hurt anything to just leave this link out. It certainly would prevent the engine from being reduced to slag for failure of a 25-cent fuse. I'm always scanning my instruments when I drive this thing - but it wouldn't take long for disaster to occur if the fan failed.

Paul Perkins
***@***.***
EarthLink Revolves Around You.

Paul,
Perhaps the end of the fuse holder has deteriorated/distorted due to
overheating of the wiring. Have you checked to make sure that the
fuse, within the fused link, is of the correct value. The fan could
be failing and drawing too much current and heating things up or the
wiring could also be of the incorrect gauge. Either way, it should be
running through a relay and definitely have a servicable fuse, of the
correct rating, in the circuit. Fibreglass does not take kindly to
fire.
Colin.


--- In ***@***.***, "Paul Perkins" <perk1518@...> wrote:

thermostat has a fused link. One end of the fused link has deformed
and broken away. I'm wondering if it would hurt anything to just
leave this link out. It certainly would prevent the engine from being
reduced to slag for failure of a 25-cent fuse. I'm always scanning my
instruments when I drive this thing - but it wouldn't take long for
disaster to occur if the fan failed.

Paul,
Perhaps the end of the fuse holder has deteriorated/distorted due to
overheating of the wiring. Have you checked to make sure that the
fuse, within the fused link, is of the correct value. The fan could
be failing and drawing too much current and heating things up or the
wiring could also be of the incorrect gauge. Either way, it should be
running through a relay and definitely have a servicable fuse, of the
correct rating, in the circuit. Fibreglass does not take kindly to
fire.
Colin.


--- In ***@***.***, "Paul Perkins" <perk1518@...> wrote:

thermostat has a fused link. One end of the fused link has deformed
and broken away. I'm wondering if it would hurt anything to just
leave this link out. It certainly would prevent the engine from being
reduced to slag for failure of a 25-cent fuse. I'm always scanning my
instruments when I drive this thing - but it wouldn't take long for
disaster to occur if the fan failed.

All my documentation for this installation is unavailable. I don't
know how much current the fan should be drawing - or what size fuze
SHOULD be in the link. If anyone has these figures - I have a
voltameter I could use to check the fan draw.

Thanks,

Paul




--- In ***@***.***, "fatboyoz" <mckay_52@...> wrote:

A 10 or 15A fuse should handle most fans; 20A max.



Ken

'69 Lotus Elan +2 with BDR

_____

From: ***@***.***lto:***@***.*** Behalf
Of Paul C. Perkins, MD
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 7:58 PM
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Re: Any Disadvantage?



All my documentation for this installation is unavailable. I don't
know how much current the fan should be drawing - or what size fuze
SHOULD be in the link. If anyone has these figures - I have a
voltameter I could use to check the fan draw.

Thanks,

Paul




--- In ***@***.***, "fatboyoz" <mckay_52@...> wrote:























SPONSORED LINKS


Plus
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Plus&w1=Plus&w2=Sprint&w3=Devoted&w4=En
joy&w5=Impressions&c=5&s=63&.sig=dIq6370auMI5unlj264rKg>

Sprint
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Sprint&w1=Plus&w2=Sprint&w3=Devoted&w4=
Enjoy&w5=Impressions&c=5&s=63&.sig=muI6crmvtqUoTgRYka59Rg>

Devoted
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Devoted&w1=Plus&w2=Sprint&w3=Devoted&w4
=Enjoy&w5=Impressions&c=5&s=63&.sig=MYr8YVWitcFnMagQQ6nJVA>


Enjoy
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Enjoy&w1=Plus&w2=Sprint&w3=Devoted&w4=E
njoy&w5=Impressions&c=5&s=63&.sig=zUhOBysTd0f_oe18NDhODg>

Impressions
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Impressions&w1=Plus&w2=Sprint&w3=Devote
d&w4=Enjoy&w5=Impressions&c=5&s=63&.sig=fS0z9y1WMhoC-cy_ETCXnA>





_____





* Visit your group "lotuselan
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lotuselan> " on the web.

* To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
***@***.***
<mailto:***@***.***ect=Unsubscribe>

* the Yahoo!
<http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> Terms of Service.



_____

Ken,

Thanks.
I wiped away some of the crud on the front of the fan motor casing:
12V - 7.5 AMP. I'll do the dutiful thing and get a fuseable link
tomorrow to install.

Paul




--- In ***@***.***, "Lotus" <lotuselan2@...> wrote:

Paul,

The good thing about electrical items is that they always come with a label
showing voltage and current draw or watts (=volts x amperes). Unless this
label has been removed you should be able to get the details you need. A
fuse is there to protect the cabling downstream (between the fuse and the
load - in this case the fan. There are tables to show what fuse to use for
a given cable size. On my Mini, I relocated the fuse box from the engine
bay into the passenger compartment and changed from glass fuses to blade
type. End of corrosion problems!

Rgds,
Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: ***@***.***lto:***@***.***
Behalf Of Paul C. Perkins, MD
Sent: 04 May 2006 00:58
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Re: Any Disadvantage?


All my documentation for this installation is unavailable. I don't
know how much current the fan should be drawing - or what size fuze
SHOULD be in the link. If anyone has these figures - I have a
voltameter I could use to check the fan draw.

Thanks,

Paul




--- In ***@***.***, "fatboyoz" <mckay_52@...> wrote:

The discussion of fuseable links (on Fan wiring) prompts me to ask:
What is the distiction between a "fuseable link" and a "fuse"?

Can a fuse be substituted for a fuseable link? Vice versa? Can one
carry more current? Does one "blow" quicker? Or resist corrosion
better? Or what?

I've always wanted to know.

Rich Boyd

Rich,
I would hazard a guess and say that, in the case of a modern auto'
cooling fan, a fusable link and a fuse would be one in the same.
Check out the link below for more info'.

http://www.carcare.org/Electrical/fusible_link.shtml
Colin.


--- In ***@***.***, "Paul Perkins" <perk1518@...> wrote:

thermostat has a fused link. One end of the fused link has deformed
and broken away. I'm wondering if it would hurt anything to just
leave this link out. It certainly would prevent the engine from being
reduced to slag for failure of a 25-cent fuse. I'm always scanning my
instruments when I drive this thing - but it wouldn't take long for
disaster to occur if the fan failed.

On 5/6/06, fatboyoz <***@***.***> wrote:

For an example of how NOT to replace a fuse, take a look at:
http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil/photo/ ... oto178.htm

---Ben

More relevant to Lotus, here is a picture of my Europa and the repair
done by the previous owner:

http://www.eng.auburn.edu/users/bulfin/fuse.html




For an example of how NOT to replace a fuse, take a look at:
http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil/photo/ ... oto178.htm


---Ben

Bob
69 Elan S4 DHC
71 Europa S2

-
Bob Bulfin, Professor Department of Industrial/Systems
Engineering
207 Dunstan Hall Auburn University, AL 36849
(334) 844-1422 (Voice) (334) 844-1381 (FAX)
***@***.*** http://www.eng.auburn.edu/~bulfin