Tap into relay signal?

[Chapap]

This isn't for the ranger, but is a universal question. I'm trying wire a fan so it turns on and off with the compressor. There is no fuse downstream of the relay, so I have to tap into the relay signal (I don't want to splice into wires). I currently have a wire soldered to the power output of the ac clutch relay, but I just can't get it to seat fully into the socket. Is there such a thing as a relay with longer connectors or an add-a-relay thing? I think I used 16ga wire and will try something thinner, but if there's no clean way to do it I'll just wire a little jumper to each pin. any ideas?

 

[RonD]

Confused: "I currently have a wire soldered to the power output of the ac clutch relay, but I just can't get it to seat fully into the socket"

You would solder a wire on the back side of the relay socket, which wouldn't be an issue to put relay in place?


It's often easier to get the 12v Compressor ON voltage at the compressor's plug-in, usually just a slide on 2 wire connector

If you have a soldering iron modify the relay's plastic base plate, melt a trough(valley) from slot to edge of relay that allows the 16ga wire to sit "flat" under the relay, so relay goes in all the way

 

[Chapap]

Confused: "I currently have a wire soldered to the power output of the ac clutch relay, but I just can't get it to seat fully into the socket"

You would solder a wire on the back side of the relay socket, which wouldn't be an issue to put relay in place?


It's often easier to get the 12v Compressor ON voltage at the compressor's plug-in, usually just a slide on 2 wire connector

If you have a soldering iron modify the relay's plastic base plate, melt a trough(valley) from slot to edge of relay that allows the 16ga wire to sit "flat" under the relay, so relay goes in all the way

I soldered it to the pin on the relay, not to anything on the vehicle. I’m now thinking I may have bent a socket in the fuse box from a previous failed design. That’ll be an easy fix.

 

[RonD]

Got it
You soldered a wire to the relay itself

You can buy a 5 pin relay socket with 5 wires attached, about $4, i.e. : https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/images/L/4411-021.JPG

Put tabs on the end of each wire and plug those wires into the vehicles relay slots, wires can be made as long as you need to put extended socket out of the way
So vehicles relay base stays intact and your addition can be removed at anytime

 

[Chapap]

Fortunately, it turned out to be a stretched out connector inside the fuse box. It's working fine now. I'll deffinitely rewire it cause it's currently more of a proof of concept rather than pro install.