switched ignition wire for electric fan

[scrapper]

I am wondering where is a better place to get a switched 12 volt wire so electric fan will shut off with the key? I am guessing the radio would work but was wondering about somewhere under the hood.I hate working on electrical stuff but have most of it hooked up just need to wire the relay to a switched 12 volt supply and install the sensor. If I hook the wire up to the battery positive post the fan will start working, just thinking for me , a switched wire will be best, I do not need a on off switch. Thanks for any help.

 

[Explorin94]

Any switched power source from the fuse box could be used. But you may want to add a 30 amp relay to the equation. Some fans draw a high current at start and could possibly cause you problems in the long run.

 

[scrapper]

I got a relay all hooked up, its the other wire to control the relay I am wanting to switch. I am not sure what would work okay under the hood looks like a bunch of wires to me, not trying to be a smart ass just dont know much about wiring unless I have a paper in front of me to look at. I am guessing I could run a wire to the radio?

 

[Explorin94]

The radio fuse would work. But the problem with the radio circuit is it also runs with the key in accessory. You don't want that. Get a test light and find the circuit that only comes on with the key in the run position. Just start probing the fuses and find the one that suits you. Then tap into it for your secondary power source for your fan. Source it from the fusebox inside the truck and run your switch inline with it.

 

[scrapper]

I will try that, I'm guessing the fuse box in the engine compartment would be a bad choice?

 

[Explorin94]

Not if you are running a switch from inside the truck. The fusebox under the hood is fine but you are running a longer wire than what you really need to.

 

[scrapper]

Sorry I was meaning switched as ignition switched. I wasnt sure how to hook the wire up to the box, I figured it would work just dont want to cause problems with other electrical stuff.

 

[Explorin94]

I just noticed that you live in central Illinois. Where? I live in Farmington. If you are close I could show you how and where to hook it up.

 

[scrapper]

I got it, was going to put a relay in the engine compartment box but it was impostable to find the wire connectors to put in the box for the relay to plug into. They are different than the crimper connectors you can buy at auto store, other ones wouldnt lock in place and line up. I just added a wire and ran it off a different one. It works okay but when I drilled the metal pipe I put into upper radiator hose,I spliced it in, It leaks so I bought one from ebay,long wait from china but only 5.00. I wonder if you can buy the little connectors from ford or swipe a couple from a scrap box, probly pretty hard to get out???
I am south of clinton and north of decatur on 51, about 1.45 hours from you.

 

[backroad101]

Is the fuse box set up with extra unused ports one could use for power? I had a Chevy like that once but not sure if that was because it was not a fully optioned model. That being said, if the Explore and Ranger use the same fuse panel, shouldnt there be some unused slots from exploer to ranger?

 

[scrapper]

I was going to put the relay in the box because there was an empty spot but cant find the correct connectors to use. Crimp connectors that you buy are not the same, they need bumped out spots to click in the back of the relay. I cant find any anywhere.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

If your just switching the relay you could use the ignition coil circuit, a relay draws very little power to energize the relay coil.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

here's a link to Picos' wiring catalogue. I don't know for sure they have what your looking for but;

http://www.picowiring.com/catalog.html

Good luck,

Richard

 

[scrapper]

Thanks for the info, pico wiring had the relay with 5 pin connector. The box in the engine compartment had a empty relay spot but no wires like the 5 pin connector had. I would need the wires from one of their 5 pin connectors but I have one and removed the wires with the connectors on them when I tried to install the 4 wires into the relay box in the engine compartment they would not go in or would not line up correctly, when I tried the regular crimped connectors they would fall out because there wasnt anything to hold them in place. I'm going to try to get a couple from a junk yard or wait until we get a ford in at work and try to swipe a few pigtails from the relay box. I got a and a 1/8" sensor to install in upper radiator hose. The fan is operational just wanted a cleaner look with the wires, am looking for a better fan to put on it, got one at work just didnt have time to get it. I will find something that will work in the engine compartment box one way or another. Thanks again for your help. got the adaptor on ebay 32 mm but 30 probly would have worked also.

 

[bobbywalter]

run the power trough two relays if you can....i usually rob wires from boxes out of the junkyard when building in like your doing.