Has anyone installed a manual override switch for the radiator fan??

It should not interfere with the normal activation of the fan, but it should be able to activate the fan when the ECU doesn't have it activated.

I'd love to be able to turn on the radiator fan at the track, a long traffic light, or a couple miles before getting home so the garage doesn't get as toasty from the engine radiating all its heat.

 

If your fan is operating properly, there should be no need. Also, while the emphasis is on not overheating, you don't want to drive below optimum temperature just to keep your garage cooler.

 

Hi Lynne,

The electric water pump in addition to the engine thermostat is what keeps it at optimum temp.

I want to be able to dump the excess heat stored in the radiator so the coolant required by the engine is indeed cool. That way, when I mash the pedal coming off a light, the radiator is already cooled and keeping the fan from activating, thus not consuming HP when I want it all for acceleration.

The same is true prior to parking in the garage. I’d rather have dumped the heat outside, then inside. The bonnet temps get way to hot for my liking (200F – 235F) when parked in a garage with no airflow. This may help reduce the bonnet temps after parking by having cool coolant available to the turbo and engine. Also, it’s one less thing radiating heat in the garage.

I see NO downside to having a manual fan switch for the car, other then fan life, which will allow me to install a more efficient fan when the time comes.

 

You do realize that the fan does not reduce the horsepower of the car when on don't you?

I like the idea of cooling down the radiator a bit before putting it in the garage tho.

 

I am not going to claim to know personally, but I read that any electrical load will reduce engine output to some extent (although it may be minimal). The article I read on that was addressing the use of headlights.

 

I agree with Lynne on the electrical load statement.

Additional electrical load makes the altenator consume more HP... minimal, but some.

 

It is common practice to run a manual switch to electric fans for track days.

If you use a Automotive 12volt relaty you should have no problem to hook that up. I would hook it up so that your switch would turn it on, then if the ECU trupped the fan with a signal it would stay on regardless of your manual switch. That is how i used to run it on my hondas.

 

So, has anyone actually wired it?

If so, where did you tap in? At the fan relay that's activated my the ECU or did you wire a separate relay (in parallel) with the standard fan relay?

 

i don't have my MINI yet i can not comment on the method to do it in the mini. Somtime SOON i hope.

 

A totally insignificant and unmeasureable amount if any.

 

Yes, probably unnoticable load wise. Still a nice mod if anyone has done it. I would use it daily prior to parking, if nothing else.

Depending on the ambient temps and how long I'm sitting at a light, I would use it there as well.

Just looking to save some time by finding out if it's been done already and if anything special was used. Maybe a timer circuit instead of on/off.

 

Anyone wire this on an '07 MCS yet??

Anyone????

 

Did anyone figure this out yet? If so how did you do it please

 

Not exactly true. NFI what the mini fan uses, but I have seen fans that blow a 30a fuse so for ease of maths I will say the fan draws 30a.

P=VI. Power = Volts x Amps.
P = 12v x 30a
= 360 watts.

Which is 0.36 kW, or about 0.5hp.

Not huge, but definitely not totally insignificant and unmeasurable. The alternator is probably around a 90a model, so using every ounce of electricity you could you would be using about 1.5hp of the available power.

James