ClioSport.net

Register a free account today to become a member!
Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read more here.

Amp cooling fans...



aucky

ClioSport Club Member
Iv been reading up on how this is done but im still confused as to which method i should use.
I like the idea of a switch so the fans are not constantly on, especially during winter.
I also dont like the idea of taking power from the remote as i believe this has its own set of problems?

So basically, would this work?
Also, what size fuse would i need to power two 80mm 12v fans?

fuse.jpg
 
  vaux cavalier
Didn't realise you HAD started a new thread lol....

Busy at moment, if not sorted will respond later....
 
  1.2 Clio
Yes if you want to start and stop the fan willy nilly then use that method. If you would like to have it on when you have the HU on, then off when your HU is of (you could still add a dead switch to control summer (hot days) and winter use).

What normally is done is the remote cable is fed off to a relay which switches a main power feed, (possibly another distribution from your amp diz block) then this gets switched by the +ve of the remote allowing current to flow, only when the HU is on.

You wont need a massive relay. It'll only be a few watts a few fans so 5amps should be more than ample.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Relay-12-or-2...683|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318#ebayphotohosting

Thats 70amp but you get the idea.
The 2 big connectors go to +ve cable, and to fan +ve. Then the little ones go to a feed off the remote (blue) cable, and the other goes to ground (-ve).
 

aucky

ClioSport Club Member
Thanks..
They are only 2x80mm fans, could they just be ran from the remote cable in series to the amp?
 
  1.2 Clio
You could. But i personally wouldn't as frying my HU remote cable is worth more to me than paying a £5 for a relay...
Some Hu's may allow this current draw, but most wont!
The remote is only meant to be enough to power a little dinky switch at the end of the day.
 

aucky

ClioSport Club Member
Ok thanks, Il check how much current the fans draw..
The 120mm version of this fan draws 0.15A each, and I'm using 80mm so it should be less?. Does this change anything?
Im just trying to find a simpler way that a relay, seems a bit complicated!
 
  vaux cavalier
Not quite sorted yet then....

Ok, Winter or summer use has little bearing in this instance, if your amps will overheat in summer, then chances are they will in winter....

The main issue with amplifier heat build up is the increase in internal resistance of many component parts, the hotter an amp runs, the lower the output power will be....The most common cause of heat build up is poor setup....

You should also ensure your amplifiers gain/sensitivity control is correctly set to match your head units pre-out voltage....

An amplifiers heat sink is designed to keep the amp cool at full power, the only time your amp will achieve this is playing a 0dB tone whilst receiving a 14.4v power supply, which in the real world equates to 'never'....

The issue of the Head Unit remote feed is quite simple, it is simply a 12v feed which carries very little current, add multiple items and the current drops, as the current drops so will the voltage, adding any kind of current draw to this circuit will simply kill the voltage, low voltage equates to amps simply not switching on....

You then need to consider fusing options for the Head Unit remote, I tend to fuse both behind the Head Unit, (2amp fuse), & in the boot area before distribution, (again a 2amp fuse), just to be sure....

With regards simply powering the fans from the amps Batt feed, I wouldn't personally as this could introduce noise from the fan itself or possible ground loop issues....

With regards fan wiring;

Wired in 'Parallel' they will both run in unison, both pushing or both pulling....
Wired in 'Series' they will run against each other, one pushing, one pulling....

For best results the airflow should be along the heat sink rather than across it, (end to end rather than front to rear)....

A quick pic, (wired in 'Parallel);

fans.jpg
 
  vaux cavalier
Thanks a lot for that..
Is the ''feed from selected power source'' the live feed from the battery?

You can use any power source, Battery, (must be fused), ciggy lighter etc etc.....

I usually use the live supply to the boot courtesy light, (these are negative switched & so are constantly live)....
 
  vaux cavalier
Can that be done just by taping into the live that goes into the bulb holder or..?

In a word....YES....

It depends on the type of fitting, on bulb holders that simply use 'spade' connections, I simply replace the positive connection with a 'piggy back' connector then connect feed to relay direct to this....

If the bulb holder has a direct soldered connection, then simply solder the relay feed in also....

If the bulb holder has no clear way to fit the relay feed then simply cut the live and fit your own connection so both relay & bulb get a live feed....
 
  vaux cavalier
Almost right mate....

Live feed should be fused at source, (as close to Batt as poss)....If using courtesy light, no fuse required as circuit already fused....

Remote lead requires an in-line fuse just before the splice, (2amp)....This is to protect the head unit from any issues caused by component failure or dead shorts within the boot....

Then its just a case of wiring fans to match your needs, either in series or parallel....
 
  Polo + Micra
tbh i wouldn't bother with a fuse for the remote lead as you will have done enough damage to the head-unit before it operates anyway

also i'd only run the relay coil from the remote and power the fans and the amp remote from the relay output
 
  Polo + Micra
no

the blue remote wire goes to just the relay

then the output from the relay switch will supply the fans and the remote input on the amp

pin 30 should be your fused supply from battery
pin 87 should go to fans and amp remote input
pin 85 should be remote from head unit
pin 86 should be your negative ground
 
Last edited:

aucky

ClioSport Club Member
no

the blue remote wire goes to just the relay

then the output from the relay switch will supply the fans and the remote input on the amp
but how will the relay know when to let the live current go to the fans without the relay signal?
 
  vaux cavalier
no

the blue remote wire goes to just the relay

then the output from the relay switch will supply the fans and the remote input on the amp

pin 30 should be your fused supply from battery
pin 87 should go to fans and amp remote input
pin 85 should be remote from head unit
pin 86 should be your negative ground

Hi Mr Dink, hope your well....

Been awhile since our paths have crossed on here....

Anyway, back to topic....

Are you sure that the above configuration will work ??

With regards using the output from the relay to run the fans & supply the amp remote, any chance this could induce noise ??
 
  1.2 Clio
Hi Mr Dink, hope your well....

Been awhile since our paths have crossed on here....

Anyway, back to topic....

Are you sure that the above configuration will work ??

With regards using the output from the relay to run the fans & supply the amp remote, any chance this could induce noise ??

It wont. I thought that was standard procedure, and it's what folk generally recommend on TA if you pop a search.
 
  Polo + Micra
yeah i did a little google to find the pin outs for the relay so i could get me head round it

nah noise is not an issue as most 12v fans are brushless so make no emi
 
  vaux cavalier
It wont. I thought that was standard procedure, and it's what folk generally recommend on TA if you pop a search.

It's standard procedure to use a relay when you need remote feeds for multiple components, however it's not standard procedure to use the same feed to supply fans or other items such as neons etc etc....

yeah i did a little google to find the pin outs for the relay so i could get me head round it

nah noise is not an issue as most 12v fans are brushless so make no emi


I usually connect the switching supply to PIN 86 & the relay ground to PIN 85....
 
  1.2 Clio
Yup pins 86and 85 wont make any difference. It's DC and only the charging of a electromagnet at the end of the day so wont make any difference.

Dunno wallop. This says different!

Also you may need to add a diode inline with your remote cable to your relay incase it goes pear shaped you don't want a fried HU.
 
  vaux cavalier
Yup pins 86and 85 wont make any difference. It's DC and only the charging of a electromagnet at the end of the day so wont make any difference.

Dunno wallop. This says different!

Also you may need to add a diode inline with your remote cable to your relay incase it goes pear shaped you don't want a fried HU.

Just a thought, what happens if you reverse the polarity of an electromagnet ??

With regards your link, if anyone on TA recommends using a remote feed, (relay output), to both power fans and switch amps then all I can say is good luck to them....I wouldn't....(I read that thread & didn't find any such recommendation)....

common practice;
amprelay.jpg


How I would wire multiple remote feeds & power supplies;
amprelay2.jpg


How your saying you would do it, (I think)....
amprelay3.jpg


So guys, are we all in agreement yet?
Remote to:
Live to:
85 to:
86 to:
87 to:
30 to:
Fans to:

Your question has been answered mate, you know how I always do it, you know how Mr Dink does it....Nothing more can be said, other than try Mr Dinks idea of Google....
 
  Polo + Micra
i personally see the problem with using the same supply to power fans and switch the amp on?
 

aucky

ClioSport Club Member
Thanks for being patient with me over this..
After gathering info from all comments on here.. should this work? (with fuses in the correct places)
subsetup-1.jpg


Also, quick question, where on the amp with the RCA connect to, and where will the sub connect to?
06052009187.jpg

06052009189.jpg

Thanks again
 
  Polo + Micra
yeah that will work with fuses in the right places

well it's a 4 channel amp so just use the rear channels and the will be the outer connections on the rear speaker terminals
 
  vaux cavalier
Sub Connection;

06052009189A.gif


RCA Connection & base settings to start tuning from;
FILTER---LP, (Blue)
CROSSOVER FREQ---80Hz, (Green)
BASS BOOST---OFF, (Red)
GAIN---MIN, (Light Blue)

06052009187a.gif
 


Top