Re: How to install fuse (type 44 rad fan)??

[DeWitt Harrison <de@aztek-eng.com>]

On Mon, 21 Jun 1999 12:44:20 -0700, Rob wrote:

>Last night after spirited 100 mile freeway flog I heard the
>fan bearings really get noisy when running on afterrun (87
>5kcst). So noisy, in fact, that I disconnected the battery
>cable for the night, with visions of a nasty fire dancing in
>my head. Clearly, the fan needs replacement. [ ... ]

You are correct to be worried. Don't hook up the battery
again until you do something.

>[ ... ] I don't have the factory fusible link setup
>a la the later 200q, so I know with my luck, the fan will
>seize and there will be trouble to say the least. The dealer
>can't get that fuse ordered any faster than he can get the
>fan...grrrr... So, is there any alternative way to fuse that fan? I was
>thinking that in huge stereo installs, we've done 50 amp
>inline fuses with tough waterproof holders. Would it be
>adequate to put something like this on the ground wire from
>the fan? How many amps does it draw, anyway? Is this a
>dangerously harebrained idea?

The factory fuse link is stamped 80A. The fan motor has a
nominal 300 W rating which implies it could draw over
20 A continuously which is consistant with some of my
observations. Of course it draws a whole lot more current
than that while it spins up to speed or, Heaven forfend,
becomes stalled.

If you know of an inline fuse in the 50A or up category,
you may get away with it for a time but you should definitely
go ahead and order up the parts to do it properly when
you have the time. The motor's ground wire is the correct
location for a fuse as you mention.

DeWitt Harrison
Boulder, CO
88 5kcstq