Author Topic: Manual cooling fan switch at fan relay??  (Read 5083 times)

Offline bizzaro

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Manual cooling fan switch at fan relay??
« on: June 23, 2017, 06:52:29 AM »
Is there any reason not to hook up a manual fan switch via the fan relay?  Will it have an affect on the motronic?  Or if the engine gets hot enough to signal the fan to come on, and you have it on already, could that be an issue? I am just curious because the popular spot to connect a manual fan switch seems to be at the temperature switching unit.  There must be a reason for that?  I am getting ready to add a manual switch and was going to do it at the fan relay.
  • Vermont
  • Current:1994 BMW K1100LT Previous: 1982 Yamaha virago 920,1973 Honda CB550,1976 Yamaha 650 Special
See Ya in the Twisties,
 Bizz

Offline rbm

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Re: Manual cooling fan switch at fan relay??
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2017, 07:13:18 AM »
No, there is no reason not to do it. The switch manually simulates exactly what the temperature relay does, so the motorcycle's electronics cannot discern the difference.


as for your questions:


Will it have an affect on the motronic?  No, the Motronic is totally out of the picture.  The fan is controlled only by the temp relay.


Or if the engine gets hot enough to signal the fan to come on, and you have it on already, could that be an issue? No, not an issue.  The switch is wired either to simulate a severely overheated engine, signalling to the relay to engage the fan.  Or it is wired to parallel the relay's contacts and supply power to the fan.  In the first case, the actual water temperature will never get "hotter" than what the switch simulates.  In the second case, if the relay tries to turn the fan on, the switch contacts parallel the relay contacts and nothing untoward happens.

 I am just curious because the popular spot to connect a manual fan switch seems to be at the temperature switching unit.  There must be a reason for that?  Yes, because the temp relay is the brains behind all control of the fan. 
  • Regards, Robert
Toronto, Ontario

1987 K75 - Build Blog @http://k75retro.blogspot.ca/

Offline bizzaro

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Re: Manual cooling fan switch at fan relay??
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2017, 09:51:14 AM »
Thanks Robert. I didn't think it would make a difference...........just wanted to be sure.  My electrical knowledge and skill,  is,   well,   nil! :eek:
  • Vermont
  • Current:1994 BMW K1100LT Previous: 1982 Yamaha virago 920,1973 Honda CB550,1976 Yamaha 650 Special
See Ya in the Twisties,
 Bizz

Offline Snowman

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  • Aberdeen SD.
Re: Manual cooling fan switch at fan relay??
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2017, 06:07:50 PM »
I have had one for years, no issues.

Offline Areshuan

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Re: Manual cooling fan switch at fan relay??
« Reply #4 on: July 17, 2019, 01:35:42 PM »
Thanks so much Bizarro!
I had been looking for days for the Manual over ride. Finding only instructions for the K100 k75.   I was getting crazy trying to find the Coolant Temp Witch on my K1100.
Just wanted to say Gracias.
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Offline Laitch

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Re: Manual cooling fan switch at fan relay??
« Reply #5 on: July 17, 2019, 03:01:24 PM »
I've posted an efficient way to search the site. It's this post. Paste the term fan override K1100 site:motobrick.com into your browser's search window and see what comes up. If you don't get something the first time change some words. Keep it simple.
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

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