Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2007 18:39:08 -0500
Reply-To: Matt Roberds <mattroberds@COX.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Matt Roberds <mattroberds@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Attn: Electrical Gurus! (I searched archives)
In-Reply-To: <20070330195556.RXMK9199.fed1rmmtai101.cox.net@fed1rmimpi05.cox.net>
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> From: neil <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
> Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:46:27 -0700
>
> As a last resort, I would install a toggle (SPDT?) and wire it for
> an "off" "low" and "high" setting.
A SPDT center-off toggle switch would probably do what you want.
> What are the stock fan speed switches rated at? 12V DC, but how many
> amps?
Only VW knows for sure. One way to guess is to look at the size of the
fuse for the fan motor circuit - buy a switch rated at least that much
and you can't go too far wrong. If you have a multimeter with a 20 A
range, you could set it up for that, turn the fan on "high", and pull
out its fuse. Then put the meter probes in the fuse socket in place
of the fuse (the fan should start up again) and see what it reads. Look
for a switch with an equal or better rating.
> Has anyone else found a better "mousetrap" in terms of a better
> quality 3 spd. fan switch?
One thing some American cars do is use a relay to connect the fan motor
directly to the battery for "high". This means the switch doesn't have
to carry the full current of the fan motor.
If the problem with the VW switch is that it tends to burn out
electrically, rather than break mechanically, you could extend this
theory to having the switch run relays for _all_ speeds. You'd end up
with a big wad of relays under the dash somewhere, but at least most of
the electrical load would be off of the switch. If the switch tends
to break mechanically, you're SOL.
I have also seen ready-made remote switches that might work. These have
a box with a relay that goes under the dash and does the heavy lifting.
Then they have a tiny switch panel on the end of a thin wire - the panel
looks nice and it's easier to hide the thin wire. Some of these are
just one-circuit on-off but you might be able to get something fancier.
Try a local car stereo/car alarm shop to see what they have.
You might also look in a "generic" hot rod catalog like Summit or Jeg's.
There might be a switch for street rodders that you could use.
NAPA might be another source. They carry some "generic" electrical gear
for big trucks and old vehicles that you might be able to use. It won't
be cheap but it's usually pretty decent stuff.
Matt Roberds
