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MG MGA - Mounting Twin Fans

I intend to mount a second electric fan beside the existing one. Please post photos and solutions for me to consider.
I would like to have an independent light weight frame and easily removable if possible.

Cheers, Barry.


Barry Gannon

Hi Barry
I will send you some info via email on how I developed my twin fan set up but I will put a couple of pics on here for a start.

I did try a single 10" fan to begin with but it it seemed a bit marginal and it didnt control the temperature well enough for my liking.

I then switched to the twin 9" Davies Craig (Aussie) fans as recommended by your fellow Aussie, Neal Ferguson and this has proved to work brilliantly.

The picture shows the single 10" Revetec fan on its beautifully made brackets.
Although the brackets look good, I worried that they would mask the airflow through the rad and that seemed to be counter productive.

The twin fans I have fitted since then are mounted directly onto the radiator core with special spring loaded clips.
These work fine and have been problem free, you can just see the (triangular shaped) back of the clips on the pic of the twin fans. They dont mask the airflow in any way.

The Revotec brackets were a nightmare to remove and I always lost lots of skin from my knuckles and arms when I was fitting them.

With the twin fans you just snip the spring clips and the fans fall away (they are just a couple of pounds for a new set and so I carry spares).

TBH, its much easier to just take out the rad to install them on the work bench.

Cheers
Colyn

PS I didnt need to take the grille out to fit the fans like the picture shows, but I forgot to install the air hoses before the rad went back in and found that there now wasnt enough space to get the hoses down into the radiator duct.



Colyn Firth

This shows the twin fans on the rad with the single Revotec fan on its mounting-bracket beneath to compare.

When I fitted the twin-fans I continued to use the Revotec top-hose mounted thermostatic switch to operate them.

The twin Davis-Craig fans fit the MGAs rad as if they were designed especially for it.

They also control the operating temperature perfectly and so long as you use a decent thermostatic switch you can basically have the engine run in what ever temperature range you prefer.

Cheers
Colyn



Colyn Firth

Barry
these are similar to the spring loaded clips I use to fix the fans to the radiator, you can why I snip them off to remove them as they cost so little. Probably Davies-Craig etc will have their own better quality versions. see link.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plastic-Universal-Radiator-Mount-Mounting-Kit-Electric-Fan-Tie-Strap-TWO-KITS/291813287355?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D49138%26meid%3Dca3e182af1644a9ca285c5fd062863c3%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D5%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D331581589565%26itm%3D291813287355&_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1


I have uploaded a pic of the fans in the car and this also shows the Revotec thermostatic switch fitted.

Colyn



Colyn Firth

Colyn
I was meaning to ask, how are your shares in Davis-Craig doing these days?
Joking of course, I know you are very happy with the fans

Graham
Graham V

Thanks Colyn, very comprehensive. I have had some of those plastic 'clips' for many years but always thought they were to simplistic and never game enough to use them! I will investigate!
More info please re the thermostat housing - is it in that gadget in the top hose? I have not seen one of those.
Barry.
Barry Gannon

Nice one Graham. I suppose I did mention the D-C phrase a few times in the above and yes, I am in their database, but only as a paying customer unfortunately.

Barry, that is the fans thermostatic control switch in the top hose, it is the Revotec unit that I fitted when I first tried a single 10" fan.
It worked so well that I continued to use it with the twin fans and it copes fine.

It operates a relay through an in-line fuse which I uprated to 30 amps, the normal current draw from a single fan is around 5 amps but this spikes up to 12 amps on start up.

This is the link to the Revotek website

http://www.revotec.com/acatalog/Electronic-Fan-Controller-Hose-Fitting.html
I notice that it is a negative earth product.

There are quite a few other thermostatic switches available now and I would try to get one with the smallest possible temperature range between on and off.
My preference would be for the fans to switch on at around 200 degrees and off again at around 195.

This may sound a little high, but in practice it means that because my engine normally runs between 175 and 185 degrees, the fans don't switch on whilst the car is moving.
The only time they switch on is when the car is stopped in traffic and the fans control the engine temperature between 195 and 200.

There is so much cooling capacity with these fans that you can set the engine temperature range wherever you like, it would easily maintain a range of between 165 and 170 for example.
But if you do that, you may as well stick with an engine driven fan which do work perfectly well to cool the MGA.

But for me, the whole idea of fitting them was to avoid the power losses caused by an engine driven fan (My previous NTG fan used around 6 bhp according to Peter Burgess) Thats up to around a 6 to 7% power increase on most MGA engines.

ELECTRONIC THERMAL SWITCH - PART No: 0444 (12 & 24V)

Davies, Craig Pty Ltd very own designed Digital Thermatic Fan Switch Kit can be used with our Thermatic Fans, EWP's & competitors Fans. It senses air temperature as it passes through the radiator and has an adjustable temperature range of 40ºC to 110ºC (104ºF to 230ºF). The Temperature Sensor is placed in the radiator fin section as close to the hot coolant inlet as possible so no need to cut hoses.

This switch is operated thermally & also when the air conditioning is in operation.
Simply set the temperature by pressing the set button.
It can run 1 or two fans. The second fan (if applicable) will start 10 seconds after Fan #1 runs.
To convert temperature reading from Centigrade to Fahrenheit, remove the Jumper Pin on the unit next to the LED screen.


I'm currently experimenting with this more precise digital controller but the Revotec one seems to be working fine and so I am a bit reluctant to change it just yet. (See info below)
I plan on doing a temporary test rig so that I can compare the two switches side by side before I make any permanent changes.
I will let you know if it proves to be any better
ELECTRONIC THERMAL SWITCH - PART No: 0444 (12 & 24V)

Davies, Craig Pty Ltd very own designed Digital Thermatic Fan Switch Kit can be used with our Thermatic Fans, EWP's & competitors Fans. It senses air temperature as it passes through the radiator and has an adjustable temperature range of 40ºC to 110ºC (104ºF to 230ºF). The Temperature Sensor is placed in the radiator fin section as close to the hot coolant inlet as possible so no need to cut hoses.



http://daviescraig.com.au/media/117/1423049522.T0444-470x330A.jpg
ELECTRONIC THERMAL SWITCH - PART No: 0444 (12 & 24V)

"Davies, Craig Pty Ltd very own designed Digital Thermatic Fan Switch Kit can be used with our Thermatic Fans, EWP's & competitors Fans. It senses air temperature as it passes through the radiator and has an adjustable temperature range of 40ºC to 110ºC (104ºF to 230ºF). The Temperature Sensor is placed in the radiator fin section as close to the hot coolant inlet as possible so no need to cut hoses.

This switch is operated thermally & also when the air conditioning is in operation.
Simply set the temperature by pressing the set button.
It can run 1 or two fans. The second fan (if applicable) will start 10 seconds after Fan #1 runs.
To convert temperature reading from Centigrade to Fahrenheit, remove the Jumper Pin on the unit next to the LED screen."


Cheers
Colyn
Colyn Firth

Sorry, some of the cut and paste stuff on the last post was duplicated and I couldnt edit it out in the time allocated.
(Why cant we edit our own posts to correct them at a later date?)

Hope it still makes sense.
Cheers
Colyn
Colyn Firth

Colyn, Thanks for all that info.
I have now discovered a slight fluid leak at the filler neck fitting so the radiator will have to come out! It is only 2 years old and just beyond warranty! S*** does happen!
I asked at a local car parts shop for the plastic 'cable-tie clips' -- 4 in a packet (I will need 8) they were $28.50 and I will need 2 packets for 2 fans! Over GBP30! For a few bits of plastic - outrageous!
Now I have become innovative - found some stainless steel 'cable-ties' at a hardware shop at $5.12 (GBP3) for pack of 10. And they will be better than plastic.
So, repair rad, mount fans and install but not until winter sets in! 28C here today, lovely autumn MGA weather.



Barry Gannon

Barry
the main advantage of the purpose built fan mounting ties is that they come with soft mounting pads to prevent damage to the radiator core, the better ones are also spring-loaded to limit the amount of pressure you can put onto the radiator cooling fins.

If you use your metal tie wraps, make sure you pad each end and dont tighten them too much.


I have re-posted the link I saw to some of the fasteners I saw on ebay below. I think they were about £4.00 per set.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plastic-Universal-Radiator-Mount-Mounting-Kit-Electric-Fan-Tie-Strap-TWO-KITS/291813287355?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D49138%26meid%3Dca3e182af1644a9ca285c5fd062863c3%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D5%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D331581589565%26itm%3D291813287355&_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1

Cheers
Colyn
Colyn Firth

Barry
the main advantage of the purpose built fan mounting ties is that they come with soft mounting pads to prevent damage to the radiator core, the better ones are also spring-loaded to limit the amount of pressure you can put onto the radiator cooling fins.

If you use your metal tie wraps, make sure you pad each end and dont tighten them too much.


I have re-posted the link I saw to the fasteners I saw on ebay below. I think they were about £4.00 per set.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plastic-Universal-Radiator-Mount-Mounting-Kit-Electric-Fan-Tie-Strap-TWO-KITS/291813287355?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D49138%26meid%3Dca3e182af1644a9ca285c5fd062863c3%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D5%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D331581589565%26itm%3D291813287355&_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1

Cheers
Colyn
Colyn Firth

Colyn
Did you post that twice as you have two fans?
Graham V

No Graham,
I think it must have been an echo! :-)

I actually tried to edit my comment as I usually mess up some of the stuff I put on here.
But as usual, every time I try to edit a comment I find that I have either run out of time to do this, or for some reason it posts it twice!

I wonder why this forum will not allow us to edit our own comments?
Colyn Firth

Colyn, I will document the procedure as I fit the fans. I will use adhesive rubber pads and make some aluminium spacers to protect the fins.
Those kits on ebay cost a fortune here but I have solved that problem - look for my update later.
I frequently revise what I have written in a post through the 'edit' facility and have had no problems.
Cheers, Barry.
Barry Gannon

Interesting to see this is bubbling on. It was one of the best things I ever did to my 1600..way back in 2009..and I have done a lot.
It has worked perfectly ever since ...the post reminded me I have the fans . It was a logical change,the fans fitted like they were tailored for the job....and ..and...the moutings have never damaged the radiator etc
The original page from Barneys magic manual is attached ..

http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/cooling/cool_111.htm
Neil Ferguson

Thanks Neal
I mentioned your name earlier in this thread and that you had recommended this system. I have always thought that if they worked on your MGA in Oz, then they should cope just fine with European summers and this has proved to be true.

Do you still leave your fans running most of the time?
Cheers
Colyn
Colyn Firth

If you cant get Neils link to open the MGA guru page, you may need to remove the letter s from the "https" at the beginning of the link and try again.

Cheers
Colyn
Colyn Firth

This thread was discussed between 21/04/2018 and 25/04/2018

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