adding a 2nd fan ...question

[ExtremeAcres]

Hi guys....Im adding a 2nd fan to the Rad cause she's getting hot in traffic (due the the blower) I remember reading where some guys added a 2nd fan....my first fan(that came with the blower kit...and is a bit smaller than stock) is wired to stock wiring...and has an inline toggle so I can keep it on if I want....and it works fine this way.....my Question is...Can I just wire this new fan to the same wiring ?? ...I dont know how much juice these 5" fans pull...or will it pop a fuse or hurt a fan motor ? Thanks in advance for any advice...Christian

[Pete]

Fans pull some considerable electric juice.
I would not power them from the same source, run another wire with another fuse.
There should be some info on the fan motor as to amps or watts or check with the manufacture for info.
I would also switch them each so 1 or  both could be on or off.

[BonS]

The SPAL VA31-a101-46A draws about 6.5 amps maximum. So two of them are around 13 amps max. A 14 gauge wire is suitable for up to 15 amps but I'd go with 12 gauge due to the temperatures involved. I doubt that the stock wiring is this big so I'd do what Pete says or rewire the entire circuit to do it right.

Have you seen this thread? http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,55338.0.html

[Blackduck]

Use the stock wiring to trigger a relay with good wiring and fuse to supply power to the fan.
Would not hurt to do the same for the existing fan.
Don't forget a good ground/earth either.

[Paladin528]

Why not just toss in a Thermostat with a lower temperature setting?

[Gryphon Rider]

Why not just toss in a Thermostat with a lower temperature setting?

If the engine is producing more heat than the radiator can remove, it doesn't matter how low the thermostat is.  It's like the thermostat in a house without air conditioning.  If it's 80° in the house and you're too hot, moving the thermostat from 70 to 50 won't make a difference.

[Paladin528]

The Thermostat is what is regulating the heat in the engine.  Putting in a lower value thermostat will open earlier and allow greater flow through the radiator to keep things cool. The fan should only be needed when the bike is sitting still as the airflow while moving should be plenty sufficient to keep things cool as you are moving far more air than any fan ever will

[Anthony]

Hello Christian,
I am running dual SPAL fans, with the original wiring, without any problem.
BonS already linked my story.
Both fans are turned on by the thermostat switch, or my override manual switch :
both switches are just grounding the negative wire of the fans.

tip : to be able to mount 2 fans, and keep the radiator cover from hitting the fender, I found it easier to use support brackets with a 90° bend, instead of the straight brackets that came with the kit.
pictures here:

Have you seen this thread? http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,55338.0.html

Anthony