Flexalite Fans pulling 39 amps?

[MoparManicMechanic]

Hey guys,

It says on the box that the Flexalite 210 model only pulls 19.5 amps, but when the come on the ammeter goes to 39 charging amps. That doesnt seem right, so I shut it right off. Is it 19.5 amps per fan? Cause that would explain the amp draw, but if not, then we got them hooked up wrong  . Anyone use a flexalite model 210 before?

Bob

[MoparManicMechanic]

Hey,

About these fans and the circuit. It has a 30 amp fuse and it says on my ammeter that the alternator is charging 39 amps when they come on. How can this be possible? It will read the usual 4-5 amp charge before the fans come on. I double checked and re-checked the wiring diagram and it all looks good.  There is no way they are hooked up wrong, they would probably be in flames if they were drawing 30+ amps... Any ideas? I will have to call Flexalite in the am I guess, but was hoping someone had seen an ammeter go to 39 charging amps before. I just put a new alternator and regulator on it, could it be over charging?

Confused,
Bob

[68_Val_Sedan]

those fans do pull alot of current ...  if it is a dual fan setup it might pull 25 or so ...  you said it has a 30 amp fuse and it is not blowing, so my guess is your amp meter is off. 

[68dodge]

Those fans will pull about 25 amps. My 68 Charger I had always was on the charging side of the amp meter everytime they were on. You do not save any HP with these fans running.

[NYrr496]

Borrow a Fluke clamp on meter from someone. I bet anything the dash guage is off.

[gt]

I think you should be measuring the amp draw at the fan, not your charging amps.
If you put the clamp on the fan wire you will read what the fan draws.

gt

[68_Val_Sedan]

yuo cannot use  a clamp style amp meter on a DC circuit.  You need to put it inline with the wiring ....

[NYrr496]

yuo cannot use  a clamp style amp meter on a DC circuit.  You need to put it inline with the wiring ....

No longer true... I have a Fluke, a Blue Point and some british no name clamp meters that all do DC.

[nothingbutdarts]

yuo cannot use  a clamp style amp meter on a DC circuit.  You need to put it inline with the wiring ....

No longer true... I have a Fluke, a Blue Point and some british no name clamp meters that all do DC.

 I use a Fluke "88" every day to check DC amps.! They work great and are accurate. Yes, you should also check just the amp. draw of the wire running just the fans. And to answer your question, if it says that one Flexlite fan draws 19.5A. then two are going to draw 19.5A. X 2 or right @ 40 amps.! I hope they run off of a relay. Are they turned on by a temp. switch? 

[MoparManicMechanic]

Thanks for all your input...

I guess it is kinda good that I had this problem because I checked the voltage because of this problem and when I revved up the engine it went up to 15.05 and I throttled down! Bad Regulator, but even when I put a good one on and revved up the engine to test for max volt output from the alternator, the voltage was a good 14, but the ammeter is still saying it is charging 39 when the fans come on. I just found out were I can get a Fluke ammeter so I am going to go get one and let you all know what happens. I bet my ammeter is off in the Ol' Duster.


Bob

[MoparManicMechanic]

Well, I got the clam-amp reader and here's the deal...

The fans are pulling 22 amps, but the wire coming from the battery that goes to the solenoid only pulls 5a when I rev it up a little. It's the electronic ignition pulling that much juice. I checked the coil wire and that is where that is going, but when I clamped over the alternator out put wire it says 20 when there is no apparent load for it. Is that a bad alt?

Bob