| Author |
Message |
Crankey
Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2004
Posts: 2672
|
 Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 6:34 pm Post subject: heater fan resistor |
 |
|
hey all....so any reason the heater fan resistor couldn't be re mounted outside the heater box for easier replacement when it dies ?
say inside a small container like a car stereo faceplate box or something ?
then have this box mounted under the dash where you can get to it w/o tearing out the dash and opening up the heater box ? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
JPrato
Samba Member
Joined: December 15, 2006
Posts: 791
Location: Livonia, NY
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 7:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
It needs airflow over it while working as it generates heat.
_________________
Joe
87 Syncro Tin Top project
84 Westy, 2.5L Subaru power
06 Subaru 2.5 turbo in waiting
46 Cessna 140 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Crankey
Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2004
Posts: 2672
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 8:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
yeah..my buddy nearly burnt his finger finding that out ! 
hmmm. I was planning a heater box swap tomorrow as my core is leaking. but I didn't get a new resistor and apparently I need one.
my original one may be ok, but the one in the replacement heater box I got has a buggerd resistor. was planing on reforming it tonight and swapping tomorrow. now I gotta come up with a resistor too.
if I can get a new resistor in the Seattle area I spose I can put off the swap till Sunday...maybe. depends on my mechanic and if he can do it Sunday.
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dhaavers
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 8521
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 9:06 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Here's my idea re: blower resistor. I've been sitting on this for a while.
I have one of these ready to go in:
http://www.amazon.com/Omix-Ada-17909-01-Heater-Blower-Resistor/dp/B003AOVNUO
1991-96 Jeep Cherokee XJ BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR
Mine was about $11 at my FLAPS. This is a replacement for the original Jeep part #55036000. With all spade connections it'll wire up easily. I will modify the heater box by cutting a hole to mount the resistors themselves inside the heater box. Foam all around the mounting surface seals it to the blower box. Airflow inside the box cools the resistor coils & keeps them happy, as was designed.
The mounting hole will be in the flat area of the heater box above the gas pedal under the dash. If (when) this thing does ever burn out (they all do), it will be easy to replace - right there out in the open, above my right foot. 
This model has 3 resistors so it could be used with a 4-speed switch, but I bench-tested it with my replacement blower and I plan to use only the slower 2 speeds with the stock 3-speed dash switch. This shows the connections:
I'll only use the row of three connections all in a line - I tested & marked like so:
L=LOW speed (goes to 1st position on dash switch)
C=COMMON (goes to motor "+" connection)
M=MEDIUM speeed (goes to 2nd position on dash switch)
For FULL speed, run a solid wire directly from the 3rd position on dash switch to the motor "+" connection .
Final wiring is from GROUND to the motor "-" connection, and from POWER (fuse #14 for me) to the dash switch COMMON connection.
Try it if you like it...(I'll post up my results within a month)
_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tclark
Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2005
Posts: 926
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Crankey
Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2004
Posts: 2672
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 10:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
dang I wish I had remembered this...didn't you post this pic before ?
nice idea. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Crankey
Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2004
Posts: 2672
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 1:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
well, aparently it's been determined that the fan is the issue and not the resistor...after trying combinations with other resistors/switches/fans.
oh well...swap put off for another week. thanks for the links to the other resistor options guys. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JPrato
Samba Member
Joined: December 15, 2006
Posts: 791
Location: Livonia, NY
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 6:11 am Post subject: |
|
|
That looks like the one I pulled out of 99 Subaru Forester donor. I haven't tried it yet.
_________________
Joe
87 Syncro Tin Top project
84 Westy, 2.5L Subaru power
06 Subaru 2.5 turbo in waiting
46 Cessna 140 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dhaavers
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 8521
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 7:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
^^^ Every car with multiple fan speeds has one.
I just settled on one that was CHEAP. 
PS: Yeah, I first posted this idea about a year ago.
Finally getting to my dash project this spring... 
_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
luVWagn
Samba Member
Joined: February 21, 2008
Posts: 1342
Location: Snoqualmie (WA)
|
| Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 9:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| dhaavers wrote: |
^^^ Every car with multiple fan speeds has one.
I just settled on one that was CHEAP.
PS: Yeah, I first posted this idea about a year ago.
Finally getting to my dash project this spring... |
Any update on this? I need to replace either my resistor or my switch (or both?), as I'm getting flakey operation in the lower two speeds, so fan essentially only works at full speed setting (and even then, it works squeekily - i haven't tried the Mullendore Port trick yet)
Does someone have the specs on the stock resistor, in terms of the different tap settings, as well as the wattage it needs to dissipate?
Additionally, in some of the related threads folks are linking to all sorts of different PWM controllers - 15A, 30A, 0-5V, 12V, etc.
Would something like this work?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-15A-DC-Motor-Speed-Con...4d02aed3ba (although doesn't mention frequency)
Then there's this one at 30KHz (audible and annoying to my dog?) http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-40V-17A-200W-DC-Motor-S...257d45d7e9
_________________
'91 Double Door Transporter |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
72wagun
Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2009
Posts: 45
Location: Jefferson, Oregon
|
| Posted: Thu May 02, 2013 2:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| luVWagn wrote: |
Any update on this? I need to replace either my resistor or my switch (or both?), as I'm getting flakey operation in the lower two speeds, so fan essentially only works at full speed setting (and even then, it works squeekily - i haven't tried the Mullendore Port trick yet) |
Sorry, I don't know the resistor specs off hand, but I would just add that I would replace the rotary switch if it seems at all flaky. They are relatively cheap (for a Vanagon part), and the design is very prone to failure.
I was very carefully trying to remove the plug on the back of one of mine and I accidentally pulled one of the spaded connectors slightly out of the plastic switch body. It was just enough that it no longer makes contact inside the switch. The spades are not held very securely in the plastic. Of course it's easy to test the switch with a multimeter.
Luke D.
_________________
85 GL
87 Wolfsburg Tintop |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
drumbum68
Samba Member
Joined: October 15, 2010
Posts: 566
|
| Posted: Thu May 02, 2013 3:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Anybody try going away from 3 speed and resistor to PWM controller? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tclark
Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2005
Posts: 926
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dhaavers
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 8521
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2015 9:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
| luVWagn wrote: |
| dhaavers wrote: |
^^^ Every car with multiple fan speeds has one.
I just settled on one that was CHEAP.
PS: Yeah, I first posted this idea about a year ago.
Finally getting to my dash project this spring... |
Any update on this? |
DONE! UPDATE HERE: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=623382
PS: Works great!
_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
