[67CruiseMasterCamaro]

Ok guys I have read alot about wiring my LS swap but ive read so much my mind is in a huge spin. Im truly hoping that someone with electrical background can help. Below are the things i have in hand and wanting to get started as soon as i can.

67 Camaro
Holley Terminator Max X with drive by wire
Dakota digital guages with console guages from DD
Vintage air with trinary switch (recommended by Vintage air)
Battery in engine compartment for now? (does it really need moved to the trunk?)
Holley mid mount with 130 amp CS alternator
Factory dash harness
Dewitts radiator with temp switch on right side tank (inlet/outlet on pass side)
Dewitts dual brushless fans
Holley 12-300 in tank fuel pump
Factory ignition switch

I've already setup the holley in fuel pump and relay. I have that part done. But what I am so confused about is the way to wire up trinary switch, Term max X together so the fans operate the correct way. What is the correct way? I guess that is fan 1 to come on first at low speed at about 180? Fan 2 to come on full speed at 210? After fan 2 comes on both should be at full speed right? Both fans setup to come on in the Term X max computer? I know there is a setup in it. But how does the trinary switch interact with the term max x? I have 2 relays that was sent with the Dewitts radiator. Maybe this is alot to process here in my thread. Hopefully there is a easy solution. Can anyone provide advice please?

Scot

 

[dhutton]

If the Terminator controls the fans then you dont use the switch from Dewitt. The Terminator cannot command a fan to half speed. Either it’s on or it isn’t. I’m assuming you do not have brushless fans.

If the Terminator controls the two fans independently with two relays you can use a third relay wired to the trinary switch to force one of the fans on when the AC pressure commands a fan on. This is just one way.

In theory you could use the trinary switch to provide an input to the Terminator that could force one of the fans on. But it sounds like this might be more complex for you.

 

[67CruiseMasterCamaro]

Yes Don I do have brushless fans. Im assuming that the fans are on a negative signal from relays? Ill look at the wiring for Terminator to get that I guess.

Ill just remove the switch and plug it.

Im ok with complexity. Looking for a wiring diagram to add that trinary and relay to be bullet proof.

 

[dhutton]

Hi Scot. Brushless fans don’t need relays. You only need that temperature sensor that came with the fans. Pretty sure there is a way to command them on with a trinary switch. Can you post the data sheet for the fans?

Alternately you can have the Terminator drive them. Who is doing your tuning?

 

[67CruiseMasterCamaro]

Hi Don. Brushless fans don't need relays? Wonder why Dewitts included them with the radiator then? I don't have a data sheet for the fans but when I get off work today I'll se if there is a brand logo on em.

I don't have a tuner yet. I know they can get expensive. I'm in Clinton, Utah and I know there are a few around here. Why do you ask?

 

[dhutton]

Yes no relays needed for brushless fans. Something Is not adding up.

I ask because your tuner should be the one telling you how to configure the brushless fans and trinary switch. I recommend you use Andrew aka Doctor EFI. He has done brushless fans and remote tunes for several members here including me.

Dr. EFI

I deliver what EFI promises

drefi.net

 

[350sshugger]

Hey Scot,

Your list looks very familiar 🙂 Don of course already had you on the right path.

I wired my fans so that the Terminator has control. The second fan can come on based on operating temp, or if the trinary switch says it’s needed. I also added a relay to cut the AC at a throttle position, I think above 3/4 throttle. I did put some pictures and a little discussion in my build thread here if it helps https://www.camaros.net/threads/69-rustbucket-rebirth.227226/page-57 It works very well, I actually rarely see the 2nd fan come on.

Something else you may want to consider since you are wiring yourself is to add a kill switch for anti-theft. I have one that only I know where it is and what it does. If I’m parked in public, nobody is taking my car but me.

 

[tp_smith]

Your Holly Terminator has two fan outputs that can drive two relays. The relays can turn on fans. The problem is that the fans that you have are brushless fans. The holly setup is really for a standard brushed fan. How many wires do you have on the fans?

Brushless fans can have three or four wires. Two are for 12 vdc power and the smaller ones to control the speed of the fan. The smaller wires usually need a PWM signal or sometimes the other wire will accept a 0-5 volt or 0-10 volt signal. If you apply 12 volts to the big wires and nothing to the smaller wires, the fan will either not run or run at full speed. I am not sure what will happen with your particular fans. If your fan runs at full speed, then it is possible to use a relay to switch the big wire power on and off.

You need to make a decision on the trinary switch's operation. Do you want the trinary switch to turn on one fan or both fans when the AC compressor pressure becomes too high? You need to know the amperage of your cooling fans to make sure that your fuses are sized correctly and relays contacts are big enough.

 

[Vega$69]

Something else you may want to consider since you are wiring yourself is to add a kill switch for anti-theft. I have one that only I know where it is and what it does. If I’m parked in public, nobody is taking my car but me.

And the crook with a flatbed rollback.

 

[Worn Out Welder]

Holley Terminator X has the capability to send a negative PWM signal for fans that can use this for control.
Plenty of YouTube tutorials on this including Andrew’s experiments.

 

[67CruiseMasterCamaro]

You guys got me thinking now. My fans have only 2 wires each. Maybe they're not brushless. Looking at the fan shroud it does say SPAL though. I'll get more info tonight after work. One thing that perked up my ears was the trinary switch turning on fan 2 when the vintage air tells it to. Makes more sense to me.

I will reach out to Dr EFI and bounce this off of him. I have read some of his postings. Very smart dude.

 

[Worn Out Welder]

I would consider looking at a single brushless 18” fan.
Air conditioning has left my LS3 running 195 and marginal to controlling maximum head pressure on a/c during extended idle.

 

[67CruiseMasterCamaro]

Wow your suggestion makes sense. But for what I've paid I'm gonna try to use what I bought. Hopefully everything will turn out good

 

[tp_smith]

Spal makes both brushed (2 wire) and brushless (3-4 wire) fans.

I did not know the Holley terminator had a pwm output. My mistake.

 

[67CruiseMasterCamaro]

What do you mean about holley? All I know is holley has temperature on and off setting in the software controller.

 

[tp_smith]

What do you mean about holley? All I know is holley has temperature on and off setting in the software controller.

I looked up Holley Terminator X owners manual. It has two outputs to control two fans. I did not add the MAX part in my search. The Holley Terminator Max X is a different animal.

The X has two fan outputs to turn on and off two fans. The Max X has a PWM output for variable speed fans.

This is from the Terminator X owners manual. Yours is different.

 

[dhutton]

Terminator PWM brushless fan control can be done but it makes no difference since you do not have brushless fans. You can use relay control or you can use an external PWM fan controller from Delta Current Controls for example. Relay fan control is pretty much obsolete in my mind due to noise and current spikes among other things. PWM fan control is so much better.

 

[67CruiseMasterCamaro]

The fans are made by an italian company. See picture below.

Ill look into a PWM and see how it works.

Patrick, the difference between the terminator x and max x is the max x is for drive by wire and transmission control. Mine is terminator max x as I have said above. The picture for my swap is beginning to become clearer and I have somewhat a direction as per your suggeestions.

Just talked to Dewitts and they told me the fans are a 2720CFM flow and are not brushless . The part number of the fans is SP30102052. Amp draw is 39.3 amps.

 

[dhutton]

My recommendation is to use an external PWM fan controller. I have used several if these. They have an input for the trinary switch.

constant temperature controllers

 

[67CruiseMasterCamaro]

Thanks Don. Ill look more into that link you gave. Question though. Will one of the controllers do both fans? Or do I need one for each fan?