Review of Delta Current Control’s Taurus Fan Controller

[DCHZJ]

Review of Delta Current Control’s http://www.dccontrol.com Taurus Fan Controller



So one very hot day I noticed my temp in the ZJ start to rise. So I took a look at the Mechanical fan and the clutch was almost seized (I could barely move it). So I thought about replacing the clutch, but after about 30 seconds I thought about doing an electrical fan swap and naturally a Taurus fan was on the list to buy. That was the easy part.
Now I need a way for this to turn on the fan when the ZJ required it. I looked at several options including adding switches and a solenoid. I looked at some cheap (under $40) kits and nothing really what I wanted. I wanted something that I could hook up and not look at again. Then I was looking on another Forum and found Delta Current Control.
What is this? Well simply put this is a solid state (no moving parts) electrical fan controller designed for the Taurus fan. So I contacted DCControl and got some information and bought one.
I bought the FK35 Series Kit. This comes with the Controller and all the wires/ connectors required to hook this up.
Following the installation instructions that comes with the kit (Can be downloaded to) Tip: Make sure you use the ground and the High speed on the Taurus fan; you do not need the low speed. I hooked everything up and tried it out. It worked perfectly.
The Controller does not simply switch the fan on and away you go, no it monitors the heat of the Radiator (you need to install the provided sensor) and adjust the fan speed accordingly. Since the fan comes on gradually there is no voltage spikes (Taurus fans spike at around 80 amps when switched on and drop to around 30 amps when running) to worry about. When the ZJ is warming, up the fan does not come on. The controller also adjusts the speed of the fan to what it needs, so it runs quiet most of the time.
If you’re running AC, it does have a wire that you can run to your AC and it will switch the fan on full speed to help with that. You can also install a switch inline to the 12V power to kill the fan completely for water crossings and so forth.
The Fan controller can also be adjusted for turn on a different temperatures ranging from 148-212 degrees. This is controlled by a series of jumpers. Default it is set to 180 Degrees.
One other feature it does have is if you set the 12V power (small yellow wire) to a 12V Battery connection it will run for a few minutes after you shut your engine off to cool the ZJ down (like most modern cars).
Basically the unit is a hunk of aluminum with a solid state circuitry inside that is dumped in epoxy, comes complete with all wiring and enough for most ZJ’s for $110 bucks.
Once hooked up and your temp jumper set, you will forget it is there.
Final Notes.
So after a year of being hooked up to my ZJ and in both East Coast heat and humidity and in Eastern Canada during the winter I can say this is an excellent product and I would recommend this to anyone. I have driven about 15,000-20,000 miles with this hooked up and with the AC blasting, and with the damn automatic heater/ac controls running (turns the ac on when it wants it seems) both the fan and the controller has held up well. Wheeling and overheating are now gone for me, my ZJ has a 5.2 and when I did have a mechanical fan it got way to hot, now I do not have this issue..
For the price and after looking at a do it yourself option, I have zero regrets in spending this money and it was one of the best mods I have ever done to any vehicle, plus it cost just a little under $40 more than the DIY option.
Hey you get a unit that has multiple temp setting, can be set to turn on with the AC, can be set to run once you turn off the ignition, has no moving parts and comes with everything you need to hook it up for just $110. Perfect.

[OverkillZJ]

I saw this in person, I'm one of those that usually make fun of "kits" - but after seeing how simple and well built this thing is, I'm ordering mine up right now for the buggy

Now I just have to find the darn fan... hmmmm...

[nate]

Sounds just like the controller I have from Flex a lite. Was like $75 from Summit Racing.

[Cue-Ball]

I like it, I will be adding this to my list!!!

[OverkillZJ]

Sounds just like the controller I have from Flex a lite. Was like $75 from Summit Racing.

Did it include pre terminated wiring loom and the sensor?

[ILikeMud]

Wow cool.
Sound like it'll make the efan swap even easier.

[Cue-Ball]

Now if they were REALLY smart they would package it with a Taurs fan, hmmm maybe that's how I can get some extra $$$ hit the junk yards get a bunch of fans and then make up my own package deal.

Yea as if I have even got the time for that.

[OverkillZJ]

They make it integrated with a taurus fan, but its over $350. I just found a junkayrd fan shipped for $32, we'll see if it works LOL.

[DCHZJ]

Sounds just like the controller I have from Flex a lite. Was like $75 from Summit Racing.

Not the same thing at all.
That is basically a sensor box that switches the fan on (high or low depending on the wire you pick on the Taurus fan) at a given temp then off when needed.
Difference is the DCC box will turn on the fan but only at the lowest speed and then gradually to the full speed if required (you only need to hook up the ground and High speed). this is a completely automatic system. The FAL unit is not and you would have to dial in you temp setting for day to day driving then again for Off Road. the DCC unit is all ready to go and once installed you do not need to touch a thing.
Also i would be interested to see how this thing held up to a Taurus fan on the high speed wire. You would need at 60-80- amp relay for that not to burn out the control box. That is the main difference the DCC box is gradual so the relay is not needed.

Also you would have to do some extra wiring to make the FAL box work with AC.


I know there are alot of ways to do this. But after alot of research, this was the simplest way without having to build your own wiring schematic. Or worring if your relays were going to hold.

[ogdak]

Came across this dcc fan switch last year, during my e-fan mod search.
So I ordered one this week.
Good write-up btw Narzuhl.

[Cue-Ball]

So what year should I be looking at getting a taurus fan from????

Looking around on ebay, just not sure what drops in.

[nate]

Like I said, the FAL controller does the same thing the DCC one does.

It kicks the fan on at 50% or whatever and brings it up to 100% as the radiator gets hotter. Also turns the fan on at 50% for A/C.

I'm not sure what you mean by automatic system? I just set the fan to kick on around 205 or so and it's been working fine since. I haven't had to adjust it for off road or street use... granted the Jeep doesn't see much street use.

The FAL controller works fine with the fan on the high setting. That's what I have on my Jeep... for over a year.

I'm not saying the DCC one is junk, just saying you can save some money. That's a good thing in my book.

Not the same thing at all.
That is basically a sensor box that switches the fan on (high or low depending on the wire you pick on the Taurus fan) at a given temp then off when needed.
Difference is the DCC box will turn on the fan but only at the lowest speed and then gradually to the full speed if required (you only need to hook up the ground and High speed). this is a completely automatic system. The FAL unit is not and you would have to dial in you temp setting for day to day driving then again for Off Road. the DCC unit is all ready to go and once installed you do not need to touch a thing.
Also i would be interested to see how this thing held up to a Taurus fan on the high speed wire. You would need at 60-80- amp relay for that not to burn out the control box. That is the main difference the DCC box is gradual so the relay is not needed.

Also you would have to do some extra wiring to make the FAL box work with AC.


I know there are alot of ways to do this. But after alot of research, this was the simplest way without having to build your own wiring schematic. Or worring if your relays were going to hold.

[DCHZJ]

So what year should I be looking at getting a taurus fan from????

Looking around on ebay, just not sure what drops in.

Ford 8C607 fan. look for it in 90 to 95 Ford Taurus and Lincoln Mark VIII with the 3.8 litre engine

[DCHZJ]

Like I said, the FAL controller does the same thing the DCC one does.

It kicks the fan on at 50% or whatever and brings it up to 100% as the radiator gets hotter. Also turns the fan on at 50% for A/C.

I'm not sure what you mean by automatic system? I just set the fan to kick on around 205 or so and it's been working fine since. I haven't had to adjust it for off road or street use... granted the Jeep doesn't see much street use.

The FAL controller works fine with the fan on the high setting. That's what I have on my Jeep... for over a year.

I'm not saying the DCC one is junk, just saying you can save some money. That's a good thing in my book.

That is the differance. the Fan does not kick on at 50% (actualy the FAL unit kicks in at 60%) right off the bat it kicks in at 10% or lower if required. then automaticly adjusts it self up to the speed required. 90% of the time i have to open the hood to see if the damn fan is even spinning.

The FAL unit looks good and comes with all the wiring, connectors and so forth. Looks like Part #FLX-31165 from Summit. Might try it on a Landcruiser i am looking at buying.

i like the Flex A Lite temp probe better. Are you using yours with a Taurus Fan? If so how is it working with that?

[CurtP]

Flex-a-lite has the VSC (varible speed controller) which is what I used on the 4.0. It worked fine until one of the terminals pulled out of the controller and Flex-a-lite won't return my e-mails or phone calls - the damn thing was only 8 months old when it happened. Fucking assholes.

I was going to order DCC's controller, but it uses a probe thermosister that has to be stuck through the radiator fins like the Flex-a-lite does - and I don't like the idea of doing that to a brand new radiator. DCC has another temp probe that mounts to the thermostat housing, but at that point I just said fuck it and reinstalled the Hayden HD clutch. Now that I don't drive the 4.0 that much, I don't really care anymore.

At least I don't have to worry about any of that shit on the 5.9

[nate]

Yes with a Taurus fan.

That's not the right part number. The one I have is the big brother to that little guy and it's good for 60 or 70 amps. I don't remember the part # off hand. I do know that little one almost burnt my Jeep to the ground though.

The big one has 4 MOSFETs, little one 2.

I don't hear the fan over the engine whether it's 1/2 speed or full speed. I'm not sure what benefit starting off at 10% vs 60% is? Less power draw I guess, but that's hardly an issue anyway.

[Cue-Ball]

I just said fuck it and reinstalled the Hayden HD clutch. Now that I don't drive the 4.0 that much, I don't really care anymore.

At least I don't have to worry about any of that shit on the 5.9

So does that mean you have an e-fan laying around?

[DCHZJ]

That makes more sense then the only other one they have that liike like it will hold up to the fan is like 91 bucks but no harness. Does include the temp sensor though.

I guess the biggest reason for gradualy adjustment is that in the winter for example in the extreme cold the fan never turned on or only a small ammout to cool down the engine. Other than that you do not have the snap on power that would require a huge relay (with the FAL has built in). So i would say they both would work just as well.

Really you could build this yourself. but after pricing it out i was at something like $70 bucks. and i still did not have wire, connectors, and somehwre to put all this crap in my cramped V8 engine bay (at time i wish i had a 4.0)

[CurtP]

So does that mean you have an e-fan laying around?

I used an 18" Perma-Cool electric fan (PN 19117) and modified the mounting bracket that came with it to work with the stock shroud. I flipped the blade around and reversed the polarity. That put the motor of the fan against the radiator and gave me the clearance I needed.

I still have the fan, but I'm not selling it - at least not yet. I'll probably eventually get a new controller and reinstall it. I can't stand listening to the mechanical fan howl all the damn time.

[ogdak]

Came across this dcc fan switch last year, during my e-fan mod search.
So I ordered one this week.
Good write-up btw Narzuhl.

Just arrived

Took almost a month to get here
It says "BONAIRE(NETHERLANDS ANTILLES)" on the adress label.
And that is another country then "The Netherlands"
No hard feelings Brian. thnx

[Cue-Ball]

I am sure we will get detailed install pix and write up in your project thread when it comes time to install it.

[CurtP]

Which temp probe did you get? Pic?

[ogdak]

I am sure we will get detailed install pix and write up in your project thread when it comes time to install it.

Jup

Which temp probe did you get? Pic?

Here you go.
Delta probe on a metric scale.

[CurtP]

Jup



Here you go.
Delta probe on a metric scale.[/img]

What is this thing you call "metric scale"?

J/K - thanks for the picture

Looking forward to your install.

[ogdak]

What is this thing you call "metric scale"?

A metric tape measure.