Fans vs. Horsepower

Jim Lill (jpl@vectorbd.vivanet.com)
Mon, 28 Apr 1997 22:45:59 +0100 (utc)

Here's an EE perspective on electric fans. Let's make some worst case
assumptions. On a 405 there's 2 fans fused at 25 amps so there's 50
amps to the fans. At 14 Vdc that'd be 700 watts. Assuming 50% efficiency
on the alternator, you'd need 1400W of energy "from the belts". A
horsepower is 746W, so it seems that less than 2 ponys will make the fans
whirl.

-Jim