Hey-

I installed my eFan a while back and I tapped the 10 AMP fuse / Add-on into the radio fuse (7.5 AMP) like the directions indicated; Every once in a while now when I turn on my truck the CD player tries to read a CD and gives an ERROR because I have no CD in there. I am thinking this was caused by adding on the Add-a-Fuse, so I was wondering if anyone else has seen this or if there is an 'empty' fuse spot that I can tap the 10 AMP efan use into, instead of sharing the radio.

Thanks, Matt

 

You could be draining amperage from the radio... mostt electronic devices have a certain voltage range they can still work in, i.e. 8-16vdc on a 12vdc system. You can always add a relay into the system for control, and get your power from the battery.

 

you ARE NOT draining amps from the radio....you would be draining amps from the radio if you put in a smaller fuse, but then you would be replacing fuses right and left.....an add a circuit will not take any power away from the radio.......the fuse is what limits how much power that goes to the radio....


now to your problem......

your problem is a bad radio....time for an aftermarket or to find yourself another stocker...

 

I agree. It's seriously doubtful that tapping power for the fan control circuit has cause your CD player to experience problems. It's more likely dirt or a problem with the mechanism.

"Draining amps" isn't a really useful term -- dropping the voltage would be more appropriate if one were to look for a problem with this.

But to drop the voltage, you'd have to have made some very bad connections, or draw very high currents. Since you aren't blowing the relatively small fuse, if anything at all is happening it's because of faulty connections back to the radio after the mod. You can check this out if you like, but I'm still leaning towards something having happened to the CD player.

 

The fuse does not limit how much power that goes, the radio's amperage demands are, the fuse opens when -too much- amperage is being consumed by the radio.

And by draining amps, I was talking about when you add a high demand electrical component to a car's system... like a 600w contious sub amp, its going to dim your head lights and interior lights when its going full blast. What I was trying to say was that a similiar thing -could- be happening with his radio circuit. That's why, imo, its safer to just tap off the source, run it to a relay and get power directly from the battery.

 

right but he is the ONLY person to have a problem with how the wire is ran....

the controller for the efan HAS to have a power source that is ignition controlled....

 

There is the possibility that the install could have gone wrong too. (not saying anything bad bro!)

You can still use the relay idea with the ignition controlled power source.

 

it involves alot more wiring that most people dont have the experience to do it......

it definately isn't the add a circuit that causes his radio problems...just a coincindence that it happened after he installed the efan...

 

Exactly what I was saying, only it is better expressed as a drop in voltage. "Draining amps" may have expressed what you meant -- but it wasn't accurate or clear technically is all I was saying -- no disrespect intended.

Also, your comment on the install going wrong was what I addressed in my comments on a bad connection.

Voltage drops occur for two reasons basically: inadequate supply or source of power, and resistance in the distribution system. Since we can safely assume his source can provide at least 10 amps without a voltage drop, the most likely cause (if it is indeed happening at all) is a bad connection caused by the tap or splice method he used.

 

lol, so pretty much we were saying the same thing, just differently. :p

 

Yeah, it just takes me more words to say it...

 

Man, I apologize... I get stuck in "simple explaination mode" from training newbs all day at work. :p

 

Ha ha! I understand that. I've had that going on at work before, lol.

No apology necessary though! It's just words, words, words...