time for the big 3 upgrade??

[Dirtautoguy]

I recently converted My 1996 chevy k1500 mechanical fan to a electric one out of a ford windstar. it fits almost like it was made for it!!! all I did was trim the stock fan shroud and it fits in perfect. I used a hayden fan controller for it which seems to work really well. the controller has a wire that is meant to go through the air conditioning so that when the ac is on so is the fan. however I use the ac maybe 2 times a year and it doesnt work very good to start with, so I just wired it to a switch in the cab so that I can manually turn the fans on with the switch.

 

My only issue is that when I turn the switch on it turns both fans on and it makes the dash and dome lights go a little dim. not seriously but a little bit. the temp sensor turns one on at a time. so My question is what can I do to help with this?? I dont really ever tow with the truck nor do I live in a hot climate so chances are I probably wont need both fans much at all, but in the case I do I dont like it shocking the system like that.

 

the battery is less than a year old and the alternator is a couple years old but probably has no more than 15000 miles on it. I would love to put a 140 amp alternator on it but the price and for what I have and how often both fans are no i dont think it is worth it. my other thought is the big 3 upgrade. especially the wire from the alternator to the battery. it seems to me like it is very small for a 105 amp alternator. what do you guys think?? could I do just the alternator to battery cable right now and the rest later?? I would clean and check the other battery grounds too.

[sylvesterkitty]

you can go to the wrecking yard and get an alternator for a diesel

[slj2008]

if you do a bigger alternator , I would do larger battery cables all at once . ( BIG Three )

[Chris]

Just pock up some 1/0 welding cable and some terminal ends and upgrade the wiring, then locate a larger alternator.

[Jeep_Comanche17]

upgrading the wire would be my first priority. then find a bigger alternator. as chris said, welding cable would work good. as for a diesel alternator, i doubt it would mount to your motor, whether u have the 4.3L or the 5.7L.

[arcasey]

I tried to do the larger alternator upgrade on my 96 K1500. It actually would have worked but the way the air conditioning freon lines were routed it wouldn't work without doing some sort of modification. As far as bolting up, the larger alternator that is an option on those trucks (don't know if its the same alternator on the diesels or not) will bolt up just wouldn't clear the A/C lines.

[Rme2513]

How do you have the fans hooked up does the power come straight from the battery and controlled with a really and what is the amp draw per fan ?