Question about the power of a generator?

I was wondering if I could use a electric fan with my generator, on my 1950 Chevy 3100. The truck is already converted to 12v. I have a slight problem with it running hotter on hotter days. There is only a blower motor, power point and the gauges that need power, on this truck.

 

Your generator is probably good for about 35 amps at max output, quite a bit less at idle. An electric fan may use anywhere from 10 to 30 amps, depending on what one you get. I don't know how many amps the truck needs to keep running, but it's not going to leave you much of a margin.

The truck should be able to run okay on warm days if the stock cooling system is in good shape - maybe you need to get the radiator rodded out and get the engine flushed, maybe a new thermostat?

 

What's a "power point"?


Don't say it's a Microsoft app either.

 

I'd guess he means power to the points.

 

He has a computer in his truck

 

All engines run slightly higher on hot days. If it doesn't boil over in traffic then you don't really have a problem. If it does boil over in traffic then start by flushing the cooling system. Probably a good maintenance job for an old truck. I'm not sure how well the new flushes work. There have been posts on here about using vinegar.

Please don't put one of those ugly pieces of **** on a cool old truck like yours just because the gauge shows that it is running a tad higher in 95* weather than it does in 70* weather. If it boils over fix the problem don't scab on a crutch.

 

How much "hotter is it running? I'm with Tommy 100% in that if it's puking water you have a problem but if the temp gauge is just showing a tad higher than it did in cooler weather a month or so ago because the outside temp is 30 degrees higher you don't have a problem. If the temp goes up a bit in traffic but drops right back down when you get moving up to speed again there probably isn't a problem.

These old sixes let you know right off when they are actually hot as they usually puke coolant all over the place. In the 50's they had barrels of water every so often up the p*** south of my place to dip water out of to put in radiators that had boiled over.

As far as the output of the generator goes it shouldn't be that hard to find out the output if you know what it was originally for.

 

I have a power point, for my cell phone charger in the truck.

 

Nice Camaro by the way.

 

Thanks for the reply. I may put a switch on the to turn on and off the fan. Driving around town it normally runs at 180 degree's, but the last time it was near 212 degree's. I know the rad is getting close to retirement.

Thanks to everyone who replied.

 

Fan shroud too, if you don't have one. Makes all the difference!

 

Power point- to be politically incorrect I always called them a cigarette lighter.

 

Are you running the original no-pressure cap, or do you have a 4 pounder on there? That makes a difference too. That, and rodding all the crud out of the engine block that collects in the back cylinders near the drain plug hole.

 

I do have what it appears to be a original cap, I will try a 4 lb cap. When I did the oil pan gasket, rocker cover gasket I found no no crud or sluge in the engine at all, the 261 is a great runner ! Thanks

 

It was a cigarette ligther before, since it wasn't working I swapped it out for a power point for the cell phone charger.