New electric fan killing battery

I installed a new electric fan today (my last project before the trip to the national round up) I let it run in the pole barn for about 45 min then took it for a 5 mi ride to see how the temp stayed, came back shut it off and it would not turn over. jumped it and it started right back up. The battery is new, i have a 60A alternator. I don't know how old the voltage regulator is. Is the alternator too small? if so what size should i install?

16in flexlite fan
Deral fan control

 

Are all the connections secure? Just went through this same problem with my electric fan and it was a loose wire causing the battery to drain.

 

U may have to step up to more capacity alt. I run the Flex-a-Lite and 130a alt. It seems like 60 should work, if ur not running anything else - but may not be enough. I run 130a but I have AC and stero amp. I never have any issues w/ batt. drain.

 

check the voltage at idle w/fan on. you may have let is run too long at too low of an idle.

 

Can I check amperage out put with a multi meter? If so, how

 

Most muti's don't have over 10amp capacit y- I don't think that wud work too well. I wud use a automotive type tester and hook it in series w/ whatever ur testing. Make sure neither lead shorts to ground.
I agree w/ Frank, u may have let it idle to long w/ low alt. output and drain the battery.

 

Do you run any under drive pulleys ?

 

I don't know what under drive pulleys are

 

Then you are OK in that department

Under drive pulleys are a different from stock size matched set of pulleys - we used them on stock cars to slow the water pump and alternator down as we were running between 4500 and 6500 RPM every lap but running the engine slow during cautions, the water pump and alt would turn too slow causing heat & charging problems

 

ah gotcha

 

Did a voltage test after work today.
13.15v sitting
dropped to 12.95v after starting
dropped to 12.70v when fan kicked on
higher RPM,s voltage dropped about .5V
installed new alternator witch i already had same results. im thinking voltage regulator?

 

sounds like a bad cell in batt...has volts but no cranking amps...

 

Shouldn't there be around 14.5 volts when the motor is running? That's why I'm thinking voltage regulator
. The battery is only 6 weeks old

 

Assuming a cool alternator yes, but as temps climb voltage will be less, I'm uncomfortable with under 13.8v... But if you turn on high beams, heater blower on max, windshield wipers on high, new fan etc if it holds above 13.5v it should be OK... Problem is when idling it probably won't hold 13.5v, so is gradually discharging...

Fixes are get a newer alternator that has increased charging capability, or do the simple thing and add 150-200 RPMs to idle speed...

 

When I increased RPM voltage went down