Considering a radiator cooling fan for canopy on a B7100 HST-D

[Wilburn Cox]

I have a Kubota B7100 HST-D in perfect condition and am considering building/having built a canopy incorporating a radiator cooling fan to help with this Texas heat. I have seen several canopies utilizing these fans on this forum.
The tractor has a dynamo and I am not sure this will provide enough AMPS to run the 12 Volt fan. The tractor has lights which I never use and no other items I know of that might pull AMPS. I will appreciate any assistance or ideas concerning this and thanks in advance.
Wilburn "Red" Cox Stephenville TX. Anyone with ideas may email me at <<EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED>>

 

[oosik]

Just a thought. Go ahead with the canopy. However - simplify the project by having a dash mount fan on some form of swivel base. I have an exotic swivel base mount on my camera tripod. Swivels 360 degrees and from straight down to straight up vertical. Would be the kind of base I would be looking for. Maybe not that exotic.

I see a problem with a fan mounted in the canopy. Its either going to be sucking air up which means drawing air that is exiting from under the hood and around the engine OR its going to be blowing down on you - drawing all the heat that your Texas sun is pumping into the top of the canopy. Either way I think you are going to be slow roasted.

Dash mounted fan is much simpler and can be pointed right where its needed.

 

[Wilburn Cox]

Just a thought. Go ahead with the canopy. However - simplify the project by having a dash mount fan on some form of swivel base. I have an exotic swivel base mount on my camera tripod. Swivels 360 degrees and from straight down to straight up vertical. Would be the kind of base I would be looking for. Maybe not that exotic.

I see a problem with a fan mounted in the canopy. Its either going to be sucking air up which means drawing air that is exiting from under the hood and around the engine OR its going to be blowing down on you - drawing all the heat that your Texas sun is pumping into the top of the canopy. Either way I think you are going to be slow roasted.

Dash mounted fan is much simpler and can be pointed right where its needed.

Thanks oosik; I sincerely appreciate the reply and will consider it. Have a great day

 

[WranglerX]

Perhaps....

Amazon.com: ALEKO CF2 Mini Dashboard Electric Car Fan Adhesive Base for Summer Road Trips 6 Inch Blades 12V Aluminum: Automotive

Dale

 

[kthompson]

I did have a fan on the rops under a canopy and that worked good for me. Sold the tractor a few years back. Have not installed one on current tractors with canopy. Just be sure the underside of the canopy is insulated well. You need to stop the heat radiating through the canopy.

 

[Wilburn Cox]

I did have a fan on the rops under a canopy and that worked good for me. Sold the tractor a few years back. Have not installed one on current tractors with canopy. Just be sure the underside of the canopy is insulated well. You need to stop the heat radiating through the canopy.

Thanks kthompson; I appreciate the information. If & when I build the canopy it will be insulated. Have a great day. "Red"

 

[ns_in_tex]

We put a radiator fan on our zero turn mower. I don't think the current usage should be a problem. We mounted ours to blow from the back left side. Feels good blowing on your neck and face and helps(to some degree) to keep the dust blowing away from your face.

 

[100 td]

Without looking at the specs, your dynamo is probably rated at 10~14 amps max, at WOT. So a 9" radiator fan @ 6A should be fine, but please check current rating, a small caravan type fan will be a couple of amps I expect. Heat under canopy won't be a problem for fan, it going to pick up ambient air and blow on you just like you driving through ambient air. Only when stationary with no air movement would air underneath canopy rise in temp slightly, from the radiated heat through the canopy. As soon as the fan is turned on it would clear that and replace it with ambient faster than heat could be radiated or convected into it.

 

[Wilburn Cox]

Without looking at the specs, your dynamo is probably rated at 10~14 amps max, at WOT. So a 9" radiator fan @ 6A should be fine, but please check current rating, a small caravan type fan will be a couple of amps I expect. Heat under canopy won't be a problem for fan, it going to pick up ambient air and blow on you just like you driving through ambient air. Only when stationary with no air movement would air underneath canopy rise in temp slightly, from the radiated heat through the canopy. As soon as the fan is turned on it would clear that and replace it with ambient faster than heat could be radiated or convected into it.

Thanks, 100 td; I appreciate the info. what did you mean by a caravan type fan?? "Red"

 

[100 td]

Any of those small oscillating 12 volt fans are generally low current Go Gear 12 Volt Oscillating Fan - HOP77570
or like what was linked by DL previously
Just checked the specs for a 7100....not as good as I originally thought, 8.5 A output
Unfortunately finding the current draw on a lot of products is difficult.