I think Michael saw the relay suggestion in a thread I had started. I am installing the same cooler on my car and a fellow member (Jan) suggested the relay. I am still on the fence about adding the relay.
T
I have a small drycell battery in my car. I am inclined to take the fan load off the battery when cranking the car.
I am going to install the relay per Justin's description.
Mitch's soliloque reminds me of a story I heard about the Space Shuttle program.
By the time we got to the Shuttle Era, the complexity of the flying shuttle had become far more than the small panels of switches and annunciators used in the Apollo program. The Aerospace Designers and Engineers had automated a whole lot of the shuttle operation to simplify things for the Astronauts, but could make a big red light flash whenever their automated systems saw something out of spec, so that the mission people could look into things and see what needed attention (and isn't it ALWAYS an Ammonia leak??).
This system worked very well - up until they invited the Italian astronauts on board.
Starting with Franco Malerba, it was never enough to have one big "Hey! Heads up!" light. The engineers had to install a small panel with a bunch of lights and switches just to get the Italians into the simulators, let alone the real shuttle.
To insure that the Italians felt that they were in control, the Engineers installed three BIG switches:
One big, red-covered switch labeled "Decollare" for 'Take Off'
A smaller, Green switch labeled "Orbitante" for 'Orbit'
And a big yellow switch labeled "Attento! Steam arrivando a!" for 'Watch Out! We're-a comin in!"
If any of what Gordon says is true, then I'd wager the switches he refers to were hooked up to lights, and that's all. Just sayin' . . .
And I love the discourse about toggles. Lotta truth there. If Cory was on the Forum here, he'd be able to show you his "I'm a man" array of toggles on the Hoopty.