WHAT'S A FAN!?

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Ed,
I will get the message out on this issue. Previous years, the fans were at least called out in the wire size and breaker section of the manual. Fans have been viewed during inspections as COTS parts used in their original configuration (unmodified) and used for only for their intended purpose of cooling. Since the electrical rules specify 20 amp breakers as being the smallest allowed, a muffin fan still needed to be powered through this device. Electrical rules in the past of course had allowed all fans to be wired in parallel and fed from one breaker. The majority of easily obtained fans these days in the 12 volt DC flavor, are brushless types. This means that the motor controller is internal and needs no external motor controller. Some teams have used Spikes to turn fans on and off as they saw fit which also was allowed under the rules. Fans used for other purposes, i.e. ball control, need to be powered by KOP motors under all applicable rules.