Mechanical vs. Electric Fans: Which is Best for Your Vehicle?

Do I have the right fan for my cooling system needs?

This post will cover all the fan options available for your ride.

Mechanical Fans 
Mechanical fans rely on mechanical energy from the engine in order to operate properly. There are two main types of mechanical fans: clutch fans and flex fans.

Clutch fans are controlled by a thermostat and utilize a clutch to engage or disengage the fan at a specified engine speed or temperature. However, the fan’s clutch never fully disengages—it keeps spinning at about 30 percent of the water pump speed at all times. The clutch also limits how fast the fan can spin and only turns the fan at a fraction of the water pump speed, depending on engine speed and temperature.

Select a Clutch Fan for:

• Stock or mildly modified engines
• Best overall cooling ability
• Applications up to 6,000 rpm

Flex fans don’t use a clutch and therefore operate at 100 percent of water pump speed, making them more efficient than clutch fans. Considered a step up from clutch fans, these fans are typically lighter than clutch fans and often feature blades that flatten out at higher rpms for greater efficiency.

Select a Flex Fan for:

• Mildly modified engines
• Good cooling with less drag (than clutch fans) at high rpm
• Applications up to 8,000 rpm
• Lightweight design

Mechanical fans, also called belt-driven fans, are an ideal choice for stock or mildly modified street vehicles, but they have some significant performance disadvantages. Mainly, mechanical fans cause parasitic horsepower loss because your engine expends a certain amount of power spinning your fan. This translates into power loss at the rear wheels. That’s why electric fans are typically the number one choice for more highly modified vehicles.

Electric Fans
As the name suggests, electric fans are powered by your vehicle’s electrical system. Although they will place an additional draw on the electrical system, they are a more efficient alternative to mechanical fans and don’t cause the dreaded parasitic horsepower loss.

Here are a few other advantages of electric fans:

• Consistent cooling—they maintain their airflow at all times
• Reduced water pump wear
• Versatility—they can be mounted in front of or behind the radiator
• Multiple sizes and configurations—they can be found in diameters up to 20 inches and are available with single- and dual-fan setups
• Fitment—some electric fans have thin profiles so they can fit where belt-driven sometimes can’t
• Control—some electric fans have an adjustable thermostat while others allow you to operate your fan from your driver’s seat

Select an Electric Fan for:

• High-horsepower applications
• Maximum power and fuel economy–no parasitic power loss
• Enhanced low-rpm cooling
• Increased water pump life
• Additional auxiliary cooling

With no parasitic power loss and all the great benefits we mentioned above, electric fans have become the preferred choice for many performance enthusiasts. In a future post, we’ll show you the keys to choosing the right electric fan for your vehicle.

Until then, stay cool.

Custom Church Hand Fans

When it comes to keeping people cool, especially at outdoor events, the solution needs to be easy to use, lightweight, and effective. With our vast selection of custom church fans, you can give people a great way to cool off while showing off your custom creation. Church fans are ideal for helping crowds beat the heat at weddings, church services, funerals, church picnics, bible camps, and special events.

If you need a set of fans, we are a leader in custom promotional products that can take on any request! We handle the production of promotional items for a variety of industries and events, and we've been doing so for more than 20 years. We offer a comprehensive range of products, services, and affordable rates that our competitors struggle to match.

How Can You Use Custom Church Fans?

In addition to keeping guests comfortable, hand fans provide a large space for you to print your sermon, hymns, program, or other important details. You can place hand fans in the back of church pews or on chairs to welcome your congregation and guests as they take their seats.

Although our hand fans are intended for single-use, they make a nice keepsake or memento for your congregation or guests to take home. They are made with high-quality paper and feature a wood handle comfortably shaped for an easy grip. They are lightweight for easy movement without sacrificing on sturdy construction. All of the church hand fans we offer are made with the utmost of care and attention for a custom product of high quality. We offer several different colors and fonts to help you share your message exactly the way you envision.

What Kinds of Religious Hand Fans Can You Choose From?

Choose from a variety of stock image options, including our popular Jesus in prayer, sacred heart, or beloved scripture designs, or make them completely your own with your custom created artwork. Images are printed with stunning clarity and high-resolution for a clean, vivid visual.

We can also quickly adapt your artwork to fit any fan including these popular options:

• Bread slice fans: If you need good value without sacrificing impact, these single-sheet fans feature durable 22-point poster board and the choice of wooden or plastic handles.
• Expandable fans: Expandable designs come with different motifs while offering a wider surface area for more text, as well as more effective results when fanning. You can fold them in and out for easy storage and transportation.

Trust in Us for Your Custom Religious Hand Fans

We are proud to be your source for all your custom church promotions. We look forward to being a part of your next event while creating a fun and affordable way for you to spread your message and make your service or event memorable. Our team of knowledgeable and friendly associates would be happy to answer any questions you may have or assist you with your order in any way while shopping with us.