Any good 12v relays?

[clutchdust]

I have bought two of those cheesy relays from the parts houses and neither one seemed to last more than 6 months before giving up the ghost. Really, isn't there one out there that can give some reliable service? It's only $20 for these things but six months is just not an acceptable life expectancy in my book. Oh, and I'm just using it to turn on a fan and things like that (fan is by far the biggest load).
FWIW, it's that little black square made-in-China piece o' junk all the parts houses have in their own boxes.
This would be the one:

 

[big2bird]

I have bought two of those cheesy relays from the parts houses and neither one seemed to last more than 6 months before giving up the ghost. Really, isn't there one out there that can give some reliable service? It's only $20 for these things but six months is just not an acceptable life expectancy in my book. Oh, and I'm just using it to turn on a fan and things like that (fan is by far the biggest load).
FWIW, it's that little black square made-in-China piece o' junk all the parts houses have in their own boxes.
This would be the one:

Use the Bosch. BTW, when it cycles more than once every 6 minutes, we call that jogging duty, and use a bigger unit. A larger rated unit will last alot longer.

 

[010752]

You can get they "Bosch style" up to around 80 amp rating.
If that won't do it and it should, then go to a Ford starter style ,they can handle up to 300 hundred or so.

Here's a place that handles the bosche style made by Cole Hersee, really decent but as Bird said the real Bosch is preferred.
Scroll down the page. Decent prices.

http://www.texasindustrialelectric.com/relays.asp

 

[mrvette]

I have been using a relay from a older 70's GM car, it looks like the high speed relay for the heater blower, rated 30 amps, anyway, and the plug is shaped kinda like the chebby bow tie emblem....totally reliable, and totally cheep, and in a metal can with two mounting ears, kinda shaped like mickey mouse....

one is on my spals, the other is on the C4 higher output hvac blower....

:smash::clap:

Oh, edit, DO NOT USE anything off a parts house wall in a plastic housing that includes them gray plastic with metal mounting tab oval connector things GM used in the 80's-90's.....they are CRAP.....

 

[JeffP1167]

GM weatherpack relays are great

 

[JPhil]

Bosch relay is the only one to consider, or to use. Not just "Bosch style" but 'Bosch' ONLY. I've used them for years for, typically but not limited to, my high watt aircraft landing light high beams for both bikes & cars. Accept no less than "Bosch" on the unit. Any other is junk.
For still bigger watt loads, yes the Ford starter relay. That and no other.

 

[clutchdust]

I'll try and track down a Bosch unit. Like I said though, these are doing no more than turning on a single fan so 20 amps is more than sufficient. I'm also using one as a switched ignition source but that's just for a fuel pump and stuff like that.