If cutting down on your monthly electricity bill sounds like a good plan, rethinking your ceiling fan might be the way to go. This is beneficial in several ways that you may have not thought about before.
First of all, whether you realize it or not, due to the climatic conditions, especially in India – the ceiling fan is running almost all day, sometimes in several rooms. This promotes air circulation and cools down the room on far less power usage than an air conditioner.
This continuous use of fans makes power saving far more useful – as the usage is much more. Another reason why this is a great idea is the limited investment it requires.
When investing in power-saving appliances we tend to think of heavy electrical items like washing machines, air conditioners, or refrigerators. Ceiling fans are cheaper than these appliances but can equally save power and money.
Conventional ceiling fans have existed over several years- all with the same motors which consumed more or less the same power.
These motors, known as induction motors use around 70-80 Watts – however, this is no longer the only option.
With technology constantly improving, ceiling fans have begun to incorporate motors that consume less power and have a longer life.
One such option available in the market is BLDC fans.
What are BLDC fans?
BLDC, which stands for brush-less direct-current motor contrary to the electromagnets in conventional induction motors uses a permanent magnet.
The permanent magnet generates a DC (Direct Current) magnetic field instead of the AC (Alternating Current) magnetic field that induction motors produce by passing AC current through the electromagnet.
The magnetic field generates motion, and depending on the current, can control and vary the speed of motion.
Also, the BLDC motors have an in-built inverter to convert DC to AC.
This allows the fans to consume lesser electricity, without negotiating on speed or air delivery. These BLDC motors also have other advantages like lowered noise generation, lighter and longer lifespan when compared to their induction motor counterparts.
Advantages of BLDC fans:
- Consumes far lower energy than its counterparts. In fact, where the regular motor consumes 70-80 Watts, the BLDC motor only needs 30-35 Watts. This reduced consumption results in up to 65% saving on the electricity bill.
- BLDC motors produce less heat as compared to induction motors on traditional fans. Since less electricity is lost in heat generation, the motor is far more efficient.
- These motors are more powerful and can offer a larger range of speeds for the operation of your fan. This is especially useful when the fan has to cover a larger area and circulate more air at higher speeds since BLDC motors can go up to 10,000 rpm.
- Since it consumes lower power, it can run for longer on backup power. This includes inverters or even solar power batteries.
- This motor is designed to undergo less wearing over the years of usage and will thus provide a longer lifetime for your fan as compared to other conventional motors in the fans.
- BLDC fans are also a lot less noisy as compared to the induction motor powered fans, and can even run at high speeds with low noise production.
Disadvantages of BLDC fans:
- Although for household purposes BLDC motors promise better efficiency, when it comes to industrial application induction motors are a better choice. This is because magnetic losses tend to increase with an increase in machine size.
- Since this is a new and upcoming technology, finding service centres or repair shops for these motors may be a little harder than finding something for the induction motors that are well known and understood among mechanics.
BLDC fans versus Normal ceiling fans
Akin to the transition from incandescent lights to LED bulbs, the emergence of BLDC fans seems promising enough to replace the popular traditional induction motor fans.
This is mainly due to the amount of power it saves and as a result of which the money it can save on electricity also.
Below is a quick comparison between the power requirements of a BLDC fan versus that of an induction motor fan for various speeds, varying from 1 to 5.
To change the speeds on a regular ceiling fan it uses a regulator, which may be one of two types.
1. Resistance Based: The resistance of the regulator is varied to alter the voltage supplied to the fan. However, this is not an efficient option as a lot of energy is lost as heat energy due to resistance.
2. Switch Based: Another type, more commonly found these days functions by cutting down the voltage to alter the speed of the fan. This switch-based fan has replaced most of the resistance-based options that were once in the market.
Contrary to all this, a BLDC fan takes in AC voltage and internally converts it into DC using SMPS. This is the main difference between BLDC and regular ceiling fans and is known as the commutation method.
In other words, this is the technique of altering the direction of flow of current in the motor responsible for the rotational movement.
Since BLDC motors lack the brushes, the commutation is done through the electronics part of the motor via a pre-set algorithm.
This is beneficial since over a period of time, due to mechanical contact in a brushed motor, the regular ceiling fan induction motors undergo wear and tear.
However, this frictional contact is eliminated in the BLDC motor making it more reliable in the long term.
Most trustworthy BLDC Ceiling Fans in India:
BLDC fans are popular in the market from an array of manufactures.
This ranges from those specializing in BLDC and other power consumption technology to brands that have stood the test of time and remained popular in the conventional fan market as well.
In this article, we will explore a few of these options that are economical as well as efficient from a variety of brands – both well-known and upcoming.
Superfan Super X1 Green BLDC Ceiling Fan
A popular option, Versa Drives was one of the very first companies to bring BLDC fans into the Indian market.
Launched in 2012, this company now caters to a range of lengths and colours, and other features- suitable for smaller rooms to larger halls.
The warranty offered by the company is 5 years, which is longer than the typical warranty for other fans.
Pros:
- Consumes only 35 W of power
- The remote is drop safe and suitable for kids
- 5 year warranty period
- Delivers great airflow
Cons:
- Makes a slight humming noise at speeds 1 and 2
- Slightly pricey
Orient Electric Eco BLDC Fans
Launched in 2015, Orient Electric was one of the most sought-after conventional ceiling fan brands to incorporate BLDC fans into their product list.
This fan has a 1200 mm blade size and a power consumption ranging between 32 watts to 50 watts.
It comes with a remote control to change the speed as per your need and can work at high speeds even on low power. They also have a 2-year warranty.
Pros:
- Consumes only 32 W of electric power
- Can save up to 50% of energy consumption
- Has wider blades for more thrust and air delivery
- Runs with no noise or heat production
Cons:
- Only 2 years of warranty
- The remote control that comes with the fan is a little flimsy
Atomberg Gorilla Fan BLDC Ceiling Fan with Remote
Launched right after the Versa Drives superfan in 2013 – these gorilla fans have earned a reputation for consistently delivering on both quality and reliability year after year.
Their products are sought after and range in different blade sizes for various applications.
They come with 3 years of warranty and are highly reputed for their great service network that provides immediate response and relief to customers.
Pros:
- Up to 20 feet distance of remote operation
- 350+ service centers
- Runs 3x longer on the inverter
- Equipped with a sleep mode
- Consumes only 28W on the highest speed
Cons:
- Speeds are not well spaced
- Air flow is not as high as the others
Crompton Energion HS BLDC Ceiling Fan with Remote
A little late to join the BLDC market, Crompton has been on the top of the induction motor fan market for years.
In 2019 they launched their BLDC fan series and are picking up traction for being efficient and economical.
This fan comes with a 5-year warranty and can work on a large range of voltages – from 90V to 300 V.
Pros:
- Powered by ActivBLDC technology that can help save up to 50% on the bill
- Consumes only 35W of power
- Can function optimally in the range of 90-300V
- Comes with a 5 year worth of warranty
Cons:
- There is an evident delay in the start
- Design is not very elegant compared to the other options
Havells Efficiencia BLDC Fans
Another late arrival in the BLDC fan market, Havells is a popular and respected brand for induction fans. Launched in 2019, this fan consumes the least of all power (only 25 Watts) and comes with a 2-year warranty but can work only on a limited range of power supply.
But this is not a big drawback since fluctuations are never very common or drastic.
Pros:
- Consumes only 26W
- Saves up to 65% of energy
- Runs 3x longer on an inverter
- Reduced noise during operation
Cons:
- Only 2-year warranty
- Less airflow than other fans
Panasonic BLDC Fans
Offering impressive speed and air delivery, this BLDC fan manufactured by the Japanese brand Panasonic was launched in 2018. It can operate at a stable speed between a large range of voltages and comes with a 1-year warranty period. In addition to the functional perks, it is also a compelling design and is aesthetically pleasing.
Pros:
- Elegant and innovative design
- BEE-5 Star Rating
- Constant airflow, even as reduced speeds
- Great customer support
Cons:
- Some noise at high speeds
- Only 1 year of warranty
OCECO BLDC Fans
These fans are one of the best-looking designs – it comes with wooden wings, a matt body, and even an LED light on the center that you can operate from the remote.
Several options are available depending on the colour you are looking for. The warranty period for these fans is 3 years, and it has various modes – like turbo, swing and sleep that can be changed through the remote control.
The sleep mode reduces the speed after a couple of hours, and the swing mode varies the speed to make it seem like a natural breeze.
Pros:
- Consumes only 28 W power
- Comes with sleep mode as well and swing options
- Has an attached LED light (that can be operated from the remote)
- Unique design
- 3-year warranty for motor and drive
Cons:
- Speeds are not spaced out well
- Remote can stop working after long term usage
The above list only covers the current options that are popular and reliable in the Indian market.
However, there are other models within the above-mentioned brands as well as upcoming brands that are constantly improving the products available in the market.
So, use the above options as a reliable start but do not refrain from looking further for other BLDC fans as well. The rule of thumb is to look into the company, their product list, and features, but most importantly the customer reviews.
Some brands have more than one option – in different sizes and colors available.
There is also a size guide that allows you to consider the size of the room to choose the optimal size of fan you require providing air flow.
Hopefully, this article has shown you why BLDC fans are the best option if you are looking for an investment that will not cost you an exorbitant amount but definitely save you some in the future!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are BLDC fans reliable?
The BLDC fans, especially from reputed brands are often more reliable than conventional ceiling fans. This is since, the only possible failure is easily replaceable electronics, not the motor.
What are the main drawbacks of the BLDC motor?
The drawbacks of a BLDC motor include a few aspects like increased cost, more vibrations at low speeds, and an added complication in the operation of the motor. However, this tradeoff for efficiency makes it a good choice regardless of the drawbacks.
Which BLDC fan is best?
In addition to mentions and awards from WWF, Forbes, and the Indian government, Atomberg Gorilla BLDC Fans have won the hearts of all their customer and always receive a thumbs up for their product and follow up services. It also comes with a built-in timer that is not available in most other options.
What is a BLDC motor fan?
Conventional ceiling fans are equipped with a standard induction motor, whereas BLDC motors are found in BLDC motor fans. These fans are powerful, energy-efficient, and noiseless as compared to their counterparts.
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