An electric fan is an essential appliance that helps you stay cool and comfortable. Moreover, it can help you save on electricity bills and be environmentally friendly.
Portable fans allow you to move them from room to room, while fixed fans are mounted in the ceiling. Many fans are also equipped with a pull chain that allows you to operate both the fan and light using one chain.
Power
Electric fans are a vital part of computers as they blow cool air into cabinets where microchips are housed. They can also come in very small sizes to cool individual chips.
The Edison Tech Center has many different styles of electric fans from all periods in electrical history. They range from large metal art deco models to modern sleek ceiling fans.
When shopping for a new fan check the power rating (in watts) on the label and user manual to compare energy consumption among different models. Then multiply the fan’s wattage by the number of hours you use it daily to estimate its total energy usage in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
Size
An electric fan is a device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy by using magnetic fields. This energy is then used to rotate the blades of the fan. The fan then throws the air that is nearby it, thereby cooling down the temperature of the surroundings.
The housing of the electric fan carries the stator winding and rotor bearing assembly on the inside while the blades are bolted to the outer area of the housing. When AC is supplied to the electric motor it energizes the capacitor and then the stator winding which converts the electrical current into a rotating magnetic field that causes the rotor to rotate.
This rotation of the rotor then causes the blades to throw the air around it. This cools the surrounding environment and lowers the engine temperature.
Weight
Many older fans used a variable-speed control, mounted either on the body of the fan or in a gang box at the wall, which was turned by a dial to vary the speed at which the blades rotated. Usually, the higher the setting, the faster the fan ran.
A ceiling fan weighs 8 to 50 pounds when fully assembled. It places additional stresses, notably torsion, on the junction box from which it hangs, so it is important that the junction box is listed for this use.
If the fan wobbles while running, purchase a blade-balancing kit from a home center or the fan’s manufacturer. Apply one of the kit’s self-adhesive weights to the trailing edge of a blade that wobbles and observe it from a ladder, if necessary, to ensure that the added weight is evenly distributed.
Design
The electric fan was one of the first significant electric inventions. It is now a necessary building block for even more advanced technologies such as computers, lasers, large LED lights, petrol and electric cars and the space station.
The motor of an electric fan produces rotational movement that causes the slightly angled blades to rotate counterclockwise, moving cool air down. This makes the fan very useful for regulating and maintaining comfortable temperatures in a room.
Many electric fans have a variable speed dial and a pull-chain that controls the fan entirely; the user can turn the dial to choose their preferred setting. Some models have the option to wire an optional light kit to the pull chain, allowing the user to control both the fan and the light with a single switch.
Maintenance
Even permanently installed fans need regular maintenance to keep them working at top efficiency. Dust build-up restricts air flow and contributes to noise. Keeping the fan clean eliminates this problem. Cleaning the fan also protects the motor against overheating.
Cleaning the fan is easy with a hair dryer on low heat or a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment. Alternatively, blast away the dust with a can of compressed air or a spray bottle filled with water. Then, use a cloth sprayed with or soaked in mild soap to wash the grills and blade.
Loose screws that hold the wire casing in place must be loosened before removing it. Keep track of all the small parts that you remove so you don’t lose them.