DC Motor Fans
DC motor fans have gotten really popular in Japan lately, perhaps thanks to efforts regarding the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I am interested in maximizing the usage of my new solar setup, so I have been shopping around for one.
While a bit more expensive than AC motor fans, DC motor fans have the following benefits:
- They use about 70% less electricity.
- They are quieter.
- They are lighter.
- They can provide more speeds.
- They are more durable. (This is because the motor does not heat up as much thanks to less electricity usage.)
I am currently using an AC motor fan that has three speeds. I measured the following energy usage with the fan head in a fixed position (not rotating).
| Speed | Energy Usage (W) |
|---|---|
| Low | 34 |
| Medium | 40 |
| High | 48 |
The fan has a “rhythm” mode that works on any speed. The low rhythm mode periodically pulses between 0 W and 34 W usage, for example, using less energy. I usually use my fan in low rhythm mode.
The staff at a local store have been very helpful and let me measure the energy usage of some DC motor fans that they sell. I measured the energy usage of one fan that looks similar to my current fan as well as a few air circulators.
The fan that looks similar to my current fan is a YAMAZEN MLX-SYD30, which has nine speeds. I measured the following energy usage with the fan head in a fixed position (not rotating), rounded up to the nearest watt.
| Speed | Energy Usage (W) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 1 |
| 3 | 1 |
| 4 | 1 |
| 5 | 2 |
| 6 | 5 |
| 7 | 6 |
| 8 | 8 |
| 9 | 11 |
Unlike the AC motor fan, there is only a single rhythm mode, not one per speed. It uses less than 1 W. I would likely usually use speed 4 or the rhythm mode, which is about 94% less energy usage than my current fan.
I measured the following energy usage of the YAMAZEN YAR-DDW152 air circulator, with the fan head in a fixed position (not rotating).
| Speed | Energy Usage (W) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2 |
| 2 | 3 |
| 3 | 5 |
| 4 | 8 |
| 5 | 13 |
This air circulator only has a single rhythm mode, but I forgot to measure it. I would likely use speed 2, which is about 91% less energy usage than my current fan.
I measured the following energy usage of the Iris Ohyama PCF-SDS-152T air circulator, with the fan head in a fixed position (not rotating).
| Speed | Energy Usage (W) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 2 |
| 3 | 2 |
| 4 | 3 |
| 5 | 4 |
| 6 | 6 |
| 7 | 11 |
| 8 | 21 |
This air circulator only has a single rhythm mode, which periodically pulses between 2 W and 4 W usage. I would likely use speed 3, which is about 94% less energy usage than my current fan.
I quite like the MLX-SYD30, but my current fan still
works, and I do not need another fan of that size. I think that I will
continue to use my current fan until it breaks, and then I look forward
to replacing it with a DC motor fan.
My wife and I have been in the market for an air circulator, however,
and I think that I may purchase a PCF-SDS-152T.