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What to Look For
Ceiling fan motors determine whether operation is smooth and quiet, and whether the blades are circulated with efficiency. Look for these features in ceiling fan motors: |
- Capacitors, to smoothly control (without wobbling) advancing speed levels
- Sturdy, die-cast housing to eliminate vibrations
- Aluminum die-cast end shields and rotors for cool operation - rotors are mounted outside of the stator (most efficient) or mounted internally
- Factory gaskets to eliminate vibrations
- Heavy-gauge stator windings and long copper wiring for smooth performance
- Thick motor laminations for low- and high-speed torque performance
- Reversible switching for summer and winter use
- Sealed bearings for a maintenance-free motor
- Blade pitch of 15 degrees (pitch ranges from 8-15 degrees)
Types of Motors
There are two basic types of ceiling fan motors. Stator-type motors are the most efficient, and they work with effortless motion. Ceiling fan blades are mounted to a rubber flywheel, and the stator is a center shaft that rotates the fan blades. Spinner-type motors are cheaper to produce and ranked by size. Blades are mounted directly to the motor. Without rubber cushioning, there is some vibration.
There are three grades/rankings of ceiling fans to consider for home use: best-performance grades are built with performance in mind, with durable construction and quiet, rattle-free operation. Because these motors are usually matched to the blades for the highest performance, air circulation is excellent on all speeds, and fans can be run continuously.
Very-good-grade ceiling fan motors are durable and built with price and performance in mind. Refer to the list above (what to look for) to identify models that are nearly as efficient and quiet as the top performers. This grade of ceiling fan is recommended for up to 12 hours of continuous use. Economy-grade ceiling fan motors are made with price in mind. Some are low performers and hum or wobble at some stage of operation. Economy motors function well with some limitations - use is limited to under 8 hours.
