You wake up drenched on a hot summer's night. Your old ceiling fan has gone kaput, and now, you feel like you're living through a midsummer night's nightmare.
The good news? A brand-new ceiling fan can bring back the breeze so that you can get those quality Zzzz's once again.
The question is, what type of ceiling fan should you choose: a DC or an AC fan?
Here's a rundown on DC vs AC ceiling fans and which one may be the best option for you long term.
Let's jump in!
Advantages of DC Ceiling Fans
A DC, or direct current fan, uses a power source that is connected to a transformer. The transformer then converts the energy to direct current, or a one-way current. As a result, the quantity of power utilised is ultimately decreased. DC fans are becoming increasingly common, and they offer the benefit of delivering a high level of efficiency. In fact, a DC motor will consume as much as 70% less energy than its AC counterpart will.
For instance, whereas an AC fan may consume 100 watts, a DC fan will consume just 30 watts. Still, both of them produce the same result. Thus, DC fans are the best choice if you're interested in saving on your monthly utility bills. Likewise, these fans may be a perfect fit for you if you are trying to live in a more eco-friendly way to help the planet.
Another benefit of a DC fan is that it also provides speed options that allow you to better control the movement of air. In fact, you can choose from as many as seven settings with a DC fan. This number is much higher than the three settings that come with AC fans. DC fans additionally tend to be slimmer than their AC counterparts are. Why? Because a DC fan motor is less bulky, thus offering a sleeker look.These fans are also known for being lightweight and featuring greater torque as well.
Additional DC Fan Benefits
If you're looking for a fan that you can easily integrate into your living space, you can't go wrong with a DC option. DC fans also offer the advantage of being extremely quiet. As a result, you will not hear noise from them besides the noise that the blade rotation produces. As a matter of fact, DC fans have managed to decrease the common fan humming sound by 80% or more. This makes a DC fan an exceptional option for a bedroom or any room that you would like to keep quiet. You can also find DC fans with winter switches on their remote controllers. This is a huge benefit during the colder months. That's because during the winter season, you can use your fan to move your ceiling area's warm air down to your living area.
In other words, the investment you make in your DC fan can bring returns during both the summer and the winter.
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Disadvantages of DC Fans
The major disadvantage of a DC fan is that it tends to be more costly compared with an AC fan. You'll generally pay more than $200 for this type of fan. Why? Because DC fans are relatively new, as they made their debut in 2016. Thus, manufacturing the fans is still costlier. As we mentioned earlier, these fans do offer excellent energy efficiency benefits compared with AC fans. However, it may still take a while to recoup the cost of your DC fan in the form of energy savings.
On top of this, the majority of DC fans come only with remote controllers. As a general rule of thumb, remote controllers tend to be less functional and reliable compared with the wall panels that come with AC fans. After all, you can easily lose or break them. Or, their batteries may suddenly die. Still, some DC fan options do come with optional wall controllers. However, you may have to pay an extra cost for such a controller.
Advantages of AC Ceiling Fans
Unlike a DC fan, an AC fan -- or alternating current fan -- does not convert power. Instead, it uses the power supplied from your wiring directly. It then regulates speeds through controlling the current's frequency.
A major advantage of an AC fan vs a DC fan is that it is more wallet-friendly. You'll typically find AC fans under $200. That's because these fans tend to be simpler to produce. An added bonus that comes with AC fans vs other ceiling fans is that they are also easier to maintain. Thus, when you choose an AC fan, you don't have to worry about sudden repairs doing damage to your budget.
AC fans additionally offer more options for controlling the fans' operation. For instance, you may control your fan with a remote controller or a wall panel. Alternatively, some fans come with simple chain switches.Furthermore, if you go the AC fan route, you'll have far more fan options. That's because AC fans have been available for several years. Thus, you'll find a wide range of models, brands, and options. Also, even though an AC fan might not be as energy-efficient as a DC fan is, it's still very energy efficient.
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Disadvantages of AC Fans
A drawback to an AC motor is that it depends strongly on your power source's amplitude and frequency. Thus, maintaining a specific speed can be quite challenging. It is for this reason that the majority of AC fans feature just three-speed options. Also, based on how it is built, an AC motor can generate excessive noise when you're operating it at a low speed. Yet another disadvantage of an AC fan is its motor size. An AC fan needs certain electrical components to work properly. Thus, the motor cannot be made tinier without compromising your fan's performance.
Unfortunately, this limits what AC fan manufacturers are able to do when creating new AC fan designs. DC fan motors changed the game in this area by being made smaller while still containing the required electrical components. In addition, these important electrical components are also quite compact. This is why DC fan designs tend to be slick and more compact compared with their AC counterparts.
AC vs DC Ceiling Fan: So, What's the Best Choice?
Based on the above, is it best for you to choose an AC fan or a DC fan for your home? The truth is, there is no black-and-white answer. It ultimately depends on your particular needs and preferences. For instance, perhaps you are searching for a fan that is extremely quiet. You also want a fan that creates decent air movement, doesn't wobble, and will save you on energy costs. In this situation, a DC fan might be the best option for you. At the same time, you shouldn't disqualify an AC fan for energy usage reasons. Yes, an AC fan does utilise more energy compared with a DC motor. However, AC fans still don't use much energy compared with other household appliances.
All in all, both AC and DC fans do a great job of keeping your space comfortable temperature-wise. Just keep your eyes on the various features and prices tied to both types of fans to choose the right option for you.
How We Can Help with Your Ceiling Fan Project
We are a premier lighting superstore in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. We take pride in offering various lighting products all in one place to meet your unique lighting needs. We have a knowledgeable and friendly team of customer service professionals ready to help you. Our team members possess top-tier industry knowledge pertaining to modern lighting trends and lighting's technical aspects. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our attractive DC and AC ceiling fans. In no time, we can help you to transform you entire living space with the right lighting product.
