i want to 'overclock' my ceiling fan

Rallispec

Lifer
Jul 26, 2001
12,375
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81
seriously... its really slow and even at the highest setting it barely moves any air around. I know there has got to be a way to pump up the motor a little more... i'm not afraid of taking it down and screwing with the wiring.
 

WhiteWonder

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2001
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once my fan almost fell on me, it was set on high..............................................................
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
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91


<< clean it. seriously, it works wonders. >>



yeah.. sometimes it does.. gets that extra weight off it
 

etech

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
10,597
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Something to check.

Is is turning the right way? Many ceiling fans have a switch to reverse their direction. When running in reverse it blows air up against the ceiling instead of down. It is usually used in winter to circulate warm air on the ceiling down but without the breeze of blowing directly on you. The switch is usually just a small slide switch on the body of the fan near the motor.

See which way it is turning before putting the nitrous to it.
 

Rallispec

Lifer
Jul 26, 2001
12,375
10
81
etech, this one switches directions too.. right now its pointing down.


by cleaning, do you mean cleaning dust off the fan blades, or in the motor?
 

yakko

Lifer
Apr 18, 2000
25,455
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Just buy a new one. You can get a good one cheap and it will be easier than trying to figure out what is wrong with this one.
 

Rallispec

Lifer
Jul 26, 2001
12,375
10
81
yakko.. i would do that but im in a college dorm room-- so its not my fan to replace. I have nothing against taking it apart and breaking it though.


juniper, i cleaned off the fanblades and i'm not sure if it made a difference or not-- its definetly makes a lot less noise now though
 

PowerEngineer

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2001
3,587
762
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I don't believe there's any easy way to "overclock" your ceiling fan. Like most small appliances, your fan is driven by a small AC induction motor; it's speed is a function of the frequency of the power source (60 Hz in North America), the number of turns in the winding, the bars in the rotor, and the iron core. Trying to modify the motor could lead to overheating and fire. These motors do tend to collect dirt and lint, and so might be slowed by years of accumulation; you might also try adding a little lubrication.
 

melly

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2002
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<< i want to 'overclock' my ceiling fan >>



i didn't know this was possible! can you overclock anything with a motor?
 

Rallispec

Lifer
Jul 26, 2001
12,375
10
81


<< I don't believe there's any easy way to "overclock" your ceiling fan. Like most small appliances, your fan is driven by a small AC induction motor; it's speed is a function of the frequency of the power source (60 Hz in North America), the number of turns in the winding, the bars in the rotor, and the iron core. Trying to modify the motor could lead to overheating and fire. These motors do tend to collect dirt and lint, and so might be slowed by years of accumulation; you might also try adding a little lubrication. >>




okay.. so this makes sense sorta-- here is my thought though. on the wall i have a 'turny knob' type thing. all the way to the left the fan turns off, turned to the right the fan is at max. So it must be some sort of variable resistor--- is there a way to simulate turning the dail even more to the right?


caramel... it doesnt even need a motor. it just needs to exist. Bicycles, laptop cases, shoes, lights.. etc. thats my thought at least.
 

melly

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2002
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<< caramel... it doesnt even need a motor. it just needs to exist. Bicycles, laptop cases, shoes, lights.. etc. thats my thought at least. >>



!

/me runs off to overclock her bed :p
 

yakko

Lifer
Apr 18, 2000
25,455
2
0


<< /me runs off to overclock her bed >>


/me runs after her to see what can be accomplished with it ;)
 
Oct 9, 1999
15,216
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The ceiling fans in the US are a waste of good technology.
They dotn do much more than more air around. You need a fan that can blow your nuts off.

Those kinds of fans come from India. There are some models that work in 110V (made for export). The fans run about 10x the speed
of the fans out here. Its worth looking into it.
 

Zim Hosein

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Super Moderator
Nov 27, 1999
65,233
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126


<< Me follows them with camera ;) >>



Me wants a copy :D
 

dirtboy

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
6,745
1
81
If you can't put stickers on it, how about putting a big riceboy spoiler on each of the fan blades? :D
 

Rallispec

Lifer
Jul 26, 2001
12,375
10
81


<< If you can't put stickers on it, how about putting a big riceboy spoiler on each of the fan blades? :D >>




;)

seriously though-- this made me think. If i can't make the fan go faster-- can i make it push more air at this speed? How to make the fan blades produce more downforce?

so- what if i bent them a little to angle them more? that would push more air down, right?
 

Azraele

Elite Member
Nov 5, 2000
16,524
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When I was little my brothers and I had great fun one day throwing socks at a ceiling fan and watching them get slung helter skelter.
 

Sestar

Senior member
Dec 26, 2001
316
0
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<< The ceiling fans in the US are a waste of good technology.
They dotn do much more than more air around. You need a fan that can blow your nuts off.

Those kinds of fans come from India. There are some models that work in 110V (made for export). The fans run about 10x the speed
of the fans out here. Its worth looking into it.
>>



I am reminded of the Seinfeld episode with the illegal showerheads.