What's Inside Your Ceiling Fan?

Induction motors use a rotating magnetic field to move machinery. Nikola Tesla demonstrated the
technology in such devices as 1893s Egg of Columbus. Early motors operated at a single speed; semiconductors made them more practical by enabling variable-speed operation.

1 Wires Conductors carry electrical current to sets of copper coils called windings. 2 Windings Wrapped around steel bars, or laminations, energized windings form an electromagnet called a stator. 3 Stator Fluctuating polarity creates a rotating magnetic field in the stator. The field crosses a 0.3-mm gap to induce a current in laminations in the rotor, which spins around the stationary stator. 4 Rotor The angle at which the stator faces the rotor, the physical distance between the two, and the geometry of slots carved into each set of laminations combine to create two out-of-phase magnetic fields. The rotor spins because it repels the rotating magnetic field induced by the stator. 5 Housing The motor housing envelops the rotor as it revolves on bearings around the stator. In the design shown here, known as an inside-out motor, fan blades attach to the housing bottom. Vents on top cool the motor it needs a breeze, too.

Blade Geometry
Blade Tilt Most blades tilt between 12 and 14 degrees off horizontal. Decorative blades, such as textured palm fronds, can tilt up to 20 degrees. Fan RPM Fans on low speed revolve 40 to 70 times per minute. Medium speeds range from 100 to 115, and high speeds hit 180 to 200. Blade Count A high blade count cannibalizes airflow per blade, according to manufacturer Fanimation's John Moody. "Looking strictly at what moves the air most efficiently, three blades are best," he says. Rotation Rule Blades tilt so that a counterclockwise rotation pushes air downward to cool a room. Reverse the rotation, and blades draw air upward to circulate the hot air hugging the ceiling without creating a direct draft into the room. Here's the rule: Go clockwise in cold weather.

A Yoke Accepts downrod B Motor Cover Covers motor and centers rotor and stator. C Bearing Factory sealed insures smooth operation. D Rotor Transfers the magnetic energy from the stator. The rotor is aluminum injected with pure aluminum in precisely angled slots to produce the power needed for optimum performance. E Stator F Switch Housing G Speed Switch H Reverse Speed

CEILING FAN MOTOR TYPES

Internal Rotor The rotor is located on the inside of the stator. This motor was originally a general purpose appliance motor used primarily for washing machines, dryers, etc.

External Rotor This rotor is located on the outside of the stator. This motor was specifically developed for use on Ceiling fans. It is more efficient than internal rotor motors.

Simple Wiring diagram of ceiling fan

Capacitor connection diagram of ceiling fan

Ceiling fan has a capacitor start motor in its inside. AC single phase capacitor start motor has two winding; one is starting winding and another is running winding.

As it is a capacitor start-capacitor run type motor; there a capacitor is used in series with Starting Winding, It defines the direction of rotation. It is an electrolytic capacitor.

Sometimes you may have faced this type of question...

1. 2. Why ceiling fan rotating in reverse? What makes a ceiling fan run backwards?

Two of this question sounds the same; the answer of the both question is If capacitor is connected with running winding/main coil instead of starting winding/auxiliary coilthen the direction of rotation will changed. Thats mean if you want to change the direction of rotation of the fan, just connect the capacitor with other winding.