Direct Current Ceiling Fans

[Greg1707]

I installed a couple of ceiling fans with DC motors. This is new to me. Ceiling fans have been around a long time. Direct Current has been around even longer. What's up with them getting together in 2020?

 

[GoldDigger]

Probably direct drive electronically commutated motor rather than a simple DC universal motor. Gives more torque at low speeds and easier control.
If it is simple direct current, I have no idea why.

 

[Fred B]

I installed a couple of ceiling fans with DC motors. This is new to me. Ceiling fans have been around a long time. Direct Current has been around even longer. What's up with them getting together in 2020?

I've used them a few times, primarily in high cathedral ceiling, it allows remote reverse of fan direction, customer didn't want to get a large step ladder to seasonally change the switch to reverse. One we had a 3 level scaffold to reach it to install. Definitely not going to reach with a step ladder.
AFA any other feature that would entice someone to want the DC fan I can't ssy.

 

[Jraef]

Did you feed them with DC then? If so, were was the DC from? Solar? That's happening in some cases now.

If you fed it with AC, I think GoldDigger is likely right, it's an ECM which is, to over simplify it, a permanent magnet DC motor with a built in DC drive unit. ECMs are significantly more efficient than AC motors for things like fans, albeit at a price premium.