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The quick comparison
| Normal fan | BLDC fan | |
|---|---|---|
| Motor | Induction motor | Brushless direct current motor |
| Usual power at full speed | About 70 to 80 watts (older fans) | About 28 to 35 watts |
| Buying price | Lower | Higher |
| Control | Wall regulator | Usually a remote |
| In low voltage | Slows down | Many hold speed better |
| Repair | Most local electricians can do it | Electronics, usually needs the service centre |
| Voltage spikes | Simple motor, less to fail | Electronics can be affected |
| Battery time on an inverter | Shorter | Longer |
Those watts are typical examples, so check the label on your own fan and on the fan you plan to buy. A newer 5 star normal fan may already use less than 75 watts, which makes the saving smaller.
What is actually different
A normal fan has an induction motor that runs directly on AC power. Part of the electricity goes into creating a magnetic field in the rotor, and some of that is lost as heat.
A BLDC fan has permanent magnets, so it does not spend power on making that field. Small electronics inside change AC to DC and switch the coils in the right order. Less power is lost, and the speed is controlled by electronics. The usual result is the same kind of air movement for far fewer watts.
The trade-off is that those electronics are one more thing that can fail, and your local electrician may not be able to repair them.
The payback sum
This example replaces a 75 watt normal fan with a 30 watt BLDC fan, so it saves 45 watts. It uses an example rate of ₹8 per unit and 300 days a year. It also assumes the BLDC fan costs ₹1,500 more than a normal one. All of these are examples, so put in your own figures and check your bill for your rate.
| Hours a day | Units saved a year | Saved a year at ₹8 | Time to recover ₹1,500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 108 | ₹864 | About 21 months |
| 12 | 162 | ₹1,296 | About 14 months |
| 16 | 216 | ₹1,728 | About 10 months |
Now change one number. If your present fan is already a 50 watt model, the saving is 20 watts, not 45. At 12 hours for 300 days, that is 72 units, or about ₹576 a year at ₹8. The same ₹1,500 now takes about 2 years and 7 months to come back.
Here is the sum for your own home:
Watts saved × hours a day × days a year ÷ 1000 = units saved a year
Multiply the units by your rate. Then divide the extra price by that figure to get the years to payback.
Which room needs which fan?
The saving depends on hours, not on the fan alone. So you do not have to change every fan at once.
| Room | Start by looking at |
|---|---|
| Bedroom, fan runs all night, most of the year | BLDC |
| Living room used all day | BLDC |
| Guest room used a few days a month | Normal fan, or keep the old one |
| Kitchen or store room, short use | Normal fan, or keep the old one |
| Any room you run on inverter | BLDC |
A bedroom fan in Chennai runs much longer than a guest room fan in Shimla. Coastal and southern homes may use fans nearly all year, while northern homes may use them for only part of it.
Inverters and power cuts
Say your inverter runs three fans during a power cut. Three 75 watt fans draw 225 watts. Three 30 watt fans draw 90 watts. The same battery lasts about two and a half times as long on the fans alone, before you add lights. For homes with long power cuts, this can matter more than the rupee saving.
Remotes and repairs
Most BLDC fans run by remote. Check if a replacement remote is sold, and if the fan can be used without it. During monsoon storms, a voltage spike can damage the electronics, so switch fans off at the wall in a lightning storm. Read what the warranty covers for the electronic parts.
Which should you choose?
Choose a BLDC fan if the fan runs many hours a day for most of the year, you use an inverter in power cuts, your area has low voltage, and a service centre covers your town.
Choose a normal fan if the room sees little use, you want the lowest buying price, you prefer a simple wall regulator, or you want any local electrician to be able to repair it.
Options to look at on Amazon
We have not tested these. They are in no particular order, and the details come from the listing titles. Check the current price, wattage, warranty and reviews on Amazon, and confirm that the listing says BLDC.
| Product | Type | Listed detail |
|---|---|---|
| atomberg Efficio Alpha | 1200 mm fan | 5 star |
| Orient Electric Zeno | 1200 mm BLDC fan | 5 star |
Before you buy
Find the fan that runs the longest in your home and do the sum for that room first. If your old fan works and runs only a little, it can wait.
The products in this comparison
atomberg Efficio Alpha
Orient Electric Zeno
Read next
Common questions
How long does a BLDC fan take to pay back?
In our example of a 75 watt fan replaced by a 30 watt fan, costing ₹1,500 more, running 12 hours a day for 300 days at ₹8 per unit, it takes about 14 months. Your own hours, watts and rate will change this, so check your bill.
Is a BLDC fan worth it in a room used for only a few hours?
Often not soon. Fewer hours mean fewer units saved, so the extra price takes longer to come back. Do the sum for that room before you replace a working fan.
Do I need a new regulator for a BLDC fan?
Most BLDC fans run by remote, and an old step regulator is not meant for them. Follow the manual, and ask your electrician to do the fitting.