Now, check out a fan that saves power

It is a device that is so ubiquitous, that most people often take it for granted. I am referring to the ceiling fan, a real lifesaver for those of us staying in the tropics, much before central air-conditioning made its appearance. Since it launched in India about 80 years ago, the ceiling fan has evolved a lot, in terms of design, functionality and so on.

Six years ago ex-IITians Manoj Meena and Sibabrata Das came together to create Atomberg Technologies in 2012, they were mainly working on products related to data acquisitions, vehicle tracking systems and so on. Soon, they had gained expertise in the working of brushless DC electric motor (BLDC), the company pivoted to the ceiling fan industry, about three years ago.

Manoj said, “ We were looking at creating a product that would not consume a lot of electricity and offer smart connected electrical appliances to the consumers. We wanted to make fans that are more technologically advanced and energy efficient,” says Manoj.

Over time, Atomberg began working on prototypes from their base at IIT Mumbai. They developed a working model and launched it in October 2015.

How does it work?

Meena explains,” In the fans, we use BLDC motors. The key difference between regular induction motors and the BLDC motors is in the use of permanent magnets as rotors. The fans also have an electronic circuit that helps drives the motor.”

Meena says, “There are many advantages of using a brushless motor over brushed motors especially in areas such as computer peripherals (disk drives, printers), hand-held power tools, and a host of vehicles. It will make the device more energy efficient.”

The main pain point that the company claims to solve is in power consumption. They claim that the fan consumes just 28 watts working at top speed. “All top brands use more than 70 watts and it continues to go up, over time.” The most intriguing feature of the fan is the smart remote that offers sleep mode, timer and enhances the comfort level of the users.

Why should I get one?

Meena says, “ The fan helps users save Rs 1,000-1,500 every year. This means that though the fans are priced at premium rates, one can easily recover the price in a couple of years. We also offer a three-year warranty. The fan can easily last more than a decade. Our fans are priced between Rs 3,500 and Rs 4,000. It is available on online platforms and select offline outlets as well.”