I bought an Arlec pedestal fan yesterday. When I got it home I noticed
that it claimed "DC motor technology". Turns out that instead of a mains
lead, it has a plug-pack that connects to it.

Anyway, I assume their motive for this change is cost, so we may see it
in other models/brands. Something to watch out for.

As it happened, a part was missing, and I was able to return it for a
refund.

Sylvia.

On 7/12/2023 9:58 pm, Sylvia Else wrote:
> I bought an Arlec pedestal fan yesterday. When I got it home I noticed
> that it claimed "DC motor technology". Turns out that instead of a mains
> lead, it has a plug-pack that connects to it.

Was that one of those remote controlled ones?
>
> Anyway, I assume their motive for this change is cost, so we may see it
> in other models/brands. Something to watch out for.

More like easy compliance with Aus electrical standards.
>
> As it happened, a part was missing, and I was able to return it for a
> refund.

Lucky!
>
> Sylvia.
>

--
Xeno

Nothing astonishes Noddy so much as common sense and plain dealing.
(with apologies to Ralph Waldo Emerson)

On 07-Dec-23 10:05 pm, Xeno wrote:
> On 7/12/2023 9:58 pm, Sylvia Else wrote:
>> I bought an Arlec pedestal fan yesterday. When I got it home I noticed
>> that it claimed "DC motor technology". Turns out that instead of a
>> mains lead, it has a plug-pack that connects to it.
>
> Was that one of those remote controlled ones?

Yes, though that wasn't why I bought it.
Sylvia.

On 7/12/2023 10:54 pm, Sylvia Else wrote:
> On 07-Dec-23 10:05 pm, Xeno wrote:
>> On 7/12/2023 9:58 pm, Sylvia Else wrote:
>>> I bought an Arlec pedestal fan yesterday. When I got it home I
>>> noticed that it claimed "DC motor technology". Turns out that instead
>>> of a mains lead, it has a plug-pack that connects to it.
>>
>> Was that one of those remote controlled ones?
>
> Yes, though that wasn't why I bought it.
> Sylvia.

I saw them in Bunnings recently. No mention of power brick on the box
that I could see. Would be off putting to me as well. Not that we need a
pedestal fan, we have ceiling fans all over the house.

--
Xeno

Nothing astonishes Noddy so much as common sense and plain dealing.
(with apologies to Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote

> I bought an Arlec pedestal fan yesterday. When I got it home I noticed
> that it claimed "DC motor technology". Turns out that instead of a mains
> lead, it has a plug-pack that connects to it.

> Anyway, I assume their motive for this change is cost,

Can't see that.

> so we may see it in other models/brands.

> Something to watch out for.

Why are you assuming that it's a bad thing ?

> As it happened, a part was missing, and I was able to return it for a
> refund.

You can with the best sellers if it turns out you don't like something
about it.

Rod Speed wrote:
> Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote
>
>> I bought an Arlec pedestal fan yesterday. When I got it home I
>> noticed that it claimed "DC motor technology". Turns out that instead
>> of a mains lead, it has a plug-pack that connects to it.
>
>> Anyway, I assume their motive for this change is cost,
>
> Can't see that.
>
>> so we may see it  in other models/brands.
>
>> Something to watch out for.
>
> Why are you assuming that it's a bad thing ?

that's what I was wondering

>
>> As it happened, a part was missing, and I was able to return it for a
>> refund.
>
> You can with the best sellers if it turns out you don't like something
> about it.

--
Have a nice day!..

In aus.electronics Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote:
> On 07-Dec-23 10:05 pm, Xeno wrote:
>> On 7/12/2023 9:58 pm, Sylvia Else wrote:
>>> I bought an Arlec pedestal fan yesterday. When I got it home I noticed
>>> that it claimed "DC motor technology". Turns out that instead of a
>>> mains lead, it has a plug-pack that connects to it.
>>
>> Was that one of those remote controlled ones?
>
> Yes, though that wasn't why I bought it.

Perhaps the speed is continuously variable instead of in fixed
steps? Personally I prefer old-fashioned ones with a physical speed
switch, but if people demand blinky lights and remote controls
then this is what they'll get. Unfortunately there's far more to go
wrong as a result, and probably far more power wasted too.

--
__ __
#_ < |\| |< _# | Note: I won't see posts made from Google Groups |

On 08-Dec-23 4:09 am, Rod Speed wrote:
> Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote
>
>> I bought an Arlec pedestal fan yesterday. When I got it home I noticed
>> that it claimed "DC motor technology". Turns out that instead of a
>> mains lead, it has a plug-pack that connects to it.
>
>> Anyway, I assume their motive for this change is cost,
>
> Can't see that.
>
>> so we may see it  in other models/brands.
>
>> Something to watch out for.
>
> Why are you assuming that it's a bad thing ?
>

If you like wall-warts everywhere, then fine.

Sylvia.

In aus.cars Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote:
> On 08-Dec-23 4:09 am, Rod Speed wrote:
>>> Something to watch out for.
>>
>> Why are you assuming that it's a bad thing ?
>
> If you like wall-warts everywhere, then fine.

Huh. I can see a few reasons why I wouldn't like a DC pedestal fan,
but I honestly never thought that anyone would be bothered by the
meer presence of a plugpack on a wall.

I suppose they can be awkward to use with extension lead though,
which a fan could often be used with.

--
__ __
#_ < |\| |< _# | Note: I won't see posts made from Google Groups |

On 8/12/2023 8:26 am, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
> In aus.cars Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote:
>> On 08-Dec-23 4:09 am, Rod Speed wrote:
>>>> Something to watch out for.
>>>
>>> Why are you assuming that it's a bad thing ?
>>
>> If you like wall-warts everywhere, then fine.
>
> Huh. I can see a few reasons why I wouldn't like a DC pedestal fan,
> but I honestly never thought that anyone would be bothered by the
> meer presence of a plugpack on a wall.
>
> I suppose they can be awkward to use with extension lead though,
> which a fan could often be used with.
>
Wall Warts are a PITA. The company buys in a heap of wall warts that are
already Aus certified for 230V so they don't need to have the fan itself
certified. Cheaping out is all it is.

--
Xeno

Nothing astonishes Noddy so much as common sense and plain dealing.
(with apologies to Ralph Waldo Emerson)

On 08-Dec-23 7:17 am, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
> In aus.electronics Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote:
>> On 07-Dec-23 10:05 pm, Xeno wrote:
>>> On 7/12/2023 9:58 pm, Sylvia Else wrote:
>>>> I bought an Arlec pedestal fan yesterday. When I got it home I noticed
>>>> that it claimed "DC motor technology". Turns out that instead of a
>>>> mains lead, it has a plug-pack that connects to it.
>>>
>>> Was that one of those remote controlled ones?
>>
>> Yes, though that wasn't why I bought it.
>
> Perhaps the speed is continuously variable instead of in fixed
> steps? Personally I prefer old-fashioned ones with a physical speed
> switch, but if people demand blinky lights and remote controls
> then this is what they'll get. Unfortunately there's far more to go
> wrong as a result, and probably far more power wasted too.
>

The box claimed that the fan was more efficient. That could be true,
because it appears that the typical split phase induction motor is not
very efficient. However, we're talking about around 10 watts saving at
most, so it's not something I would take into account when buying a fan.

Sylvia.

On 08-Dec-23 10:59 am, Xeno wrote:
> On 8/12/2023 8:26 am, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
>> In aus.cars Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote:
>>> On 08-Dec-23 4:09 am, Rod Speed wrote:
>>>>> Something to watch out for.
>>>>
>>>> Why are you assuming that it's a bad thing ?
>>>
>>> If you like wall-warts everywhere, then fine.
>>
>> Huh. I can see a few reasons why I wouldn't like a DC pedestal fan,
>> but I honestly never thought that anyone would be bothered by the
>> meer presence of a plugpack on a wall.
>>
>> I suppose they can be awkward to use with extension lead though,
>> which a fan could often be used with.
>>
> Wall Warts are a PITA. The company buys in a heap of wall warts that are
> already Aus certified for 230V so they don't need to have the fan itself
> certified. Cheaping out is all it is.
>
>

What puzzles me is how quickly the models change, which presumably means
they have to be re-certified. Are consumers really so shallow that
they'll refuse to buy something that was already available a year ago?

Sylvia.

On 08-Dec-23 8:26 am, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
> In aus.cars Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote:
>> On 08-Dec-23 4:09 am, Rod Speed wrote:
>>>> Something to watch out for.
>>>
>>> Why are you assuming that it's a bad thing ?
>>
>> If you like wall-warts everywhere, then fine.
>
> Huh. I can see a few reasons why I wouldn't like a DC pedestal fan,
> but I honestly never thought that anyone would be bothered by the
> meer presence of a plugpack on a wall.
>
> I suppose they can be awkward to use with extension lead though,
> which a fan could often be used with.
>

I find that plug packs, especially the higher power ones, often take up
more than their fair share of space on a power socket, and render the
adjacent socket unusable.

Sylvia.

On 8/12/2023 10:06 am, Sylvia Else wrote:
> On 08-Dec-23 10:59 am, Xeno wrote:
>> On 8/12/2023 8:26 am, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
>>> In aus.cars Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote:
>>>> On 08-Dec-23 4:09 am, Rod Speed wrote:
>>>>>> Something to watch out for.
>>>>>
>>>>> Why are you assuming that it's a bad thing ?
>>>>
>>>> If you like wall-warts everywhere, then fine.
>>>
>>> Huh. I can see a few reasons why I wouldn't like a DC pedestal fan,
>>> but I honestly never thought that anyone would be bothered by the
>>> meer presence of a plugpack on a wall.
>>>
>>> I suppose they can be awkward to use with extension lead though,
>>> which a fan could often be used with.
>>>
>> Wall Warts are a PITA. The company buys in a heap of wall warts that
>> are already Aus certified for 230V so they don't need to have the fan
>> itself certified. Cheaping out is all it is.
>>
>>
>
> What puzzles me is how quickly the models change, which presumably means
> they have to be re-certified.

Perhaps after certifying the plug pack, the fan does not require
certification since it is only a low voltage device not directly
connected to the mains. Thus they can change the fan model at will.

> Are consumers really so shallow that
> they'll refuse to buy something that was already available a year ago?

Oscar Wilde observed that fashion is a form of ugliness so extreme that
it needs to be changed regularly

> Sylvia.

On 8/12/2023 11:07 am, Sylvia Else wrote:
> On 08-Dec-23 8:26 am, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
>> In aus.cars Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote:
>>> On 08-Dec-23 4:09 am, Rod Speed wrote:
>>>>> Something to watch out for.
>>>>
>>>> Why are you assuming that it's a bad thing ?
>>>
>>> If you like wall-warts everywhere, then fine.
>>
>> Huh. I can see a few reasons why I wouldn't like a DC pedestal fan,
>> but I honestly never thought that anyone would be bothered by the
>> meer presence of a plugpack on a wall.
>>
>> I suppose they can be awkward to use with extension lead though,
>> which a fan could often be used with.
>>
>
> I find that plug packs, especially the higher power ones, often take up
> more than their fair share of space on a power socket, and render the
> adjacent socket unusable.
>
> Sylvia.

Yes, he says as he looks over to a power board replete with wall warts.

--
Xeno

Nothing astonishes Noddy so much as common sense and plain dealing.
(with apologies to Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Xeno wrote:
> On 8/12/2023 8:26 am, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
>> In aus.cars Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote:
>>> On 08-Dec-23 4:09 am, Rod Speed wrote:
>>>>> Something to watch out for.
>>>>
>>>> Why are you assuming that it's a bad thing ?
>>>
>>> If you like wall-warts everywhere, then fine.
>>
>> Huh. I can see a few reasons why I wouldn't like a DC pedestal fan,
>> but I honestly never thought that anyone would be bothered by the
>> meer presence of a plugpack on a wall.
>>
>> I suppose they can be awkward to use with extension lead though,
>> which a fan could often be used with.
>>
> Wall Warts are a PITA. The company buys in a heap of wall warts that
> are already Aus certified for 230V so they don't need to have the fan
> itself certified. Cheaping out is all it is.
>
>

but they would have to remake the fan to run on DC, so false economy

--
Have a nice day!..

On Fri, 8 Dec 2023 11:06:22 +1100, Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid>
wrote:

>On 08-Dec-23 10:59 am, Xeno wrote:
>> On 8/12/2023 8:26 am, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
>>> In aus.cars Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote:
>>>> On 08-Dec-23 4:09 am, Rod Speed wrote:
>>>>>> Something to watch out for.
>>>>>
>>>>> Why are you assuming that it's a bad thing ?
>>>>
>>>> If you like wall-warts everywhere, then fine.
>>>
>>> Huh. I can see a few reasons why I wouldn't like a DC pedestal fan,
>>> but I honestly never thought that anyone would be bothered by the
>>> meer presence of a plugpack on a wall.
>>>
>>> I suppose they can be awkward to use with extension lead though,
>>> which a fan could often be used with.
>>>
>> Wall Warts are a PITA. The company buys in a heap of wall warts that are
>> already Aus certified for 230V so they don't need to have the fan itself
>> certified. Cheaping out is all it is.
>>
>>
>
>What puzzles me is how quickly the models change, which presumably means
>they have to be re-certified. Are consumers really so shallow that
>they'll refuse to buy something that was already available a year ago?
>
>Sylvia.

Yes, they're pretty stoopid.
And women shop until their husband's drop.

I have a few pedestal fans acquired by gleaning the piles of stuff on
the footpath, after the landlord has thrown out his tenant.

I have numerous Objet d'art, mainly paintings that have suffered a
like fate, all costing me $zilch. These cover the walls and even
make the rooms look bigger.

The fans service the TV room, the parlour, the maid's room, the music
room, the dining room, the dressing room, the bedroom (2), and even
the spare room!

Fans are very useful because they evenly distribute the heat and cool
fixing stratification. Ceiling fans are better, but the poor can't
be choosey.

I do have an old utility, a Toyota 98 model which helps in
collections. A good friend of mine, now sadly departed this
spendthrift world, refused to buy any appliance new, instead just
turned over his old stuff when it broke down.

On 8/12/2023 12:26 pm, Mighty Mouse wrote:
> Xeno wrote:
>> On 8/12/2023 8:26 am, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
>>> In aus.cars Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote:
>>>> On 08-Dec-23 4:09 am, Rod Speed wrote:
>>>>>> Something to watch out for.
>>>>>
>>>>> Why are you assuming that it's a bad thing ?
>>>>
>>>> If you like wall-warts everywhere, then fine.
>>>
>>> Huh. I can see a few reasons why I wouldn't like a DC pedestal fan,
>>> but I honestly never thought that anyone would be bothered by the
>>> meer presence of a plugpack on a wall.
>>>
>>> I suppose they can be awkward to use with extension lead though,
>>> which a fan could often be used with.
>>>
>> Wall Warts are a PITA. The company buys in a heap of wall warts that
>> are already Aus certified for 230V so they don't need to have the fan
>> itself certified. Cheaping out is all it is.
>>
>>
>
> but they would have to remake the fan to run on DC, so false economy
>
But they only have to design and make it *once* with *no 230V AC cert.
The wall wart will be certified by the maker they buy it from, again,
the fan co, needs no certification. All *redesigns* need no renewal of
certification.

--
Xeno

Nothing astonishes Noddy so much as common sense and plain dealing.
(with apologies to Ralph Waldo Emerson)

On 8/12/2023 11:07 am, Sylvia Else wrote:
> On 08-Dec-23 8:26 am, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
>> In aus.cars Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote:
>>> On 08-Dec-23 4:09 am, Rod Speed wrote:
>>>>> Something to watch out for.
>>>>
>>>> Why are you assuming that it's a bad thing ?
>>>
>>> If you like wall-warts everywhere, then fine.
>>
>> Huh. I can see a few reasons why I wouldn't like a DC pedestal fan,
>> but I honestly never thought that anyone would be bothered by the
>> meer presence of a plugpack on a wall.
>>
>> I suppose they can be awkward to use with extension lead though,
>> which a fan could often be used with.
>>
>
> I find that plug packs, especially the higher power ones, often take up
> more than their fair share of space on a power socket, and render the
> adjacent socket unusable.

That can be a problem, I've put up lots of Christmas lights and finding
space in a power board for the power supplies can be a problem which is
why I end with a string of power boards.
I control the lights with smart plugs and earlier versions were quite
big, so big that you can't fit 2 on a double power point but the
manufacturers must have figured that out because today I bought 2 tapo
"mini" smart plugs and they will fit side by side in a double power point.

--
Daryl

On 8/12/2023 11:07 am, Sylvia Else wrote:
> On 08-Dec-23 8:26 am, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
>> In aus.cars Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote:
>>> On 08-Dec-23 4:09 am, Rod Speed wrote:
>>>>> Something to watch out for.
>>>>
>>>> Why are you assuming that it's a bad thing ?
>>>
>>> If you like wall-warts everywhere, then fine.
>>
>> Huh. I can see a few reasons why I wouldn't like a DC pedestal fan,
>> but I honestly never thought that anyone would be bothered by the
>> meer presence of a plugpack on a wall.
>>
>> I suppose they can be awkward to use with extension lead though,
>> which a fan could often be used with.
>>
>
> I find that plug packs, especially the higher power ones, often take up
> more than their fair share of space on a power socket, and render the
> adjacent socket unusable.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Use a pair of *handed* adapters
>
> Sylvia.

On 08-Dec-23 4:07 pm, jonz wrote:
> On 8/12/2023 11:07 am, Sylvia Else wrote:
>> On 08-Dec-23 8:26 am, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
>>> In aus.cars Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote:
>>>> On 08-Dec-23 4:09 am, Rod Speed wrote:
>>>>>> Something to watch out for.
>>>>>
>>>>> Why are you assuming that it's a bad thing ?
>>>>
>>>> If you like wall-warts everywhere, then fine.
>>>
>>> Huh. I can see a few reasons why I wouldn't like a DC pedestal fan,
>>> but I honestly never thought that anyone would be bothered by the
>>> meer presence of a plugpack on a wall.
>>>
>>> I suppose they can be awkward to use with extension lead though,
>>> which a fan could often be used with.
>>>
>>
>> I find that plug packs, especially the higher power ones, often take
>> up more than their fair share of space on a power socket, and render
>> the adjacent socket unusable.
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Use a pair of *handed* adapters
>>
>> Sylvia.
>

There are various ways of addressing the problem, but I don't like
having to.

Sylvia.

In aus.electronics Xeno <xenolith@optusnet.com.au> wrote:
> On 8/12/2023 8:26 am, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
>> In aus.cars Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote:
>>> If you like wall-warts everywhere, then fine.
>>
>> Huh. I can see a few reasons why I wouldn't like a DC pedestal fan,
>> but I honestly never thought that anyone would be bothered by the
>> meer presence of a plugpack on a wall.
>>
>> I suppose they can be awkward to use with extension lead though,
>> which a fan could often be used with.
>>
> Wall Warts are a PITA. The company buys in a heap of wall warts that are
> already Aus certified for 230V so they don't need to have the fan itself
> certified. Cheaping out is all it is.

Sure, my fans are all AC ones with chunky knobs to turn, so the
idea of DC seems like extra complication to me wherever the PSU is.

Besides the certification issue, plugpacks also allow them to use a
cheap low-voltage cable running to the fan.

--
__ __
#_ < |\| |< _# | Note: I won't see posts made from Google Groups |

In aus.electronics Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote:
> On 08-Dec-23 8:26 am, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
>> Huh. I can see a few reasons why I wouldn't like a DC pedestal fan,
>> but I honestly never thought that anyone would be bothered by the
>> meer presence of a plugpack on a wall.
>>
>> I suppose they can be awkward to use with extension lead though,
>> which a fan could often be used with.
>
> I find that plug packs, especially the higher power ones, often take up
> more than their fair share of space on a power socket, and render the
> adjacent socket unusable.

Ah yes, fair enough. A double-adapter can help to move a bulky
plugpack out of the way.

--
__ __
#_ < |\| |< _# | Note: I won't see posts made from Google Groups |

Sylvia Else wrote:
> On 08-Dec-23 4:07 pm, jonz wrote:
>> On 8/12/2023 11:07 am, Sylvia Else wrote:
>>> On 08-Dec-23 8:26 am, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
>>>> In aus.cars Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote:
>>>>> On 08-Dec-23 4:09 am, Rod Speed wrote:
>>>>>>> Something to watch out for.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Why are you assuming that it's a bad thing ?
>>>>>
>>>>> If you like wall-warts everywhere, then fine.
>>>>
>>>> Huh. I can see a few reasons why I wouldn't like a DC pedestal fan,
>>>> but I honestly never thought that anyone would be bothered by the
>>>> meer presence of a plugpack on a wall.
>>>>
>>>> I suppose they can be awkward to use with extension lead though,
>>>> which a fan could often be used with.
>>>>
>>>
>>> I find that plug packs, especially the higher power ones, often take
>>> up more than their fair share of space on a power socket, and render
>>> the adjacent socket unusable.
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>> Use a pair of *handed* adapters
>>>
>>> Sylvia.
>>
>
> There are various ways of addressing the problem, but I don't like
> having to.

life in the western word is tough, isn't it. surely you'd be better off
in Gaza or the Ukraine right now..

>
> Sylvia.

--
Have a nice day!..

Daryl wrote:
> On 8/12/2023 11:07 am, Sylvia Else wrote:
>> On 08-Dec-23 8:26 am, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
>>> In aus.cars Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote:
>>>> On 08-Dec-23 4:09 am, Rod Speed wrote:
>>>>>> Something to watch out for.
>>>>>
>>>>> Why are you assuming that it's a bad thing ?
>>>>
>>>> If you like wall-warts everywhere, then fine.
>>>
>>> Huh. I can see a few reasons why I wouldn't like a DC pedestal fan,
>>> but I honestly never thought that anyone would be bothered by the
>>> meer presence of a plugpack on a wall.
>>>
>>> I suppose they can be awkward to use with extension lead though,
>>> which a fan could often be used with.
>>>
>>
>> I find that plug packs, especially the higher power ones, often take
>> up more than their fair share of space on a power socket, and render
>> the adjacent socket unusable.
>
>
> That can be a problem, I've put up lots of Christmas lights and
> finding space in a power board for the power supplies can be a problem
> which is why I end with a string of power boards.
> I control the lights with smart plugs and earlier versions were quite
> big, so big that you can't fit 2 on a double power point but the
> manufacturers must have figured that out because today I bought 2 tapo
> "mini" smart plugs and they will fit side by side in a double power
> point.
>

what's happened to your BFF? strange for him to be MIA for three days

--
Have a nice day!..