Determine Whether A Fan Blade Is Clockwise Or Ccw

Ceiling fans are designed to operate clockwise and counterclockwise.

Orientation of a fan blade, along with its direction of rotation, determines whether the fan is clockwise or counterclockwise oriented. For all practical purposes, these factors determine which direction the fan will blow air. If you own an ordinary ceiling fan, understanding which way the blades are orientated will benefit you. However, fan blade design and aerodynamics are a subject that can be fully covered only in an engineering course, so a simple written demonstration is called for.

Instructions

1. Look at a table fan from the front. The blades are pitched or angled in relation to the center hub. The long edge of the fan blade that encounters air first is called the "leading edge."

2. Notice that the blade edge closest to you is on the left.

3. Switch the fan on. You will see that the blades are spinning in a clockwise direction. This makes the right-hand edge nearest the motor the leading edge because it encounters the air first. The edge nearest you is the "trailing edge."

4. Air is blowing into your face because the leading edge forces air toward the trailing edge. The fan is operating correctly, and the fan blade is oriented in a clockwise direction.

5. Look at a ceiling fan set for summer conditions. The blade edge nearest the floor is on the right. Now switch the fan on, and you will see it rotates counterclockwise. The left-hand edge nearest the ceiling encounters air first and causes a downdraft. The fan blade orientation is counterclockwise.

6. Turn the ceiling fan off. Climb a stepladder, and locate the toggle switch mounted on the ceiling fan hub. Turn it in the opposite direction, to the winter setting. Climb down from the ladder.

7. Switch the fan on. The blades are now rotating in a clockwise direction, and the right-hand edge nearest the floor encounters the air first and causes an updraft. The blade is now orientated in a clockwise direction.

Tags: edge nearest, clockwise direction, encounters first, leading edge, blade edge, clockwise counterclockwise