Frequently Asked Questions:

A. The minimum amount of air space above a fan depends upon the size of the fan. This space can include the roof support structure, as long as air is free to move through it as it would through roof trusses. Fans up through 12' require three feet of space. Four feet is necessary for 14' through 18' fans, and 20' and 24' fans must have at least five feet of air space. Fans installed closer than the recommended distance from the ceiling deck may not perform optimally due to a lack of air.

A. It is best if you can install the fans with minimum clearances of 18 inches above and below the point they are attached to the hub. An additional 18 inches is needed at the tips of the foils.

If the fan will be located where it could be in the path of wind from outside, 36 inches of clearance should be provided.

A. The ideal height for the fans is equal to two times its diameter. With that said, I can tell you that we don't have a lot of 24' fans located 48' above the floor. We do have hundreds of happy customers with fans that are mounted anywhere between 12' and 90' above the floor. Most fans are between 18' and 30' above the floor, but this is not always possible.

A. The weight of the fan depends upon its size and design. The 6' fan is under 75 lbs. The 24' Powerfoil™ fan is 330 lbs. Add 30 lbs. for the Single Pivot Fan Mount.

A. In hot weather, the fans are operated at the upper range of speed to circulate the air within a facility. The circulation results in an even temperature throughout the area covered by the fans. People are cooled by the breeze, so they are much more comfortable, even though the actual temperature has not been lowered. In cold weather, the fans should be run at slow speeds to slowly push warmer air down to the floor without creating the cooling breeze.

A. Refer to the Big Ass Fan Installation Instructions booklet for illustrations showing how to configure the motor wiring.

A. Always use wire that is rated for 600V and 75 to 90 degrees C in metallic conduit. For applications not requiring shielded cable, use THHN or THNW. If shielded cable is necessary, RHH or RHW-2, Beldon 29501 through 29507, and Shawflex 2ACD or 3ACD are all good choices.

A. The heart of the fan control is a variable frequency drive (VFD). The VFD is an inverter that converts 120V~230V single-phase input to 230V three-phase output.

A. Minimal maintenance of the fans is recommended annually. The blades should have dust and dirt removed, and all fasteners should be re-torqued. The fan should be inspected for wear and for evidence of oil leaks (see the preceding two questions). The motor wiring connections should also be checked. A "tug test" of wire connections at the fan control should be performed every six months.

A. The gear reducer is filled with the correct amount of lubricating oil by the manufacturer. It is not necessary to check the oil level.

A. Servicing the gear reducer with lubricating oil is not required. It is designed to last for life.

A. Individual control is not possible when multiple fans are connected to a single controller.

A. The FLA (full-load amp) ratings vary with fan size and voltage. Refer to the Big Ass Fans installation guide for input current requirements per fan size and quantity.

A. We can supply lockable covers for the rotary on/off and speed control switches that are used on all controls built with metal enclosures. These lockable covers limit access to the fan controls to those in possession of a key.

A. The fan controls are a whole lot more than just a way to control the speed of the fan. Their primary function is to protect the fan motor and gear reducer from destructive electrical and mechanical forces. The VFD does not allow the fan motor to be damaged by running on current that is higher than it is capable of tolerating. It also starts and stops the fan gradually, so the gear reducer is not subjected to excessive torque loads. This protection is required in order to maintain the Big Ass Fan warranty.

A. Yes, as long as that circuit is sized correctly. Each fan control is internally fused. The circuit must be sized for the total of the individual internal fuses. Therefore, three fan controls, each of which has internal fusing at 10 amps, must be on a 30 amp circuit.

A. Yes. We can provide a schematic that shows the correct way to achieve this while maintaining the proper operation of the fans.

A. Yes, the 230-volt controls will accept input from 180 to 265-volts. We do need to know if you need single- or three-phase controls.

A. The Biavians. uhhhhhhhhhhhhh. now

A. No. Zod is only a visitor and has no authority over you or your government. But if you don't kneel he may break your fingers.