INSIGHT, The Consumer Magazine, published by Consumer Education and Research Society (CERS), Ahmedabad, carries the test findings on 15 nationally sold brands of 400mm Table Fans, having tested them in its in-house comparative product testing laboratory. Four of them failed in the safety parameters. The laboratory has recommended Khaitan, Orient, Orpat, Havell’s, Ortem, Usha and Polaras the ‘Best Buys’ among the brands tested.
The bi-monthly has published the findings with brand names, including details of the parameters, the evaluation, rating and ranking, the prices, warranty and guarantee periods, etc.
The safety parameters for the table fans tested involved, among others, the oscillation (internal wiring test) and the stability & mechanical hazards test. The fans were tested also against the parameters of air delivery, input, service value and marking. The laboratory ranked only 11 brands that conformed to the safety parameters. Altogether seven of the total 15 brands shared the top three positions.
Service Value : The service value is obtained by dividing air delivery by input which, as per Standards, should not be less than 1.08 cubic metre per minute per watt. Almonard (0.72), Shaan (0.96), Ashok (0.88) andRemi (0.77) failed to conform to this parameter.
Oscillation Test : The oscillation test is carried out in the form of 10,000 cycles. After the test, the table fans shall withstand high voltage without any breakdown. Bajaj Mediastopped working after the test, whereas the gear box in Ashok failed to work after a mere 2,842 oscillation cycles.
Speed Regulator : Out of 15 brands tested, only Khaitan, Orient, Cinniand Remiconformed to the requirement for ‘speed regulator’.
Mechanical Endurance Test : This test ascertains the life of the fan regulators. In Bajaj Media, Usha, Shaan and Ashok, the fan stopped working after the test. However, the regulators were operational.
Mechanical Hazards Test : In this test, the test finger should not pass through the fan guard and should not touch the moving blades of the fan. Cinnifailed to meet this requirement.
High Voltage Test : In dry condition, the fan must withstand 1000V and 2750V AC of test voltage for one minute. No breakdown must occur during the test. Insulation of Shaan failed to meet the requirement for this test in dry condition as it could not withstand the high voltages.
Power Consumption during the air delivery test : As per the Standard, the power consumption during the air delivery test should not exceed 61 Watts (with an allowed tolerance of 10 per cent, provided the requirement for service value is met) and the air delivery shall not be less than 65 cubic meters per minute. In Almonardand Remi (both claiming to be high speed fans), power consumption was 142.78W and 133.66W, respectively. Ushaconsumed the least power at 48.30W.
The maximum air delivery was recorded by Almonard(103.83 cubic metres per minute) while it was minimum in Polar(65.35 cubic metres per minute).
Price : The price range of the 15 brands varied from the highest Rs.1,650 of Remito the lowest Rs.750 ofAshok.
Electronic Regulator : None of the brands was provided with an electronic regulator that could save power consumption to a great extent. Electronic regulators are more energy-efficient and consume less power than electric ones at lower speeds.
Marking : Usha, Khaitan, Orientand Remifailed to mark the input (in Watts). Except for Orpatand Cinni, the information on the other brands was glued to the fan. This could be easily removed. No information was marked on Ashokand Shaan.
The independent lab at CERC also conducted an additional test for ‘energy consumption’ for all the brands. The brands have also been subjected to the ‘ease of use’ (including ‘noise’ subjectively) test by our panel.
Before the publication, CERS had conveyed the test findings to the manufacturers for their views and comments. They received the results of their own products only. None of the manufacturers’ responses was received till the time of the magazine’s going to press. Shaanand Ashokdid not indicate any contact details.
.jpg "MoneyLife")
