The Air Multiplier- What's your take on it?

[Chris H.]

I'm not keen on these new Dyson fans..$300-$400 dollars for something that you can throw a ball through? College dorm boredom maybe, but not for that price!

www.dyson.com/fans/default.asp

www.dyson.com/international/default.asp?lang=en



Technically, if you're like me and need a fan for your dorm at college, go to Walmart- it is cheaper for those colorful 6" models that "buffet" the air.


A little Dyson vacuum however, is perfect for a college dorm- $80 if you're not frugal. ;D

[Rick M.]

I'm not too keen on these either; to me, a fan should have blades! And for $300-$400?! Too much! How much air do these things blow?

[Chris H.]

Quite a bit actually...the impeller within the base doesn't move much air at all. The airplane effects going on in that hoop (and around) move quite a bit of air, through entrainment. It's different yes, but for that price, hell no.

It's like if you blow air out of your mouth, the air around moves with it. Same with any continuous stream of air (such as from an air compressor hose or the back of a 747 jet engine). With this hoop fan, the air blowing out of the back of the hoop (there's a 2 MM continuous gap) also draws in air from behind and around the hoop- and essentially "multiplies it 15x". And you don't need blades to move air- look at ionizers. If Dyson takes this niche market on (I hope they don't- the rich would only be able to afford the residual price!), the ionizer they may use would probably look exactly like these hoop fans, minus the fat cylinder at the bottom. It would be far easier to clean though than comparable box ionizers (the Oreck XL, the decade old Ionic Breeze Quadra...) but I wouldn't be able to afford one.

Now, if ceiling fans go this route, and I buy a house with one installed- out it goes. There's a few good reasons why ceiling fans have blades- it looks good (well, in some cases anyway).

[Cole S.]

Sure, they blow a lot of air, but on the highest setting they're pretty noisy. I personally can't stand the things, if it doesn't have blades, I don't consider it a fan even if it falls under the technical definition of the word. And I hate the word "buffet" in this sense, it's the dumbest term ever applied to the way fans work.

[tonyt]

i dont like them,

[Chris H.]

I created a facebook page as a joke.

It's called "My 1977 Lakewood oscillator would put your Air Multiplier to Shame"

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=126237207421282

[tonyt]

my tatung the way i have i set would blow those things over

[Chris]

They're not that bad. I prefer vintage fans tho

[Chris H.]

No, they're not bad at all..but I like blades. I like my Galaxy.

[Dob]

I hate these things. In my opinion, they move very little amounts of air. I fooled around with one in person at a local store and on the highest setting, my 8" Zero does a better job at moving air.

[Chris H.]

Sept 28, 2010 10:03:37 GMT -5 Dob said:

I hate these things. In my opinion, they move very little amounts of air. I fooled around with one in person at a local store and on the highest setting, my 8" Zero does a better job at moving air.

Hell my Galaxy 12" table fan on high moves three times as much air.

I really doubt a hoop fan can move as much air as a Lakewood table or pedestal fan can.

[tonyt]

my 16inch tantung would out buffet that and mayybe even my 2001 aurora when its all fixed i have to get some zoom spout