Go with the flow: Hong Kong consumer watchdog posts portable fan performance gaps
Study of products shows disparity in airflow and battery life, as well as concerns over ‘inadequate’ safety manuals
The airflow rate among rechargeable portable fans can vary by more than 1.5 times, a study by Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has found.
The Consumer Council, which tested 16 handheld and two neck-mounted products, found that among the lighter handheld models it examined, there was a variance of more than 1.5 times. The discrepancy among the heavier models could be more than 1.3 times.
“It is worth noting that among models with similar fan head size, the air flow can still vary considerably,” the council’s acting chief executive, Francis Ho Ying-foo, said on Tuesday.
“For example, there is almost a onefold difference in airflow rate between the highest and lowest performing models even when the fan sizes are similar. Consumers should not assess airflow capacity solely based on the head size of the fan.”
The council conducted its tests by fully charging the fans and then measuring their airflow rates at the highest speed setting, with any “cold compress” function disabled and running purely on battery power.
Among the lighter handheld fans examined, weighing between 93 and 189 grams (3.3 and 6.7 ounces), the airflow rate ranged from 0.91 cubic metres (32 cubic feet) per minute to 2.34 cubic metres per minute, a difference of more than 1.5 times.