Living with the Orient Ecotech Volt: Can a battery-backed BLDC fan make a difference?
My old living room ceiling fan had stopped working, and I went without a ceiling fan for almost a month. I managed with an in-room cooler and a standing fan, but neither was a proper replacement. I was already considering a new ceiling fan when Orient Electric approached me to review its Ecotech Volt. It seemed like a good opportunity to switch to a BLDC fan, particularly one that also promised battery backup during power cuts.
I have been using the Orient Ecotech Volt in my 140 sq ft living room. Since I installed it in October, after the peak summer months, I haven't had to push it particularly hard. However, the experience has given me a fair idea of its everyday airflow, remote control and convenience. Here's what I think of it.
Simple yet functional design
The design is simple. Orient Ecotech Volt has three aluminium blades and offers a 1200 mm sweep. Our review unit is Glacier Grey, and on it, dust doesn't appear that easily, especially from a distance. Upon closer look, as part of pre-Diwali cleaning, I noticed there was dirt.
While cleaning it, I also felt how strong the blades are. They are better than the conventional fans we have in other rooms.
Decent airflow across different speeds
Under the hood, the fan has a 28W BLDC motor with a rated speed of 350 RPM and claimed air delivery of 230 CMM. In my 140 sq ft living room, the airflow has been sufficient. I also found it consistent across the regular speed settings. I haven't felt the need to keep increasing the speed to get adequate air circulation.
Even at the highest speed, the fan's noise hasn't bothered me or my family during everyday use, including at night. However, it does become noticeably louder as you increase the speed. With the ambient room noise measuring 35 dB, these were the readings I recorded at different settings:
| Fan speed level | Noise level (dB) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 43 |
| 2 | 50 |
| 3 | 55 |
| 4 | 60 |
| 5 | 65 |
| Boost mode | 67 |
Orient says it consumes 28W of power and also gives it a 5-star energy rating, which is reassuring. It shouldn't consume too much electricity. The benefit would become more relevant as you run your ceiling fan for several hours every day.
The remote has a dedicated Boost button that takes the fan beyond its regular speed settings. However, since my usage began after the peak summer months, I haven't really needed to use it. I would like to evaluate this mode during harsher summer conditions before commenting on how much of a difference it makes. I shall share an update after that.
Ergonomic, basic remote
The Ecotech Volt comes with a compact, ergonomic RF remote. Its layout is straightforward. The colour-coded on and off buttons sit at the top, followed by a circular keypad with five buttons for the regular speed settings.
Below these are dedicated timer buttons for two, four, six and eight hours, along with the Boost button. That's pretty much all there is to it.
I like its simplicity. After all, it is a fan. You shouldn't have to navigate through multiple menus or remember complicated button combinations to operate the fan. I found the dedicated timer buttons convenient. As I just needed some coolness in the room to begin sleeping and didn't need it afterwards, the timer facility came in handy.
The only thing I wish it had is an app-based control or a digital remote option. While a physical remote is easy to operate and you don't have to go to the regulator to switch speeds, a remote is one more thing to keep track of at home. Hence, I would have preferred to have an alternate control option.
By the way, do note that the existing wall regulator is bypassed during installation, and you shouldn't interact with it again. The fan receives the appropriate power supply directly. You can still use the wall switch to turn the fan's power supply on or off. However, for speed adjustments, you must use the bundled remote.
Built-in battery backup
The battery backup is what differentiates the Ecotech Volt from a regular BLDC ceiling fan. It can continue operating without power. That's a great feature to have, especially in areas where power cuts are common and you don't have an inverter.
Orient claims up to 10 hours of battery backup at Speed 1. And at Speed level 5, it can run up to 3 hours. Needless to say, running the fan at higher speeds will consume more power and reduce the available backup time. If charged for 1 hour, it runs for 3 hours on battery at Speed 1. So, at that speed, to run the fan full day on battery, you'll have to charge it for 8 hours.
You should also note that although the fan comes with a 3-year warranty, the battery gets just 1 year. Considering that battery backup is the primary reason to choose this model over a conventional BLDC fan, I would have preferred a longer battery warranty.
Final thoughts
The Orient Ecotech Volt makes a reasonable case for itself by combining two useful features: an energy-efficient BLDC motor and an integrated battery. Its airflow has been sufficient for my 140 sq ft living room, and I like the straightforward remote control. Even though I haven't had to use Boost mode or the top speeds extensively, I feel the fan would do a fine job during next summer.
At Rs 5,199 on Orient's website and Rs 4,499 on Flipkart, it costs more than a basic BLDC ceiling fan. But with that premium, you also get battery backup. Thanks to Orient's clever solution, you don't have to invest in a separate inverter system.
So, I would recommend considering the Orient Ecotech Volt if you live in an area with frequent power cuts and are looking to replace an old ceiling fan. However, if your electricity supply is reliable, a regular BLDC fan without an integrated battery would probably offer more value for money.
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