I am currently involved with restoring a private car. We have several of the original wall fans and 1 ceiling fan. They operate on 32VDC with the rheostate mounted in series. The car is being converted to 120VAC via a generator. I am currently looking at making or purchasing a DC power supply. Are there any options I have not looked at?

If that is the only ones that will be using 32vdc then buy a converter and wire all them to a wall switch between the converter and fans. Easier doing that than having a separate converter for each fan.

I suppose you could always consider using a variable AC transformer like a VARIAC to lower the voltage and put in a little bridge rectifier for each fan. A lot of that depends on how many amps total you might need. The rheostat between the rectifier and the fan would serve the same purpose it does now.

Another possibility is to examine the fan motor's nameplate. They may be 'universal' motors which will operate on AC or DC.

Bob Kutella

Hi,

I'm not sure how big these fans are that you seek. We purchase these new from the Seashore Trolley Museum for use in PCC cars, which operate on 36 volts.

The fan is approx. 12" OD. It has a reostate, fan guard.

Karl Johnson

Thanks for the good information.

We converted and dialed down to 32VAC and stuck a little bridge rectifier in each fan.

Any suggestions on 64v DC fans from a lightweight car?

of course one might simply put a transformer rectifier at the front of the car and run the entire car on 32vdc.