What Is a Dual Ceiling Fan?

I think everyone knows what a ceiling fan is, but what exactly is a dual ceiling fan? Well, it is exactly what it sounds like it is. It is a ceiling fan that consists of two motors. The motors are always connected together by a horizontal bar, usually separated apart by three to five feet. Each motor has its own set of fan blades, and many times the motors have the ability to be adjusted so that they can blow airflow into the room at varying patterns.

Other terms some may describe one of these models as could be “double ceiling fans” or “twin ceiling fans”. Sometimes I’ve even heard them described as dual head fans and double motor fans. Whichever term you may have heard, the terms are always used as an attempt to describe the same type of fan.

Large Models

One of the first versions of this style of fan was a dual motor tropical style ceiling fan from Fanimation fans. It was (and still is) called the Palisade. The Palisade uses two motors separated by a horizontal bar about 5 feet in length. It comes with your choice of a set of oversized wide oval palm leaf or woven bamboo blades on each end. Each fan motor is stationary and turns the blades in a vertical pattern, moving airflow uniquely and gently throughout the room.

Gulf-Coast Fans has a very similar version to Fanimation’s Palisade model. This dual ceiling fan is called the Twin Star III. It is so similar that most people shopping for the Palisade fan mistake the Twin Star for it. The two fans are extremely similar in size, design, and even performance, but the Twin Star offers something the Palisade fan does not… the motors on the Twin Star III can tilt and lock to allow each motor to tilt to a 45 degree angle. This allows the fan to take on a slightly different look and extend longer from end to end across the ceiling, and it also gives off a different pattern of air circulation into the room.

Both models are as good as they come if you are shopping for quality construction. And both models look awesome when installed in large open rooms with high ceilings. They have the ability to fill up large amounts of empty space and become great conversation pieces due to their unique designs. However, these large dual ceiling fans require at least a 12’ ceiling height to be used when spinning in the vertical pattern. Therefore, be sure you have at least that height of ceiling before ordering one of these special air movers.

Smaller Models

The smaller models available usually offer a gyrating or oscillating feature the larger models do not. Their motors can be adjusted to spin vertically, horizontally, or locked into the 45 degree angle. These angles can be changed at any time, and each angle will create a different airflow pattern into the room.

The Minka Aire Gyro series fans use precision ball bearings between each motor unit and the bearings allow the force created from the motors to create a gyro effect, causing each motor to rotate around the center point of the fan. The higher the fan speed, the faster the fan gyros around the center point. These fans are very unique and come as small as 36” in diameter, and up to 48”. There are several Minka Aire Gyro models to choose from. Some with the fan blades tucked behind a cage creating the look of two table top fans hanging from the ceiling, and some are available without the caged blades.

TroposAir has a very popular model called the Mustang II. The Mustang II dual ceiling fan has two fan motors with blades installed on each, like the Minka Aire Gyro fans, but the Mustang II also has a third motor that is specifically used to allow the fan to oscillate back and forth. Instead of spinning round and round the room, as the Gyro series fans do, the Mustang truly oscillates. Meaning, it will turn each motor on center in a clockwise pattern to about 180°, then stop and turn back 180° in a counter clockwise pattern. Overall it will create about the same airflow effect of a gyring ceiling fan, but it gives a more unique look of operation in during so.

The Mustang II oscillating ceiling fan has another unique ability that most gyrating ceiling fans do not offer. Since it has its own motor set up for the oscillation feature, the oscillation feature can be turned off so that the fan becomes stationary. This can be done by the push of a button on the included remote control, and is a great feature if you are sitting in an area and do not want the air to ever be directed away from you. This feature is especially useful when using the fan in outdoor areas.

In Conclusion

A dual ceiling fan is two ceiling fans in one, by connecting two separate motors and sets of blades opposite of each other about 3’ to 5’ apart. Large models are great for large areas with high ceilings, whereas smaller models usually offer more ajustsabilbiy of motor angles and operational effects.

To view a wide selection of what is available in sizes small and large, you will find this selection of double ceiling fans at ModernFanOutlet.com. There are other places you will be able to find fans of this nature, but none with all of the available brands all in one place.