The T-Bar Thread brings up this question...
What is the best approach for balancing ceiling fans? (Especially down-rodded ones)
Next to driving rods, it is my least favorite thing to do in our field...
Keep in mind that I balance propellers for my planes often, and the magnetic balancer works well for me. These props spin at 14,000 RPM! And in order to take pictures, it as to be very well balanced.
But I digress...
I have yet to try the weighing each blade on a scale to the nearest .1 gram, having trouble finding a scale cheap enough, accurate enough and that can weigh enough weight. .1 gram increments and a 5 lbs limit would work, but the local supplier wants $350 for it... I'd probably get put on some list at the sheriff's office if I bought one though...
My policy is to only balance fans on down rods... I'll usually hand the balancing kit to the customer and tell them they can save $20 or more by doing it themselves... I'm no good at it...
I probably think too much about aerodynamics, gyroscopic precession, balancing assymetrical things (five blades)etc...
Any tips? It's probably simpler than I'm making it out to be...
