Mini ceiling fan with intriguing motor and wind turbine potential.

While browsing Banggood for LED lighting components a link to a 12V DC ceiling fan appeared. I wondered if the fan could be used as a small wind turbine so added one to the basket, whereupon a 220V version was suggested. I wondered if the motor was similar to a full size ceiling fan, so I ordered one of those too.
Here's a look inside the 220V version. It's quite a neat little unit and has a synchronous motor where the outer fan-blade hub has permanent magnets making it form the moving part of a motor (rotor) around the stationary section (stator) with the windings.
It generates quite a modest voltage when turned manually (or potentially by wind) at low current.

Notable features of this fan are that it is very quiet, surprisingly powerful, yet low mass with soft blades so fairly low hazard. The synchronous motor is bidirectional with a very clever directional start system based on a spring loaded rotating support stem that locks if the fan is trying to start in the wrong direction, but gives to allow the fan to build inertia in the right direction.

Here's a link to the Banggood page for the 220V fan.
http://www.banggood.com/220V-7W-Ultra-Quiet-6-Leaves-Mini-Electric-Hanging-Ceiling-Fan-Anti-Mosquitoes-Breeze-Cooler-Try-Me-p-1000381.html

And one for the 12V version.
http://www.banggood.com/DC12V-5W-Plastic-3-Leaves-Brushless-Converter-Motor-Ceiling-Fan-p-959015.html

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