Most ceiling fans, as well as most household appliances, use AC motors, as AC is the type of current distributed by power companies. AC motors function by being connected directly to a power source.

How do I know if my ceiling fan is AC or DC?

AC means alternating current and DC means direct current. The difference between the two is in how the motors handle the electrical current they receive from the wiring in your ceiling.

Can a AC fan run on DC?

1 Answer. Most AC fans have induction motors and as such won’t work on DC. You will most likely need an inverter, to convert from 12VDC to the AC voltage that fan requires.