New "EU" vacuums have less suction than 30 year old vacuum!

[Mike81]

I think that EU went a bit too far with their regulations. Now almost all vacuums have 700 watt motors and that shows in suction/airflow. I know that having over 2000 watt vacuums is a bit overkill, but now we (EU countries) are stuck with this silly regulation what went a bit too far.
These new vacuums have enough of suction if you use powerhead, but turbohead honestly needs more suction to work well. Also if you are used to powerfull vacuums you might notice that picking up heavy stuff from the hard floor needs more effort = guiding nozzle more closer to the items.

This video shows that 30 years old Philips P74 have more suction/airflow than the new Electrolux UltraFlex.

 

[wyaple]

I think you mean airflow...

what's spinning that nozzle's agitator is airflow, not suction. That being said I'm amazed that EU regulators have nothing better to do than tell people how much power a vacuum can use. Doesn't anyone realize that cutting a home vacuum from 1500w to 750w won't really move the electrical grid usage to any measurable degree? Over in the USA, the typical dryer, A/C and stove uses around 5000w each!

I like your video though as it proves a point. The EU wants to force you to spend more time vacuuming to get up the same amount of dirt. Or, maybe they want you to spend the same time vacuuming and live in a dirtier house!

Bill

 

[Mike81]

Yes airflow is how far vacuum can pick up. Good airflow is also providing better deep cleaning for carpets. Suction is just a pressure.
One other thing what vacuum manufacturers had to do when they started to use less powerful motors is more sealed nozzles.
For example UltraFlex came with the narrower parquet tool with bristles what didn't have any airflow gaps at all. Using it was a workout. It sticked to the floor way too much. I had to change bristles (with airgaps) for it so it was usable. Those sealed nozzles are now common in these low wattage vacuums.

 

[dysonman1]

Maybe now, power nozzles will become common on canister vacs in Europe - just as they are in the USA.

 

[floor-a-matic]

If I still had my model G Electrolux it'll beat ANYTHING made today!

 

[vacerator]

Adding

a power nozzle to a vacuum that draws 9 amps versus a 12 amp machine without one makes it draw 11 amps. At least here in the US it does.
My question is, at 220-240 volts does a 1400 or a 1600 watt vacuum draw 12 amps, or half that, like my table saw which can run on either 120 volts and draw 11 amps, or on 220 volts, and draw 6 amps?
Another aspect an be considered. An A/C motor can run on DC without rectification, and it's speed increases. Adding extra poles and windings even more so. A vacuum motor can be made to be D/C running on 240 volts with switching power supply rectification for more speed.
Stay tuned to see how the EU introduces new vacuum cleaners to the future market.

 

[sptyks]

At 120 volts a 1440 watt vacuum is equal to 12 amps.


 


at 240 volts that same 1440 watt vacuum is equal to 6 amps.


 


When the voltage doubles the amperage is cut in half but the wattage stays the same.


 


Most vacuum cleaners use Universal motors which can run on AC or DC, however most other household appliances use Induction motors which can run on AC only. Example = Electric oscillating fan and waste disposer under your sink and many others.


 

 

[Mike81]

Amps & Watts

I found online Volts / Watts / Amps Converter site.
I did some calculation:

12 Amps/120 Volts = 1440 Watts (US)
220 Volts/2200 Watts = 10 Amps (EU)
We have typical 10 Amps circuit breaker/fuse for example for the living room. (16 Amps for washing maghine room etc) High wattage vacuums are typically 2200 Watts.

120 Volts/2200 Watts = 18 Amps. So typical EU high wattage vacuum would take 18 Amps in the US.

http://www.supercircuits.com/resources/tools/volts-watts-amps-converter

 

[sptyks]

In the US the maximum allowed watts for a vacuum cleaner is 1440 watts which is equal to 12 amps. Our homes are wired for a maximum of 15 amps at 120 volts per circuit. The only exception is in the kitchen where the maximum allowed is 20 amps since the kitchen may need to have several appliances running at the same time. We have separate 240 volt circuits for electric stove and clothes dryer. 


 


Fact:  A 2200 watt 18 amp vacuum would be illegal in the US. 



http:// except

 

[vacerator]

Thanks

Mike and Stan!.
Now I see why the EU standard changed.

 

[marks_here]

I just checked my electric box only 1 is 15 amp the rest are 20, 25, 30 and 60. Interesting the inspection date on it reads 12.06.99. Very interesting this is.

Mark D. [this post was last edited: 10/4/2016-21:40]

 

[tolivac]

AC or DC-yes universal motors in vacuums CAN run off DC-BUT-in order to do this you need a double pole switch.If you interrupt only one pole as with common AC machines-you will arc the switch on DC.My Skil 77 Skillsaw has a double pole switch-same with some of my hand grinders.Rockwell-Porter Cable used to sell a rectifier unit for portable power tools.The universal motor will run more efficiently on DC.And you can't use DC on tools or devices that have variable speed switches-the DC will burn out the switch in quick order.2200W vacuum-18A--you COULD use this on a 20A outlet.It would have to be equipped with a NEMA 20A 120V plug.One of my Blendtec blenders has an 18A motor.It has the 20A plug.For lighting guys-you could run a 1500A MH lamp on a 15A outlet-would be maxed out.

 

[vacerator]

Mark,

your panel was upgraded with more than average house power in 1999. With all those breakers, not even counting the double throw ones for 220.

 

[Mike81]

2200W VS 700W

Here is direct comparison 2200W VS 700W. Huge difference!
Airflow test more than suction test.

 

[vacerator]

That test

would have been better if he used a vacuum gauge. The turbo brush seemed to sound louder on the left one.

 

[n0oxy]

lower wattage and efficiency

The newest Henrys use a motor that is around 650 watts and it does seem to work just as well as something that draws much more power. Actually, I think the Europe standard of 220-240 volts is more efficient than what we use here in the United States. Now here's a question. Are the 220 volt outlets we use here for things such as stoves, some window air conditioners and some central vacuums the same as the 220 volt system in Europe?

 

[sptyks]

I have an electric stove, clothes dryer, and a built-into the wall 220-240 volt air conditioner. The stove and clothes dryer use the same type of outlet, but the air conditioner has a totally different type of outlet and plug which has a green led on it to signal that the power is on and has the proper 220-240 voltage, phasing and polarity. I have seen photos and videos of British vacs and their plugs and outlets look nothing like our 220-240 plugs and outlets.


 


I believe that in the early 20th century when an electrical standard was being chosen, the US chose to use 120 volts instead of 240 volts because 120 volts is safer and less likely to cause death in case of accidental shocks to electricians and appliance users as well.


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

[this post was last edited: 10/6/2016-16:32]

 

[vintagerepairer]

Plugs in Europe

Aside from Brexit and all talk of Britain being in or out of Europe, our plugs and wiring are almost unique. France has it's own type of socket which has an earth pin that protrudes from the wall socket, but the same plugs fits into it which is used in so many other parts of Europe.

British plugs were by far much more substantial, and because "ring main" wiring with a very high rated fuse (32amps) has been widespread since the 1950's if not earlier, each plug had it's own fuse.

The flexes on appliances were always capable of supplying more current than was required, too. The cost of fitting plugs was such that many appliances came without them as standard and the user fitted their own. Until 1995 there was no requirement for any appliance sold in the UK to have a fitted plug.

Since this time prices have dropped. Our plugs are often of very poor quality and the concept of the correct fuse has totally gone by the board - a 13 amp fuse is fitted to so many appliances now as standard, regardless of if in the past it would have been much lower.

Flexes are very thin now too. The rated-on time as it used to be known is taken into much consideration where flexes are concerned, meaning thinner flexes will be used on powerful appliances where it is known that the appliance - a kettle for example- will not be on for too long.

 

[turbo500]

The EU regulation was not just about saving electricity.

Certainly in the UK, there is a huge market for cheap, disposable cleaners. You can buy a cheap vacuum from the big supermarkets for about £30, use it for a year and just throw it away when it breaks and buy another cheap one. I know of a lot of people who do this. A friend of mine thought it was crackers that I'd spend over £100 on a vacuum.

All those disposable cleaners ended up in landfills and tips across the country. Cheap, high power cleaners that burnt out quickly and will poor designs. The new law forces lazy manufacturers to actually put some thought into the design of the product and find new ways of generating strong airflow with less power. Numatic did a great job with this, halving the motor power but still producting a cleaner with very strong suction.

There's also the question..."how much suction do you really need?". It's all well and good having a super high power, high suction vacuum. Lets say you're using a 2200w cleaner, but it only actually takes 1000w of power to clean your floor. That's 1200w of wasted power for no reason.