Adding Sound Insulation to Central Vacuum Motor?

[vgwpg]

Hello, I am currently working on a project. I got a good deal on a VacuMaid P-225 motor pod with a brand new motor. I did not realize how loud they are until the first time I turned it on, and I have to say, I almost jumped to the ceiling in shock. Even for me, who doesn't really mind a loud vacuum, it's way too loud. Since I had an older S1600 housing kicking around, I decided to put the motor and control board from the P-225 pod into the S1600 pod. However, it is still quite loud.
I was wondering if it would be okay to add foam into the motor housing to quiet the motor? Will the motor run too hot? A lot of newer units are heavily lined, so I figure it is okay, but I want to make sure. I also don't know if there's a certain type of foam that will work better than others.

Also, is there a foam that I could put around the motor cooling air exhaust to capture the carbon dust?

I've attached a couple of pictures below, in case it might help.

Thanks!

 

[tolivac]

Keep in mind central vacuum power units were installed in a utility room,garage,or large closet.So they didn't have quiet in mind since the unit was out of the house.It should be safe to line the inside of the motor compartment with sound absorb material.If you were to put it on the motor-make sure the insulation doesn't block motor air cooling intakes.

 

[madman]

It's a big tinny metal can. All that thin metal vibrates with the motor, and acts like a giant speaker cone. Isolating the motor from the can would be the best thing. May not be easy, though. Would be simpler to line the inside of the can with foam. Just don't block any ventilation paths.

 

[tolivac]

Any of the central vacuums I have the motor is mounted on a rubber gasket ring-provide air seal and noise suppression.

 

[sanitaire]

does it have the muffler? those help a little.

 

[vgwpg]

Thank you for the replies!
Thank you for your input. I am glad to know that there shouldn't be a problem, prolonging I keep all of the airpaths clear.

Rex, I understand that they weren't designed to be quiet, but my unit is currenly in an unfinished basement, which doubles as a work area, and I personally find it irritating to do any work while the machine is running.

Madman, would the rubber gasket not be enough to isolate the motor from the housing? The motor in this unit is not bolted down, as it just has a metal plate that holds the motor down (it presses on top of the foam gasket at the top of the motor.) What else could be done, while not losing any performance?

Colin, I do not yet have a muffler, but I most certainly will be getting one, as I do find they significantly reduce the noise level, especially for my neigbors.

 

[lesinutah]

Adding

Insulation or foam underneath the. Motor. I'd say a piece of felt under the mounts would work well. That's my two cents maybe madman has a different idea. It's not like I copied his.

 

[ultralux88]

You can line the inside of the motor section of the can with sound insulation. But two things, don’t put any on the motor itself, and DO NOT block the vents in any way! That motor gets hot and you don’t want to be keeping the heat inside there.

 

[ultralux88]

But in all honesty this will never be a terribly quiet machine, and the motor may also be louder than is should be if the motor fans have a lot of filth in them, which is extremely common on these VacuMaids.

 

[madman]

It's not really clear to me how the motor is mounted. If there is ANY metal-to-metal attachment of the motor to the housing, it will amplify the noise of the motor considerably. In the picture, it looks like there is a triangular shaped bracket that's missing the bolts to hold it down. Is that what's supposed to hold the motor?

Like Les says, adding pieces of felt between any metal-to-metal motor mounting would help, at least a little.

That big empty cavity where the motor sits, anyway, could be lined with some kind of foam. Acoustic foam is what you want, but in reality, it's kinda pricey when any old foam will do. Next time you see someone throw away a couch, grab the cushions.

As a matter of fact, I'm not sure what the muffler looks like, but you could make that yourself out of a coffee can and a bit of old foam. I've already made two air compressor mufflers like that.

 

[vgwpg]

Hello, and once again, thank you for the replies!
As an update, I went ahead and lined the entire compartnment with foam, and made sure that there was no metal to metal contact, with the foam gasket at the top, and the rubber gasket at the bottom. Unfortunately, it really didn't make much of a difference. To my ears, it sounded more muffled, but according to the decibel meter, it was still reading 90 db, when the other housing had a measurement of 92 db. I don't understand how the new VacuMaid S2600 is only 60 db when it's apparently the same motor.

So I think I will just keep it in the P-225 housing instead. As you say Madman, it it has the 3 bolt holes. In the "SilentPartner" housing, there is no bolts, the motor is simply held down by a metal plate that pushes down on the foam gasket at the top, which is held in place by screws. I feel it doesn't seal the motor as well as it being bolted, so I think I will sacrifice those 2 db for the more secure mounting. I guess the quiet will just have to wait until I can afford my dream vacuum unit.

But if anyone has any other ideas, I'd be happy to hear them!

 

[lesinutah]

Unhook

The motor and pull everything out of the vacuum tube. Get a pole urethane spray foam insulation. You could also spray something similar to think lining.
You could built a box and enclose the vacuum cut out ports and vents. Then at the top of the box vent and a vent at the bottom. Put small fans both sides sucking in cold through the bottom circulating through the top.

 

[kirbyklekter]

There is no taming that beast!

But you could invest in a pair of good quality wireless noise cancelling headphones, for while you're working down there or something like the guys out on the tarmac wear at the airport! Just a thought.

 

[electroluxxxx]

Considering that this is a 3 stage premier motor, if installed properly with a muffler and vented outside, it would be considerably quieter. I have a vacu flo 360 with this motor installed in our workshop and it’s really not that bad at all.

 

[madman]

How does it exhaust, anyway?

 

[electroluxxxx]

From the horn on the motor.

 

[madman]

Add a muffling device and exhaust it outside.

 

[ultralux88]

I hate being a wet blanket (well sometimes, but not trying to be here) but in all honesty, if you wanted a quiet unit, this one will likely never be able to meet your wants there. Also, this thing will get much louder over time, as these don’t use a filter, it’s a “true cyclonic” unit and all of the fine dust will be passing through the motor. This also means that you cannot run this thing exhausted into your basement or any other part of the house, you absolutely must pipe the exhaust outside of the house. Doing this will completely remove the exhaust noise from the basement, but still put a muffler on the exhaust, as the vent outside will be as loud as the exhaust was in the basement!

 

[n0oxy]

one of the quietest units

If you're looking for a quiet unit, I would suggest the Drainvac Viper. It's only 58 DB, and that's with no muffler attached. You can have a conversation while you are in the same room. I do have to use ear plugs when I use one of my units, the Galaxie GA-240, it's a 240 volt dual motor unit and it's quite loud. I use concert ear plugs and they work fine to block out most of it.
Mike

https://www.thinkvacuums.com/drainvac-viper-system.html