Hand or Foot operated power switch...

[jmurray01]

Yet another one of those threads that only I could think of, ha ha!

Do you prefer the power switch on a Vacuum Cleaner to be hand operated (E.G. on the handle or upper body) or foot operated (do I really need an example for that ?) ?

I personally prefer a hand operated power switch, but that isn't to say I dislike a foot operated one either.

Anyway, discuss...

 

[rolls_rapide]

Both.

I liked the foot switches of Hoover Senior 612, Juniors 119, 1334 and U1104.

And I liked the handle switches of Hoover Junior 375, Turbopower 1,2 & 3, and the Electrolux 550 and 612.

I never really liked the red stud foot switches of the 1970's Hoovers: cheap 'n' nasty looking.

 

[jmurray01]

Well I presume my Ranger's foot switch is included in that, but the red has long since worn off so it is now white, ha ha!

 

[sebo_fan]

I'm difficult - I like modern vacuums to have switches, rockers, sliders, push buttons.

On traditional, older vacuums I like the pedals. Modern vacs that have pedal buttons just seem wrong, and usually have a horrible thin plastic sound when pressed.

 

[vintagerepairer]

I prefer hand switches, but only because cleaners in the UK which had footswitches have, in recent years, been of the poorest of quality. Some have the switches so far up the machine that they may as well be hand switches. It feels odd when one has to practically dance the can-can in order to get a leg up high enough to reach the foot pedal.

 

[mieles7]

I like a rocker switch just because I know the vacuum won't scare me when I plug it in.

 

[sebo_fan]

I feel sorry for the animals like dogs and cats that get scared whenever loud machines are switched on. My old cat before she died was never scared of my Sebo or Miele canisters - UNLESS the turbo brushes or Sebo PN was added. Similarly dogs can feel the vibrations on the floor if they can't hear the noise and get scared. I think some one should invent doggy and cat ear muffs!

 

[trebor]

Foot switches...

They are less expensive to manufacture and repair

 

[blackheart]

Hand switches

I think they are a bit more practical as they are easier to turn the machine on or off which is great if you happened to run over a sock or something hard

 

[pr-21]

Switches....

Upright on back of handle. Like Eureka Model 260 (also prefer the square handle). Canisters on the canister itself and not on the hose handle, with foot operated switches for on off and suction control.


Bud Mattingly
PR-21

 

[gsheen]

on a upright on the upper body , canisters I prefer it on the machine not on the hose only because when they are on the hose it makes the hose and elbow heavy to use and handle 

 

[twocvbloke]

So long as they have a switch, I'm not that bothered...

All my vacs, bar my Sanitaires S663 & ZC-880 and the Kirby Vacuette, have foot switches for the main motor, so I'm used to pedal (or button) power when firing up a vacuum, though the switches on the two sanitaires are pretty handy, but it's six of one, half a dozen of the other, they're all switching electricity on or off so it doesn't matter to me...

Interesting on the comment of the red button switches versus the pedal switches on the old Hoovers, cos the pedals on the Junior 1334 and Seniors of the same age (my 652 had a pedal switch) are actually button switches on the back of a pedal's lever, so, it's the same internal action, just a different external appearance... :&#92

 

[jmurray01]

"It feels odd when one has to practically dance the can-can in order to get a leg up high enough to reach the foot pedal." You've just given me a mental image that will live with me until the day I die!

 

[jmurray01]

"I like a rocker switch just because I know the vacuum won't scare me when I plug it in." I know what you mean. About a week ago I went to vacuum with my 2008 JMB SC1056 (which has a screamer of a motor!) and when I plugged it in and turned it on, I jumped about ten feet in the air when I was greeted with the motor zooming into life unexpectedly.

 

[smith]

Foot Switches. That's one thing I never like about the Elux Renny and Guardian, cant turn the machine on without the hose.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Bud, I agree

there is nothing better (in my opinion) than that switch on the handle. Those sliders halfway down the Elites,etc in not convenient. I thought the back of the handle was genius... it lasted for decades.

 

[oreck_xl]

I have always preferred a handle switch. Course, if you're a die-hard Kirby user, a foot switch is the only way to go unless you have a rare prewar R-series. Hopefully, the Avalier will finally have one.

- Hershel

 

[hoovermad]

i used to like the foot operated switch on my nans hoover junior,