My curiosity has been piqued ...

[tazcatsdad]

<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva;">... and here's why.  I just got the remote control part of my Electrolux (UK) Excellio Super Silence Z5045 back from a repair shop in North Carolina a few days ago, and was cleaning with it this morning when I got to thinking about something that I hope some of our more-informed members can help me with.</span>


 


<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva;">I'm curious to know if any other vacuum makers made cleaners with infrared remote controls like the one used on this Electrolux model.  Other than this Electrolux, I'm only familiar with wired "remote controls" like those on the Hoover Sensotronic/Electronic 1000, the Electrolux Twinclean, the Eureka Express, and so on.  So -- were there any other vacs with IR remotes, and if so what were they?</span>

 

[sebo_fan]

Dont know if I can help you, but I remember the Excelio very well. I worked in an electrical shop that had 2 that sat for many years because it was huge, bulky and yet had the 3 litre dust capacity. They're well built but they have tiny bags in them.

 

[gsheen]

@tazcatsdad


 


yes Electrolux had a few models , the oxygen been one. 


 


Siemens had one of there canisters aswell as the Japanese version of the dyson dc22 with the ddm motor. I can recall a bosh also having one 

 

[venson]

They are all over the place . . .

A very good friend of mine who does vacuum sales and service kindly reminded me that my fondness for all controls on the hose handle made easy room for more things to go wrong.

I'm not an expert regarding whys and wherefores at the drawing board but infrared controls may be expected to lessen problems due the issue of wired connections being stressed and broken over time.

My Miele Capricorn and the Kenmore canisters I've owned in past times all had their hose-end controls hardwired. (I can't say however if my Miele is infrared or not; just that the controls works independent of batteries.)

When I acquired my LG LuV300, my first take on the AAA batteries required was, "What a bother." However they seemed to last. The LG "Follow Me" canister relies on infrared as do the robotic machines of many brands.

Since my LG upright had a stretch hose that could allow me to be almost as far as fourteen feet from the machine but still speed up or slow the motor for suction's sake AND turn it on or off, I began thinking how cool it was.

I can't imagine what it would have cost to supply a hardwired equivalent or the price of buying that sort of convenience. That said, the infrared control is coming into play but surprisingly is yet under-employed.

 

[countryguy]

I believe the Miele Capricorn does use infra red for the controls on the handle. While I was vacuuming it would sometimes shut off.

Gary

 

[williamr1248]

My Curosity has been piqued

What about the small removable remote control from the Hyla that can either be fitted to the top of the power nozzle wand or can be removed and carried in your pocket and used to:
(1) turn rotating brush off/on
(2) Turn machine off/on from a remote location

It would be taken with you if you were using the machine in the "air wash mode" and wanted to shut it off without going to the machine itself.

 

[williamr1248]

My Curosity has been pigued

Here is a picture of the remote attached to the hose handle of the Hyla power nozzle.

 

[venson]

@countryguy . . .

Hiya Gary,

I wonder what Miele does now because back a few years, one of the S4s for the U.S., the Miele S4780 Galaxy S4 Orion, did have a battery-operated infrared control and also could be fitted with a rechargeable power nozzle since the hose was not electrified. The PN was the Miele SAB 100-3 Accu Nova Electro Brush (I included a picture to be sure I haven't gone nuts.)

Check out page 17 of the PDF linked below. It speaks of and depicts the infrared control. The handle on my cleaner is similar but offers much more selection -- on/off for the machine and and separate on/off for the PN plus a pretty bright speed display for all six speeds. There's even a little beacon that stays on even if the motor is off but the main switch is on and the pilot lamp is operating. You couldn't keep that going on log with batteries so I'm pretty sure power for all of that has to to be coming off the main power source.

That said, many of the better Miele cans have had wired controls at the handle.

http://www.mieleusa.com/manuals_pdf/Residential/Vacuums/S4000_us.pdf

 

[venson]

@countryguy . . .

Hi again Gary,

This is what my hose handle looks like.

 

[tazcatsdad]

Wait a minute!

<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva;">About the LG: isn't that radio frequency, and not infrared?  I just checked out a few pictures of one and can't find any IR diodes peeking out anywhere from the handle.  Please let me know if I'm wrong on this, though.</span>


 


<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva;">Gareth, thanks for mentioning the Oxygen -- that one escaped my recollection!  There's a video on YouTube of one that I just watched today, and it looks as though it has an IR remote.  Nice to see that Electrolux used this technology on more than one series.</span>


 


<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva;">Sebo_fan, you're so right about the Excellio being well made and yet having small bags.  I have two of them, actually -- this one which I bought from the UK on eBay and an Excellio Power Max Z5240 which I also bought on eBay but from Germany and not the UK.  Both are excellent cleaners, however, and have tremendous suction.  Personally, I wouldn't trade them for the world!</span>

 

[venson]

I forgot to say . . .

On occasion, if my hand moves forward, off the grip and down over the buttons, I accidentally can switch mine off too.

 

[countryguy]

Venson,

My Capricorn hose handle was the same as yours. I know that my fingers were not on the buttons when sometimes it would switch off and on or change speeds. And it only seemed to happy in certain areas of the house. I wonder if maybe some of the functions controlled by the hose handle were radio frequency controlled and others were controlled by wiring in the hose?

Gary

 

[venson]

@countryguy . . .

Hi Gary,

I know what you mean. I have found that pressure from my hand -- that area on my palm between my thumb and forefinger -- will cause shut-off or speed shift it slips downward off the grip to over the control buttons. I just tried it now and sure enough, if my hand is allowed to slide down on the machine can be turned on with just a slight squeeze and/or a twist of my hand; quite easy to have happen if you're moving the PN or a floor tool about.

It was a surprise and I at first wondered if some defect had caused it. I hadn't thought that the buttons, positioned as they are are, could be all that sensitive. When it happens, it always happens if I'm preoccupied while working and don't realize the position of my hand. The feel isn't so different in either place -- high up on the grip or down low -- to cause you to sense that the hand you're working with is close to the controls. I'm not prone to look at the grip much while I'm working on a floor.

Venson

 

[venson]

I forgot again . . . .

Gary,

My biggest difficulties with turning the machine on and off, etc., occur when I look.

Venson

 

[countryguy]

Hi Venson,

Every time my machine would turn off/on or switch speeds, I would look at my hand/finger position and it was no where near the control buttons so I really don't think that I was touching them. Also, the problem never started happening until a couple of years after I had owned the machine and I used it as a daily driver.

Gary

 

[venson]

@countryguy . . .

Hi Gary,

I got a Miele vacuum tech on the phone this morning, actually two. I'd have had just the first but my Skype line quit on me for some reason. Both were extremely helpful.

First, the remote controls for the Capricorn are hard-wired. Your problem may be due to either a bad or loose connection at one end or the other of the hose OR due to a circuit board. I am told the Miele Capricorn has two boards; one of which is buried somewhere in the motor itself.

Per the guy I spoke with last, this may not fall under warranty coverage BUT if you're machine's registered call in the problem and, if not, still call in the problem. If you can supply the model and serial numbers plus approximate date of purchase, you should be okay.

After you've talked with a technical rep, you'll be given a reference number which you'll need to know when you take your cleaner in to an authorized Miele repairman.

The rep said that due to the high cost of the Capricorn and its reputation for longevity, the company is prepared to work with authorized repair establishments to solve problems with everyone's best interest in mind. Thus, there MAY BE some chance of getting the problem fixed and treated as an under warranty issue. However, it was made quite clear that the machine must appear to be in good shape and to have suffered no abuse.

Its best to attempt to call the Miele Company in Canada and get a number that will connect you to a living being. (Dial "0" for teh operator.) That's what I finally had to do to get beyond a maze of automated numbers that only served to get me shunted off the line.

All was interesting to learn and that I hope helps.

Best,

Venson

 

[countryguy]

Venson,

Thanks for the info however I no longer have the Capricorn. I sold it in 2009 and bought a FQ. It is nice to know that Miele are going to stand behind their product even though the warranty has expired.

Gary

 

[venson]

@countryguy . . .

Hey,

You're certainly welcome. Spreading info around is never a loss.

How do you like Filter Queen? Your every day machine? Though minus the Miele doo-dads, they're quiet, filter well and hold a lot of dirt. The company offers just about as many optional add-ons too -- including an electric mini-mate for upholstery, the car, etc.

Venson

 

[rolls_rapide]

Infra red remote control

The successor to the Hoover Sensotronic, the Alpina, started off with an electric hose and Hoover's locking ring attachments.

I have a vague memory of seeing the later models in a brochure, switching to push-fit tools and one of these was an infra-red handgrip on a standard plastiflex hose, I believe.