New full-size powerhead from Electrolux

[Mike81]

So I finally pulled the trigger and ordered the full size powerhead Electrolux Paragon.
It should be quite a big improvement compared to the old tiny ph what we get in the Europe.
I will be using it with my Electrolux UltraFlex. It already has wiring to the powerhead.
For now I have been using the Miele SEB-217, but it's a bit lacking on the higher pile rugs and no height adjustment.
Has anyone used this new powerhead?

http://www.huoltopalvelu.com/epages...bjectPath=/Shops/Huolto/Products/140017911086

 

[Mike81]

Here is one video what I found from the youtube.

 

[sebo_fan]

Jeezo, not even I am that rough with floor heads. Im surprised his Electrolux power nozzle works the way he chucks both of them around.

The new PN does look like a good PN head though I'd be concerned about the height adjustment on a carpet that thin. You can clearly see that after a while the PN has so much suction from the vac that it is impossible to move along the floor without it jutting along.

I have to say in defence of SEBO's ET-1, the lack of screws to undo to gain access to the brush roll is an aspect I've come to love about the ET-1 in general. I can't abide access screws and what not to get a brush roll out to clean!

If the orange inserts covering the fin style grills on either side of the Electrolux PN were to be removed, there's every possibility that the PN head wouldn't suck down so much.

 

[vacerator]

what use is

a functioning power head when after 4 years the vacuum's sumo board and or hose switches, or control boards fry?
Just speaking from experience.

 

[eurekaprince]

Maybe the orange fins do open up the vents when the nozzle bogs down due to strong suction on deep carpet? Kind of like the new Panasonic "Plush" power nozzle?

 

[moderneezer]

The power nozzle looks modernized but the guy seems to have a hard time making pushing strokes. I wonder if the nozzle will be available in Canada.

 

[Mike81]

I don't think that pushing it is a problem, but it would be nice to have those top "vents" actually working. My experience is that if it's hard to push I just raise the height one step. What then happens is that the suction lifts the carpet pile so the brushroll can agitate it and nozzle isn't too hard to push. This is case with the Kärcher upright.
What it comes to wiring to fail I have done it myself. It's easy to replace if needed. My Electrolux didn't come with factory wiring witch is sometimes prone to fail.

 

[sebo_fan]

"What use is a functioning power head when after 4 years the vacuum's sumo board and or hose switches, or control boards fry?"

Well such is the beauty of a canister vac. You either get it replaced or replace everything else around whatever works. That is at least one good boon of having a canister vac, whether it uses a PN or not.

 

[vacerator]

Sebo,

it costs more to repair than to replace, and even Miele stopped providing power ports for later adding a power nozzle on lower end models.

 

[sebo_fan]

It depends on the manufacturer. Most SEBO machines can be repaired by the owner or at least parts can be downloaded and SEBO will show the owner what to do.

At least you have the option for PN with Miele. Miele don't generally add any sockets on their UK models. Not sure for the rest of Europe though.

 

[vacerator]

If you buy

a Miele in the US now, they don't include them. The old C2 Jasper had one, but not the new model. the Alize used to come with a power port. It may be the only one. They charge more to add a power head later anyhow.
A central vac offers the most interchangeable parts and accessories between makers. My Eureka "Brandywine" models 1279, and 1289 Vibragroomer power head even works with it, and they are way older. Most hoses can be retrofitted for old or newer power head cord management. Newer Electrolux systems being the exception, of course. The hose and wand ends are not even round. They are oval.

 

[Mike81]

I just thought to explain how I have done wiring for the ph in UltraFlex.
In total I have done it to 5 cylinder vacuums. So all of my vacuums have a socket for the ph.
First of all it's extremely important that you know what you are doing. Doing it wrong and result can be dangerous or you can ruin the vacuum.
Now in this case I removed the top back panel (top of the hepa filter). There was wiring coming from the cord rewind, so I "stole" electricity from there. Then I was able to insert short cord from there to the lower part of the gray side of the curved pipe (I had to slightly stretch side plastic cover). See the picture where I marked the cord location with red lines. Then I drilled small hole to the pipe for the cord input. From there cord goes inside to the wand.
Pictures should show rest of the system.
Downsides of this system is, that piping can get blocked where the cord enters the pipe. This has happened just once with the another canister. Also hose can't fully be removed from the vacuum.
On the other hand wiring is hidden and hose can freely swivel from the both ends.

Here is my first vacuum with the custom ph connections in detail.


Volta U258 taking power from the vacuum

 

[myles_v]

I did almost the exact same thing to add a power nozzle to my old Thane H2O Vac Turbo, it worked surprisingly well with the nozzle.

 

[Mike81]

Nice to hear, that someone else has done the same thing.
Let's do some calculations why I have done it.
If I would have bought the whole vacuum, for example the Electrolux Ultraone Quattro which comes with the Paragon ph. It costs 499€.
Base model Electrolux UltraOne costs 199€ + Paragon ph 84€ + accesories for the ph wiring about 20€. Total price comes to 303€. So saving is 196€! AND you don't have prone to fail electrical hose, wand, pipe etc. But not only that connections are universal for other powerheads also + easily reparable.
By the way Paragon ph was today arrived to the post office near me so I will post my opinion about it

 

[Mike81]

Now it's quickly tested.
Pleasant surprise: Light to handle, not overly noisy and seems to groom the carpet very well.

 

[myles_v]

I did mine because the H2O Vac was a water filtration vacuum sold through an infomercial here in the states, it seemed like it was designed OK and wasn't extraordinarily cheap in build quality so I purchased it planning to use it with a turbine head. Needless to say, it did not power the turbine head well enough for my home full of wall-to-wall carpeting so after having it for a few months I decided to see if I could make it useable for my carpeting!
I did not have connectors at the hose ends that were as nice as yours, that would've been a nice addition though.

 

[Mike81]

Just some pictures

 

[vacerator]

So Mike,

do you live in Vaasa? Finnish people were some who settled Michigan's upper peninsula as lumberjacks.
They packed pasties for their meals in the woods. A half moon shaped pie of flaky crust filled with beef or pork or lamb, rutabaga, potato, onion, carrot, and a bit of gravy.
Finland is also the only nation who repaid the USA it's WW2 debt.

 

[Mike81]

Yes I am from the Vaasa. Vaasa is located at the west side of the Finland near the sea.
Very interesting what you just told me. My history knowledge isn't the best possible.