Numatic reliability issues?

[matt8808]

Numatic's latest line of Henry and Hetty machines with the 'Eco save' seem to be suffering from premature failure due to an issue with the circuitry for the eco control.

I was just wondering if anybody else has noticed this?

What happens is the machine just stops working. It won't turn on, although most of the time the red light for the power boost will light up when power is supplied.

The first time I came across this I suspected it was worn carbon brushes.

I've repaired two of these machines recently for friends, both Hetty's coincidentally.

To minimise cost and eradicate the risk of future failure what I do is remove the eco system from the machine. This means ripping all the wiring out for it, the circuit board and disconnecting the 'Boost' button. This leaves you with a machine similar to the very early Herny. You flick the power button and the machine instantly runs on full power. The Eco button is now dead and does nothing as it's not connected to anything.

The owners of the machines I've repaired so far have been happy with this as they always used the machine on full power anyway, so this saves them having to press the boost button every time the machine is used.

I've seen quite a few machines on eBay too listed as 'spares or repairs' with exactly the same symptoms listed.

Has anybody else come across this issue at all?

It seems a shame that there is a risk of Numatic's superb reliability record being tarnished somewhat by a few wayward circuit boards... I wonder if they'd be better doing away with the 'Eco' gimmick and reverting back to the setup with a rocker on/off switch and a manual rocker switch with high and low options?

 

[parwaz786]

On eBay I was about to buy a local dead Eco Henry!
I hope my Auntie's Eco Henry will last. She has 3 kids and a carpeted 3 bedroom home!

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Hi,

<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">Hi Matt. Yes I have seen quite a few come in for repair with this issue. I and other repair shops just take out the PCB and rewire it so it's on or off only. One of the reason's I prefer the older Henry's to the newer style. I never liked it when they added that push-push one off switch a few years back. That had it's own issues. I'm glad they went back to a rocker switch.</span>


 


<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">James

</span>

 

[hi-loswitch98]

I have always preferred pre 2003 Henry's, (before the push switch), they had enough power, weren't as noisy & were better built, hence why they were a few pounds more expensive then than what they are now.

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Hi,

<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">Hi. To be honest from what I've found most vacs bought from retail stores are getting cheaper and cheaper built instead of putting the price up over the years. From what I can tell partly due to the consumers wanting cheaper goods. I get people coming in and they think spending £140 on a vacuum cleaner is "EXPENSIVE".

</span>


 


<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">So in 1988 a Henry HVR200 was around £80 sometimes a bit more. Several people I know sold them for nearer £100 then. Well in today's money (2013) that £80 would be £180+. </span>


<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">When now in 2013 the current Henry HVR 200-22 is selling for £99.99 from 109.99 in Argos. Don't get me wrong the Henry's are still better than most of the cheaper vacs under £100 but you can see why corners get cut.</span>


 


<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">I've used this inflation calculator to give you a idea of prices then and now.</span>


 


<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/...tion-calculator-value-money-changed-1900.html</span>


 


 


<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">This is now starting to effect some "better" name brands as well. </span>


 


<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">James

</span>


 


 

 

[parwaz786]

Is that why £199.99 Dyson's turned to a bloody crappy £410 DC41?

 

[ultimatevacman]

I've heard of this fault too. Why can't the machine just be either "on" or "off"? That's all I want from it. You may have well just do away with the PCB. Like you say, it's a shame their reliability record is being ruined by some little PCB. C'mon Numatic, just forget the Autosave stuff!

 

[parwaz786]

Agreed Joe
The 3D Face is a bit cruddy aswell, I dont like it
Numatic will always be the most reliable cylinder, I know it
Numatic all the way

 

[rutger]

I must admit the eco-switch has always worried me a little. A Henry of ours has it, we've had him 2 years & he's been fine but features like this are a risk in my opinion.
I do wonder if being used on high power a lot has an influence on how long the Eco switch lasts. I notice that matt8808 mentions the owners of the ones he's fixed always using their vacuums on full power, so presumably when they switch off their machines the eco-switch had to revert to low on start up & then be adjusted by pushing boost to high each time (plus the switch is constantly on). We always use ours on low power - occasionally boosting where needed but always switch back to low prior to switching him off - it's just a thought !
Personally I'd rather just have a proper high & low switch & none of this ECO switch stuff.
Oddly, even on boost I still don't think modern ones are as powerful as the original 800 watt models. I have an early one without a cord rewind (he's called Nigel) & that is a very powerful little machine.
I too don't like the new clip on face, I've looked at a few display ones & it's just not right somehow, looks like Henry has a mask. Does anyone know, does it come with the "mask" attached or do you have to fit it yourself?
Cheers & a happy 2014 to all.
Dave

 

[dysondestijl]

What? Joe? You said to me you loved autosave.... Yeah right...

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Hi,

<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">Hi Tayyab. I understand what you mean about the Dyson. Why they have put the price up one the newer top of the range models the basic one still sells around £229.(DC25 at the moment in Currys.) Once they bring out another TOL range/model the DC41/40 will probably become the basic £229 model. Also Dyson seem to like spending more on marketing than most other manufacturers.</span>

<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">Another vac I will use as a example is the White bagged Panasonic uprights.  In 1996 one cost £99.99 which is about £158 in today's money. But the current white bagged Panasonic upright MC-UG302 is selling in Argos for £79.99.</span>

<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">The newer ones are more likely to burn out quicker than the older ones.</span>

<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">Again I'd still rather have one of those white bagged Panasonics than the supermarket value machines

</span>

<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">I'm only just pointing out that in general machines are costing less but as a result there being made not to last as long on average</span>. <span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">I don't want to just pick on one make/model.</span>

<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">James

</span>

 

[dysondestijl]

Btw James- a bit off topic but have you checked your e-mails lately?
George

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Hi,

<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">Hi Mr G, I've just checked but there isn't any from you. Why have you sent me one?</span>


<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">Happy New Year by the way

</span>


 


<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">James

</span>


 

 

[dysondestijl]

Yup I sent you one ages ago- will send it again lol

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Ok

<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">Ok I'll have a nosey.</span>


 


<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">James

</span>

 

[dysondestijl]

Have done. Now lets restore the actual thread lol

 

[alexhoovers94]

I have just treated myself to a brandnew Henry HVR200A so I hope it holds up like my first one did!
Watch out for an unboxing video and thread on it.

 

[singingrainbow]

What? Alex? A NEW cylinder vacuum? I would have never guessed!


As for the auto save burning out I have had an auto save henry for two years now and have not had a problem with it. Then again it doesn't get used much, so it's not the best example.


Scott

 

[alexhoovers94]

Lol, yup, I decided to try out the new model with clip on face and Autosave as I only have a hi/low model. I may not be a cylinder fan but I have a huge soft spot for Henry's, always have even though I have always been and still am a strict upright user...All of my family including my mum have always used an upright so a cylinder was always considered odd and unusual to me and they never seemed to cut the mustard as an upright did.