Particle counter testing

[vacuumdevil]

Over the years I've worked different places that have particle counters and I personally know which vacuums contain dust and which do not.I wish to share this knowledge. Right now I have access to an IQ air particle tester down to .03 microns.

Please let me know if there are any vacuums you'd like me to test. I have access to a lot of different machines that come in my shop but I'm definitely not going to have access to something rare. I'll try to post a video with the results.

 

[panasonicvac]

Question

About the Simplicity test, how come these two other videos received different results from the Synchrony and the Symmetry in the exhaust?

 

[vacuumdevil]

The first video with the s30 tested has the bag cover off and the particle counter held directly up to the filter. This doesn't address the fact that air around that leaks out next to the filter. Also the motor cooling filter dumps air in that section as well with the cover on.

As I said earlier the S40 at the filter will blow 0 in the particle counter but if you put the particle counter next to it or around other parts of the machine where air leaks out it will Spike the particle counter.

The bad quality and filter quality of these machines is excellent right now. Definitely do a decent job filtering when air moves through them.
But ds40 still leaks out dust from various crevices.
Full bypass vacuums with sealed HEPA post motor filters are really the only things that are going to blow a zero.

Tandem air machines as I stated are not designed to filter super fine particulate the HEPA filtration was an afterthought. This is why Tacony as had to make so many different versions of their full size tandem air filters.

 

[tseg]

So 2 different issues here... #1: is the filtration designed to approach 0 particle count and #2: is the machine designed to seal tight the airflow through the machine.

#2 requires much more comprehensive testing methods than #1. vacuumdevil identifies the 2 separate issues, but only scratches the surface in his testing. A further question surrounding #2 relates to volume of air through leaks, not just dirtiness of air through leaks. It is all interesting and one we likely cannot address comprehensively.

 

[tolivac]

I have the same IQair particle meter so I can test the vacuums myself.Got from a vac shop that went out of business.Previously before these meters were used for testing vacuums-they were common in the HVAC industry.The "Lux shop here has a similar meter-theres is not cordless so it has to be plugged into an outlet to work.Otherwise it works the same as the IQair meter.I have the Lux one,too.

 

[rvarley]

That tandem air machine is way too noisy for me. Had one of the dual fan Tacony machines. It was a tank. No thanks. Tacony's little Supralight, while still noisy, is not at all clumsy and still does a fine job cleaning the carpet, floors some upholstery (low setting).

 

[vacuumdevil]

UPDATE 12/15/2017




Thank you
Beko1987!

 

[rvarley]

Thanks, vacuumdevil. Apparently, running quietly was also not their mission.

 

[dysonman1]

I used to own a Particle counter (tester), but found it to be another gimmick, like the water lift gauge. It's very misleading to people, and like religion, can be used to justify anything you want. I'm not a rip-off vacuum slinger, and don't sell unrealistic expectations to folks. I sent it back to IQ Air for a refund.

 

[vacuumdevil]

@dysonman1
I definitely have seen them used in misleading ways over the years like anything else. One shot by worked at that used to give a ticket to every repair with the particle counter reading. Never really appreciated that idea.
The IQ air particle tester is on loan from the owner of the store I work at. It's actually not my first choice in brand of particle counter and I am currently trying to crowdfund one for the channel.

But my goal is not to sell vacuums. I'm simply sharing my findings as a vacuum technician that I have found over the years. As I will not be working in a vacuum shop forever I'd like to preserve this knowledge.

 

[tolivac]

Originally the particle meters were intended for the HVAC trades and air purifiers-not vacuums.Figure someone got the idea of using the meter to test vacuum cleaners.Got mine form a vacuum place that went out of business.Also have one from the "Lux place.Theirs was meant for air purifiers.You set it in your room and it reads the particle counts in the air.You can hold it next to your vacuum like the IQAir meter.The "Lux one has a cord that has to be plugged into an outlet.

 

[gsheen]

I too have had one in the past and find I can get any result I want from different machines. One of the biggest issues with a particle meter is that any result that shows zero is BS, Outside of a Cleanroom they can never measure zero. I have used one in a cleanroom before and even then just on its own it will measure a few particles especially if some one has just moved.

Just out of interest, Dysons are designed in Malmsbury in the UK Not Chigago.
They might have a few Engineers in Chicago but machine development and design are done in the UK. They have a massive R&D centre in Malmsbury employing several thousand staff. If you go into their video's of how they test their vacuums you will see USA and Euro spec vacs been tested at the same facility.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business...e-tenfold-buys-ex-raf-base-satisfy-expansion/

 

[vaclab]

Alex,

FYI all IQAir machines have particle size detection ratings that are in the 0.3 um, not .03 um range as you've previously stated. If I ever come across a reasonably priced handheld PM that can reliably test down to something like 0.01 um, I will consider picking one up.

https://www.iqair.com/commercial-laser-particle-counters

Bill (VacLab)