Rainbow Issue?

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I never had a brush/compartment on mine either. I discovered Rexair stopped making the separator brushes/wrench for a while, then they starting making them again. So there are a lot of units that don't have them.
 
Boo on you Rexair!! No wonder all the seperators on the one I got from Ebay on the Gold ones are in such bad shape!!
 
Aaron

If you find any info on taking the 2 speeds apart to clean the fans, let me know. Mine doesn't really need it but it would be cool to know how to take them apart. Just use a toothbrush to clean the separator. That's what I've always done. Not every time though.
 
yeah, I have just been taking one of the brushes from the other vacuums I have and using it. I am getting one in the mail soon that is not supposed to be working *even though the person told me it was missing the water bowl*, so it may work with a water bowl! haha. that would be sweet! But if it does not work, I may use it as kind of a project vacuum! I am so scared of tearing up one mine that works!! I can see dust inside a couple I have, and would love to clean it, but that would be an expensive boo boo if I mess up.
 
The electronics used to run the SR motor in the E2 vacuums are static sensitive.the operator has to be grounded and the machine worked on a static disappating grounded workbench mat.There is supposed to be a HEPA style filter-separate from the main one that keeps the motor and electronic board clean.This filter is not user replaceable.A tech has to do it.
 
Oh that's rich!

I guess that sums that right up. I won't be taking mine apart then I guess to examine the inside. LOL

I guess 65 dollars isn't much for the tech to clean it. But my main reason was I wanted to watch the process, but I doubt they would let me. If I take my hepa off and look through the hole I can see the fans with a flashlight, and there is VERY little if any dirt that I can see. It even smells nice inside.

I did break down and wash the hepa filter with the sink sprayer. I was so afraid I would ruin the hepa. It hadn't been washed ever in the five years I've had it. I sprayed it really good a few times; it was drenched.....Then I shook it out, put a towel on the floor and put the wet hepa back on the rainbow and turned it on HIGH and it was completely dry in about 20 minutes. I've never washed a hepa filter before. It seemed to wash up really good...Not sure how a really dirty hepa would wash up though.
 
The Rainbow E2 motor has two fans-one for the main vacuum suction-the other with the non replaceable HEPA filter to cool the motor and the electronics board.Its above the main fan-In the vents at the very top of the Rainbow powerdome unit.This also isolates the motor from the suction airstream in case any water or moisture goes thru it-so it won't get into the maotor or electronics.A true double bypass motor.Many new Wet Dry vacuums have a similar motor construction to meet OSHA safety regs.
 
I found a PIC on Ebay

Of someone selling an E2 motor UNIT only, that they have completely taken apart. I guess to show a potential buyer that everything has been cleaned & Sanitized.

I don't see another HEPA. It looks pretty complicated too LOL

mark40511++6-11-2011-17-25-29.jpg
 
Hey Joel

After posting this, I found the same seller has a ONE speed unit he's selling as well, but has this exact same picture in his listing....So I don't even know if this is the ONE or TWO speed taken apart.
 
Think the extra HEPA filter may be in the peice on the extreme left-this would have the circuit that drives the motor.I don't know if I would buy this--did the person taking down the vacuum take the static protection procedures in taking down the vacuum.Supposidly only dealers service dept are given the training on this-so says the one in my area.
 
Oh, I'm not buying it........It was just a picture I found on Ebay of someone selling it.

But there are a lot of companies selling refurbed 2 speed Rainbows.....

Greatvacs.com

Goodvac.com

Rainvac.com

I'm sure they are all aware of the static issue. Not sure they are authorized though. I have no idea how that works.
 
The static issue is dealing with MOSFET device equipped electronics devices-the Rainbow E2 motor drive is one of them.The MOSFET transistors and IC's can be damaged by a static electric charge that builds up on your body.The MOSFET equipped device has to be worked on a special static disaptive workbench mat and you are grounded with a special resistive wrist strap.the wrist strap has a resistor in it so you won't get electrocuted if you contact something live in a circuit-of course the Rainbow is disconnected from the power soruce.But current limiting ground in the wrist strap is required by OSHA safety regs.Rainbow gives special factory training to their authorized service reps on this.They also mention the machine has to be properly reassembled or it won't work properly or for long.I am in the electronics business and understand this.So I am not going to take my Rainbow apart to the component level.I would only purchase a refurbished E2 from an authorized Rainbow dealer to be safe-and the machine would likely have a warranty-the others may not.
 
Tolivac

I was reading on Goodvac.com and the site owner mentions that you must be grounded because certain things are static sensitive. So apparently he knows this........His site seems to be most about Rainbow inside and out, so he must know a lot about the machines. Perhaps he used to work for them or something. I don't know.....
 
Aaron

i wondering if thats the Hepa filter. Try turn on with out Hepa filter and put the case cover back on, if it still makes the noise???
 
Hey, sorry I never did update. I actually bought a new HEPA for it, and it reduced the noise. You can still kind of hear a slight whistling noise, but not enough to bother anything. :)
 
oh ok. Oh well are u still going give to ur mom? mine sounds little quieter since i brought the Hepa filter last weekend. mine was so dirty i guessing the previous owner didnt add enough water or something. So i had cleaned but didn't dry decided remove hepa filter and have casing blank. lol
 

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