Rug Plate Pressure Tests

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wyaple

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 2, 2015
Messages
360
Location
Pickerington, OH
So at the same time I purchased my Baird meter, I also grabbed this rug plate suction tester. I had never thought to actually measure the airflow from the power nozzle and long after I had completed extensive testing of water lift and airflow, I decided to rig up something that could quantify how much pressure (in pounds) each nozzle could exert on this little red plastic plate. I had a fish weight gauge that measures accurately to 10 lbs. in 1 ounce increments, so I went testing (all vacs had fresh bags/filters)…

Rug Plate Results (higher is better):

1980 Electrolux 1401-B = 2.375 lbs.
1987 Kirby Heritage 2 Legend = over 10 lbs.
1996 Kirby G4 = over 10 lbs.
1997 Rainbow D4C SE PE = 0.75 lbs.
2001 Kirby G6 = over 10 lbs.
2003 Hoover TurboPower 5000 = 0.75 lbs.
2004 Dyson DC14 Animal = 2.875 lbs.
2005 Riccar 8850 = 2.875 lbs.
2012 Hoover Tempo Widepath = over 10 lbs.
2013 Hoover Windtunnel 2 = over 10 lbs.

Comments:

Lest you might think only expensive Kirbys dominate this test, my newest Hoovers essentially tie them by maxing out my gauge beyond the 10 lbs. mark. An $80 Hoover (the Tempo) can hold its own against a $1000+ Kirby. Good going simple Hoover upright! Actually, both the bagged and bagless Hoovers equaled the mighty Kirby. I guess I’ll have to get a gauge that can handle at least 20 lbs. which may mean that a vacuum could actually hold itself up just by the rug plate suction.

My canisters faired much worse with one exception; my oldest vac, the Lux, beat the pants off the Rainbow and TurboPower. I was somewhat surprised that the rather expensive-when-new Dyson and Riccar couldn’t pull over 3 lbs.; however, you might argue that lifting the carpet off the floor might be somewhat excessive. I like excessive…

Bill

wyaple++6-10-2016-12-27-41.jpg
 
Interesting results...

I'm also surprised that the Riccar didn't do better in this test. My 8750 is quite a beast...I don't have any objective data but I'm sure it can keep pace with a Kirby even if it won't pull the carpet off the floor.

Have you tested the watertight and airflow of the your Riccar?

Cameron
 
Riccar CFM

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?30920_5


Riccar 8850 (2005)
Motor Exhaust (w/Filters) = 1043 ft/min = 27.2 CFM
Motor Exhaust (No Filters) = 1082 ft/min = 28.2 CFM
Riccar 8850 (Measured@Body, w/Filter) = 3917 ft/min = 102 CFM = Baird 8.0 (reducer used)
Riccar 8850 (Measured@Body, No Filters or Bag) = 4035 ft/min = 105 CFM = Baird 8.5 (reducer used)
Riccar 8850 (Measured@Hose, w/Filters) = 3504 ft/min = 91.5 CFM = Baird 6.0 (reducer used)
Riccar 8850 (Measured@Hose, No Filters or Bag) = 3563 ft/min = 93.0 CFM = Baird 6.5 (reducer used)


Bill
 

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