The New Panasonic MC UG 383 (MC UG 223)

[fairfaxclass]

The modern (and cheapened) successor to the Jetflow!  I went for the slightly older model just because I like blue better than green.  This thing is actually pretty solid!  It seems to have good airflow, the main body feels well built, and is a great value if it stays alive for any length of time.  I imagine using Cirrus A HEPA bags will help with that too.  Most of it's noise is the rush or air through the machine. 


 


Downsides:


Non-standard attachments.


No upholstery tool.


Fit and finish isn't the best (see manufacturing marks on plastics).


Some of the plastics feel a bit cheap.


 


But, I would happily recommend this vacuum to average Joe who just wants an upright and doesn't really use the attachments much.


 


QUESTIONS:


The manual says U-6 or U-12 bags.  What's the difference?


 


Do we know why the Jetflow name was retired?  Is this machine not really worthy of the name?


 


Do you like these machines?

 

[fan-of-fans]

I like these. I used to have a red Kenmore version of that back in the 90s that someone had left on my front porch.

I've seen the apple green model. It's interesting it's Made in China because I thought Panasonics were always made in Mexico? And why does it say made FOR Panasonic?

I think the green ones are a good value for $99. There seem to be a lot of the green ones still in stock, or are they actually still being made? To my knowledge Panasonic doesn't make any vacuums anymore and sold their designs and engineers to Cleva.

 

[vacfanatic]

I bought the MC-UG383 a few weeks ago and it's got a lot more suction than my commercial 10amp MC-V5210 and does not have the somewhat annoying high pitch either. The gripes I have about it are the bag compartment seals are a really hard almost plastic and you can see into the bag compartment with a flashlight, and the hose where it connects to the back of the machine has no foam gasket! I took the 2 screws off to verify. On my MC-V5210 commercial you can see the foam gasket edges by looking into the bag inlet. Otherwise I highly recommend getting one before they are all gone.

The stock light bulb is terrible, and I found this LED bulb at Menards for about $6 and it's incredible over the stock bulb. I'll post a photo and video comparison this weekend. They are on clearance so go grab one while you can. I think Home Depot has them as well.

For bags, I ordered a bunch of the Kenmore O Hepa Cloth bags. I tried the DVC brand but they are thinner and leak a small amount of dust so I was not impressed. The Kenmore bags will soon be extinct as well.



https://www.menards.com/main/electr...91-c-7482.htm?tid=6319088681503119453&ipos=10

 

[fairfaxclass]

Leaving the vacuum business...

Accorind to this article:
http://www.xinhuanet.com//english/2017-01/27/c_136016721.htm

 


Panasonic is ceasing production in the US and Mexico, but will still make vacuums.  Did something else change?  I also thought that someone would keep making Kenmore vacuums.  The new silver uprights look interesting.


 



http://www.xinhuanet.com//english/2017-01/27/c_136016721.htm

 

[fan-of-fans]

Like I said, Panasonic sold their designs to Cleva, so that Cleva can make the Kenmore vacuums. They also hired some of Panasonic's engineers too.

Cleva also makes the Vacmaster shop vacs, and they also sell some of the older Kenmore Progressive canisters under the Titan brand.

 

[panasonicvac]

My brother has the green version, they are awesome basic vacuums. Even my work sold these as the best vacuums for under $100.


U-6 bags has a tab on the cardboard that seals the collar when you dump the bag. U-12 bags has the same cardboard that the Kenmore U bags uses which is designed to make it easier to pull out. Otherwise the collar and filtration is the same.

The Jet-Flo name was retired in favor of the "Performance Plus" name for promotional advertisement sales and they were more powerful than their predecessor Jet Flos. Although there were some other Panasonics that never had a secondary name on them.

Panasonic never really had all of their vacuums made in Mexico after they moved from Kentucky, even the Panasonic branded Sanyo vacuums were also made in China as well.

As long as Kenmore produces uprights that uses type U/O bags, I doubt they would go away anytime soon.

 

[fairfaxclass]

I was able to use the vacuum to clean the whole house today and dang!  This thing has so much power that the stretch hoes does NOT want to be used.  A great vacuum, but I would recommend it for carpet only.

 

[fairfaxclass]

Question:  Can you get extension hoses and/or other attachments that work with this connection system? 

 

[panasonicvac]

You could use an adapter to fit the extension hose on.

 

[fairfaxclass]

Is the adapter readily available?

 

[mark40511]

I'm not 100%

but I think if you take the hose off the panasonic, these 2 things will work
I use this extension hose for my Cirrus upright and I can clean EVERYWHERE high and low similar to a central vacuum. I take the quick draw hose off my Cirrus upright and just connect the extension hose to the Cirrus hose, but I have to use the adapter for the extension hose to connect to the cirrus hose. I just leave the adapter in the extension hose at all times. You can't clean so many places with this it's ridiculous.. I just vacuum my carpets then pull the wand, connect the hose and clean everywhere else. It's awesome. Here are the two links:

https://www.amazon.com/EZ-SPARES-35...+hose+adapter&qid=1553385095&s=gateway&sr=8-4

https://www.amazon.com/Vacuum-Clean...ttachment+kit&qid=1552487978&s=gateway&sr=8-3

 

[fairfaxclass]

I'l give it a try!  The main kit is sold out right now, but the little adapter is cheap!

 

[mark40511]

Here's one I found on Ebay

I didn't notice the one on Amazon is no longer available. It even says it can be used with Panasonic vacuums that have a port on the back (similar to my Cirrus) but I don't like using it connected to the port.....not nearly as much airflow as just taking the hose out and connecting it that way, which is why the adapter is needed. I just hope that's the right adapter. It looks exactly like the one I use for mine.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vacuum-Cle...239595?hash=item25e8d7b0eb:g:AkcAAOSw9KhaQUD~

 

[panasonicvac]

There was a time when Panasonic sold their own adapters including attachment kits, I doubt those two are still available to find now so your best bet is to get the generic ones like what Mark shared.

 

[fairfaxclass]

The adapter suggested didn't actually work to allow standard attachments, but I did find this:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O3F7NT4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 


I'll order it at try.



https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O3F7NT4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[danorob1]

So I also purchased one of the blue MC-Ug383 because I wanted something the cleaning lady could not kill easily and was tired of cleaning the filter on the shark for her .


is there any real difference between the green and blue other then the colors??? I purchased its at my favorite local dealer..

 

[fairfaxclass]

danorob1

As far as I can tell, just the color.


 


It should do well, just use HEPA bags.