VacuFlo Model 26 Circuit Board

[mmcphee]

Hello everyone,

I have been doing some planning to when the circuit board in my Model 26 finally bites the dust. The vacuum runs fine with no issues so I just was wondering how the rest of you managed to put in the newer circuit board from VacuFlo into this unit specifically with the low voltage circuitry. If you could provide pictures, that would be fantastic.

My plan is when the circuit board and or the motor dies, I will replace both of them in unison along with the power cord to essentially have a brand new vintage central vacuum power unit.

 

[madman]

What's so difficult about replacing the board? Anyway I'm looking at pics of circuit boards and it looks to my eyes like it's the low power supply and a relay. Pretty simple. If it fails, you could probably just fix the board.

 

[gregvacs28]

Or you can up your game and carefully remove the board and install it remotely inside a plastic work box so it won't be damaged by the heat, dust, and vibration that is typical of a CV unit.

This is what I've done.

Plus, when your remove that board or relay system from the head of the typical CV you have room for sound insulation. Another very basic, and necessary design feature that only recently are CV manufacturers utilizing.

I should post some pics of my control box assemblies. It's really a better design and at one time most CV manufacturers had controls that were in a separate unit.

The power units should really be mounted in a garage or similar, where as the control box should be located inside a conditioned space like a closet or utility room.

Either way, changing the typical control board, motor, and cord(?) is quite easy. There isn't a lot to a CV unit.

 

[centralvacs1928]

Gregvacs28

I would love to see pictures of the control boxes you have built! And the rest of that Filtex brochure, while you're at it

Some CV manufacturers today (CycloVac comes to mind) do isolate the control board in its own vented section of the housing, separated from the insulated motor compartment by a sheet metal baffle. It does seem like a good and well thought out design.

The old modular relay/transformer setup used by every CV manufacturer until sometime in the mid-late 1990s was bulletproof but expensive in component cost and labor cost. The printed circuit boards in CV units today are mostly made by a company called "Alutron Modules" and generally seem to last at least as long as the motors, even in units that place the board in the same enclosure as the motor. I have wondered, though, if a heavy buildup of carbon dust could cause current to flow to places it shouldn't and ruin the board.

Board failures that I have seen are mostly transformers that go bad, or weak solder joints at the high current side of the relay finally fail - this is a tricky one to diagnose as the relay often will still "click" when the control circuit is closed, and you'll think the motor is bad until you examine it or test it directly.

 

[gregvacs28]

Owen these came from a listing of a vacuum for sale in ND of all places. A Filtrex that made it out of the Chicago area. Apparently it was one of those that couldn't be vented outside with all those air holes on the bottom.

Would you have got it if you could? .....cuz you of all people you NEED more CVs. lol

I'll have to take pics of my CV controller.

 

[lesinutah]

Cost

The seperate housing for control board isn't hard. It wouldn't be expensive if you do it yourself. It may be simple to me.
The pics are super hard to see
Les

 

[gregvacs28]

I'll make a separate posting