Vacuum testing tools

[KirbysNphones]

What tools are commonly used to test vacuums, as in suction strength, airflow, etc?
I know Kirby has the Baird meter and dirt meter as sales aids, but what do the pros use for comparing the power of one vac to another in terms of suction, airflow, power etc?

I have all kinds of test equipment, from oscilloscopes to network testers and even a spectrum analyzer, but I don't have any vacuum testers, nor do I know what is used.

Thanks guys!

 

[tolivac]

Laser particle counters are another vacuum cleaner testing tool.Usually Meile dealers have such meters.They consist of a laser in a chamber along with a photosensitive device.Air from a vacuum under test-the exhaust-is directed into the testers chamber-the unit then reads particle counter in Parts Per Million.These cost about $1500.Test equipment such as O'scopes,spectrum analyzers,network analyzers are for testing electronic and communication devices,not vacuums.At some point I am thinking of one of those particle counters.Would be a good tool for vacuum collectors and those that service vacuum cleaners-also HVAC contractors use particle counters to test filter effectiveness in HVAC systems.They also use CFM measuring devices-theirs are for measuring airflow in AC and heating vents-not vacuum cleaners.A HVAC contractor used a CFM tester in my place one time.Hold it over the vent-it gives a reading in CFM and velocity.

 

[KirbysNphones]

Tolivac, I've seen the particle counters in catalogs selling HVAC stuff, and could have fun with one if it wasn't for the high price! (Heck, I'd take a thermal imager if I had $5k+ to buy one!)

And yes, I know what o'scopes and spectrum analyzers are for, as I'm into electronics, Ham radio and network cabling.

But are there other tools for measuring suction strength and airflow on vacs other than the Baird meter?

Will

 

[tolivac]

Yes,I do electronics and such-SW transmitter site-there are plenty of scopes and analyzers here-use them on the transmitters and other equipment.Thermal imagers can be found for less than 5K but they aren't the good ones.May be OK for someone to play around with.We have two FLIR devices here-went around the site with one remote measuring temps of motors,transformers,and such.the ones at this site were around 10K each.Gov't has the money to spend on those.I used them a few times-other guys did too,to try them.Now they sit in their black cases with me in the shift supers office.These devices work well if there isn't anything else between the meter and the item you are testing.So,to check if a coil,cap, is overheating you have to quickly open the transmitter and measure the item before it cools down.I am trying to think of other tools for measuring vacuums-each vac maker esp the DTD ones-came out with their devices to check vacuums with-Electrolux device with the three large steel balls-their vac would lift all three balls,other vacuums-less.Meiles and many newer type vacs would lift all three.Kirby,Filter Queen,TriStar,and to some extent-Rainbow came out with dirtmeters to show what the vacuum shown would pick up.I have dirtmeters for Kirby and Filter Queen,and TriStar.The dirtmeter is a device you connect to the vacuum-and uses small filter pads to show what the vacuum cleaner picked up.For Kirby you put the dirtmeter in place of the bag-for Filter Queen-in the hose between the attachments and the machine.TriStar used a transparent lid and pads you put in the machine.

 

[dysonman1]

Testing Vacuums

At the Factory is different than different than 'demonstration tools' salesmen use in the home to help sell a machine. The air flow meters, dirt meters, steel balls, marbles, etc. are all designed for salesmen.

Many people don't know this, but UL has a test required for any vacuum sent to UL for certification. All vac manufacturers have to submit to this test. The motor is jammed, usually with a screwdriver, and the machine is hooked up to a volt meter that CAN supply up to 500 volts. A piece of muslin is placed over the machine, in a ventilated booth, and the cleaner is run. Of course it smokes, but the requirement is it cannot catch the muslin on fire.

Another test is motor life. This is the test that lets Miele say they have a 2000 hour life to their carbon brushes. The machines are run, hooked up to clocks (hour counters). Miele runs their cleaners on the lowest speed, and then they do indeed get 2000 hours out of their carbon brushes. But on HI speed, it's about 1000. That's still a very long time.

There's a cleaning test, where a new piece of carpet is cut and used. The carpet is weighed, and a quantity of test mixture (sand and talc) is rolled into the carpet. The carpet is reweighed and a mechanical arm pushes the cleaner, at a uniform speed, over the carpet for a preset number of 'strokes'. The carpet is weighed again, and the difference is the percentage of dirt removed.

Tacony has a brand new cleaner testing facility they just built. It's fascinating to watch the arms push the vacuums. At the Vacuum Collector's Convention, at the factory, in June - everyone attending the convention will get a chance to see the factory and the test facility.

 

[tolivac]

Good point factory vacuum testing devices that no one else usualy sees or uses.Seems like the lives of vacuum motors can vary in the real world outside the laboratory-the motor in a machine that is well taken care will certainly last longer than one in a vacuum that is abused.It would be interesting to see the factory vacuum cleaner testing devices.Any chance of videos of the vacuum cleaner "pusher" tester?I beleive CU has similar machines for testing vacuums.I would have to think these devices are custom built.

 

[dysonman1]

@tolivac

Yes, the devices (like the mechanical arm) are custom made. When I was President of the VCCC, we went to Kirby and Filter Queen one year for the convention. Kirby had a whole room devoted to testing the cleaners. I talked them into giving us a sample of the test rug. Someone in the VCCC has it now. It's orange with black arrows indicating the direction the cleaners should be propelled along. Tacony has a very similar test facility.

Anyone can come to the Museum at any time. If you call me the day before, I'll make sure to set up a factory tour and can show how a cleaner is made from injection molding, to painting, to assembly. I can also show off the brand new test facility they just built for testing cleaners (they test all brands - not just Tacony products).

 

[KirbysNphones]

Tolivac, sounds like you have a fun job! I LOVE RF stuff as much as vacs and telephones! (That's why I'm a ham radio operator too!) I've seen vids and pictures of the dirtmeters, and there seem to be some on Ebay from time to time. I plan to get a Filter Queen one, as there is a seller who always seems to have some for sale.

Dysonman, I've seen vids of Kirby testing their vacuums on the pushers, and Dyson has a new TV commercial that shows them testing their machines in similar ways.

Since I also "dabble" in electrical repairs, and read about it also, I remember reading of a test for the old plug fuses involving cotton balls soaked in linseed oil, I believe, placed over the fuse, and then a fault being introduced to "blow" the fuse. If the cotton caught fire, the fuse didn't pass UL standards. I don't trust appliances that aren't UL, like cheap dollar store crap.

 

[tolivac]

KirbysNPhones:My job is fun if all goes well-but if something blows up--WORK!!not so fun.Esp in some of these transmitterrs if a vacuum tune cap fails you have to bend and contort into weird shapes to replace it.Look up the website of Jim Hawkins Radio World-they show pictures of the VOA Greenville transmitter sites where I work.For Filter Queen Dirtmeters-try to locate the Filter Queen dealer in your area-get freindly with them-see if you can buy the FQ Demo kit-this includes the dirtmeter,proof book,the large metal balls.I got mine in this way.Was about $75.

 

[KirbysNphones]

A demo kit, cool

There is a guy on Youtube that has a Kirby one, with the Baird meter, the dirtmeter, pads and some literature. I'll need to befriend my local distributor and see what comes of it!

And that radio site is making me drool! Mmm, RF goodness!

 

[super-sweeper]

Testing the Hoovers of the 1960s

Here's a clip showing Hoover assembling the "Senior" Model, along with testing the senior with the "Ground-in sand drum" and testing the Constellation's hose.


 


-Alex.

 

[KirbysNphones]

Sweet! Old videos like that are cool, I've seen quite a few relating to telephones, but not many on vacs. Time to do more searching!