| Central Vacuum Motors |
| . |
| Lets take a look at the heart of your central vacuum system producing all this power! Inside your central vacuum is a high performance motor running at speeds of 20,000 - 35,000 RPM's to achieve very high performance. |
| . |
| Not all motors are created equal however so buyer beware. |
| . |
| Ametek/Lamb is renown for producing high quality motors and has been the backbone of the central vacuum industry for decades. |
| . |
| As of late, other motor manufacturers have come on the scene offering motors for central vacuum systems among which include Domel and Electro-Motor. |
| . |
| The anatomy of a central vacuum consists of several parts which you may hear referred to in a sales presentation. These include (1) Motor Carbon Brushes (2) The Armature (3) The Field and (4) The Fans, which when stacked together create what is referred to as "Stages". A one stage motor for example would have one fan, a two stage motor would have two fans, a three stage motor would have three fans. |
| . |
| Motor Stages |
| Indicates the level of fan assemblies in the motor. A (3)-stage motor for example has three fan levels to create vacuum whereas a (2)-Stage only has two. It is the fan assembly which creates the suction necessary to create vacuum and airflow. |
| . |
| Motor Armature |
| This refers to the copper wound rod which runs through the center of the motor on to which the fan assemblies are attached. |
| . |
| Motor Field |
| Creates a magnetic force which propels the armature and thus turns the fan assemblies. |
| .. |
| There are also three types of motors to choose, flow-thru, peripheral by-pass, and tangential bypass. Which motor is used depends on what the manufacturer is trying to achieve. |
| . |
| Flow Through Motor |
| Inexpensive, these motors are generally used in conventional canister vacuums or upright vacuum cleaners with the larger more powerful versions used in a central vacuum. Aside from being less expensive they also make a central vacuum sound quieter since there isn't a cooling fan spinning at speeds in excess of 20,000 RPM. This motor uses vacuumed air to cool itself by passing vacuumed air over the armature. It is critical then that care be taken to insure air is filtered and clean to prolong the life of this motor. Often you will see this type of motor in less expensive systems or you may find them used in a dual motor situation whereby two lesser powered motors are used together to create a more power system. We will talk about that later. |
| . |
| Peripheral By-Pass Motor |
| Again typically less expensive then a tangential type motor, these motors actually employ a cooling fan on top of the motor which blows fresh clean air over the armature and exhausts it peripherally through vents on the side of the motor. Generally more powerful then their Flow-thru cousins these motors should be more reliable since clean fresh air is being use to cool the armature. Care should be considered in the exhaust of this unit which is dirty and heated. |
| . |
| Tangential By-Pass Motor |
| This style is the most commonly used motor in the central vacuum industry. While more expensive then it's cousins, the implementation of a tangential exhaust ensures all heated and dirty exhaust is removed from the motor chamber and expelled thus maximizing longevity. Available sizes are usually 5.7" Diameter and 7.2" Diameter; the latter generally producing more power at the same or lower RPM. |
| . |
| Dual Motor Systems |
| Air Series |
| One vacuum motor feeding it's heated dirty discharge air into the intake of the second motor. Increases vacuum suction (inches of waterlift) by 160 -170%. This design is not recommended as higher air temperatures in the fan system could result in bearing problems due to the elevated temperature. THIS METHOD IS NOT RECOMMENDED BY THE MOTOR MANUFACTURER |
| . |
| Air Parallel |
| While operating vacuum motors in air parallel, two motors draw air from a single plenum chamber. This has the effect of nearly doubling the airflow (CFM) of the system while the vacuum (inches of waterlift) level remains comparable to a single motor system. "When applying motors in this manner, care must be taken in the design to accommodate the increased airflow. If restrictive tools and hoses are used in a cleaner, the potential air flow advantages gained by the parallel arrangement may be negated." Ametek/Lamb Product Review. |
| . |
| To learn more about motor performance and other aspects of your Central Vacuum System, please visit the Terminology page. |
| |
| Back to top |
