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Central Vac Hose question
QUESTION: We just bought a house that has a central vac. The hose that goes
with it isn't an electrified hose - the vacuum starts right when the
hose is inserted into the wall outlet. I'd rather have a hose with an
on/off switch on the handle. What I'd like to know is this: If I
bought a hose with the on/off switch on the handle, would it work with
this central vac? Also, I'd rather have a Beam unit - are the units
interchangeable? That is, can I replace the unit that is there with a
Beam, and use the pipes that are already in the walls? The unit that
is there doesn't have an outlet on it, so I wouldn't be able to vacuum
in the basement. The house I'm in now has a Beam, and I really like
it, so I'd like to switch this one in the new house with a Beam.
ANSWER: I just installed a Galaxie GA-100 unit, They all seem to work the same way.
A metal collar on the hose end closes a connection in the inlet to turn on
the vac. unit. I bought a hose with the wires integrated in the hose; the
metal collar is split, and there is a small plug for the 110 VAC rug beater
power also, and a slide switch on the handle turns on either the vac unit or
vac and rug beater together. You have to retrofit new inlet assemblies and
wire them to 110 VAC and to the control wires controlling the vac unit. When
the integrated hose is plugged in, power is applied to the beater and the
switch controls the vac unit. Not as difficult as it sounds.
A basement utility inlet is easy to install, usually turns on the vac unit
when the cover is flipped open. It fits inline with any pipe going to the
vac unit. there is no rug beater 110 VAC connection on the utility inlet,
only the control wires to turn on the vac unit.
Almost 100% of all central vacuum systems use the same size piping so
switching power units should not be a problem. Also, having a local
plumber or electrician install an inlet near the power unit should not
be a major task.
A high percent of all central vac wall inlets are made by Hayden or
Beam and they are pretty compatible as far as the hose goes. Try your
Beam hose in the wall inlets and see if it works okey. You could
always purchase a hose with a finger-tip switch but you should know
who made the wall inlets to be sure to get the appropriate one. Hoses
come with three configurations: 1) Non-electric 2) Low voltage only
3) Dual voltage: 24 volts like in #2 and 110 volts for running a
motorized power nozzle. Most earlier dual voltage hoses have a 6'
cord dangling from the wall end to be plugged into an electrical
outlet. Many manufacturers now make the dual voltage hose with a
direct connect male plug which mates with Hayden's SuperValve. With
that type, plugging the hose into the wall inlet automatically makes
all the connections required for controling the main unit from your
finger tips and supplying the current to run the power nozzle motor.
Vacuflo central vacs often have wall inlets which do not match with
most other brand hoses. Fortunately, they do make universal inlets
with adapter plates to replace them if needed.
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