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First, a disclaimer. I have never owned a ducted system so I know little about them and have no biases.
Now, I have noticed that ducted house systems are basically the downsized and civilised sibblings of the workshop cyclone system. The cyclones seem to have much more grunt.
Would it make economic and practical sense to use the cyclone as the core of a ducted house vacuum system ???
Cheers
Graeme
Graeme, the house systems are low-volume high-velocity whereas the shop units are high volume low velocity (relatively speaking).Quote:
Originally Posted by GraemeCook
The former is good to pick up small objects from a localised area whilst the latter is designed to pull a large amount of air, which contains dust, to pass through a filter.
The HVLP would not be suitable to vacuum carpet but may suffice if you had wood floors. How you would duct it into the house is another matter entirely (4" ducting). You may even have to go over 2hp to maintain sufficient suction over the longer distance.
I think it comes down to the design of the cyclone. The Dyson vac is a cyclone design and it's possible that it could work as a ducted system. The ones we use for collecting dust from machinery in the workshop probably wouldn't work very well as Groggy points out.
Perhaps something to point out is the 'cyclone' is simply a separator, it does nothing to increase the efficiency of the collection system other than to ensure the filters are kept clean longer (thus keeping the unit near optimum efficiency longer).
It can be argued that by inserting the cyclone into the system you introduce friction and back pressure, and therefor loss. The most efficient systems go from the impellor direct to outside without filtration. Once you add filters, cyclones, ribbed flexible pipe, connections, shunts etc your system deteriorates markedly.
Thanls - do I need to do anthing special though for the building or will this happen later on...I thought it would be easier to get it set up now rather than later
It's much easier to put the ducting in before you clad the walls. It can be done after but obviously takes longer. We got our mate to come around after the frame was finished to install the ducting and the switch wires. He came back after the plaster was up and the walls were painted to fit the connection point covers and install the unit. You'll also need a 240 volt outlet near where you want to install the unit.
This is the brand I have
http://www.astrovac.com.au/
Contact them as I think they have a brochure on selecting units and installation
The best place for one is down low. I have one in a 2 story house, with a garage underneath, so sort of 3 story. The unit is behind a false wall in the garage.
Never had blockages as everything falls down. If you are doing an extension, and want one in the future, buy the plumbing, and install the pipe in the walls. Don't forget to install the twin wire, low volt that turns the unit on. There are 2 types of 90 degree bends, sharp ones, which aren't good and more curved which are better.
If you have to run the pipes in the roof, don't have a T piece directly above an outlet. Have the outlet go up into the roof, then through 90 degrees and then into the side of a T piece. Otherwise, when using the outlet further away some of the debris will fall down the T piece and fill up the pipe.
Most hoses are 9 or 11 metres long, (Switched hoses are max of 9 metres) so get a bit of string and work out where your outlets will be, usually 2 or 3 per house. If you want a power head then you will need a power point nearby.
There are cyclone models available but then you have to empty a bin full of dust. The unit I have is bagged and the bags are about $7. Each one lasts for about 6+ months. So worth the money. We have a dog and cat and vacuum nearly everyday.
When you connect the unit to the plumbing use electrical or duct tape instead of gluing so that the unit can be easily removed for service etc. And put a outlet in the garage for the car and tools.
Fine as long as you kept young children, dogs, cats, rugs and side tables away from the inlet!:eek: Naah, just kidding, what the others have said, plus cats are alright near the inlet.;) :pQuote:
Originally Posted by GraemeCook
Mick
Especially when the grille is off eh? :D