Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Apparently there's a new Dyson model that will be launched in February at the VDTA Convention.  I don't know any further specifics on whether or not it's going to be a canister or upright, but apparently all attendees of the show will be able to see it and place their orders.  I wonder if the $899 pricetag will be a detriment to sales, or are Americans willing to pay a premium for superior performance and space-age motor technology?

Has anyone else heard anything yet?  I'm curious to know what it is as I bought the DC21 right when it came out in March.  That and the DC17 are the only ones that impressed me so far, it will be interesting to see how this one is.

Hi Carmine D

Your welcome. Thought it might be of general interest to everyone.  I'm not sure what volt battery European Cars use, UK cars use 12 volt batteries!  It interesting this has come about, as it coinsides with a Boat Show they are appearing at in the UK!  I asked the Dyson Rep on the Dyson stand at the Motorshow in London as I've heard rumour there is to be a corded hand held from Dyson, but I was told no what would be the point, it wouldn't be as vesitile as the cordless one!  See their point but I would like to see one!  The charge unit contradicts the idea that the Dyson Rep said to me and Dyson original idea for this model.  Used for quick cleanups and spills.  I think people are wanting to use it for longer jobs and find it easier to use therefore wanting longer than the present 6 minute charge!  Hence the car charger where you can use it constantly without having to charge it up, effectively like it having a mains cord!

I do like mind for quick jobs around my home and car!  It comes in handy!

Be interesting to see if they plan to offer different charge units!  Probably not at first!  

DC18

DC18, M00seUK:

Good information.  Thank you for sharing. 

To my knowledge, no USA vacuum maker has ever marketed a car/boat hand held vacuum cleaner using power from the battery, save some specialty models but no name vacuum brands.  Usually these were not very good performers and didn't have very good sales.  Dyson is bucking the trend.  Interesting to see how well the DC16 with the car battery charger/power actually performs.  Do you have any knowledge of its operating worth using this venue?

Carmine D.

I too would like to see Dyson introduce a corded hand vac, or at least an optional adapter to run the machine full-time.  Would certainly justify the price a lot more, for most applications.  As much of a Dyson fan as I am, I can't see paying $160 for a glorified Dustbuster, i.e. a vacuum that only runs for a short time.  My thought when the DC16 was introduced was that it was going to be a "real" hand vac that could be used for a lot more than just quick pick-ups.  The DC16 Motorhead could be a very good contender for upholstery and car cleaning (perhaps even mattress cleaning), as well as small jobs, if either the run time was extended or it was corded. 

-MH

P.S.  Sorry I have not posted in a while, I'm sort of disappointed at the lack of activity here lately.  We need to get more interesting discourse going, both Dyson-related and non-Dyson-related

Motorhead wrote:

Hi MH,

I have always wondered how many of the DC16 sold.  I see them on store shelves but can't believe that they selling well as I don't see them as a practical expense -- especially due to the short operation time. 

Does anybody know how long you might run one off your car battery without it being a serious drain on juice?  Better yet, how much is involved in making a vesion that has a built-in voltage adjustment like some electric razors and laptop computers?  A built-in adapter that could handle voltage input between 12v and 220v would make the asking price a little more easy to take.

Best,

Venson

Dyson missed the boat, pardon the pun, with the DC16's operation and marketing.

Recently, I did some work at my daughter's house and made a mess before and after the job was complete.  I took along my 1970 HOOVER Swingette to do the cleaning up before and after.  Tho I would have preferred a hand held non-corded like the DC16 for the tasks.  Not with a 6 minute charge for $150 [straight suction] and $200 [revolving brush]. 

I think dyson missed the market for its hand held: Contractors and home improvement repair persons.  But before the DC16 can survive in this venue, it needs a longer run time.

Carmine D.

Venson wrote:
Hi Venson,

I've wondered the same thing, I would think not many.  I wonder if the main buyers of the DC16 are those who want a hand vac for quick pick-ups and want the novelty of owning something with the Dyson name on it, but do not want to shell out $400+ for one of their full-sized cleaners.  That might be one of the reasons for the Issey Miyake special edition version. 

When I'm using the car vac, I don't run it for long periods of time as it really does use power, about 10 minutes at the very most for me which is really all it takes for a good quick cleaning.  It could also be used with the engine running but that would be a major waste. 

I like the idea of the voltage adjustment.  120/240 doesn't involve much as Norelco was doing it with their electric razors in the 1980's.  Not sure what it would take to produce a variable 12-240 switch, can't say I've ever seen one of those before but with this technology there's no reason why it couldn't be done. 

At any rate, I would definitely like to see some improvement to the DC16 in the future.  *Definitely* a corded version, or longer run time on a cordless, however that is accomplished.

-MH

CarmineD wrote:
Hi Carmine,

I agree with you there, the DC16 would have been a good effective handheld for contractors who need something to pick up drywall dust and other debris in small spaces.  With the cyclones fine dust wouldn't clog the filters like the other contractor-grade cordless handhelds out there (Ryobi, B&D, etc.).  Like you said, a longer run time would definitely be in order.  Possibly even an increase in voltage to provide more power.

But it would also need something else.  Part of the problem I've noticed on the current DC16 is that the dirt container is very small (almost miniscule); there is definitely the potential for some debris to become lodged in the inlet or between the bin and shroud.  Also, while the attachment port is of a decent size, the opening of the flat nozzle is too small for jobsite debris.  Increasing the overall size by 50% would work, in other words beef it up a bit.  It could very well become the second most useful tool next to the cordless drill.  Except for wet pickup, why would anyone need to lug around the big Shop-Vac when they could just reach for the handheld and empty it out when finished? 

-MH

CarmineD wrote:

I recently received an email contradicting my above statement.  ORECK sells an Auto Vac with a 15 foot cord that plugs into the accessory power outlet of the car.  I'm not sure who makes the vacuum for ORECK.  It's rated number 1 by a leading auto journal and is awarded 5 Stars.  It doubles as a flashlight.

http://www.oreck.com/small-home-appliances/xlauto_vac.cfm

I'm also told that it routinely sells for $20 with shipping of $5.45 from ORECK and carries a ONE YR. warranty.

Carmine D.

Carmine,

I believe the Oreck auto vac is Douglas (ReadiVac) made, as is the Ironman canister.  Douglas also made the previous incarnation of the Oreck rechargeable and auto hand vac, residential wet/dry vac (no longer produced as I can't find anything on it anymore, the commercial models are of course still around), stick vac (Oreck has since switched to a different type of stick vac different from the Douglas and I can't tell who makes it), and revolving-brush hand vac. 

Douglas also private-labeled some things for Kirby at one point, namely their revolving-brush hand vac (labeled the "Vacuette" just like the early upright) and auto vac.

-MH

MH:

I had heard the ORECK-Douglas connection before and you may well be right.

On a related note, it now appears in the wake and aftermath of Hurricane Gustav [just 3 years after Katrina], that ORECK's decision to move out of New Orleans, Louisiana in favor of Cookeville, Tennessee was the right and bright move.

Carmine D.