Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

http://gizmodo.com/345918/dyson-dc24-vac-sir-james-brings-his-ball-back

Two models, one small, one large :-

DC24
http://www.dyson.co.uk/store/product.asp?product=DC24-ALLFLOORS

DC25
http://www.dyson.co.uk/store/product.asp?product=DC25-ALLFLOORS

Hi Trilobite

That does surprise me a little with the DC14 but I suppose with it being a more powerful machine (only slightly!?) than the DC15 plugging that hole wouldn't make much difference!

One thing James Dyson mentioned when he was designing and engineering his first bagless machine (DC01) and still to this day he wanted a machine that was easy to use, no dials and switches to bend down and change so he put the self adjusting floating head on the DC01 and all uprights to follow so far!  I believe the first machine James Dyson designed that was sold in Japan before the DC01 had a switch on the front which was a height adjuster (correct me if I'm wrong!).  I do like the floating head on the Dyson machines but if Dyson were to look at this all his current designs would not work with a carpet height adjuster.  Vacuums that use this are 4 or 3 wheel designs, a design that James Dyson and his team see a flaw with, hence the ball design!  Plus the 2 wheel design that his other models use!

One machine I believe has the answer on the current market is the Sebo X4 with it automatic height adjust that continuely senses the height of the head to make sure it's at optimal level (taking brush bar wear into consideration!) on all floor types!

DC18

DC or anyone,

I have never seen or used a vacuum with this automatic carpet height adjuster.  I the patent (Hoover) shows it using a dedicated motor and gearing.  Does it work?  Does it much additional weight?  Thanks.        DIB

DIB

I can not comment on any other that has used a simular auto height adjuster like the Sebo X4.  I've demo'd a Sebo X4 and it seem light in use, and no heavy to pickup than any standard upright!  From the demo the machine adjusted the head cleaning height to the correct height for that floor type.  You can see a demo on the Sebo UK website of this.  The way the Sebo work it uses an onboard computer which is constantly monitor and adjusting the cleaning head height using a centre wheel underneath.  I believe also in conjuction with the brush bar, it senses when the brush bar is in contact with the carpet and adjusts to the correct height (not too low or too high).  The Felix does not have this feature but an indicator tells you if you have the manual height too high or too low!

The Sebo X4 and Felix feels like they has 'self propelled' built in as the cleaner moves\glides forward with minimum effort to push it!

The one thing I used to find on cleaners I've used with manual height adjustment is that there is always a carpet in the house where none of the settings suit.  Too high or too low!  Where as self adjusting there is no issue, but thats my personal opinion from my own usage!

DC18

DC18 wrote:

For the record:  This is the classic sales pitch [exact word for word verbage] HOOVER and its reps used in the early 1960's with the Dial-a-Matic.  The demo to show the self-adjusting head worked like this:  With the HOOVER Dial in the ready position, the rep would get down and with his/her hands positioned on each end of the brush nozzle and lift it up and down.  While saying it self adjusts to all carpet heights. 

At the time, the overriding consideration for the appeal of the HOOVER Dial was its two in one vacuums.  Conventional upright with beater bar for rugs and a full one horse power suction motor for attachment and above the floor cleaning.  The Dial feature was to increase/decrease the one horse power suction motor for both rug/tool cleaning.  6 settings.  3 for rugs.  3 for floors/tools.  Low medium and high.  The User manual admonished users never ever to exceed medium suction for rug cleaning. 

It wasn't long before the Dial was changed to include a 3 position rug height adjuster on the head nozzle.  So much for the self-adjusting floating head [nozzle].

Almost 45 years later with the DC07 pink, I experienced the exact same problem [as the Dial] on my rugs.  Now made worse by the ratcheting noise.  Why?  The supposed self-adjusting dyson brush bar nozzle sinks into the rug and stops the brushbar.  In turn triggering the ratcheting noise. 

Carmine D.

My problem with the Dysons is that the lack of sensible features make them awkward to use, particularly the lack of carpet height control, and the exceedingly useful handle-pedal lock.

I find (and other people I know, have also found) that the Dysons are awkward to maneouvre over different height levels, such as the threshold strips between rooms. Or trying to go from fitted carpet onto a hearth rug. With a Dyson, you have either to reverse over the height difference, or bend down and lift the head over, or put the cleaner fully upright and lift it onto the rug.

With most other upright makes, one simply presses down upon the machine's handle, the cleaner head pivots upon the rear wheels, push straight over the height difference - and you carry on cleaning.

Simple.

Also, the cleaning hose is a nuisance, having to haul out the aluminium wand in order to use the hose itself. Who is going to use an unwieldy wand, to vacuum around fine ornaments on a mantlepiece? Not me, nor several ladies I know.

Be interesting to see if Dyson put any of these features on it's machines in the future!  I personally don't think they will, James Dyson and his Team as DIB has pointed out likes to think out side of the box and be different and not follow everyone else!  All the cleaners I've used with foot release pedals which lock the handle have at some point broke!

To put a handle release lock would not suit the Ball design or the design like the DC07\DC14\DC17.  The DC07\DC14\DC17 would have to have a foot pedal which is what Dyson wanted to get away from and to have easy to use machines.  Foot on the front pull back on the handle to use.  Easy solution with these models to go over uneven surfaces push handle to upright position tilt back on rear wheels push over surface (uneven) push foot on the corner of the cleaning head to lower back to floor and away you go again! Just a different way of using a vacuum.  Not to everyones taste!

The hose on a Dyson is separate to the main airflow and only engaged when needed.  Less blockages better airflow and shorter path to the collection bin when using the vacuum normally.   They wanted to get away from the hose being part of the main airflow from the cleaning head to the collection bin/bag, causing longer air paths and more potential for blockages and poor airflow.  I can see the point when you only need the hose, the DC15 and I think the DC14 is the same.  You can pull the wand out the top and without releasing the wand\handle from the machine unclip the hose so you have only the hose to use.

The nicest printable compliment I heard about the sales appeal of dyson vacuums is that they are toys with a purpose.  Ironically something very similar to M00seUK's commentary on iRobot Roombas.

Carmine D.

I think these are valid points on the Dyson cleaning head. I personally prefer a machine without a manual height adjuster... even if it perhaps decreases the performance ever so slightly.

Going between rooms or on to hearth rugs can be a real problem for the Dyson. It is normally possible to put your foot on the underside of the head and raise it - but this is far from ideal - A foot lever would be many times better.

DC18 wrote:

Well I don't think James Dyson is thinking 'out of the box', (apart from placing cyclones in series, and the ball wheel). He seems to be trying to not use available technology, but ultimately ends up doing so. If he wants to make the most efficient cleaner, he should use Hoover's later agitator designs, in order to give the carpets a decent beating.

As to a foot pedal, what is that fitted to DC15, 18, 24, & 25?...it's a foot pedal!

And staying with foot-operated controls, what about the clutch-belt models DC04, 07, & 14? Those too, are foot operated (or hand, if you can be bothered to bend down).

I have used a great many cleaners with hoses as the integral dirt path, and never had any major problem with them. The hoses fitted to the Hoover and Electrolux machines of the 1980's and 90's, tended to be of a thicker pvc

By the way, what happened to Dyson's "constant diameter airways" and "MEMA" filters?

Anyway, I'm not very pleased with the DC15 leaving old dirt in the carpets.

DC18 wrote:

DC18,

I saw the x4 video, it was something to watch.  And thank you for all the additional info too!        DIB