Imperium

At the International Builder's Show in Orlando I saw a new unit Vacuflo has.  It has two of the good Lamb Ametek motors in series.  It is really powerful.  I don't think there is an issue with motor life because VacuFlo offers a lifetime warranty on parts.  VacuMaid manufactures a central vacuum system with a Lamb Ametek motor that stops when the carbon brushes get worn down so that you can replace the carbon brushes before the motor burns up.  I think I would stay with a system that has a Lamb Ametek motor.  I'm not really sure about the motors that are made in China or Eastern Europe.  Lamb Ametek has longevity in the central vacuum industry.  I have a dual motor Imperium central vacuum and I use it with a Hide a Hose, which I love. 

The Vacuflo 560 was discontinued about 4 years ago.  It was a really good unit.  Vacuflo actually offered a lifetime guarantee on that unit, but the warranty only applied to the original owner.  Nevertheless, they apparently had confidence in the unit if it had a lifetime guarantee.

Carmine,
240 volt systems are usually two motor systems and are more powerful than 120 volt systems.  A 120 volt unit with comparable power would require #10 electrical wire which is more expensive to run and would also require a 30 amp circuit instead of the 15 or 20 amp circuit the 240 volt system requires.  However, there are 120 volt systems that are still powerful and plug into an ordinary electrical outlet.