Central Vac...

Sputnik · Post by **Sputnik** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 9:16 am

My new house has a rough in for a central vac - the outlets and pipes are all here. So I bought one on Friday. Now... how do I connect the damn thing? I've got two pipes coming from my basement ceiling that seem to be central vac pipes. Do I just connect those two pipes to each other and then over to the vac? And what kind of electrical outlet do I need? I have NONE in the basement yet (except for laundry), so I'm going to get an electrician to install a bunch, but what kind do I need specifically for the vac?

GMJAP · Post by **GMJAP** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 10:05 am

Don't have any experience with central vac except from the user's side (and I love it) - but I wonder if one of those 2 pipes is for exhaust. Good luck.(Mine is in the garage, so it just has one pipe coming from the house. the exhaust is unconnected)

Herb · Post by **Herb** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 1:09 pm

From what I've seen most use regular good old 110v. If you already bought the vac, the specs should be on the documentation that came with it.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 2:01 pm

Yeah, one should be exhaust. Our CV system is in the basement, and I know when someone uses it you hear it outside and there's an outlet that looks like a dryer vent where the system exhausts.Our system runs off a traditional outlet. I think most of them do. Central vacs fricken rock.

03VibeGT6Spd · Post by **03VibeGT6Spd** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 2:10 pm

I'm getting ready to rebuild a house.I think that would be a awesome option to add to the house, during reframing.I'll have to look into this more.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 2:19 pm

Quote, originally posted by 03VibeGT6Spd Â»I'm getting ready to rebuild a house.I think that would be a awesome option to add to the house, during reframing.I'll have to look into this more.It really is a fantastic thing. I can't imagine life with a regular vacuum. Our system is over 20 years old and it NEVER has had a single problem. We have a budd: http://www.buddvac.comI saw on one of those home improvement TV shows that there's a new system that's even cooler. It's a central wet/dry vac! http://www.aquaair-wetdry.com/

djpositivek · Post by **djpositivek** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 1:50 am

We got a Hoover at Costco for our new place. My father in-law helped me install it. Wasn't too bad, just folled all the instructions. Works really well. They have a coupon at costco in Canada coming up soon for anyone interested. Reg: $600 but down to $450 I think after coupon. Includes all stuff to hook it up too. I'll get the details and report back here in case anyone is interested in buying one.

Sputnik · Post by **Sputnik** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 4:06 am

Okay so we are attempting to install the vac today. We've figured out that the two tubes in the basement each lead to one inlet valve on another floor. So okay, we gotta connect those two tubes together. Thats easy. Now our problem is getting the unit to turn on when you plug in the hose! Its wired with low voltage wire and my boyfriend has stuck the wire into the power unit on the vac, but nothing happens when you plug a hose in. We had to splice together some more wire because it wasn't long enough initially. So we did that, then it came with these push on terminal thingies that stick into the power unit. And yes we did turn on the power unit. Any thoughts?

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 7:21 am

Can you get pics of the outlets and the unit itself?On my unit, what happens is there are two contacts on the faceplate. You lift the cover up, stick the hose in, then drop the cover down. There's a metal wire on the cover that bridges the two terminals on the face plate, closing the circuit and activating the unit.It's 25 years old though, I'm sure yours is more sophisticated.

GMJAP · Post by **GMJAP** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 7:22 am

The low voltage wire should operate a relay in the power unit that turns of the vac. When you connect the two wires it should come on. Try connecting them right at the unit to see if it comes on - If yes, then you've got a wiring problem somewhere. If not, then something isn't right with the hookup of the power unit.Usually there are a couple contacts on the plugs, and a piece of metal of the end of the hose. When the hose is plugged in, the metal strip should make connection between the two contacts in the plug. Or, like ours, there's seperate strips for each contact which go to a switch on the hose handle, so it can be switched on/off by the handle switch. But the hose has to be put in the plug in a certain orientation.Edit Well, Raging posted while I was writing mine.

Sputnik · Post by **Sputnik** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 7:42 am

My inlets are exactly as you describe - they have the two metal contact points. When we put the hose in the one upstairs nothing happens. When we put the hose in the one downstairs, it doesn't start, but a red light does turn on on the unit (no sound, just the light). I think we must be missing some instructions with this thing... it just seems so vague.

Sputnik · Post by **Sputnik** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 8:10 am

Does it matter that we don't have any of the pvc piping connected to the power unit itself? We have the wiring all connected just to see if the thing will power up... but should we have the pvc piping all connected to it as well? Would that cause it not to come on?My boyfriend tried connecting it right at the unit and the little red light came on but other than that, nothing.

GMJAP · Post by **GMJAP** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 12:38 am

Quote, originally posted by Sputnik Â»Does it matter that we don't have any of the pvc piping connected to the power unit itself? We have the wiring all connected just to see if the thing will power up... but should we have the pvc piping all connected to it as well? Would that cause it not to come on?My boyfriend tried connecting it right at the unit and the little red light came on but other than that, nothing.It should run fine without the PVC connected. Seems like an issue with the unit- maybe the power connection, make sure there isn't any packing in the filter.It does seem like there is some wiring issue with the upstairs, but that should be separate from getting the unit to run by connecting the wires right at the unit.Sorry I can't be of any more help than restating the obvious.Does the manual / installation instructions have a "trouble-shooting" section that mentions anything about the red light?

Sputnik · Post by **Sputnik** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 1:00 am

Well we got all the PVC pipes connected at least. Still isn't working. I'll give Sears a call and see if they will send someone out to look at it. I would expect that would be covered by them since its only two weeks old. Thanks for all the suggestions!

GMJAP · Post by **GMJAP** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 4:07 am

Ever get this figured out?Just curious.

Sputnik · Post by **Sputnik** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 5:58 am

Nope. Sears is coming Tuesday - the first day of my vacation.

Sputnik · Post by **Sputnik** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 10:15 am

Yeah my inlaws have on in their kitchen.

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