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Central
Vacuum Terminology
What Do
All These Central Vacuum Related Words Mean?
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When shopping for a central vacuum
system, or simply trying to learn more about them, you may come
across some wording you don't fully understand. These central
vacuum definitions will help you better understand some of the
terminology used in the central vacuum industry.
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ABS Plastic
A high impact plastic polymer made of Acrylonitrile, Butadiene
and Styrene. This combination provides a high gloss finish that
incorporates manmade rubber to provide many, many years of
maintenance free use. It also dampens the natural sound made by
an electric central vacuum motor. Most brands that feature ABS
have a long lasting or lifetime warranty on the vacuum's
canister. |
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Airflow
When a central vacuum cleaner is started, it creates a vacuum or
an area of low pressure. Outside air rushes in to fill this
vacuum. This rush of air or "Airflow" is controlled and directed
for maximum cleaning efficiency. |
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Air Watts
Represents the air power delivered by the central vacuum unit at
various orifice sizes. The calculation is: Air Watts = Water
lift X CFM/ 8.5. |
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Amperage (Amps)
Represents the amount of electrical current used by the central
vacuum motor during use. Ampere is to electricity, as gallon is
to water; a measure of quantity. |
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Armature
The part of the central vacuum motor that rotates, and on the
end of which vacuum fans are mounted. A quality armature is
mounted on ball bearings, and protected from incoming vacuum air
that has been heated and dirtied. |
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Bypass Cooling
A separate stream of air that cools the central vacuum's motor;
different from the air that draws dirt from the home. |
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CFM (Cubic Feet Per Minute)
A common unit of the measure of air moved by the vacuum fans. |
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Cyclonic Action
Cyclonic action describes the natural action found in a tornado.
In a central vacuum with cyclonic filtration, the air carrying
the dust and debris moves through a tornado action. The air
swirls downward in a cone-shaped pattern. At the bottom of the
cone, it starts swirling upward again, inside the downward cone.
Thus this is sometimes called a 'reverse' tornado action or
'dual cyclonic action'. The vast majority of the debris
separates from the air steam as air reaches the bottom of the
swirl, and is deposited in the dirt container. Only a small
fraction remains in the air, to be removed by the secondary,
cartridge-type filter or other filter type. |
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Fan
The fan is the combination of blades that spin around to create
the airflow to produce the vacuuming action. A central vacuum
motor with two fans is called a 'two-stage' motor; if it has
three fans it's 'three-stage' motor. |
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HEPA
HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particle Arrestor, used to
reduce the number of contaminants in indoor air. A HEPA filter
will arrest or stop 99.97% of all particles .3 microns or
larger. |
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Motor Brushes
The sliding contacts that provide electrical power between the
stationary stator and the rotating armature of an electrical
motor. Brushes are the most wearable part of an electric central
vacuum motor, and should be replaced every few hundred hours or
few years of operation. |
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Stage
This indicates the number of sets of fan blades in a central
vacuum motor. Each fan - set of blades - increases the vacuum,
or speed at which air is drawn through the system. The first fan
starts air movement; the second increases it, and if there is a
third fan it increases airflow still more. |
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Volts
A measure of the electrical potential employed by a central
vacuum motor. Typically, motors require common household
current; 110-120 in North America; 240 volts in other parts of
the world. Voltage is to electricity as pressure is to water; a
measure of potential or driving force. |
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