central vac breakers

[Clare Snyder]

We have a Canavac XLS970 central vac unit ( replacing our original Beam) with an 8.4 inch dual stage Ametec-Lamb motor rated at 13.4amps. It is running on about 50 frrt of AWG14 Romex on a 15 amp breaker. Sporadically, on initial startup, it will pop the breaker (Square D QO15). Upon further investigation, reading Square D's information, I found they make a "high magnetic" 15 amp breaker for "high performance loads" like AC, CwntralVac, and microwave applications with a high "pull-in" current.

Nobody in Ontario has the darn things in stock - Rona did, but since being taken over by Lowes, they no longer even have them available.

I could wait 'till next week and have the electrical supply order me one in - but I wanted to fix it NOW --

Turns out the 240 volt (double polet) 15 amp QO breakers are ALL High Magnetic - and I had a spare one, and a spare slot in my panel - so I've replaced the single pole with the double pole - we will see what happens,

Just thought you guys might be interested in knowing the little tid-bit about the "high magnetic" breaker fix for intermittent nuisance tripping

[hubops]

We're thinking of a new central vac - replacing 25 year old Beam - - it's still working but the power-beater and hose have seen better days .. replacing them amounts to half the cost of a new system. " Made in Canada " is nice - is there any other reason you chose that brand ? I was surprised to see a few Canadian made central vacs Quebec, Stratford, and another one .. and the others were made in Mexico. John T.

[Clare Snyder]

Well, for starters I won't have anything that does not have a tangential bypass motor. That pretty well narrows it down to a high end ametec/Lamb motor. That narrows the field considerably. Beam used to be the cream of the crop, but they have yielded to the beancounters over the years and are not the product they used to be. Of all the appliances and equipment I buy, the vauum is the only one where I want one that "really sucks". I checked around all the local suppliers and the dealer in Guelph had a KILLER deal on the Cana-Vac

970. That thing will pretty wl literallyll pull the flooring off the sub-floor!!! - so I bought it.

The old beam had a funny high pitch noise to it and I didn't want to have to replace it on IT'S schedule.

Found a loose "baffle" in it when I took it apart, so I cleaned it up, fixed it, and sold it on Kijiji for a few hundred.

[gfretwell]

I can't speak to the CEC but the US NEC would have that on at least a

20a breaker. If this is the only load, you can keep the 14ga wire. I can give the NEC code cites if you want and you can cross reference then to the CEC. Essentially motor loads are not the same as general lighting circuits where the 14ga = 15a breaker rule comes from. Under some circumstances you could even go up to a 40a breaker on 14ga wire on a pure motor load. (that is usually a question on the inspector test)

[Clare Snyder]

It is a dedicated circuit (technically) but I have tacked on the cable modem for the internet (about50ma maximum load?)

If the high-mag breaker does not solve the problem, a 20 amp breaker will be the next step.

[gfretwell]

If you have any additional loads beyond the motor, you need supplemental protection for those loads if you are exploiting the motor rules. I suppose you could argue that the class 2 power supply is already current limited but it is still a violation. That also implies this is a receptacle and that also invalidates the motor exception since it is not an "individual (dedicated) circuit Since this is more than 1440 watts, I bet the instructions say it is supposed to be on a 20a circuit anyway. The NEC/CEC gives you a break on a motor but it is not a blanket exception to the rules.

[Clare Snyder]

I COULD hardwire it

[gfretwell]

That would solve your problems.