Retooling around Roomba

[Jimk]

Well type C plugs do....

[Jimk]

& presumably what is being sucked up by the punta....

[Mike Halmarack]

In the past have always gone for fairly chunky vacuum cleaning devices. Wifey just got us a Roomba and declared independence.

Trying to be a little more realistic, I think we need a bit of peripheral backup. Can anyone recommend a good quality lightweight vacuum cleaner suitable for those awkward nooks and crannies plus upholstery?

[Paul]

Why wouldn't a clunky one continue to vacuum ?

New is not necessarily better. There are things in the following article, with "batteries", that I wouldn't allow in the house. My domicile does not need an unending supply of 18650's. I do not seek to become a slave to "battery repair foolishness".

We had a cannister back home, where the plastic carry handle busted off it maybe 40 years ago. It still works. It still vacuums. And (fortunately), the fittings haven't broken on it. The weakest part is probably the power switch. I would have to go to the Smithsonian museum to find that power switch.

You have to decide whether you're cleaning any "heavy duty carpet", as to which machine is going to cover all your requirements.

And I wouldn't buy a thing like that on-line either. You really need to look at the power head for the carpet cleaning version, to see whether it means business or it's a joke. For the machine I've got, I bought a replacement belt for the power head years ago, and have never needed it. I figured by examination, that was the part most likely to go. The roller the belt powers, still has bristle on it for carpet agitation.

If all the surfaces to be cleaned, have no nap, then there are lots of shitty vacuums that will kinda sorta work. Maybe even a "battery powered stick" as depicted in the article above would work. Will an 18650-based device last the 40 years+ of my example line-powered vacuum from back home ? With that machine, it ain't pretty (there's no cartoon face painted on it), but it does do a days work, and vacuums all the carpets on the main and second floor.

Paul

[Mike Halmarack]

Clunky wasn't abandoned,it died and was ceremoniously buried. I really like you're very detailed reply Paul. I'm not sure it made my decision easier but I'm certainly starting from a different place as a result of it. Ta muchly.

[Theo]

The annoying thing is I already have plenty of 18650s. They're just embedded in battery packs shaped for other power tools. There are battery-sharing 'systems', but they lock you in to that brand of power tools so aren't actually that much use. Although some honourable mentions:

noting that delivers 20 airwatts, while the Dysons are all 100-200 - the latter is the same ballpark as a mains vacuum. So it isn't a lot more than a handheld with a tube.

and further off-piste:

I don't mind battery-replacement-foolishness if I had to buy one pack per 6 months, because I'd worn it out by using it for lots of different things.

The depressing thing is that Dyson is the market leader, and the world is full of broken Dysons. Entire businesses are founded on repairing Dysons - this one hosts a repair forum:

It seems like no-one has quite cracked the market of 'performant', 'built to last' and 'spares availability' in the cordless vacuum space. I should probably study that forum a bit more and see what folks there recommend... (they cover other brands beyond Dyson too)

Theo

[Mike Halmarack]

I'm overwhelmed by the sheer level of detail and complexity suggested. I was game for some selectivity until then. But now, I'm just going to buy the first dust sucker that turns up next at Lidl.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Lots these days seem to be dual purpose. Meaning far to heavy/bulky for the things you just want a small one for. And not really up to the main job either. Seems to be makers re-inventing the wheel. In an attempt to sell new.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Now if I were in charge ;-) I'd legislate for common battery fitments. Obviously for tools using the same voltage and style/type of battery. Rather like they did for phone chargers.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Keep the receipt. Unlike perhaps most things Lidl sells, some of their vacuums are rubbish. But not all. Tends to be filters blocking too easily.

[Mike Halmarack]

I know you're a great champion of The Middle of Lidl. They're attractively low priced, that's for sure. Consequently, I really do wish that most things I've bought from there were not in need of return. Unfortunatly, though I've been lucky in love, I been quite unfortunate in my purchase of Lidl products. I still admire their prices though. And if I hadn't lost some receipts in my recent house move, I wouldn't have much to complain about.

[Theo]

There's nothing on at Lidl at the moment, but Aldi have this:

you can get it elsewhere for less: and it's notable that nowhere does it give any indication of the amount of suction, battery capacity, motor power or anything that would enable assessment of its performance.

And since it's 'Manufactured by UP Global Sourcing UK Ltd' I would expect it's just a name slapped on a Chinese import. And so it is:

(that says 8000Pa max suction, but we'd need the flow rate to work out the airwatts)

There is a Chinese Dyson clone:

for a Dysonesque price.

Theo

[Dave Liquorice]

Except now USB3 (with the smarts to up the voltage considerably) is becoming the "standard" rather than micro USB.

[Theo]

It would be actually quite neat for power tool batteries to gain USB C charging connectors and voltage converters, then you'd only need a USB-PD charger to charge them rather than having the proprietary Makita/whatever charger...

Theo

who had this problem trying to charge power tools from a car - if there's one available, the car chargers often cost a fortune :(

[Dave Liquorice]

100 W invertor feeding the standard mains chargers would do? Might need a relay to switch it off/disconnect when the engine isn't running.

[charles]

I got one for my Ryobi +One batteries which wasn't expensive at all. I wouldn't have bought it if it had been.

[Mike Halmarack]

The AliExpress kind of Trumped the Aldi offering but I ain't currently got no US Dollars. So, I'll wander down the trail for 19 minutes and purchase the Aldi offering. The online trail preferably. My internet is a bit slow but it still makes my potato head spin.

[Theo]

I hope it works out for you. I suspect the Kleeneze one won't be much cop, but I hope it's good enough for what you want...

(Aliexpress is mostly things shipped from China - not worth going there unless you're happy to pay import VAT/duty/fees and potentially waiting a couple of months. A lot of lower priced things get through without extra costs, but not always. The price is in USD but your card company will translate - although some add a 3% fee. I'd always buy from a UK seller if the prices are comparable, which in this case they are)

Theo

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Does that mean you can no longer use an old charger with a new phone (even although it would take longer)

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Would it depend on the voltage of the power tool? Most are 18v or more these days.