Converting coin vacs to a central vac?

[tw1012]

Is it possible to take four coin operated vacs, put them together attach to PVC pipe running above my bays and have a central vac system? Has anyone tried this? Will it work?

 

[Earl Weiss]

Is it possible to take four coin operated vacs, put them together attach to PVC pipe running above my bays and have a central vac system? Has anyone tried this? Will it work?

You want to do htis because...?

 

[mac]

Take Earl's advuce. Lay down till that thought goes away.

 

[tw1012]

I am converting my wash to a full service format. Instead of four self service stalls I want to have three lanes with vacuum hoses coming down from the canopy.

 

[MEP001]

Since you already have the vacs, it would cost practically nothing to convert them to push-button or toggle switch start and use them.

 

[tw1012]

I already rewired them with toggle switches. It's set up for four stalls but the middle are too tight. If I go to lanes I can handle 6 cars with a bypass lane for express washes.

Is it possible to do with the equipment I have or am I stuck finding a central vac system?

 

[Washmee]

I think you have 2 problems. Most coin operated vac motors are not rated for continuous duty and they are very noisy. Get a central vac.

 

[mjwalsh]

Our experience

Is it possible to take four coin operated vacs, put them together attach to PVC pipe running above my bays and have a central vac system? Has anyone tried this? Will it work?

tw,

We have done the central vac --- plastic pipe manifold approach with two vacuums to gain vacuum power in our laundromat. There is an issue that all the vacs must be on at once causing a waste factor or the spare (not on) vacs will actually cause a loss of suction.

Unless you have someway of automatically opening & closing ports I would be cautious.

Hope this sharing helps you on your decision better than just saying "don't do it"

Mike

 

[tw1012]

Maybe I could just hang the existing vacs from the canopy to get them out of the way, I would not have as many hoses as I would like (4 hoses instead of the 6-8 that I would like but it would be cheaper than buying a central vac and would probably work for a while until I know if my new format will work.

How much is a central vac and is it possible to buy them used?