Hi End Vacuum Timers

[mjwalsh]

I want to update our outdoor vacuums & would like for the customer to be able to glance & see how much time they have left. The problem is I don't think there is enough room on the faceplate for both the readout & a brand new long drop electronic coin mech. It seems like on the dome--- could be more viewable anyway.

Has anyone considered mounting their LED readout Dixmor(5 or 7) or similar other brand LED timers in a cutout on their stainless steel vacuum domes? Is outdoor temperature or sunlight washout a factor?

It seems like it would be a good idea to use a different stainless steel security head bolt to slow a criminal or a prankster down in removing the whole head which would also have a timer-readout combo part of it.

 

[MEP001]

What type vacuum do you have? Standard JE Adams, Doyle and Industrial all have plenty room on the door and in the box for a Dixmor and standard 2" coin acceptor.

Yes, sunlight will wash out any LED display. Temperature shouldn't be an issue.

 

[mjwalsh]

What type vacuum do you have? Standard JE Adams, Doyle and Industrial all have plenty room on the door and in the box for a Dixmor and standard 2" coin acceptor.

Yes, sunlight will wash out any LED display. Temperature shouldn't be an issue.

I will take a fresh look at our 1987 Doyle Vacuums with the new replacement plates ---- also factoring in if I can gain anything with sunlight angle with some of the domes. I wonder if a sun block lens could be put over the Dixmor LED5 or other brand LED. Our vacuums get much more use during the daylight hours than after dark so if they were dimmer but still readable after dark --- the LED position might be optimized then too or wouldn't matter where we put them then.

 

[MEP001]

There may be an equivalent timer with an LCD instead of LED that would be visible in direct sunlight, but either way I think customers would pay more attention to a "last minute" beeper than a readout while vacuuming.

As far as the Dixmor LED displays, they're still readable on a bright day. They're only washed out when the sun is shining directly into it.

 

[Randy]

You should be able to fit a Dixmor LED timer into the vac face plate. You’re going to have to have custom made face plates made to do it. You’ll have to move the coin acceptor over as far the right as you can then you should enough room to shoehorn in a Dixmor timer. I don’t why you’d want to do it. Most of the customers that I have watched have there head under the seat and are to busy to look at the timer.

 

[MEP001]

Some of the Doyle vacs around that age have a 3" coin mech almost in the center of the door. To move the acceptor, a new hole for the coins to enter the coin box will have to be cut.

 

[mjc3333]

Last minute alert would be the way to go. I just replaced 30 twenty year old powder coated painted Monorail vacs. with new SS JE Adams. I raised my price by 50 cents and did not choose to get a readout display. First, it was not cost effective, and second, the customer cannot read the display and vacuum at the same time. I went with a last minute alert with a sign that you can add more coins if needed just like in the wash bays. Interestingly, the customers still vacuum cycle by cycle, not adding extra coins when needed etc. Old habits die hard.

 

[MEP001]

Our combo vacs have a display and last-minute alert. I do sometimes see people add more coins before the time runs out, but like you said they mostly just start it and run it out. The IDX timers have a grace restart feature and I do occasionally see people add just one or two coins and go back to vacuuming, but I don't think it's because they realize it's a grace feature. It seems more like they just put coins in until they hear it restart.

 

[mjwalsh]

Bonus, grace last minute alert for vacuums

Our combo vacs have a display and last-minute alert. I do sometimes see people add more coins before the time runs out, but like you said they mostly just start it and run it out. The IDX timers have a grace restart feature and I do occasionally see people add just one or two coins and go back to vacuuming, but I don't think it's because they realize it's a grace feature. It seems more like they just put coins in until they hear it restart.

It seems my customers are plenty fickle for the most part so the visual countdown will probably be reassuring to them that they aren't being cheated. To possibly encourage a bit more dollar coin use I am leaning towards charging a dollar for 9 minutes & 2 quarters for 4 minutes. Right now I am 50 cents for 5 minutes. It seems like those cheaper 110volt vac timers are not as accurate as the higher end timers --- I might be wrong.

I doubt it if the customer will hear the last minute alert over the load vacuums so if Dixmor or IDX has a grace period I would be possibly leaning towards that. On our dog wash we have 1 inch numerals 60 second grace period countdown that begins our display in context Disinfectant & continues the shutoff & back on & leaves it on the screen for a final use & the ability to put in any amount to continue the options. That was done PLC - Touchscreen though ---- a quite a bit different application than the Vacuums.

I guess a guy could get creative & have a small real bright flashing light on the last minute alert output. A bright enough light to be able to see out of the side of their eyes. It would tend to reflect & flash on their surfaces depending on where they parked. It might be a way to subtly encourage them to straddle the vac in a more preferred way?

 

[MEP001]

It seems like those cheaper 110volt vac timers are not as accurate as the higher end timers --- I might be wrong.

It's been my experience that they're perfectly accurate.

I doubt it if the customer will hear the last minute alert over the load vacuums

The right beeper, including the standard Dixmor horn, can be heard very easily over the vacuum motors, especially if it's in the dome.