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Vac Problem

rlbjrcpa

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I have a vacuum that stops and starts through out the cycle - it never totally stops until the time is up. Have tried switching out the timer and it still does the same thing. Any thoughts on what the problem might be? Could it be the vac driver? Thanks in advance for any help.
 

lag

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Mercury switch. Or bad connection to motors. Loose connection on motor control voltage.

Do you know have a volt meter? You would need to check the voltage from the mer. Switch (or similar device)to the motors. Also check voltage to the control side of the switch.

If you are not fimiliar with the electrical componants, or not comfortable with higher voltages you may want to call in someone who is. I seen many people get a good shock from their vacs.
 

rlbjrcpa

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Thanks for the help! The vac is a Dilling Harris Max Vac. I'll recheck the connections to the motors, etc. I have a volt meter so if the connections are good, I'll use it to check the voltage to the switch.
 

carwashtokens

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I'm having the same problem with one of my vacs. Aside from replacing it with a functional one, how do you determine if a vac driver is malfunctioning?
 

Earl Weiss

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I'm having the same problem with one of my vacs. Aside from replacing it with a functional one, how do you determine if a vac driver is malfunctioning?
Uh, is a vac driver a vac motor?

If so there are a couple of simple ways. Open the door on the vac and turn it on with the door open. See if both/ all motors spin. If you do it with the door closed the suction form the other motors cause it to spin.

A dangerous way you should not do is hold the motor and stick the leads in an outlet or end of an extension cord. You culd also build a cheap test cord from a cord with a mail plug on one end and alligator clips on the other. Bench test the motor by clipping the ends to the motor leads. - MAKE SURE THE MOTOR IS SECURE TO THE BENCH -and then plugging the male end into the outlet.
 

RykoPro

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If you mean the "counter timer" as the driver the way to check it is: start the vac (making sure it started with the correct number of pulses it is set for) and monitor the output voltage that will either go directly to the motor or to a contactor coil. If this checks out OK and is constant through out the cycle you need to then check that the voltage is reaching the contactor coil, check that the common wire is good and that the contactor is fully engaging. If the contactor coil voltage is constant you need to check the voltage going through the contactor at the output side (the side that feeds the motor). If this is constant you then need to check all the wires between the contactor and the motor.
 
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