New EU Rules Will Limit Vacuum Cleaners To 1600W 338
AmiMoJo writes "New EU rules are limiting vacuum cleaner motors to 1600W from 2014/09/01. The EU summary of the new rules explains that consumers currently equate watts with cleaning power, which is not the case. Manufacturers will be required to put ratings on packaging, including energy efficiency, cleaning efficiency on hard and carpeted floors, and dust emissions from the exhaust. In the EU vacuum cleaners use more energy than the whole of Denmark, and produce more emissions than dishwashers and washing machines."
Re:Do the math (Score:2, Insightful)
1600W at US/120V standard is 13.33Amps.
Most standard house circuits are 15A (maybe 20A, above that it's the special 240V/30A+ outlets for stove, dryer, etc).
Add a couple of 100W incandescent bulbs on in the room and you'd be popping the breaker turning on your vacuum.
I know it's Europe, but who TF would want/need more power than that for a F'in vacuum cleaner? I can run an HP color laserjet and 3x 450W power supply pc's, an 8-drive NAS box, plus a Cisco switch, router, light, and a 50W stereo system (all in this room) off that same 1600W (I'm sure the pc's aren't drawing anywhere near that 450W full time though, and the printer is mostly off - but I have had all of them going at times).
Re:Do the math (Score:2, Insightful)
1600W is about two horse powers, and if you think you can keep a house clean with two horses running though it, I have a barn to sell you.
A single horse is strong enough to lift any dirt you might possibly have off you floor. The problem is that its much cheaper to build an inefficient vacuum cleaner than an efficient one so they mostly use all those watts for creating heat and just a fraction to suck.
Re:Do the math (Score:2, Insightful)
A single horse is strong enough to lift any dirt you might possibly have off you floor. The problem is that its much cheaper to build an inefficient vacuum cleaner than an efficient one so they mostly use all those watts for creating heat and just a fraction to suck.
An inefficient vacuum cleaner rated at 2000W sells better than an efficient one rated at 1200W. Because it has more power!!!!!!11!!!!1eleven!!!!
Re:Do the math (Score:3, Insightful)
Why do you actually care how much time your washing machine uses? Fill it up, switch it on and do something else during the time.You are not a cat, you don't have to stay and watch it spin. European washing machines take so long because the detergents are much milder.
more rules.... (Score:2, Insightful)
The EU found yet another way of telling me what to do. They should mind their own business, and stop wasting tax money.
Re:They've gone nuts with Wattage. (Score:5, Insightful)
Fire hazards are not directly linked to wattage. It's all about overheating. Bigger power motors are bigger (surprise) and are capable of withstanding more heat because of it.
Additionally higher wattage does not mean more power use in an ordinary scenario. An induction motor will still only draw the amount of power needed to get it spinning to the correct speed. Take a 1400W vacuum and a 2400W vacuum and put them on the carpet they'll likely draw the same amount of power.
Now quite critically when you block the suction pipe that's when the differences become evident. Most vacuums have a relief valve which will allow it to suck air in after a certain pressure is reached. This RV will dictate the amount of power that the vacuum sucks and if sized correctly the motor will still not draw its full rated current. What will happen in reality is the higher rated motor will have a lower minimum suction pressure and a lower set RV.
Where the entire mess catches fire is either:
a) Stupidly set RVs
b) Lack of overload protection for the motor.
c) Stupid design of the vacuum that doesn't provide adequate cooling (I've had a hot air gun catch fire in my hand once due to such brain dead design, that tip will never get hot, lets support it with plastic. What could go wrong.)
This doesn't excuse the stupidity of selling a 2400W vacuum, but power does not directly equate to fire hazard.
Re:Do the math (Score:5, Insightful)
I don't know about that. We bought a high end Miele vacuum cleaner and it's very quiet. We viewed that as a premium feature when we bought it.
I think what you're saying might be true for the uneducated, lower end of the market.