Thread Number: 15853
Tristar Compact Hepa Filter - How Much Is Enough? |
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Post# 168859 , Reply# 2   2/8/2012 at 18:07 (4,431 days old) by sanifan ()   |   | |
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So the Filter Fresh is not so good? Agh! Would you recommend using it at all if it's so constricting? |
Post# 168866 , Reply# 5   2/8/2012 at 18:35 (4,431 days old) by floor-a-matic (somewhere)   |   | |
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I ONLY use the pre-motor HEPA dome filter AND the regular flat disc exhaust filter on the TriStar & Compacts because I have allergies; & there hasn't been a significant reduction in airflow & suction. |
Post# 168868 , Reply# 6   2/8/2012 at 18:39 (4,431 days old) by floor-a-matic (somewhere)   |   | |
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Has anyone tried this filter here on the TriStar's exhaust? If so, how good does the vac work? This filter is washable, but VERY expensive. CLICK HERE TO GO TO floor-a-matic's LINK |
Post# 168894 , Reply# 8   2/8/2012 at 21:18 (4,431 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)   |   | |
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I have a few of these early 'Space Needle Restaurant' IEC after-motor filters that contain a replaceable pleated ring cased in a metal diamond mesh with rubber gasket rings, inside the transparent smoked plastic 'tower'. Reminds me of a Holley carb air filter and may very well be with IEC roots in industrial aircraft standards.The tapered end is a match for the hose coupler and and does fit the angled exhaust port but really only looks good and right on a Compact with the oval vertical exhaust port. It does not pretend to be HEPA and even so I have yet to see one blackened by carbon. But because of it's precarious exposure to obstacles, whatever the mounting angle, they are usually found with the lower tube snapped off.
The 'butt plug' mushroom filters I've examined are nothing more than a black scouring pad disk sandwiched between two open cell foam discs of slightly different porosities - hardly HEPA in my books.
But if you are one who believes in the advertised effectiveness of domestic HEPA what does it matter how ugly it is? And they are unnecessarily ugly lumps on such a sculptured and powerful vacuum. In the end the Compact/Tristar is an extremely well made and functioning machine from its inception, that needs only the pre-motor filter as preventive maintenance should either of the bags inexplicably leak. As Sandy points out The Compact was ahead of the competition from the get-go such that decades later the tweaks to the system seem to be more marketing department driven - to keep up with the fads - than engineering mandated.
Dave |
Post# 168972 , Reply# 13   2/9/2012 at 12:41 (4,430 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)   |   | |
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Post# 169053 , Reply# 14   2/9/2012 at 23:36 (4,430 days old) by kirbylux77 (London, Ontario, Canada)   |   | |
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Khoi, I would not use the Filter Fresh filter on a TriStar. I have one, but never use it....It DOES restrict airflow signifigantly, plus I also found that the pleated filter clogged quickly with fine dust, too. And Sandy makes an excellent point of how easily the filter basket can be damaged if the Filter Fresh gets knocked off while in use.
I have the VacFX Dome HEPA filter, & I use it with my Miracle Mate, as there is no way of using an external filter with either Miracle Mate or Vortech Force. They are a good quality filter & seems to do it's job well, but the only thing I don't like about it is you don't get much filtering material- after all, there's only so much they can stuff inside the dome. And the dome filters also have to be replaced every 6 months. Also, there is no way to filter carbon dust. So, as much as they are good, I would only use it on a vacuum that there is no way to use an external filter. There is another option here that I'm sure never entered the minds of my fellow posters here. One of the TriStar copies, the Patriot vacuum, has the Medik-Aire HEPA filter. It was basically Patriot's take on the "buttplug" filter. It does look massive- it literally looks like they put a balloon on the back of the vacuum- but it does an excellent job of filtering! I would dare anyone on here to find a better HEPA filter than it on ANY vacuum....you're not gonna find a better one. The filter comes mounted onto a metal tube, & it twists into place same as if you were to use the TriStar as a blower with the hose attached. The filter fits very tightly- it does not come off easily while in use. Patriot claims this filter will last for 3 years before it needs changing, but I feel that's being conservative....I think it should last at least 5 years before it needs changing, if you were to wash the cloth filter bag & foam filter inside the dome every 6 months. The only drawback is the filter is VERY expensive....they ask $200 dollars for it brand new, whether purchased direct or thru a distributor. But to me, it's worth it, especially when you consider what some other HEPA filters from other manufacturers, such as Miele, sell for. You would find that over the course of 5 years you would easily spend over $200 dollars replacing HEPA filters in some other vacuums. If you are worried about the filter basket on the TriStar becoming damaged, the filter basket from the Patriot can be used on the TriStar. They are identical, with the difference being the Patriot's filter basket has a metal pin, not plastic. Another option would be to use the Vortech Force MicroFilter. This is essentially the same thing as the dome HEPA filter, except larger. But, again, you would have no way of filtering carbon dust from the motor. The link below is to Patriot's website, showing the Medik-Aire HEPA filter. Rob CLICK HERE TO GO TO kirbylux77's LINK |
Post# 169147 , Reply# 20   2/10/2012 at 20:00 (4,429 days old) by kirbylux77 (London, Ontario, Canada)   |   | |
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Sandy, when I mention the Filter Basket, Part #34 is EXACTLY the part I am referring to. If you take a look at the Filter Basket on your TriStar, on the inside there is a plastic "pin" or "nub" that catches onto the slot on your hose connector when you insert the hose for blowing. That "pin" or "nub" on the Patriot's filter basket is METAL, not plastic; it's a metal pin that's been riveted in place on the inside of the filter basket, same as the pin that's on the inside of the bag cover of the TriStar or Patriot. The Patriot's filter basket is otherwise IDENTICAL IN APPEARANCE to the TriStar filter basket; it has the same tabs the Filter Fresh filter attaches onto that can be broken, & the company does supply a cap, same as TriStar's that is attached when the Medik-Aire HEPA filter is not in use. The Filter Basket is riveted in place on the vacuum, same as a TriStar would be.
As a matter of fact, I have seen an Ebay shop that sells Patriot vacuums & they include the Filter Fresh filter from the TriStar, not the Medik-Aire HEPA filter. Rob |
Post# 169150 , Reply# 22   2/10/2012 at 20:11 (4,429 days old) by kirbylux77 (London, Ontario, Canada)   |   | |
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Post# 169153 , Reply# 23   2/10/2012 at 20:18 (4,429 days old) by danemodsandy ()   |   | |
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Thanks for the info. That means using the Patriot basket instead of the TriStar one would not have prevented the damage that was on my particular machine. |
Post# 169154 , Reply# 24   2/10/2012 at 20:21 (4,429 days old) by twocvbloke ()   |   | |
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All the more reason to use a dome filter and an exhaust diffuser... :D |
Post# 169215 , Reply# 30   2/11/2012 at 13:08 (4,428 days old) by danemodsandy ()   |   | |
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"Durham County" I meant County Durham, of course! |
Post# 169217 , Reply# 31   2/11/2012 at 13:23 (4,428 days old) by danemodsandy ()   |   | |
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"Durham County" I meant County Durham, of course! |
Post# 169338 , Reply# 38   2/12/2012 at 13:52 (4,427 days old) by danemodsandy ()   |   | |
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....There are a lot of Edie Pegdens in this world, aren't there? |
Post# 169356 , Reply# 39   2/12/2012 at 17:48 (4,427 days old) by floor-a-matic (somewhere)   |   | |
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Will the Vac FX HEPA filter fit the EXL & MG Series TriStar vacs? |
Post# 169389 , Reply# 41   2/13/2012 at 00:56 (4,427 days old) by kirbylux77 (London, Ontario, Canada)   |   | |
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David, the Dome Filter, or "prefilter" as you refer to it as, was slightly changed when the EXL came out. It is very similar though to the CXL/DXL/EX20 Dome Filter.
Erik, if you have the EXL or MG1 that uses the 2 stage motor, the Dome HEPA filter should fit fine. However, if you have the MG2, I doubt it will fit....starting with the MG2, they changed to the Aerus VM3 motor which is a single stage motor, & is junk! That motor is not well-made & has a VERY short lifespan, especially compared to the Ametek motors used years ago. They probably changed the size of the Dome Filter to accomodate the new motor, so the Dome HEPA filter for the old models likely won't fit. Rob |
Post# 169398 , Reply# 44   2/13/2012 at 02:49 (4,427 days old) by kirbylux77 (London, Ontario, Canada)   |   | |
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I did not say that the Aerus VM3 motor was faulty. It's just my personal opinion that the motors are junk....that they are poorly-made Chinese motors, & they do have a relatively short lifespan. It's VERY COMMON in my area to see Tristar MG1's & MG2's with the VM3 motor come into the repair shop with dead motors, & they are only about 5-7 years old. The owner has told me he won't even put a new VM3 motor in those machines- he immediately orders the motor seal from the EXL & puts the Ametek motor the CXL/DXL used, or occasionally a Domel motor if he has one on hand. So that's pretty bad when even a repairman has no faith in the motors. They may (supposedly) have better performance, but if so, I haven't seen it, & that performance comes at a cost....namely much lower quality & a signifigantly reduced lifespan.
It's my understanding that all new Aerus vacuums are using the VM3 motor now across the entire line of canisters they sell. Considering I tried the Perfect canister over the holidays & they were MUCH MORE powerful than the Aerus Guardian Ultra, & the Perfect sells for about $100-$200 less depending on which shop you buy from. Even with the lack of direct-connect wands, headlight, no HEPA filter on the exhaust, & no Sidekick included (although you do get an air-driven turbo brush included), I would take the Perfect over any new Aerus canister vacuum. Rob |
Post# 169437 , Reply# 47   2/13/2012 at 16:31 (4,426 days old) by Elux89 ()   |   | |
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FYI, Aerus stopped using the VM3 motor about two years ago, they are now using a JEI motor. Sure would like to know where some of you guys get your information from. |
Post# 169727 , Reply# 50   2/15/2012 at 23:05 (4,424 days old) by floor-a-matic (somewhere)   |   | |
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What's the difference between a VM3 & a JEI motor? |
Post# 169744 , Reply# 51   2/16/2012 at 03:50 (4,424 days old) by piano_god (British Columbia, Canada)   |   | |
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VM3 was a single-stage motor made by Electrolux AB, but was referred to in literature as a "Vastervick" (possibly from being made in their former factory in Vastervik, Sweden???). Not only was this motor found in Aerus machines/TriStar MG1, it was also used in some of the Electrolux and Eureka lines sold here in North America.
The following link shows a VM3 currently listed on eBay... CLICK HERE TO GO TO piano_god's LINK on eBay This post was last edited 02/16/2012 at 04:06 |
Post# 169747 , Reply# 52   2/16/2012 at 04:02 (4,424 days old) by piano_god (British Columbia, Canada)   |   | |
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The new JEI motor is a single-stage motor manufactured by Johnson. This motor is more powerful than the VM3, and has its commutator and carbon brushes located directly behind the fan to help promote better cooling (similar to the Miele Vortex motor). CLICK HERE TO GO TO piano_god's LINK |
Post# 169837 , Reply# 54   2/17/2012 at 02:31 (4,423 days old) by piano_god (British Columbia, Canada)   |   | |
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The motor ships with the gasket/mount, so technically it's a standard swap-out. Disassemble, remove the old motor, connect the wiring to the new motor and reassemble the machine.
The motor used in the CXL is a two-stage Ametek Lamb motor. 116311-01 and its flow-through design, has proven itself in multiple machines from many, MANY companies. These operate at reduced RPM compared to today's single-stage motors, thus requiring less electricity and producing less heat.
While I do not have the specifics on the JEI motor, I would assume that it would outperform the Lamb 116311-01 due to the tapered fan that employs more blades, as well as its increased RPM. |
Post# 169843 , Reply# 55   2/17/2012 at 04:20 (4,423 days old) by twocvbloke ()   |   | |
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I'd go for the Ametek motor, but then I would cos I bought two of 'em (well, chinese clones at least)... :) |
Post# 169873 , Reply# 57   2/17/2012 at 12:58 (4,422 days old) by piano_god (British Columbia, Canada)   |   | |
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The DC21 uses the same motor as the DC25 and current Panasonic/Kenmore canisters, which is a Panasonic single-stage motor. As for the DC23, its motor is likely sourced from Panasonic or YDK.
I own both the DC21 and the DC23. The DC23 produces more suction, but runs louder and produces A LOT of heat. The DC21 is quieter and produces slightly less suction. Actually, it is quite surprising to see what is being used to power these machines considering their price point... |
Post# 169906 , Reply# 59   2/17/2012 at 17:07 (4,422 days old) by floor-a-matic (somewhere)   |   | |
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I hope a Ametek Lamb 2-stage motor can fit the MG Series TriStar? |
Post# 169951 , Reply# 61   2/17/2012 at 23:49 (4,422 days old) by piano_god (British Columbia, Canada)   |   | |
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Post# 228511 , Reply# 62   4/15/2013 at 16:50 (3,999 days old) by floor-a-matic (somewhere)   |   | |
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My TriStar EXL with the old motor (not sure who makes these motors?) This post was last edited 04/15/2013 at 20:46 |
Post# 404249 , Reply# 63   1/18/2019 at 19:22 (1,895 days old) by ridgidwd0670 (se wood co ohio)   |   | |
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Post# 404255 , Reply# 64   1/18/2019 at 21:05 (1,895 days old) by compactc9guy (Bathurst NB)   |   | |
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Personally i use envirocare paper bag new cloth bag and dome motor filter and the diffuser filter cap.Never had an issue there is so little dust from the carbon brushes i dont have dust allergies so the filter fresh is not needed.Beside it restrics air flow alot so i dont use it period.My Compact C9 did so well in my friends renovation i did use it for picking up dry whall dust Nothing i mean nothing got past the paper bag .I was impress. |
Post# 404263 , Reply# 65   1/19/2019 at 00:55 (1,895 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)   |   | |
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I'm not even going out on a limb. You can make your own.
Put item in pic 4 in blower port. Get about 1-3 inches of PVC pipe same diameter. Attach PVC to insert. Pic 3 buy 2 of these. Put one in the outside of filter in picture yes it is a car cold air intake knockoff. Line outside of air filter and line inside with shop vac foam filter. Use hose clamp to attach filter to PVC. This setup is plug runs $6. PVC pipe not even $1. Foam filters $3-$5. Intake filter $5-$7. So the setup there selling in pic 1 is identical to air filter. If you insulate it it will filter dust alot better than that. It's not going to cost you $20. Air filter clean I'd say 3 months and take out foam pieces blow off after each use. I may have joked before but I know this would work. It's ugly as heck but it will be that $50 filter and not restrict airflow. I don't know about HEPA one this would work. I personally think any filter they sale looks like crap. I've not had a problem with mine. Glue a felt or similar thick material to the plug insert would be just as effective if not more than any of the goofy over priced non working turds. Les |
Post# 404913 , Reply# 66   2/1/2019 at 15:35 (1,881 days old) by compactc9guy (Bathurst NB)   |   | |
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Does the dome black filter tower reduce air flow from the machine does it run hot ?
I shaw one of those on ebay im interested in buying it for my Compact C9 can you still operate the switch ?Thanks now im more confuse This post was last edited 02/01/2019 at 20:21 |