Dirt sensor lights

In a way I think these are just a hype item or filler features to entice people to buy TOL (more $$) vacuums. But I think they're fun.

I've never had a Hoover with the dirt sensors but from what I know they used/use a microphone to sense dirt.

I have two machines with dirt sensors, both Panasonic made. These I hear use an infra-red sensor of some kind.

On my 2012 Kenmore Progressive canister, the dirt sensor is pretty basic. Just two red lights and two green lights that alternate between the two colors. I notice it doesn't seem that sensitive. The only time it changes to red is when I hear a lot of dirt clicking up the wands. I believe the original power nozzle dirt sensor setup was a little more in depth, with 3 levels, on the first gen Progressives and some Whispertones.

I also have a dirt sensor on my Kenmore Progressive Direct Drive upright. I believe this is around a 2006-2009 model. This one is more complicated. It has four LEDs, one green, two orange and a red, I think. So there is a lot more indication of how much dirt is being picked up being there are 4 levels.

It is much more sensitive and typically alternates between green and orange several times anytime I am pushing the vacuum. When I get in a high traffic area or clean under a piece of furniture, it tends to go red a few times.

The interesting thing about this sensor is it also works with just the attachments, and will frequently turn red, say if I run the crevice tool behind the dresser where dust bunnies can build up.

This dirt sensor also works in conjuction with the Inteliclean mode and 3 speed motor. If I turn on the Intelliclean, the motor starts on high then shifts to medium and low, and stays there as long as the light is green if a more moderate amount of dirt is picked up, it shifts to medium, and if two orange or the red lights come on, it shifts up to high speed. As soon as the light is green again, back to medium.

It's a pretty fun and unique system to use, and is supposed to offer thorough cleaning while saving energy and noise levels.

A lot of the newer vacuums seem to be going to just one light dirt sensor systems that turn on or off if the carpet is clean.


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Post# 401091 11/18/2018 at 15:19 (1,979 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)
Checkrate/Likes In a way I think these are just a hype item or filler features to entice people to buy TOL (more $$) vacuums. But I think they're fun. I've never had a Hoover with the dirt sensors but from what I know they used/use a microphone to sense dirt. I have two machines with dirt sensors, both Panasonic made. These I hear use an infra-red sensor of some kind. On my 2012 Kenmore Progressive canister, the dirt sensor is pretty basic. Just two red lights and two green lights that alternate between the two colors. I notice it doesn't seem that sensitive. The only time it changes to red is when I hear a lot of dirt clicking up the wands. I believe the original power nozzle dirt sensor setup was a little more in depth, with 3 levels, on the first gen Progressives and some Whispertones. I also have a dirt sensor on my Kenmore Progressive Direct Drive upright. I believe this is around a 2006-2009 model. This one is more complicated. It has four LEDs, one green, two orange and a red, I think. So there is a lot more indication of how much dirt is being picked up being there are 4 levels. It is much more sensitive and typically alternates between green and orange several times anytime I am pushing the vacuum. When I get in a high traffic area or clean under a piece of furniture, it tends to go red a few times. The interesting thing about this sensor is it also works with just the attachments, and will frequently turn red, say if I run the crevice tool behind the dresser where dust bunnies can build up. This dirt sensor also works in conjuction with the Inteliclean mode and 3 speed motor. If I turn on the Intelliclean, the motor starts on high then shifts to medium and low, and stays there as long as the light is green if a more moderate amount of dirt is picked up, it shifts to medium, and if two orange or the red lights come on, it shifts up to high speed. As soon as the light is green again, back to medium. It's a pretty fun and unique system to use, and is supposed to offer thorough cleaning while saving energy and noise levels. A lot of the newer vacuums seem to be going to just one light dirt sensor systems that turn on or off if the carpet is clean.

Post# 401516 , Reply# 1 11/27/2018 at 10:24 (1,970 days old) by Rolls_rapide (-)
Checkrate/Likes I've had two Hoover uprights with the microphone sensor, Turbopower 2 & 3. Our models automatically increased the motor speed when grit was detected. The disadvantage was that proximity to the cathode ray tube television, caused interference in the Hoovers' electronic circuitry, giving false detection. I've had two cylinder cleaners with infra-red sensors. One was a Panasonic with the powered electric hose, and the sensor was built into the hose handle. This hose was cumbersome. The other machine was a Philips, with the supplied optional battery-operated sensor. With this sensor, you could stick it anywhere between hose-end, extension-tube and tool. Shown on QVC, sensor at 4mins 44secs...