Beam Central VAC turns on but not off

[jnoranda]

I have a beam central vac.
I turned the unit on at the vacuum as I was doing some cleaning in the garage.
It was a very cold day.
I then tried to turn the unit off, but it stayed on.
I had to unplug to shut it off.

When I plugged it back in, it started running without me turning the switch on.
I then unplugged it.

Since it was a very cold day, I left the unit unplugged for a day.
The next day I plugged it in and it did not turn on.
I went inside, plugged in a hose in one of the wall outlets, turned the switch on the handle, and it turned on and vacuum worked.
However, when I tried to turn it off with handle switch, it would not turn off.
I had to go to the machine and unplug it.

I do not know if the cold is somehow affecting the machine as we are getting some record cold temperatures.
I will wait again, hopefully it will get a little warmer.

I do not believe it is the low voltage as the vacuum only turned on when I used the low voltage switch on the hose handle.

Any one have any ideas

Thanks

 

[PoorOwner]

There would be a terminal that have 2 low voltage wires at the head unit. That would be where i start testing the behavior.

 

[jnoranda]

Not sure what you mean
I know where the low voltage terminals are

But as I said when I left it unplugged for a day it did not turn on when I plugged in the power cord.
If there was a problem with the low voltage, then the unit should not have turned on with I flipped the switch on the handle.

Can you outline some possible diagnostic method

Thanks

 

[kd3pc]

the cold may have kept the internal switch/relay components/contact from flipping to the other position. Need a volt meter to trouble shoot - to make sure what the voltage to the motor is, and when it isn't

 

[jnoranda]

If I put a voltmeter across the power terminals on the wall plug, then I should see 24V or so
If I see 0 then what

 

[kd3pc]

If I put a voltmeter across the power terminals on the wall plug, then I should see 24V or so
If I see 0 then what

Wall plugs, not beam plugs should show 110v, beam plugs should be low voltage,

control board is possibly bad or a broken wire between it and the outlet you were using.

beam website has a couple of troubleshooting steps to verify... FAQs

 

[jnoranda]

By wall plug I meant the hose inlet plugs where you put the hose in and then flick the switch on the handle to short the low voltage

 

[jnoranda]

Cannot seem to find steps to verify
Can you give me the full URL

Thanks

 

[ard]

Ive had a beam for 20+ years.


I had a relay go bad, get stuck on...something like this:

http://www.centralvacuumstores.com/beam-control-module-100550

If you cannot figure this out by opening things up and using an ohmmeter, prolly need to pay someone. Poking around with a volt meter and hoping there is a step by step, illustrated guide for your specific beam may not be possible.

 

[AP514]

same place I shop for my central Vac.....

 

[Git]

It is always helpful to post the actual model number of the vacuum...

As mentioned before - these vacs are *usually* controlled by a low voltage, 2 wire circuit. You open You should be able to see the cable where it attaches to the vac - usually with a couple of spade connectors that you can easily pull off.

First thing I would do would be to disconnect the two low voltage wires and using a screwdriver or similar metallic object, jump the two connectors to see if the vac will turn on or off. If it works fine at that point - you know the problem is with the wiring somewhere in the house (or maybe the hose). If it still isn't working correctly, then you know the problem is with the vac.

example

 

[arkieguide]

It is always helpful to post the actual model number of the vacuum...

As mentioned before - these vacs are *usually* controlled by a low voltage, 2 wire circuit. You open You should be able to see the cable where it attaches to the vac - usually with a couple of spade connectors that you can easily pull off.

First thing I would do would be to disconnect the two low voltage wires and using a screwdriver or similar metallic object, jump the two connectors to see if the vac will turn on or off. If it works fine at that point - you know the problem is with the wiring somewhere in the house (or maybe the hose). If it still isn't working correctly, then you know the problem is with the vac.

example

All ways start at the line (power ) side of the stop switch. If the machine will not start then no power to the line side of the switch. Check this first before you tear into the low voltqage system.

 

[ard]

All ways start at the line (power ) side of the stop switch. If the machine will not start then no power to the line side of the switch. Check this first before you tear into the low voltqage system.

OP states the machine turns on but will NOT TURN OFF.

Still say he should verify power?

 

[lilredex]

If you have an older model, you may be lucky and have just a simple W/R 24V relay turning the motor on and off. The contacts get burned and stick after a while. I just changed mine after 25 years. The same relay is used in many places in addition to central vacs. Open it up and see what is in there.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/White-Rodgers-24-Volt-Coil-Voltage-SPDT-RBM-Type-Relay-90-293Q/203565869

 

[jnoranda]

The model number of my vac is the BEAM 375A

Another interesting thing happened today.

As I stated, when I plug in the power cord to the unit, it turned on so I had to unplug the power to turn it off.

With the power plug removed from the AC power plug, I first pressed the switch that is on the top of the unit that is used to manually turn the vac on then off.
After doing this I plugged the power cord in, and the vac did not start.
I then manually turned the unit on by the unit top switch and it turned on.
When I pushed the switch to turn it off, it had no affect. I had to unplug the power cord.

If I plugged the power cord in again, the vac stayed on.
If I pressed the manual switch on the unit before plugging in the power cord, then the vac did not turn on.

With the unit off, I went inside and plugged in a hose to the vac wall socket in the wall in the house.
Nothing happened when I plugged in the vac hose.
When I pressed the switch on the hose handle, the vac turned on as it normally does.
However when I put the handle switch in he off position the vac would not turn off.

I went back to the unit, unplugged the power cord, pressed the manual switch on top of the vac unit and then plugged the cord back. The vac did not turn on.

Anyone have any idea what is going on here

Than ks

 

[ard]

https://builtinvacuum.com/parts/beam/flowchart/

https://builtinvacuum.com/education/motortroubleshoot.html

and

https://www.centralvacuumdirect.com/beam-circuit-board-100629-p/100629.htm

(read the first review for that last link...symptoms sound familiar?)

 

[kd3pc]

Cannot seem to find steps to verify
Can you give me the full URL

Thanks

Why won't my power unit start?

You can follow these steps if you have problems starting your unit.

Using the switch on the side of the unit turn the switch to the manual position, the unit should come on immediately. If the unit comes on, proceed to step 2. If the unit does not come on, call your local authorized BEAM dealer.
Unhook the low volt wires at your vacuum cleaner unit.
Make sure the switch on the side of the unit is on Auto and the unit’s powercord is plugged into an electrical outlet. You may want to check to make sure the breaker or fuse to the electrical outlet is not tripped.
Take a pair of needle nose pliers and insert them into the unit where you unplugged the low volt wires and squeeze lightly. If the unit comes on you can plug the low volt wires back in and proceed to step 5. If the unit does not come on when the low volt terminals are crossed, contact your local authorized BEAM dealer.
Inside each wall valve (the large hole where the hose is plugged into) are two contact pins. These pins touch the metal ring on the end of the hose when it is inserted into the wall valve. Starting at the wall valve closest to the unit, the operator can lift the door open on a wall valve and take a spoon or a quarter and touch these two contact pins simultaneously. If the unit comes on, close the valve and proceed to the next closest wall valve. If all wall valves check out to be working properly, proceed to procedure 6. At any time if the unit will not start when touching the contact pins, the homeowner can contact an authorized BEAM dealer or the installer.
Insert your hose into a wall valve, if you have followed the previous steps and the hose fails to turn on the unit or powerhead, you need to contact your local authorized BEAM dealer for service.

Note: Always start at your vacuum and trouble shoot back to the hose. Failure at any point directs you to where the problem most likely can be found.
Why won't my power unit shut off?

Make sure the unit is in the Auto mode and that there is not a hose plugged into a wall valve.
Unplug the low volt wire at the side of the unit, if the unit continues to run, the relay in the pc board is faulty and the entire pc board needs to be replaced. If the unit shuts off when the low volt wire is removed from the unit, there is a shorted or pinched low volt wire in the owners system and their BEAM dealer or installer will need to track this.

https://www.buybeam.com/faq

 

[jnoranda]

My problem is the unit does not turn off unless I perform the power plug routine I mentioned before

 

[kd3pc]

My problem is the unit does not turn off unless I perform the power plug routine I mentioned before

FAQ says the relay board is then bad...replace

 

[jnoranda]

I don't know if it is because of the New Year, or getting mild weather for a day, my Beam Central Vac is now working properly.

As I had stated, when I turned on the Central VAC, I could not turn it off, either by using the switch on the hose handle or the manual switch on the Unit itself.
I had to unplug it. When I plugged it back in, the unit turned on by itself.
I then found that when I unplugged the unit, and pressed the manual switch on the unit and then plugged it in, the unit did not turn on.

With the unit off, I turned it on and again would not turn off.
Unplugged it, hit the manual switch on the unit, plugged it in and did not turn on.

Anyways, the unit was left alone for a few days without turning it on or turning itself on.
Today, I plugged the vac hose into the wall hose plug and used the switch handle to turn it on and worked.
I then put the handle switch in the off position and low and behold it turned off. I did this several times and it turned off each time. I even tried at a various other wall hose plugs and the unit always turned off via the handle switch.

I did not turn the unit on manually with the manual switch on it as I am not sure what will happen if I do. All I know now is that Central VAC can be turned on and off via the switch on the hose handle and so will leave things alone.

Something stuck? Something charged and now discharged? Milder weather?
Anybody got any other ideas

 

[ard]

Anybody got any other ideas

This thread make me want to scream....

 

[Git]

...Something stuck? Something charged and now discharged? Milder weather?
Anybody got any other ideas

Take a look at this thread

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=370491&highlight=askhole

and then try replacing the relay board?

 

[jnoranda]

I find the thread suggested to be a little insulting.
I ask my questions to see if anyone is willing to help.
I do take all suggestions and try to follow them through

So now my unit is working and I am advised to change an item that may or may not be the correct solution.
If I run into the same problem again, then yes I will try replacing the relay board

Please don't criticize someone just because they do not follow everyone's suggestion.
I never said I would not follow anyone's suggestion after some careful evaluation.

I was even told to get a piece of wood and start hammering the unit a bit to loosen anything that might be stuck. Would you criticize me for not following this suggestion initially or should I have started hammering the hell out of the VAC

Actually I did follow many of the suggestions that were given to me which helped me understand how VACs work.

If you think someone is an askhole, then why reply to the tread

 

[Skyking1992]

I have a Beam central vac (about 18 years old) and had a similar problem - wouldn't turn off except by unplugging. There was a pretty simple relay in the canister. Apparently they go bad frequently. You should be able to find a schematic and parts online.