Need wiring help on central vacuum.

[geardoc]

I have an old Craftsman, Central Vacuum unit(one that provides suction to the whole house). It is 120v. It is identical to Craftsman/Kenmore 116.4053280.

The relay and the transformer are f***ed. The motor is f***ed.



I bought a replacement motor and then I contacted CentralVacuum.com and they recommended I replace the transformer and relay and circuit breaker with an integrated circuit unit. They made this recommendation because the transformer and relay are long since discontinued.

Here is a link to the only wiring directions that I got from them:

http://builtinvacuum.com/scaledgraphics/235S_100.jpg

For those that can't see, it has power in, power neutral in, power to motor, power to motor neutral, then a low voltage on/off switch wire, and a low voltage in wire.

Then:

I have three wires on the power cord: white, black, green. Green goes to Ground.

There are three wires on the motor- which is nonpolar- white, black, and green going to ground.

There are two 24 volt wires that are low voltage that used to come into a power switch. They got their power from the transformer

Can anyone advise me on how to wire this thing ? IE: Give a dummy a simple which wire goes where ?

To answer questions I know will be asked: The manual which had the wiring diagram is no longer available, there is no wiring diagram on the unit.

 

[lilredex]

Shortly, I'll be in a similar predicament with our twenty year old built in vacuum system. It has that board B.S. too, and has worked intermittently in the past, but OK for now. The motor runs OK.

When it quits, I plan to install a White Rodgers fan relay 8A05A- 101 which I already have on hand, from a junked furnace, to control that vacuum motor.

These relays are 120V in and have their own 24V step down transformer to power the switching relay. These are quality relays, as there is already one on our furnace that controls a 1/2HP fan motor.

Maybe you could come up with something similar to control yours.

Have often wondered why manufacturers put those boards on there instead of a basic relay like above????????

 

[BillK]

Why not call (not e-mail) Central vacuum .com and ask them ??????? If they sold you the unit, surely they can talk you through the correct hookup.

 

[pattenp]

If it has a low voltage trans built in then why is there a low voltage in? That's the only part of the wiring diagram I'm lost on.

 

[jbberns]

Looks pretty cut and dry. Looks to use crimped stake ons

 

[geardoc]

If it has a low voltage trans built in then why is there a low voltage in? That's the only part of the wiring diagram I'm lost on.

That is the only problem right now.

I've got the black from 120v to power in, white from 120v to power neutral in. Then the black wire from motor to motor neutral. Motor white to motor neutral. Greens are both grounded out.

I've tested on the board and it appears I've got balanced 120v.

So I only have my low voltage to hook up- which is two wires white and red, and the two on the board that are yellow.

 

[geardoc]

Why not call (not e-mail) Central vacuum .com and ask them ??????? If they sold you the unit, surely they can talk you through the correct hookup.

I already did last Friday and they won't.

"Call an electrician- we told you that's a non-OEM application for that board".

Liability and the lawsuit culture.

 

[geardoc]

Shortly, I'll be in a similar predicament with our twenty year old built in vacuum system. It has that board B.S. too, and has worked intermittently in the past, but OK for now. The motor runs OK.

When it quits, I plan to install a White Rodgers fan relay 8A05A- 101 which I already have on hand, from a junked furnace, to control that vacuum motor.

These relays are 120V in and have their own 24V step down transformer to power the switching relay. These are quality relays, as there is already one on our furnace that controls a 1/2HP fan motor.

Maybe you could come up with something similar to control yours.

Have often wondered why manufacturers put those boards on there instead of a basic relay like above????????

Mine had the basic relay. It is screwed and I tried a couple from an electrical supply. I may have killed my transformer doing that ****, so fyi.

I could not get the exact relay, it is long discontinued. As in circa 1982-1984.

To clarify, in case it isn't clear- mine had a conventional relay setup, not this printed circuit **** that I bought. Hopefully the printed circuit **** will last a few more years.

 

[jbberns]

Low voltage out to the switch. and then back in. Is there a switch/contact on the vacuum? Contacts from a relay?

 

[pattenp]

The two yellows are for the low volt switch. I don't understand the low volt in label on the diagram. Are the red and white on the vac hooked to the low voltage wire that goes to the vac inlets switches? I think the red and white may just hook to the two yellows, but not seeing the actual wiring it's just a guess.

 

[geardoc]

The two yellows are for the low volt switch. I don't understand the low volt in label on the diagram. Are the red and white on the vac hooked to the low voltage wire that goes to the vac inlets switches? I think the red and white may just hook to the two yellows, but not seeing the actual wiring it's just a guess.

The only way it completes the circuit is like you said- red and white to two yellows. I now have it working. Thank you for your help Mr. Patten.

Thanks gentlemen.