Something ain't right here.

[TimDaToolMan]

I went shopping and bought a new shop vac, my old one was 20 years old and bit the dust.

I noticed it says "6.5 peak HP" on the side of it. This is not some off-brand,it's an actual shop vac brand shop vac.

This means that it would pull 6.5 HP before the motor stops.

1 HP is 746 watts.

This means before stopping, it would pull 4,489 watts.

4,489 watts is about 40 amps.

Not only would the cord not handle that kind of current, the breaker would trip LONG before 40 amps could be obtained.

So either shop vac is lying, or my math is way, way off.

 

[KF5LCH]

Interesting, but we all know that motor will never make 6.5 HP. Not even on a good day in the test lab. Witchcraft I say!

Ohm's Law: 4,489 watts divided by 120 volts = 37.4 amps.

 

[Abeo]

it's "Peak" HP

Which is the HP caused by the amperage draw when you suddenly stop the motor, before the breaker pops. Useless number.

 

[RECox286]

More substantiation of "truth in advertising."

Must be a made in cHINA motor...

Uncle Bob

 

[sasquatch12]

Those ads and markings on this stuff are the BIGGEST FRAUD going!! What a bunch of ****, designed for people who think they're getting this HUGE powerfull motor.
People never read the ampreage draw, see this a lot now especially on bench grinders etc. Label states 3/4HP, but check the amps, and it's ONLY like 3.2 or something.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Vacuum cleaner horsepower ratings are about as accurate as car stereo watt ratings.

 

[Mr_fixit]

That's the current it uses a split second before it locks up. Yes, compressor ratings and shop vac ratings are ****....

 

[bcradio]

could be inrush current when all the stars are aligned

 

[sweetcretin]

A 20 amp breaker will source 40 amps for much longer than you think it will. If following the NEC, a 20 amp break can source twice its rated amperage for over a minute before it blows. (This is a traditional breaker. AFCI and GFCI have different behavior.) See page 26 and 27 of this document.

Vaccum HP ratings are still fiction.

 

[2oolhound]

If it's real I might buy one of those just to take that motor out and use it in my compressor.

 

[neophyte]

From what I understand, one of the major brands started rating their shop vacs using this system way back when, and then the other major brands followed the first brands lead so their vacuums wouldn't seem underpowered. I'm not sure which brand started the trend, but it was mentioned in one of the woodworking magazines.

 

[Chuck122]

A 20 amp breaker will source 40 amps for much longer than you think it will. If following the NEC, a 20 amp break can source twice its rated amperage for over a minute before it blows. (This is a traditional breaker. AFCI and GFCI have different behavior.) See page 26 and 27 of this document.

Vaccum HP ratings are still fiction.

I just learned more than I ever wanted to know about breakers. pretty interesting