Here’s a link that mentions brushless motors
Go to specifications-> All specifications
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Hey Ken, hey Tom @Geige, hey all,
ah, I found where they say “brushless motor”. But I don’t believe it. It is a marketing trick. I explained above why it is technically extremely unlikely that they use a brushless motor. Maybe they mean “As we require you to come to our service once a year as per the manual, you will never have to deal with replacing the carbon brushes as we will do it for you”.
Think of, for what would these carbon brushes be for?
Carbon Brush Set-Attix 30/33/44/50 (w/new motor)(ltd supply)
Carbon Brush Set - for all Attix 33/44 models and for Attix 30/50 models with the new (early 2016-on) motor. Nilfisk recommends only one brush changeout before replacing the entire motor as the commutator is not a serviceable part.
– Source: Carbon Brush Set-Attix 30/33/44/50 (w/new motor)(ltd supply)
See also:
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Nilfisk Attix Series & Eliminator Brush Replacement – Youtube – by Nilfisk Vacuums
Attix 30, 50 and Eliminator Pro II vacuums are now equipped with serviceable brushes, presented in this video as replacements for formally used motors. Motor brushes should only be replaced once as the commutator, which cannot be replaced also begins to exhibit wear (scoring, pits, etc.).
For more information please visit www.nilfiskindustrialvacuums.com or contact customer service at (800) 645-3475.
That sounds as if there was another motor on older models where the carbon brushes were not serviceable.
Further reading
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Older motors. I’ll believe Nilfisk’s own current website over a parts site referencing 2016 motors and a 7 year old YouTube video. Many newer cordless power tools are brushless. There’s a whole line of Ryobi brushless tools.
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Hey Ken,
All cordless power tools use Brushless DC motors. The emphasis is on DC. Batteries provide DC power.
Universal motors with carbon brushes are needed when you want to run a motor from AC power. That’s what the commutator is necessary for. AC power means with a cord for domestic sockets.
Look, I’ve just crammed a pile of textbooks for the electrical engineering course (which is an academic course here) into my head on electric motors and electric drives. So if you can tell me exactly which brushless motor should be in a dry/wet vacuum cleaner, then I can think about it.
As for the video, it says that all motors in this series have been fitted with serviceable brushes since 2016 (so it’s normal that the video is seven years old). Literally, that’s what the video says.
If you want to believe you’re getting a wet/dry vacuum cleaner with a brushless motor here, you can of course believe that. I just wanted to help, to make no wrong buying decision.
Is the dig at Americans necessary? My mistake for engaging with you; I should have learned my lesson last time.
Hey Ken,
you are right. I apologize. I deleted it.
Aiph5u - many cordless battery powered (dc) tools are brushed. Yes, there are brushless battery powered tools but they are relatively new.
All the major manufacturers still sell brushed cordless (maybe old stock).
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Hey Avbates,
yes, there exist brushed DC motors, but they have been displaced by DC brushless motors in most applications. And what we talk about here, is something different, it is the motor of an AC powered device, so I found this not relevant.
The commutator with its carbon brushes in a universal motor has the purpose to make the rpm speed of the motor independent of the AC frequency, so that you can have a speed regulator as found on the Makita hand trim router, the 43 mm “Euromount” milling motors, and the most workshop vacuum cleaners.
With modern electronics it is now easy to build a brushless motor (EC = electronically commutated) which runs on line voltage. And Nilfisk is exactly doing that. The ATTIX-50 can be ordered both in a standard and in an EC version.
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Hey Joergen,
that is true, but it would be much more expensive than a universal motor.
please, can you cite a source for this?
Yes, it is a bit more expensive, about € 800,- for an ATTIX 50-21 PC and €2.150,- for an ATTIX 50-21 PC EC.
I don’t want to link to Nilfisk dealer sites, so ask a search machine of your choice.
Hey Joergen,
Der EC-Motor des ATTIX 50-21 PC EC ist ein bürstenloser, langlebiger Motor. Ein verschleißarmer Betrieb und die zündquellenfreie Bauweise sind nur zwei von vielen Vorteilen.
The EC motor of the ATTIX 50-21 PC EC is a brushless, durable motor. Low-wear operation and the ignition source-free design are just two of its many advantages.
You are right! Learned something new, would never have thought that a wet/dry vacuum cleaner would use such a motor.
As to expect, the price difference (€ 800,- vs. €2.150,-) is really heavy.
Thank you for providing the information!
Thanks Joergen!!!
That is indeed valuable information.
Hey Tom,
yes, it is the information that lacked here! I did not see that there existed wo models. And yes, the Nilfisk site does not provide much or detailed information about the motor. Thank you again, Joergen @dumbo! But Martyn @Pi3man also mentioned already a bit above that there are two different models, one being much more expensive:
So according to the price difference Joergen pointed us to, you ordered the one with a universal motor with carbon brushes, and not the one with a brushless motor. If you really want to get the brushless shop vac, I hope you can modify your order.
Looks like the Nilfisk Attic 50 EC (brushless motor) is not available in the 120 V Version / in the USA, only in 220V in Europe.
I got an answer from a representative of Fein, stating that their motor in not brushless either, that they will last to a certain extend but if used 6-14 hrs daily for several month they might not. However, they are designed to be used continuously.
I am still happy with my choice, I will have lower noise and more capacity than the Fein.
If someone finds a brushless motor shopvac please let me know.
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harbor freight upright dust collector works good I dont know if you have the room
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Don’t use a Ridgid Shop Vac. The one I had burnt down my garage.
Wow sorry to here that hope your back on your feet. What kind would you suggest as I need to get things the first time and not waste money thanks martyn
Just as a tip, I want to mention that you can run 2 or 3 shopvacs in parallel to get more air flow. I have a large shopvac in my shop with a cyclone separator, just one. Shopvacs produce more suction, which is good for more narrow 2.5 inch ducts, but less air flow. If you want more air flow you can attach a second shopvac using a coupler. I did not do it in my shop, but I did use 3 shopvacs when I was working with insulation in my attic. I had to put them on two separate circuits and used 4 inch hoses. That was a lot of suction with a lot of air flow. I ran them for 8 hours a day for 5 days straight. I did 3 sessions like that all together.
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Right ok ,I was goin to go with the nilfisk attix 50 but don’t if they will get filled to quickly even with a cyclone. And people say why dont you get a big like the# AXMINSTER WORKSHOP AW118CE CYCLONE DUST EXTRACTOR - 230V
Sorry don’t no why all the writing has changed lol