Central vacuum systems are overpriced, is there a way to convert a shop vac to a central vac?

Question

Like put it in a central closet or garage, and run hoses through the walls, and have it so it can be activated from the point of use (turned on). How would you wire it for that? My shop vac is SO powerful, I could build a stand for it up off the ground, and run hoses somehow. The one that comes with it is not long enough, how could you adapt a hose length? I only want the simple fittings, nothing fancy. Any ideas?

Answer 1

You would need a way to have covers/plugs for all the unused hose ends and a way to remotely turn on the vacuum unit; you might be able to do it with a replacement radio control set for a garage door opener (they sell the transmitter and reciever/ relay unit together as a kit). This would save running wires and switches to every hose outlet. If your motor is really powerfull, you might need to substitute a beefier relay on the reciever. I think you can buy bulk rolls of small 2-3" dia corrigated plastic drain line which would probably work for the tubing. (Dont get the perforated drain line of course!)

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Central vacuum systems are overpriced, is there a way to convert a shop vac to a central vac?
Like put it in a central closet or garage, and run hoses through the walls, and have it so it can be activated from the point of use (turned on). How would you wire it for that? My shop vac is SO powerful, I could build a stand for it up off the ground, and run hoses somehow. The one that comes...

Answer 3

Since I gutted my house when I bought it I thought long and hard about doing just that. In the end I did not do it because I had to spend boat load of money fixing a water problem in the basement so my central vac budget was gone.

If you have some electrical and plumbing experience it is a snap to do it assuming you have a basement or your walls open.

You can buy all the parts you will need online. You run low voltage wiring from the wall plates to the relay board that turns on the vacuum when you plug in the hose to the wall.

This site has everything you need. Though I would buy the PVC piping at your local plumbing supplier as it will be much less.

http://builtinvacuum.com/parts_more.html

Answer 4

Wow, I have never seen something like this asked before, let alone attempted by someone, I guess there are ways to "rig" a central vac together, all of which ways no matter how its done will never conform to building codes. For the time, effort, hassle, expense, and frustration, go out and buy a Kirby, Dyson, or Simplicity. Professionally installed and handy man installed Central Vacs are not all their cracked up to be anyways.

Don't attempt to rig something that could turn into something dangerous into your home. When and if you ever go to sell down the road, some inspector is going to notice holes, pipes, and laugh when he sees a shop vac in a closet acting as the power head to a home made central vac. When he sees this, game on, he’s going to nit pick the house to death with the assumption "if the homeowner did this, what else did they screw up".

Also another thing, while your idea is ingenious, I think your forgetting to think about the hose and accessories that come with a professional central vac that have a beater bar, etc.

Think long and hard before you attempt thins. BTW, in fair disclosure, I am a master electrician, and my company DOES install central vacs. When I built my home, I DID NOT install a central vac, we bought 2 new Kirby vacuums. Between the 2, we spent less, and don't have the aggravation that comes with a central vac.

Answer 5

Diy Central Vacuum

Answer 6

You can do it.
They sell the hose by the yard at Home Depot and other hardware stores. You will have two exits on two walls, and covers (plugs) for them when not in use.
The vac has to get power from a garage outlet, either with a long extension cord that you will plug / unplug every time, or install an on/off switch somewhere by one of the vac plugs.

The vac itself has to be left turned on all the time, so you can operate it from the switch or the cord.
Remember to plug in the hose to one of the exits before you switch it on, otherwise it will suck from the closed plugs and it will overheat and burn the motor.
Make sure the hose connections are sealed good.
Remember to empty the vac now and then.

Make sure, if you run wire behind the walls, to put them in conduit, so you don't burn the house down with my improvisations, ok???.

Answer 7

only if you live in a dog house.