YES! Suction cups and vacuum pumps are IN this year! BIG TIME!

[ngreen]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Well this is a big change!
I want to warn teams that intend to do this that motors designed for vacuums (blower type vacuum) are designed differently. If you use one of the kit motors, you may have to "leak" a little of the vacuum to prevent the motor from burning up due to the strange load produced by the blower with the inlet blocked.

Al, this isn't a problem. Open up an impeller type vacuum and you'll see what I mean. Our vacuum only takes 1-2 amps when the vacuum is working. Oddly it was pulling 5 amps when there was no vacuum. Leaking air would only cause more of a load on the motor in this type of vacuum.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by ngreen

Al, this isn't a problem. Open up an impeller type vacuum and you'll see what I mean. Our vacuum only takes 1-2 amps when the vacuum is working. Oddly it was pulling 5 amps when there was no vacuum. Leaking air would only cause more of a load on the motor in this type of vacuum.

Nelson,
As you say, full open does produce high current but the motors also essentially run no-load when the intake is closed down. This does produce a lot of heat in the motor from increased friction at the brushes and bearings, lack of effeciency on the fan and lot's of brush arcing. Just wanted to let teams know that there are risks...

[CharlieWilken]

Could someone suggest where one could find a vaccum punp and how are they rated?