Dwyer Digital Manometer - measures pressure or vacuum. Simple connection via 3/16" tubing from the tool's barbed fitting to a tapered #7 laboratory rubber stopper. Stopper provides an adequate seal to the shop vac's hose or tool port/wand. Recorded data is peak vacuum level in inches of WC.

Bruel & Kjaer Analyzer - the 2260 Observer, manufactured in Alto's home country of Denmark, is the industry standard when it comes to portable sound analysis. The 2260 was placed on a tripod, the microphone aimed at the center the vacuum. Microphone height was 30" above the floor at a distance of 1 meter from the vacuum. The hose (without tools or extensions) was attached to the vacuum as one would use it in their garage or workshop.

 

This hand-held tool will perform real-time analysis in 1/1 or 1/3-octave bands simultaneously. Broadband and spectral data can all be logged to obtain a time history (profile) for later analyses.

Note - 2260 settings at 1/3 octave, 6.3hz-20khz, "fast" response and "linear" weighting.

Electrical - It's also important to ensure a consistent power supply to the shop vacs in the 110-120 VAC range during all performance testing. Extension cords must not be used as these will likely create a voltage drop to the unit.

This simple rack mounted voltmeter/ammeter also provides surge protection and power conditioning. Power can also be distributed to 5 dedicated 20a circuits in the shop for further isolation of test equipment.

Thermal Anemometer - another frequently quoted vacuum spec is CFM. This tool is used to sample and display spot or average readings of air velocity (in feet/minute or meters/second) and air volume flow (in cfm or m3/second...after inputting the surface area of vac's intake port).

4yr old SQ10 with new filter & filter bag managed approx 88.9" of lift as measured at the end of a 10' hose. Not bad for a machine with a quiet 1000w motor.

Attix 8 Noise Levels - early production unit (1Q2004). 71db at 315hz.

Attix 8 Retest - Feb 2005. Consistent spike at 315hz, slightly quieter than the first unit

 

The measurement of 2 different Attix 8 AS/E units, manufactured a year apart, indicates a consistent 68-71db peak at 315hz with an average SPL (125-4000hz) of approx 60db. This is very close to the manufacturer's claim and far superior to the Aero 5 & 7 gallon models it replaces.

Attix 8 "Filter Alarm" - 82.9db @ 3150hz. I find the filter alarm feature very annoying as it is easily triggered during normal vacuum operation. Alto should incorporate an "on/off" rocker switch for this alarm feature so it could be disabled until the user actually wants to check filter performance. The 315hz spike is still there.

Attix 8 (Basic model) Suction Test - 89.5" of waterlift. This is essentially the same as the previous SQ10 models and better than any Fein vacuums I've tested.

Attix 12 (left) vs SQ10 (right) - great performance in 2 different packages.

Attix 12 - 61db peak @ 630hz. With the exception of this 500-630hz peak (which may be unique to this particular unit), the Attix 12 is actually quieter than the SQ models. This is one quiet vacuum!

Attix 12 Suction Test - 93.0" of waterlift, about the most I've seen out of an Alto vac with a 1000w motor. (Note - Alto claims 105" of lift in their literature. I am measuring suction at the end of the factory supplied hose & tool end, not connected right to the inlet port on the vacuum canister.)

The Attix 12 RDFD XC (Extreme Clean), in light of its 1200w motor, does run slightly louder than the 1000w models. This is to be expected although Alto claims 57db for the XC, same as the other Attix 12 models, in their product literature.

Average (in the workshop environment with hard reflective surfaces) is 60db with an unusual peak at 70-72db peak at 315hz. The 12XC is significantly quieter than the Festool CT22 which also has a 1200w motor.

Attix 12 RDFD XC - the new Attix champ when it comes to suction power..... 97.8" of lift at the end of a 10' hose.

Wap's "Xtreme Clean" Filter Cleaning System functions automatically while you work...no buttons (as on the Attix 8 AS/E) or manual plungers/scapers (as on current Festool vacs and previous Wap models) to push. This is the only vacuum I know of that can function effectively without a filter bag.

The "x-tremely" large filter cartridge on the XC models is divided into two halves by means of a pair of side seals on the filter holder. The vac sucks in dirt through one side while the other side is blasted with air from the inside-out. This dislodges the dirt trapped in the filter pleats.

The X-flap (that I have my hands on in the photo) directs this air stream for the cleaning and is activated by a pair of solenoid valves. The X-flap cycles (audibly) upon start-up and every 30 seconds as the cleaning is redirected from one side to the other.

 

Power Consumption - Attix 1000w vs 1200w Models

• Current draw (measured) -1000w models - 10.0a @ 120v
• Current draw (measured) -1200w models - 12.3a @ 120v

• Auxilliary Plug Tap (1000w models) - 600w
• Auxilliary Plug Tap (1200w models) - 500w

AutoStart Models - Many shop vacs these days, especially those trying to appeal to woodworkers, include "Electric AutoStart" . This feature enables the vacuum to be started remotely simply by turning on the power tool connected to the vacuum's plug tap. Alto's RDF and RDFL models include AutoStart but, because of their use of a 14 guage/15 amp power cord, the power outlets are limited to 600w loads on the 1000w vacs and 500w on the 1200w models (see below). This restricts the use of this feature to light duty sanders....power hungry circular saws and routers are out of the question.

Note - Alto/Wap vacuums still make great "dust extractors"...just make sure your power tool and vacuum are operating on separate circuits. If the factory ever decided to upgrade the power cord to 12 gauge with a true 20a plug, they could increase the limits of this plug tap to 1200w without a problem. Unfortunately, with long UL approval times here in the US, this is unlikely to happen any time soon.