Is a Portable that requires 20 amp circuits a mistake?

[in4thewin]

Posted a thread a while back about getting back into this business.

My previous experience with portables was with machines that only required 15 amp circuits. I've noticed that quite a few of these newer high powered portables require a couple 20 amp circuits to run.

Is this only gonna be an issue in a small a minority of homes, businesses and apartments? To my knowledge pretty much all Holmes now days have a 20 amp outlet in the kitchen and bathroom.
Can these types of portables pop 20 amp circuits regularly?

Just trying to get an idea if This is going to prevent me from servicing a significant amount of customers.

Just for reference, I live in an area With a good mix of new construction and holmes built in the last 75 years. Only a few neighborhoods downtown have holmes that were built before 20 amp circuits were pretty normal in the 1950's.

 

[Mikey P]

Ask your wife how she would feel about the carpet cleaner coming into the home on her day off telling her not to run the washer or dryer and that the refrigerator might be unplugged and if she there iron some clothes or do other household chores requiring electrical equipment things could get real hot real quick

In other words, if you want big power bring a generator

 

[in4thewin]

Ask your wife how she would feel about the carpet cleaner coming into the home on her day off telling her not to run the washer or dryer and that the refrigerator might be unplugged and if she there iron some clothes or do other household chores requiring electrical equipment things could get real hot real quick

In other words, if you want big power bring a generator

I have a big boy generator and am planing to use it for residential. I'm just wondering if I do have to use the customers power source, if these modern 20amp portables are a bad idea.
Sounds like I got my answer.


but what about apartments, college dorms, businesses etc where you sorta have to use their power. Are 20 amp outlets common? You know, I've never really looked. I'm at the gym right now, and I see 20 amp outlets. I've honestly never paid attention at apartments, as I've only ever used 15 amp portables.

 

[Mikey P]

I have a big boy generator and am planing to use it for residential. I'm just wondering if I do have to use the customers power source, if these modern 20amp portables are a bad idea.
Sounds like I got my answer.


but what about apartments, college dorms, businesses etc where you sorta have to use their power. Are 20 amp outlets common? You know, I've never really looked. I'm at the gym right now, and I see 20 amp outlets. I've honestly never paid attention at apartments, as I've only ever used 15 amp portables.

I don't know if the Canadians deal with the same power we got but Willie and Ron are two portable experts here

 

[Cleanworks]

In Canada, we have very few 20 amp outlets. We mainly find them in new builds and then only in the kitchen. I only use my portable for condos and have it set up for 2-15 amp circuits. I was under the impression that 20 amp circuits are common in the US but when you read the comments on some Facebook pages, maybe not as common as we think. To be on the safe side, better to look at machines that can operate on 2-15 amp circuits. Bringing a generator would be a pain.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

Are you considering the My tee Escape? That’s about the only porty type machine that pulls that much amps. It looks like each cord pulls 19 amps. There really isn’t any need for that type of machine that would make it better than a normal portable regardless what they say. You’d be popping breakers all over the place without a generator.

 

[in4thewin]

Are you considering the My tee Escape? That’s about the only porty type machine that pulls that much amps. It looks like each cord pulls 19 amps. There really isn’t any need for that type of machine that would make it better than a normal portable regardless what they say. You’d be popping breakers all over the place without a generator.

I'm looking at a low volume cleaner that utilizes high heat and pressure with less GPM. They're advertised as being capable of a two hour dry time. Because I own a landscaping company. I got some very good connections with several local realtors. They a notorious for calling me for same day service when they're showing properties. A fast dry time would be a huge bonus for these accounts. I've done carpets for one of them already with a rental, and he's firm on steam cleaning only

The machine I am looking at is the Daimer industries xph 9600.
Read some reviews and people say the entire line is amazing, and that they're far more trouble free than other high temp heated portables.

 

[Cleanworks]

Are you considering the My tee Escape? That’s about the only porty type machine that pulls that much amps. It looks like each cord pulls 19 amps. There really isn’t any need for that type of machine that would make it better than a normal portable regardless what they say. You’d be popping breakers all over the place without a generator.

Most Mytee machines require 1-20 amp circuit and 1-15 amp. Some require 2-20 amp.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

Holy Cow! A PEX would match that all day long for a lot less money. At least 2k, that you could put toward anything. Crb, for agitation
for those rentals. You would rarely blow if ever with a PEX. The PEX wouldn’t be nearly as cumbersome as that thing. But everyone has to learn. Heck, I bought a Bane

 

[Kenny Hayes]

By the way, drying times have more to do with your location, conditions, time of year, your technique, blah blah blah! You can’t read a lot into advertised dry times.

 

[Willy P]

One option would be to add an extra cord. Two 1000 watt heaters will add a lot of amps to the draw and only work OK if you have tap hot water to add to your tank. I would replace the thermostats to 220 or 240 degrees. I'm pretty sure the vacs are in series, not parallel. Parallel would improve recovery The fast dry times are likely the result of a smaller single jet wand, reducing the flow to flush. I didn't see an injector for rinse chemicals. The fiberglass body will be heavy and at 150 pounds, a beast to get up and down stairs. It appears the machine is plumbed for 1.5 inch vac hose' which will reduce recovery.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

And it’s still a lot of money!

 

[Cleanworks]

The golden rule with portables is that they need to be portable. You can always get ramps for loading but if you have to go up and down stairs, the machine needs to be designed the right way and be light enough. The PEX is a good overall machine just not enough vacuum for me but if you stick to a 25 foot hose, it will be ok.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

I just used 35 ft with mine last week and have used 50 and it did just fine. Of course, it was carpet tile, so that’s different than residential. But 35 would be fine on residential as well. I guarantee the maneuverability would be better. As far as loading, the handles have roller on them that help with loading.