Ametek-Lamb Central Vacuum Motors

Ametek-Lamb, one of the largest central vacuum motor manufacturers in the world, deserves many props for introducing the physically largest motor to ever be made. Clocking in at a whopping 8.4" in diameter, with 110" of water lift, is a bigger sized motor necessarily better or more powerful?

The answer to this question is simply "no, it's not". One downside of these motors is that it has only a single fan blade, while other motors have two or even three fan blades, which gives it more of a "pull action" or water lift. This motor was designed to carry it's strength through lots of central vacuum piping footage. Ametek is soon releasing a stronger, more powerful line of motors while still staying at 8.4" in diameter.

The secret about this motor is that it will lower airwatts but bring up the water lift to a more respectable measurement, creating a better balance for more suction power. We're very impressed with this new motor and are looking forward to it's release.

To the left is a picture of a brand new motor Ametek's come out with. This motor pushes it's limits at about 700 airwatts. The motor itself is assembled in Mexico using parts of unknown origin, but typically from China. We know of 3 central vacuum manufacturers that have rejected this motor because it did not live up to the testing criteria. We at Thinkvacuums personally have tested this motor and don't see anything wrong with it. But, just because we think it's a good motor doesn't mean we'll be labeling it as such, because at Thinkvacuums we try to look at things from an unbiased viewpoint, unlike some internet resellers who push whatever fattens their wallets more.

Both Domel and Ametek-Lamb motors have their good points and bad points, like many things in life. We try to look at things without any bias, and we display this by offering our customers a choice; Thinkvacuums sells a wide variety of central vacuum brands that utilize both of these motor manufacturers. For example, take DuoVac, a company who wins awards every year for quality and design, uses the Ametek motor in their central vacuums. We also carry Drainvac central vacuums, known for their incredible engineering, who uses Domel motors in their vacuums. A little known fact about Drainvac is they actually also use Ametek motors in their Wet/Dry central vacuums!

Just like Coca-Cola and Pepsi, these two motor manufacturing giants thrive off each other and constantly play the cat-and-mouse game and are always trying to out-do each other. In the end though, it's we the consumers who win, because they each keep coming out with better and better motors.

P.S. Ametek-Lamb motors are not American-made motors, like some companies claim. They were at one point, but it's been a long time since. They are a company based in America who designs and manufactures their products overseas. If they are so sensitive and don't like people talking about their motors being assembled in Mexico using Chinese parts, maybe they should re-think their strategy and open up manufacturing plants here in the States, giving Americans jobs. We know of one company in particular in the northwest that claims their vacuums are "American Made", when in reality the motors are made in Mexico/China, relays/transformers are made in Asia, nowadays the metal used in construction are imported from South America, and are only assembled in America.
There is no American company that makes central vacuums. Fact. It's unfortunate, but that's how it is.

For more information on Ametek motors, visit their website by clicking here.
For more information on Domel motors, visit their website at Domel.com or view our page by clicking here.
You can also view a video of their manufacturing process on the Thinkvacuums YouTube channel by clicking here.