Vac Charger Finding Help Please.

raphaelangelo

Hello,

I have a Vileda Robotic vacuum (details in image). A while back the pin to the charger broke. I contacted Vileda, who can't help until the virus is over.  I've searched for a manufacturer's replacement or a universal one but can't find any. I THINK that the voltage range in my robot is unusual.

So, two questions:

1. Can anyone please advise or link to a suitable charger, and

2. Please can someone tell me if the pin has broken off in the hole into which it plugs? Daft, I know, but I can't recall what it looked like before the charger pin broke!

Many thanks,

Milly.

DiddyDavies

I think that is the charger (but it will need an adaptor to fit into a UK socket):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adapter-Charger-Vacuum-Cleaner-VR101-11/dp/B075MT6JP3/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Top®+Power+Adapter+Charger+12+V+Charger+for+Robot+Vacuum+Cleaner+Vileda+VR101+11+V&qid=1605547965&sr=8-1
Even though the battery voltage is stated as 7.2v, this is a nominal figure and when fully charged will be about 8v and the charger output will be higher which is why it's shown as 12V.
Is there a voltage output figure shown on your old charger?

It looks like part of the original connector may have broken off as these sorts of connectors normally have a pin on the appliance side, something like this:

Can you post a photo of the connector on the charger.

Homer_home

You use a charger which is rated at 12v and the input on your vacuum is 7.2v then you will probably fry your vacuum

Why can't vileda help?

DiddyDavies

Homer_home said:

You use a charger which is rated at 12v and the input on your vacuum is 7.2v then you will probably fry your vacuum

Why can't vileda help?

The voltage output of the charger doesn't necessarily have to be the same as the voltage of the battery inside an appliance for a couple of reasons.
The charger output may be unregulated in which case it will drop (sometimes a considerable drop) when connected to a load and sometimes the voltage regulation is carried out by the charging circuitry inside the unit but I did ask the OP to confirm what is stated on the charger they currently have.

As an example, I've recently replaced the battery pack in a Philips HQ7750 electric razor and this consists of 2 AA rechargeable batteries in series which gives a nominal battery pack voltage of about 2.4v.
The charger (HQ8500) however has an output of 15v DC.

If you download the user manual for the vacuum in question and look at the specifications, it shows a working voltage of 7.2v and a charger voltage of 11v.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.vileda.com/media/wysiwyg/Manuals/Robot_VR_101_manual_GB.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjQs6zxtIjtAhXRT8AKHaeNA_kQFjAFegQIERAB&usg=AOvVaw1GXdbJVLgjk6fVlKu5SlJ0

ElephantBoy57

When I lost my charger for my vac, i used a cordless drill charger which was the same type, but slightly lower voltage.

Homer_home

DiddyDavies said:

Homer_home said:

You use a charger which is rated at 12v and the input on your vacuum is 7.2v then you will probably fry your vacuum

Why can't vileda help?

The voltage output of the charger doesn't necessarily have to be the same as the voltage of the battery inside an appliance for a couple of reasons.
The charger output may be unregulated in which case it will drop (sometimes a considerable drop) when connected to a load and sometimes the voltage regulation is carried out by the charging circuitry inside the unit but I did ask the OP to confirm what is stated on the charger they currently have.

As an example, I've recently replaced the battery pack in a Philips HQ7750 electric razor and this consists of 2 AA rechargeable batteries in series which gives a nominal battery pack voltage of about 2.4v.
The charger (HQ8500) however has an output of 15v DC.

If you download the user manual for the vacuum in question and look at the specifications, it shows a working voltage of 7.2v and a charger voltage of 11v.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.vileda.com/media/wysiwyg/Manuals/Robot_VR_101_manual_GB.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjQs6zxtIjtAhXRT8AKHaeNA_kQFjAFegQIERAB&usg=AOvVaw1GXdbJVLgjk6fVlKu5SlJ0

Yes correct which is why I said probably.....

And do you really think buying a cheap , unauthorised , unregulated probably fake charger from China and which you have no idea if it will give a stable voltage output of the correct voltage will not fry the robot vacuum?

DiddyDavies

Homer_home said:

Yes correct which is why I said probably.....

And do you really think buying a cheap , unauthorised , unregulated probably fake charger from China and which you have no idea if it will give a stable voltage output of the correct voltage will not fry the robot vacuum?

So now that I've shown that your assertion about the 12v being likely to cause damage is incorrect, you've moved away from this and are now questioning the quality and reliability of the charger.

As the output of that charger is only going to be about 300-500mA and the vacuum itself having an inbuilt charger regulation circuit, (which it must have if the input voltage is far higher than the battery voltage) the chances of it frying anything are very remote indeed.
As to "probably", it's more likely "very remotely" as the charger I linked to is 12v and the authorised one is 11v and that 1v difference is so small as to be negligible.
I've repaired enough electrical and electronic items in my time to have a pretty good idea about things like this and I would have no hesitation in using such a charger on electrical appliances of my own.

Homer_home

DiddyDavies said:

Homer_home said:

Yes correct which is why I said probably.....

And do you really think buying a cheap , unauthorised , unregulated probably fake charger from China and which you have no idea if it will give a stable voltage output of the correct voltage will not fry the robot vacuum?

So now that I've shown that your assertion about the 12v being likely to cause damage is incorrect, you've moved away from this and are now questioning the quality and reliability of the charger.

As the output of that charger is only going to be about 300-500mA and the vacuum itself having an inbuilt charger regulation circuit, (which it must have if the input voltage is far higher than the battery voltage) the chances of it frying anything are very remote indeed.
As to "probably", it's more likely "very remotely" as the charger I linked to is 12v and the authorised one is 11v and that 1v difference is so small as to be negligible.
I've repaired enough electrical and electronic items in my time to have a pretty good idea about things like this and I would have no hesitation in using such a charger on electrical appliances of my own.

Tell you what , you crack on and see if your guesses and assertions are correct by buying that robot vacuum and that cheap charger from China and seeing what happens

Nice willy waving but it cuts no mustard with me , time to put your money where your mouth is

DiddyDavies

No willy waving, simply posting my opinion based on many years of repairing electrical and electronic appliances and as the OP asked about universal chargers, I simply posted a link to what they were asking about.

As to the "cheap charger from China". Where do you think that the vast majority of similar chargers sold in both the UK and the rest of Europe originate from?

Homer_home

DiddyDavies said:

No willy waving, simply posting my opinion based on many years of repairing electrical and electronic appliances and as the OP asked about universal chargers, I simply posted a link to what they were asking about.

As to the "cheap charger from China". Where do you think that the vast majority of similar chargers sold in both the UK and the rest of Europe originate from?

Nice to know you're not prepared to put your money where your mouth is , says a lot

Yes chargers we use/sell here do come from China but as you should know we have the strictest h&s laws in the world and they must pass very stringent tests in order to be able to be sold here

Do you reckon that charger without even the correct plug on it has passed the same tests ? Or are they simply using online market places like eBay or Amazon to bypass the stringent tests so they can sell to our marketplace poor quality/inferior/fake products which can quickly become dangerous and even cause a fire?

You should really know all this seeing as you apparently repair electrical /electronic products and really should know what would happen if you use a component of inferior quality (hint - you would quickly go out of business) 

Is the repair of electrical/electronic things a business or a hobby to you ? 

DiddyDavies

Now that I've retired, the repairing of goods is simply a hobby and something I do for friends and family for no charge.
When I was working, I was paid to inspect and repair hand held radios but to be honest, this was more a case of simply swopping circuit boards than anything else but I still needed to do have a lot of training and qualifications.

I could easily say that I will put my money where my mouth is and buy one of the chargers in question but as this is an anonymous forum, what would be the point in making such a claim?

I will state again though that in my opinion, the risk from using such a low output charger for charging up the vacuum in question is very small (I would never say that that it's non existent as there is always a risk with any electrical item wherever it's made and whomever it's made by).

You don't think it's safe or suitable for the job, I do. We'll just have to disagree on that and let the OP decide.