Las Vegas wrote:MT book, I understand that a hepafilter is not nearly as permeable as the prefilter but the hepa filter has infinitely more surface area than the pre filter. That dryer sheet will clog much more quickly despite its larger pore size than the hepa simply due to the smaller surface area. Many prefilters you see have much larger pore size than a dryer sheet to catch larger debris.
YMMV. Even after a few days of not emptying the bin, neato (on 2.1) will still tell me it doesn't detect a filter, which seems to indicate the resistance is pretty low with the prefilter+HEPA. Most of the stuff I pick up in my home is fine dust and random fiber debris which is pretty fluid and doesn't really act as a solid object blocking the filter.
I originally considered putting an air purifier charcoal prefilter in the neato but the handful I own are at least a centimeter thick.
downgrade the firmware back to 2.0 where the airflow detection script is not present. that'll give you the full suction power the neato vacuum fan is capable of. (but i think you have already done that)
I've just finished my Neato HEPA filter - I've used PVA craft glue and so it's still drying. I'm typing this post on my iPad so pics will Have to wait a while and I might also wait until I've had a chance to properly test it. I won't be bothering with a pre filter on mine.
I'm actually off crook with a virus atm so this little project has helped take my mind off my illness
EDIT: I've uploaded my construction pics to my gallery below:
Ok it finished drying and I only found one easily correctable issue, the top edge of my new filter was too bluff and needed dremeling to create a tapered edge and now it fits in perfectly.
The airflow on mine isnt quite as free as a few of the others here as I used a filter with far denser fins, but I'm happy with the result and it does appear to be getting slightly better airflow (and suction) than the stock filter while providing much better air filtration.
I've updated my gallery photos to show it installed in my Neato's bin.
If you have a look at the newest few photos in my gallery you'll see that it really packed the debris into the bin well, so well in fact that there was none of the usual choking of the bin entry point and no debris left in the vacuum throat like usual - the debris was also packed in so tight it left indents on the debris!
does the suction stay normal throughout the cleaning run as i know that the filter gets clogged very easerly in my house at least so much so that on finishing the air coming out the back is basically nothing
sageman wrote:does the suction stay normal throughout the cleaning run as i know that the filter gets clogged very easerly in my house at least so much so that on finishing the air coming out the back is basically nothing
It's definitely maintaining far higher levels of suction through out the clean predominantly due to a much larger surface area that doesn't get clogged up as easily as the oem filter. Take a look at my pics after it had cleaned my whole house and you'll see what I mean.
Nice mod! The dirt/debris really gets packed in there with the larger HEPA filter as shown in your pictures.
Of course, a better filter would mean a higher price. I could see people would purchase this HEPA filter on their website.
What was the suction difference at the end? Could you still feel the same amount of air passing through as when you started the run?
Chris
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sageman wrote:does the suction stay normal throughout the cleaning run as i know that the filter gets clogged very easerly in my house at least so much so that on finishing the air coming out the back is basically nothing
It's definitely maintaining far higher levels of suction through out the clean predominantly due to a much larger surface area that doesn't get clogged up as easily as the oem filter. Take a look at my pics after it had cleaned my whole house and you'll see what I mean.
awesome job bro! but i see that a prefilter would have worked wonders for your case too, probably doubling the amount of crap the bin can take due to the mixed nature of the dirt collected.
Fraggboy wrote:Nice mod! The dirt/debris really gets packed in there with the larger HEPA filter as shown in your pictures.
Of course, a better filter would mean a higher price. I could see people would purchase this HEPA filter on their website.
What was the suction difference at the end? Could you still feel the same amount of air passing through as when you started the run?
airflow is definitely stronger as all who's tried this mod has reported.
making a sellable product is another headache which i probably wont want to deal with. workmanship + filter cost could run the selling price to about $60 usd a piece for it to be worthwhile.
Fraggboy wrote:Nice mod! The dirt/debris really gets packed in there with the larger HEPA filter as shown in your pictures.
Of course, a better filter would mean a higher price. I could see people would purchase this HEPA filter on their website.
What was the suction difference at the end? Could you still feel the same amount of air passing through as when you started the run?
Thanks chris, yeah it would be more expensive but if it were an optional item it would prolly do well.the filter I bought was for a Meile iirc and cost $40aud.
The air flow was still reduced towards the end of the run but nowhere near as much as with the stock filter and there was no debris sitting in the vacuum throat coming from the beater bar like there used to be. I also tested it on cat litter as it used to pick up 95% of it but now it gets every last granule!
Last edited by djos on September 1st, 2011, 6:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Leave it to our talented Members to take a product and IMPROVE them.
Chris
Website Question? Check out the FAQ section. Roomba/Scooba Question? Check out the READ FIRST section. Before posting, check out the improved Search engine. Your question might have been answered already.
Fraggboy wrote:Leave it to our talented Members to take a product and IMPROVE them.
You're not wrong, fetish's idea was truly inspired!
Btw, if anyone is wondering what material I used to contain the filter, it is cardboard from the lid of a ladies shoe box - it's ideal as it's thin compared to sandwich style cardboard but so stiff I was able to create a beveled edge using the sanding drum on my dremel.
sageman wrote:does the suction stay normal throughout the cleaning run as i know that the filter gets clogged very easerly in my house at least so much so that on finishing the air coming out the back is basically nothing
It's definitely maintaining far higher levels of suction through out the clean predominantly due to a much larger surface area that doesn't get clogged up as easily as the oem filter. Take a look at my pics after it had cleaned my whole house and you'll see what I mean.
awesome job bro! but i see that a prefilter would have worked wonders for your case too, probably doubling the amount of crap the bin can take due to the mixed nature of the dirt collected.
Thanks mate i couldn't find anything suitable to use as a pre filter and I prefer to have the bigger surface area of the HEPA filter.
djos wrote:I've just finished my Neato HEPA filter - I've used PVA craft glue and so it's still drying. I'm typing this post on my iPad so pics will Have to wait a while and I might also wait until I've had a chance to properly test it. I won't be bothering with a pre filter on mine.
I'm actually off crook with a virus atm so this little project has helped take my mind off my illness
EDIT: I've uploaded my construction pics to my gallery below:
djos wrote:I've just finished my Neato HEPA filter - I've used PVA craft glue and so it's still drying. I'm typing this post on my iPad so pics will Have to wait a while and I might also wait until I've had a chance to properly test it. I won't be bothering with a pre filter on mine.
I'm actually off crook with a virus atm so this little project has helped take my mind off my illness
EDIT: I've uploaded my construction pics to my gallery below:
Ok guys, let me ask this. I have 2 dogs and 2 cats. My bin is usually full of cat/dog hair. Wouldn't these hepa filters still clog up for me just like the regular filters that come with the neato? My biggest gripe about my neato now is the junk it leaves in the chute coming into the bin. So I was wanting to do something to increase airflow and keep some of the hair from clogging the filter. When I go to empy the bin, all the hair and dirt are pushed back towards the filter. When I pull the filter out, it is full and hair is covering every area on it. So whats a person to do to make it better, without getting rid of the animals that is hehe.
Doomsday wrote:Ok guys, let me ask this. I have 2 dogs and 2 cats. My bin is usually full of cat/dog hair. Wouldn't these hepa filters still clog up for me just like the regular filters that come with the neato?
no because they have a larger surface area for the air to flow through, this means they allow for optimal suction to continue longer than the stock filter.
