A friend of the blog, Nate (Doresoom), picked up the new Ryobi cordless 4.75 gal wet/dry vacuum a few days ago. Up until his post we didn’t know this new cordless vacuum existed.
Here’s a quick look at the features:
- Ryobi 18V One+ cordless power tool system
- 4.75 gallon tank
- 40 CFM air flow
- Blower port
- Built-in on-board accessory storage
- Collapsible carrying handle
- 1-1/4″ hose diameter
- Weighs 8 lbs (w/o battery?)
Noticeably absent is any mention of runtime.
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The new cordless Ryobi vacuum is built around a 4.75 gal stainless steel tub. The removable motor housing has onboard storage for the wands, crevice tool, and floor nozzle. It also has a handle that can be raised to carry the vacuum or collapsed for more compact storage.
The 1-1/4″ flexible hose rotates to lock it into the inlet port. The vacuum can be configured for dry pick-up using the filter cartridge, or wet pickup using the foam filter.
The vacuum includes:
- Wet/dry vac (PWV200B)
- 5′ of 1-1/4″ flexible hose
- 3 extension wands
- Crevice tool
- Floor nozzle
- Foam filter
- Cartridge filter
This is a bare tool. A Ryobi 18V Li-ion battery and charger are required but not included.
Home Depot is showing the cordless vacuum as being in stock at stores in my area, but since this is a new item, many stores might not have them on the shelf yet. Rather than muck about the store waiting to find somebody to help you find them, you could use the free shipping option Home Depot is offering and save yourself some pain.
Price: $60
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Stuart’s Note: None of my local Home Depots have the new Ryobi cordless vacuum out on their sales floor yet either. Since Home Depot has it listed as a special buy and gift center item, they might be hiding it until we get closer to Black Friday.
Discussion
Here’s Nate’s original post on Instagram:
Again, none of our sources for information mention what kind of runtime you can expect from this vacuum. Presumably it has a brushed motor, because Ryobi does not tout it as being brushless.
Ryobi also doesn’t list suction power, air watts, or pressure drop, so it’s really hard to evaluate how much this vacuum sucks.
I had to do a little searching, but the manual does indeed say that the vacuum can be configured as a blower by attaching the hose to the outlet port in the motor housing. This is really handy if you have to inflate an air mattress or blow out your refrigerator coils.
Why buy something like this, compared to some of Ryobi’s other cordless vacuums? At the least, the smaller footprint and 360° on-the-spot rotation might make it more convenient for some uses.
Frank D
Notably absent is Ryobi Hybrid technology.
I refuse to buy anything new from Ryobi that is not dual power; when I am likely to use the item for extended periods of time, when working indoors while I have 110v available. ( lighting, vacuuming, cutting, … )
Battery power is great for tiny cleanup tasks, maybe you don’t want to roll out an extension cord to vacuum the car … or where you don’t have wall power at all.
I don’t want to support lazy manufacturing, where they don’t want to put an extra $5 in a serious power consuming tool to make it dual power and give us the best of both worlds, continuous power when we want / need it. While saving batteries and ultimately helping the environment.
David Zeller
I kept thinking about this as I read the article, too.
However… this is actually a plot by the United Association of Nieces and Nephews, cooked up with Ryobi. They introduce this now, but in two years add hybrid power. I then get the new model and give the old one to a young relative.
I have proof. I just bought a new combo set. It had the portable bandsaw I wanted, plus brushless versions of things I already had. Walla! Nephew gets a drill, driver, reciprocating saw, flashlight, and batteries.
They are evil, but effective.
(But I’m not getting this vacuum, so there.)
fred
I’m not sure that adding $5 worth of parts will always give you dual power.
If they use a DC motor for efficiency – then they would have to add an AC to DC Converter. But to your point – on lots of larger tools – I would gladly pay extra for the option of being able to plug in when appropriate. I’m thinking about vacuums (as you say) plus miter/table saws and compressors. Better yet (although definitely more costly and complicated) – would be being able to have a battery charger built in – that senses AC input and a battery both plugged in and then charges the battery while running the tool on AC
Tom D
Some brands have a plug that hits the wall on one end and is shaped like a battery on the other to provide a cord for any of their products. I believe I’ve seen aftermarket for other brands.
Lance
At the volumes Ryobi deals with, $5 could ad the AC/DC converter, headlights, a reversing valve to clear the filter, and a Bluetooth module to connect it to your phone.
Jellybean electronics are INCREDIBLY cheap these days and getting cheaper all the time. There are smart people working at TTI and they have clever plans on how to maximize how much of your money they can collect.
Steve
I agree, this should have come as a corded/cordless hybrid tool.
Benjamen
It would be too expensive and heavy. Other Ryobi tools that are dual power like the fan and lights are low amp draw and last for hours. In fact I’ve taken them apart and they just have an off the shelf wall wart inside.
The vacuum is going to be a much higher amp draw product and only last for 10 to 15 minutes on a 4Ah battery. At 10 minute runtime that means it’s drawing 24A at 18V or 432W. You are talking something the size and price of a computer power supply at that point.
Steve
I disagree. I have the DCV581H corded/cordless. The difference in MSRP with the cordless only DVC580H is $10. Right now they are only $7 apart on Amazon. They are similar in power with the Ryobi, which probably has a more efficient motor being newer. I think Ryobi could have added a cord and hit a $70 price point on this.
Steve
I forgot to add, the weight difference is negligible on the handheld Dewalt vacs and would be irrelevant on this floor vac.
Benjamen
You are comparing a $150 vacuum to a $60 vacuum. Ryobi is probably manufacturing this vacuum for $15 to $20. Dewalt is probably spending $38 to $50.
It’s also 31CFM vs 40CFM.
The Dewalt vacuums do weigh more than this Ryobi. In a canister vacuum the extra weight would be at the top too. making it more likely to tip without a wider base.
Tim E.
And, although this vacuum is only 40CFM, the motor power draw is still what’s key here, not that “this other vacuum” did it. Also going into that is motor design, and other factors that may allow them to use a higher voltage or similar from the AC portion. Yes, for some things like the fans and lights you can use a $5 wall wart (that still presumably has to be certified by UL or similar for inclusion in a UL listed household appliance), but there are limits to that power and cost.
Most of the common 18V wall wart size/style adapters are maximum about 50 watts. Above that, you start adding price, size, and weight, also why that DeWalt vacuum you mention is even lower power, but still hefty and expensive. Look at modern gaming laptops, which use 90 or 120W power supplies. The latest Usb C chargers are getting smaller, but the 60W and 90W ones are still pretty big (and expensive) adapters. Extrapolate that up to 432W, and think of a 500W computer power supply, which is a more than $5 and comparatively large and heavy.
Tim E.
For example, here is a 500W capable 18V power supply. It’s 3″ by 5″ and a full pound of weight by itself. Granted it is at retail pricing so in volume would bring it down a bit, but not THAT much:
https://www.trcelectronics.com/View/Mean-Well/EPP-500-18.shtml
It requires active cooling to achieve 500W continuous. And it’s $85 retail. Order a hundred and it drops to $70. Order a couple thousand, maybe you’d get down to $50? Even going down to $35 at huge volume, not counting design considerations for active cooling or anything else, and that makes this $60 vacuum $100. It’s definitely doable, but does affect price significantly and other aspects, which drives down demand, which increases price further because of volume.
Companies would be better off building an 18V battery adapter people could buy once, but it’s very understandable why they don’t… Unlike batteries, you can’t overdraw a power supply. Batteries can supply larger draws without many ill effects, but try to get more than 500W out of a 500W power supply, and it won’t go well. Vacuums, saws, any of the larger tools would thus need an even larger power supply to support them, or some way to say “this corded adapter will NOT work in these high-power tools”, and then the same adapter is overkill for something like the soldering station. And for every step bigger you need the power supply, price goes up. For larger spike currents, you need some capacitance in there, which drives price up. Ryobi could make a 1000W 18V adapter that may work fine with 99% or even 100% of their one+ tools, but it could easily cost $200 or even $300, if not more. A 500W one that works with 80% of their tools could cost one to two hundred, and will fail when somebody doesn’t read the manual on not to use it with certain tools, and overdraws it and trips a hopefully resettable breaker/fuse. And you need wire that can handle that kind of DC current.
I think it boils down to the target market. If you want a corded vacuum, get a corded vacuum (and you’ll get corded performance as a bonus!). If you want a cordless vacuum, then get a cordless one, and you’ll get the tradeoffs that come with things being cordless. If you want both… in many cases the better answer is to buy one of each. If this were hybrid and cost $120 lets say, you could spend $60 on this cordless-only version, plus get an equivalent corded ridgid for another $60, and have spent the same amount as buying one vacuum that can do both.
TonyT
Pretty much all switching power supplies have protections against things like over current, and over voltage.
The better ones will support surge current, e.g. 50% over current for 3-5 seconds. Of course, those cost more. Also, if you hit the limits of what your line input supplies, surge current won’t do any good.
There’s the limit of how much power you can get from a 120V 15A circuit – I normally spec DIN rail power supplies, and it’s hard to find a >500W power supply that is still 120V single phase. It might be different for open frame; I’d have to look at Mouser and Digikey.
BTW, I wouldn’t trust anything cheaper than Mean Well. In the past few years we’ve mostly been using Delta.
Sean
Ryobi has a hybrid lawn mower which just uses a universal AC/DC motor instead of trying to convert voltages – which as you said would be impractical for this application. So weight shouldn’t be a problem, but price would still go up; if the mower is any indication, we’d probably see a ~25% premium over the battery-only version.
Who knows if they’ll actually do it, but it’s definitely at least feasible.
Nate B
Right. Use a universal motor, and tap the windings at different points for the different voltages. That’s my understanding of how it’s done, anyway.
I agree, vacuum cleaners and air compressors are the two tools I’ll likely never buy a battery-only version of. Hybrid or bust.
Frank D
Now I know it most likely isn’t $5 in parts … at the same time, there is volume and scale, standardization and we can see far more complex electronics offered very cheaply … so who knows.
I would gladly spend more for the feature.
My point remains: if this were dual power 18v/110v + a capable device ( jury is out on that low CFM ) it would be an instant consideration for my very next purchase or two.
I have four different small, medium and large shop vacs, different sizes, different power levels … all require 110v and maybe an extension cord (one has a 3 ft cord … sigh).
I would happily donate the whole lot for something of decent size and capability that is dual power.
Koko The Talking Ape
I believe it’s a new type of hybrid. It can run either on batteries or on unicorns.
Frank D
LOL!
Doresoom
LOL, I can confirm it does NOT run well on unicorns!
Jared
Neat. I’d want more features and a brushless motor too – if the price were higher. For $60? Looks good.
King duck
Sure wish Milwaukee would come out with a vacuum like this
John
Commenters worried about no dual power, but the elephant in the room is 40 CFM, what a joke. This will be great for cat hair but little else.
Big Richard
DeWalt’s little corded/cordless DCV581 only has 31CFM, and I haven’t found it lacking suction for what it is. Clean out my smoker every few weeks with it, it sucks up tar caked soot and ash with no difficulty. Small vacuums are going to be used on small tasks, so I think 40CFM is appropriate for this. Would more be better? Sure, but it would drain battery more, be louder, maybe even more expensive.
Tim E.
I purchased one, it’s not bad. Couple notes, the hose doesn’t swivel at the grip which is annoying (it only swivels at the canister connection), also not the best hose in general, and seems a proprietary connection at the vacuum inlet. They claim the hose is 1 1/4”, but it doesn’t fit any of my 1 1/4” accessories, nor the accessories from the Ryobi toolbox style 3 gal vac. It’s actually closer to 35mm, maybe even is 35mm, because it fits my Bosch attachments perfectly. Also note, it’s only 40 CFM. The 6 gallon vac is 80, the 3 gallon vac is 45, so half the CFM of the 6 gal, and a little lower than the 3 gal. But, it’s also $60, cheaper than both, and IMO quieter or at least less annoying sounding than the other Ryobi cordless wet dry vacs.
The not-advertised-size hose and accessories annoy me, and the hose annoys me a bit, but the steel drum is nice, and for only $60, I’m planning to keep it. It’s sufficient for the cars and the shop floor with the included accessories, I may just get another utility style nozzle like I have for my bosch vacuum and keep it with this one, that would be sufficient nozzles specific for this vac for my needs. Also, the Bosch 35mm to 1 1/4” adapter does fit on the end so I can convert it down to actual 1 1/4 pipes and accessories, I just hate using adapters and having yet another friction connection point.
All in all, not bad depending on your needs, but be aware of what it is and what it is not, and set your expectations appropriately. The 3 gal and 6 gal plastic vacuums are slightly higher power, but also $99 and $109, this one is a metal canister, has the same or more accessories, and is $59, you get what you pay for. For cleaning the cars and similar typical household shop vac stuff, it’s decent enough. For using for that plus like dust extraction on a table saw or similar, look elsewhere.
One other note, the filter also seems proprietary. The 6 gal shop vac could use regular Rigid filters, this one seems like a proprietary style which will likely make replacements either expensive or harder to come by. Also I believe it is not a washable filter, and not HEPA rated. It does seem possible if the filter gets worn out and replacements aren’t available yet, that you could change and use the foam water filter, and then put a blue paper type filter bag with the rubber band on top of that, like the cheap small shop vacs.
mike
My spidey sense tells me this is mispriced (too low). This is a heck of a price for the stainless solution if you already have the battery. My opinion. Good design and I sure hope it sucks.
Jordan
4 in stock in the holiday special tools section with the other Ryobi stuff, in Plymouth Meeting, PA store.
It’s way smaller than I expected. Retail box is 19″x 14″ x 14″
Pic compared to pack of drill bits I was buying.
https://ibb.co/g7SPf7b
LJh
can you get replacement filters, i have the small RYOBI 18-Volt ONE + Lithium-Ion Cordless 3 Gal. Project Wet/Dry Vacuum and can not get a replacement filter
TonyT
$8.29, but currently out of stock. I bought some a couple years ago when I first bought the vac (which I like), but it’s best to buy several at a time due to shipping charges.
https://ryobipower.ordertree.com/ass-y-filter-2.html
Jalopy_J
Curious to see how it compares to the 6 gal P770 one. That one has good power, but it’s loud and it’s a power hog. It will kill a 4.0 battery in 14 minutes. The battery gets quite hot and even the air coming out of the outlet port is very warm. My favorite Ryobi 18v one was the original blue one from 15 years ago. A little on the weak side, but it ran forever and was super quiet.
Tim E.
Have both, they’re not that close to each other. The 6gal is rated for 80CFM, this one is 40CFM. The 6gal uses a larger hose, and is compatible with 3rd party 1 7/8″ hoses and accessories (and the 2 1/2″ hoses actually, inlet port is the same). The 6gal also can use regular dust bags, and the tall ridgid filters. To me, it’s like a ryobi-built cordless version of a ridgid shop vac, just without a blower port.
This one is quieter than the 6gal, but weaker, and the hose although listed as 1 1/4″, on my unit is more like 35mm, which in the states makes it borderline proprietary. It does have the blower port, but it’s a bit wimpy at only 40 CFM. This one could probably take dust bags, but all the applicable or even slightly oversized Ridgid bags are all more long and not tall enough to fit well. Dust bags from another brand designed for a taller-tank vacuum may exist and work better. It is good for somebody who wants a cordless rolling vac but isn’t quite ready or doesn’t quite need the 6 gal vacuum, or wants one that’s quieter, for inside usage, etc.
Nathan
I don’t get the stainless body for this and let’s face it without 1900 CFM to replace my 3 phase AC dust extraction system this is completly worthless.
OK that off my chest. I partly agree with the dual power idea but what is the biggest ryobi AH battery pack now. I don’t shop green so I don’t know. But I think this is their way of making a device that fits alot of DIY needs, for small repairs so the desire to run it on cord is minimal.
Now a Ridgid version on the octane system – would need to be dual power but also need to be 6 gallon, plastic body, have bags as an option, and cost 150.
Tim E.
Not hybrid, but there is a dual-battery (one used at a time) 9 gallon Ridgid that uses all their accessories, $100 tool only: https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-9-Gal-18-Volt-Cordless-Wet-Dry-Shop-Vacuum-Tool-Only-with-Filter-Hose-and-Accessories-HD0918/308699714
The largest Ryobi battery pack is a 9Ah. 162 watt hours. So will run a 432W vacuum for about 20-25 minutes. Note that was a random estimate and not an actual or official runtime spec for this vac, I also think I’ve gotten longer runtime than that, but don’t have any kind of numbers myself either.
Koko The Talking Ape
It seems like vacuums are uniquely unsuited to battery power (though they might suffice if your expectations are realistic.)
Things like drill/drivers don’t draw juice at all unless they are actually drilling or driving. But yacuums have to run at full power, all the time. Picking up dust, i.e., actually doing something useful, probably doesn’t add to the load on the motor at all.
Koko The Talking Ape
“Vacuums.” “Yacuums” don’t exist (yet.)
Benjamen
Picking up dust and other things lowers the load on the motor. The work these type of vacuums do is move air. If there is less moving air, there is less work being done.
Connect an ammeter to your shop vac. Block the airflow and you’ll see the current draw go down.
Stephen
What is the battery life?
My 51 CFM Bosch cordless vac with a brushed motor chews through a 6.3Ah Core battery in about 20 minutes. It’s a nice little vac but the runtime is a legitimate concern in some use cases.
Ray
They may as well have called it the Ryobi Fireplace Cleaner. That size, steel tub, and battery powered, is what I would buy one for, provided they make HEPA filters for it.
Stuart
Many stainless steel vacs specifically warn against using them to clean up fireplaces. This one probably isn’t designed, engineered, or recommended for use as an ash vacuum, unless they specifically mention it somewhere.