Electric Current vs. Low Voltage
- Electric current is necessary to run electric power brushes.
Current carrying wires run through the hose and to the power brush (such as Stealth). If it is not possible to use current carrying valves, use a cord style hose which has an electrical outlet plug and 8-foot cord. It is always possible to use electric power brushes.
- Low voltage is traditionally ran to every inlet in order to switch the suction on/off. The cover plate that fits into the mounting plate has two screws where the low voltage wires are connected. Through either the hose being inserted into the cover plate or a hose handle switch the suction turns on.
When to use SuperValve or ElectraValve
- The Super Valve by Hayden has a mounting plate that contains a J-box where the electrician will run a piece of Romex to make the 120 volt connection. UBC Code allows this to be connected to any nearby electrical branch circuit. (The power brushes draw between 1.2 and 2.5 amps.)
- The Electra Valve by Canplas has a similar mounting plate that nails to the stud but it does not contain a J-box. The valve back-up plate kit contains a piece of 12 or 14 gauge Romex that is 6 or 14 feet long. The installer would then connect this wire into the nearest electrical box. The inlet end of the Romex has a molded plug that will snap into the finish plate. National Electrical Codes state that if the electrical system in the house is run with 12 gauge wire, then 12 gauge Electravalves must be used to match it. If 14 gauge was run in the home, then 14 gauge Electravalves must be used.
- The Supervalve is sold as a set; where the mounting plate always comes with the finish plate. You therefore must choose inlet valve colors before you purchase the rough-in kits. Both Supervalve and Electravalve are available in different colors. The Electravalve finish cover plate is sold separate from the mounting plate and allows greater freedom in timing to purchase the cover plate.
- On the finish you would simply snap the Romex molded end into the Electravalve but on the Supervalve you would need to connect current carrying wires with wire nuts. Both valves contain two contact points for the low voltage but would be ignored if you were using our Power Cubed Technology Modules.
- Our preference is to use the Supervalves on new construction projects and make sure the electrician knows to connect up the valves. I prefer using the Electravalves on existing home installations. I feel they are much easier to maneuver inside the walls and the electrical connection is much simplier. The section of the mounting plate that is usually nailed to a stud is easy to remove.
- Please consult your local building codes to insure the system is properly installed. Modifying the electrical system in your home should only be done by qualified individuals
SuperValve and ElectraValve Repair and Hose Compatibility
- For repair, we do have a Canplas repair kit available that easily installs a new plug end on the Romex if it ever becomes necessary. Supervalves can easily be replaced as well.
- Both the Electravalve and the Hayden Supervalve serve the same purpose and are interchangeable as far as the hose is concerned. (You could actually have both types in the same system and the hose would not need to be different).
SuperValve Installation Photos
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SuperValve Rough-in
- The mounting plate is nailed to a stud for new construction or that section is removed for existing homes.
- The mounting plate has a J-box that can be mounted at the top or bottom.
- The romex (from an electrical branch circuit) is coming in from the bottom here. A 6-inch length is stuffed behind the drywall cover guard which will be connected to wires from the cover plate (see below).
- The low voltage wire comes in from the top here. A 6-inch length will be connected to the cover later.
(The low voltage wire is not used when installing MD's Power Cubed Technology. The system is activated using the house current in the romex.)
- Manufacturer's Installation Instructions
- Installation home page
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SuperValve Finishing
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SuperValve with Hose Inserted
- This photo shows how a current carrying "direct connect" hose connects.
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ElectraValve Installation Photos
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MD Vac's are Designed & Assembled in the USA.
