Customer Reviews

Black & Decker SPV1800 18V Cordless Platinum Series Hand Vac

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This review is for; 18 Volt Cordless Vac SPV1800 [Platinum Series]

After my 9.6-volt Black & Decker Cordless Vacuum wouldn't hold a charge anymore after a few years of use, I decided to try Black & Decker's 18-Volt Version & I'm glad I did! The best thing about this vacuum is the battery is removable and is also compatible with other Black & Decker power tools such as their cordless drill. The battery is also available separately if you need to replace it without buying another whole vacuum. The bigger battery also has longer run times than the previous 9.6-volt version which is at least runs more than twice as long or more. The suction power is adequate even though it only has one speed (the 9.6 volt version had two speeds, but the high speed would rapidly drain the battery).

The only thing I don't like about this vacuum is it doesn't come with any attachments, but if you owned the previous Black & Decker 9.6-volt version, you might want to keep the two crevice attachments because they will fit in this new one. Great cordless vacuum to have for auto use or quick clean-ups around the house!

Vac has very little sucking power compared to the old 14.4V version I have. It is poorly designed for home use - no "battery charged" indicator, no attachment tools, no wall mount, have to disconnect battery to charge the vac and reconnect it again when it is charged. Other models you can just leave plugged in so they are always charged. Not sure if this model will keep charge if battery is just left in the vac for couple of weeks without recharging.

Provided it can pickup nails as ad shows (which is definitely not the case with my unit), it may work for somebody who has an existing collection of 18V tools in an industrial setting. Returned my the next day.

I bought this at the store today and used one of my fully charged 18 Volt Black and Decker batteries I already had. The only reason I didn't give it 1 star is because the battery is swappable with my other 18 Volt Black and Decker units. Unlike the weed-eater and other things, however, this lacks the power you would expect from an 18 volt power supply! I've had cheap crappy uprights with less power that actually had more suction. This manages to get a couple pieces of fluff, and some stray kitty litter, but only after several passes or creating a seal with the floor directly over the particles to be picked up. It'd be about as easy to just bend down and pick the offending particle up. This will be going back at the next opportunity. I expect a heck of a lot more power from a heavy hand-held that costs sixty bucks!

I like the removable battery feature a lot. You don't have to have the charger mounted and deal with the whole thing to charge it. Lots of suction to work with so it really picks up the dirt and dust. The exhaust blows downward strongly on the underside of the unit so it's best to pick debris by using it at a pretty good angle.

Length:: 1:57 Mins

This is a short demo using this vac, shows how to empty it, clean the filter, remove battery and more. I love that the battery is removable because I have had to discard other vacs when the built in battery would no longer charge. Hope this short video helps you.

We've had Dustbusters for years. Our last one, a 9.6v CHV9600 has been the best. Lasted 5 years. No current (2011) dustbusters are anywhere near as good. All of today's dustbusters have non-pleated filters which completely clog in a minute of two if dust is sucked up. Our old CHV9600's filter lasts so long, my wife didn't even realize it ever needed to be cleaned. We would go months before I'd clean it.

Unfortunately, Black and Decker are now making much worse dustbusters with gimicks. No other dustbuster has a replaceable battery. Planned replacement cycle. In a few years you're forced to buy an inferior product from them again. Surprisingly, the competition hasn't made anything better either.

This dustbuster, the SPV1800 does have a pleated filter, the VF20. Its pretty good, but not as good as the VF100 from the CHV9600. Still it can suck up lots of dust before it needs to be cleaned.

This dustbuster overall seems very similar to the dustbuster we had in the early 2000's before our CHV9600.

Pros: Its the only dustbuster with a pleated filter that can suck up a good bit of dust before clogging up.
It has good suction, especially when the filter is clean. Some other current models have better suction, but only when very clean. Realistically, this one works much better.
I love that it has a replaceable battery. Theoretically, the vac should last forever. Just replace the battery and filter. We've never had a dustbuster fail other than battery wearing out.

Cons: Its expensive. Have to remove the battery to charge it up. No attachments. Our CHV9600 had crevice tool and brush which sorta work on this one. A big drawback is that you can't see in the compartment. Can't tell how full it is and can't tell what you've sucked up.

We're also trying a FHV1200 portable vac which also has a pleated filter, but typical B&D, the battery is not replaceable. No replacement battery is offered anywhere.

Nov 10, 2009 - I've owned my cordless vac now for 6 months & the battery is still working & I'm now looking at changing the filter out for the very 1st time! I've taken the filter out several times & removed debris & replaced, but it's finally at a point where I need to replace it which 6 months is very good. I've owned a lot of cordless vac & they are either too heavy, wont suck up stuff, or the batteries die in 3 months & this vac doesn't have ANY of those issues. I use mine everyday in my laundry room for kitty litter, kitty food, and misc dirt that gets on my tile floor & I can go almost an entire week b4 I need to recharge my battery which I put on the charger at night & in the morning it's ready to go again. I have a bad back so I need a product that is easy to use, reliable, & does what I pay for and this one will do it. It's a little more expensive but you want the higher volts as it DOES make a diff & you will just end up replacing the cheaper model within a year if not earlier. The only drawback I've seen so far is you cant buy the replacement filters at the store, but Amazon does carry them and they run around $8 but you will get your money's worth out of them.

I bought mine two years ago and it still works perfect. It works better and has more sunction than any I have ever owned. It out performs my dad'sCcraftsman handheld vac which is a 19volt. I use it to pick up loose fur and bedding that falls on the floor from our chinchilla cages. I am currently looking to buy another one for upstairs.

This Hand Vac has very little extra sucking power compared to an old 15.6 V, cheap competitor's version that I still have that cost half as much. I thought it would have much more power since it higher voltage. It is also bulkier than my old one so harder to use for a car interior or tight spaces. It lacks a "battery charged" indicator, and has no wall mount, so I have to take out the battery to charge the vac and reconnect it again when it is charged. This is inconvenient. Other models allow you to just leave the vac plugged in which I prefer and have a "charge complete" colored light indicator. Time will tell if this model will keep a charge if the battery is not used for couple of weeks without recharging. It alsocame with no attachments. They need to be purchased separately.

Also, no information came with the vac nor can I find any on the Black and Decker website, as to what tools also take this 18 Volt battery. It's great that it is interchangeable, but not great that you can't easily find out where else it works.

Black and Decker can do better!

I was looking for a powerful dustbuster and this vac filled my needs when I got it. The problem is the battery eventually will not hold a charge and it seems that every-time I go and get it to clean a small spill, the battery is almost dead and the power is dismal. Too expensive for what you get and should have been a lithium ion, not ni-cad. Really not a recommended buy.