Dirt Devil AccuCharge Hand Vac

Avg. consumer rating = 81/100  

The Dirt Devil AccuCharge (model BD10045RED) is a cordless handheld vacuum powered by a 15.6V NiCd battery.  Consumer ratings are fairly good and the handheld is reasonably priced.  Run time is in the neighbourhood of 10 minutes and the AccuCharge system not only helps save energy but it also decreases charging time.  It is easy to operate and maintain but it is a bit noisy and some folks also feel that it is heavy.

We found almost 700 consumer ratings for this popular hand vacuum and when averaged they provide a score of 81.2 out of 100.  This is a respectable score but not exemplary. 

Source	Consumer Ratings	#Ratings
Amazon	4.0 stars out of 5	586
Walmart	4.4 stars out of 5	44
Overstock	4.3 stars out of 5	23
Beach Camera	4.4 stars out of 5	16
Bed Bath & Beyond	4.9 stars out of 5	8
Home Depot	5.0 stars out of 5	2
Viewpoints	4.0 stars out of 5	2
London Drugs	5.0 stars out of 5	1
J&R	5.0 stars out of 5	1

 

Owner comments have provided the following common pros and cons for the BD10045RED

PROS
- Filter is easily removed and cleaned
- Owners report is can work for 10-15 minutes on a full charge
- Fold-down crevice tool can be very handy
- Reasonably priced
- Easy to empty dust canister

CONS
- A bit loud
- Some owners feel it is a bit heavy
- Dust canister is small

We purchased this vacuum from Amazon at a price of about $44USD.  We’ve been using it for a few months now and actually quite like it (see video at bottom of article).  We see that some owners feel it is a bit heavy but the unit’s weight hasn’t been an issue for us.  This may be because we generally use it for very short clean-ups so we don’t hold it for more than about 3 or 4 minutes at a time.  Perhaps if you use it for more than that it could become tiring on the wrist or arm.

Some owners report that while the suction power is quite good when the machine is new, it starts to lag after several years.  This is due to diminishing battery capacity over time.  Unfortunately getting a replacement battery for this unit is not easy, and a replacement battery may cost almost as much as the vacuum itself.

We have also noticed the odd consumer comment that vacuum suction is weak – not after a year or more but shortly after purchasing.  It is not clear if this is a function of trying to operate the machine on less than a full charge or if some machines are simply “lemons”.  However it can be said that “most” owners report that the AccuCharge hand vacuum has fairly strong suction.  Our AccuCharge provides good strong suction.

Like any handheld the Accucharge is made for small, quick cleanups.   With many popular handhelds you read reviews highlighting the inadequacies of the machine when handling larger jobs.  Yes it is true that this handheld does not perform well on larger jobs - battery will run out after 10-15 minutes, suction will diminish as battery runs down, suction opening is too small for large debris pickup, dust canister is small, no brushbar for good carpet cleaning, etc. However one really has to keep in mind that this is a handheld vacuum and is not designed to do the job of a full size machine.  Larger, more difficult cleaning is best handled by a larger vacuum.
 
A corded handheld may also be a good choice for those that feel that 10 minutes of run time for a handheld is insufficient.  Most handhelds are battery operated as this provides a significant level of convenience but there are some good corded handhelds out there.  The Eureka 71B and the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser are examples.

There are many comments highlighting how much better this machine is than the old Dust Busters.  It is a common enough comparison that it should be addressed.  Presumably many folks have a Dust Buster so it is a natural comparison to make when the new Dirt Devil is purchased.  It should be pointed out however that folks do not highlight which model of Dust Buster they have been using.  Some of the new Dust Buster vacuums – like the CHV1410L which uses a Lithium Ion battery - are really quite good.

The AccuCharge gets its name from its energy efficient charging system.  This system determines when the battery is fully charged and then reduces power to a bare minimum – just enough to maintain the battery charge.  According to Dirt Devil the AccuCharge system is capable of reducing energy consumption by up to 70%.  They also state it helps extend battery life.  The charging stand can be mounted on a wall (includes screws to do so) or simply placed on a floor or table.

In addition the charger is Energy Star rated.  If a product is Energy Star rated then it has met strict energy efficiency guidelines set by both the EPA and US Department of Energy.

The BD10045RED is powered by a 15.6V NiCd battery.  On a full charge it provides about 10 minutes of cleaning power.  The AccuCharge system is capable of charging the handheld’s battery in about 6 hours (this is quick for a NiCd battery but would be considered slow if the vacuum was using a Lithium Ion battery).

Like most handheld vacuums the AccuCharge is bagless.  It’s also very easy to empty.  One simply presses the “dirt cup release button” – located on top and just in front of the grip - to open up the vacuum.  In the nose of the vacuum the filter is easily pulled out and the dust and debris emptied into a rubbish bin.  This is very simple and straightforward.  The unit goes back together just as easily.  There are a few comments from owners that the dust canister is a little small however and that it must be emptied frequently.  We show the emptying process in our video at the bottom of this article.

Also, Dirt Devil suggests that each time the dust canister is emptied the filter should be cleaned.  But remember that this filter should not be brushed clean nor should it be washed.  It should simply be tapped against the inside of a rubbish bin until most of the dust and debris has come off.  This is a HEPA filter and is known as a “Dirt Devil F4 filter”.  In our experience the filter does get dirty very easily and needs to be cleaned frequently but fortunately it is easy to remove, clean and replace.

The handheld has two built in tools:
- a crevice tool that flips down onto the end of the nozzle
- a brush that can be slide out from underneath the nozzle

We don’t find the brush particularly useful and it can be difficult to engage (requires some pressure to push out from under the nozzle).  However we really like the flip down crevice tool.  It is easy to employ and it focuses the suction.  It also helps get into narrow or tight areas.  The crevice tool must be fit into place properly though.  We have read that some people have trouble using the crevice tool because they can’t get it to “snap” into place.  It needs to be “flipped down” then “pushed in” in order to stabilize it.  See our video for a demonstration.

The vacuum weighs 3.25 lbs and is CSA certified. The CSA is a group that tests products to ensure they meet US and Canadian standards.   The BD10045RED carries a 3 year warranty which is quite lengthy for a hand vacuum in this price range

Our Video

Manual
You can view the vacuum manual here.  It is unfortunately rather short and not too detailed but you can get some maintenance and operation tips from it.

	Nigel Russco has been writing for Vacuum Cleaner Advisor for years and has a background in business and engineering, as well as a keen interest in anything related to vacuum cleaners. Connect with Nigel on Google+