All About Big Brute Power Units

We get a lot of questions about the motors that power a Big Brute industrial hoover, how many it has, what power they have, how are they switched on etc.

We’ve put together some of our customers’ most common questions here. And if we haven’t answered your question, just ask us.

What Power Are The Motors?

All Big Brute power units contain 3 motors, each one rated at 1.2kW power.

Every Big Brute therefore has 3.6kW of total power for you to use when cleaning up.

Can I Run A Big Brute From A Three Pin 230V Socket?

All our 230V single-phase Big Brutes come with a 16A plug pre-fitted, not a 3-pin 13A plug.

The reason for this is that under certain circumstances, the Big Brute motors can pull very close to 13A of current. In these cases, standard 13A RCDs will very likely trip.

If you don’t have a 16A supply to plug your Big Brute into, you can use a Big Brute 16A-13A adapter lead to plug it into your 13A sockets. Just check that your RCD breakers are of high-enough rating to cope.

Can I Run A Big Brute From A Generator?

The simple answer is that it is entirely possible to run a Big Brute from a generator, but we do have certain recommendations. To find out more, take a look at our dedicated article on running a Big Brute off a generator.

Why Do I Have To Use A Big Brute 16A-13A Adapter Lead?

It’s true you can probably get a 16A-13A adapter lead from your local caravan and camping shop at a cheaper price than the Big Brute adapter lead.

But remember that the Big Brute can pull close to 13A of current in normal use. Standard caravan adapter leads are made of wires with a standard, narrow diameter – their cross-sectional area is usually 1.5mm². When used with machines that pull higher currents, they heat up quicker which can lead to warping, melting or even fire.

The Big Brute 16A-13A adapter lead is made from larger core wires with a cross-sectional area of 2.5mm². This is far safer for handling the higher currents a Big Brute can pull.

Is The 4-Position Switch A Power Level?

Each Big Brute comes with a 4-position switch that switches each motor on one at a time.

The reason for this is because it gives the Big Brute a “soft-start”, avoiding a large spike in current that could occur when switching all 3 motors on at once.

We always recommend that you use a Big Brute with all 3 motors running – this gives all your motors even use and reduces the risk of overworking motors number 1 and 2, which could cause them to fail prematurely.

Got Another Question?

If you’ve got another question about our Big Brute power units, motors or switches, get in touch – we’ll be happy to answer your questions.