Black & Decker BDH1200FVAV 12V Flexi Automotive Vacuum

Black & Decker BDH1200FVAV 12V Flexi Automotive Vacuum is a dedicated car vacuum cleaner, powered via a 12V car cigarette adapter.

Since it uses the car's battery for operation, it doesn't depend on its own battery or on mains power. It is a lightweight and affordable unit, with very good suction and air filtration.

Updated: May 4, 2022.

Black & Decker BDH1200FVAV Features and Specifications

Black and Decker BDH1200FVAV is powered using a 12V car cigarette adapter and 16 feet (~4.9 m) power cord. The power cord is long enough to reach all areas of most cars (sedans and caravans, for example), including the trunk, from the outside - requiring no seats to be lowered in order to reach the trunk.

Since it is using the car's battery, BDH1200FVAV can be used as long as it is required to clean the car. Even 30 minutes of full operation can't discharge significantly high capacity lead-acid batteries (for example 70 Ah or more), often found in modern cars.

The cable can be wrapped around the car vacuum before storing the vacuum away - dedicated wraps for storing cable would be nice, not to mention an automatic cord rewind system, which would be excellent. However, such a rewind system would increase the price and weight of the unit.

BDH1200FVAV has an integrated flexible 4 feet (~1.2 m) long cleaning hose.

A flexible cleaning hose, in combination with a 2-in-1 flip-up brush and wide nozzle tool, and especially the long crevice tool, allows the user to reach and clean practically all areas of the car where some similar handheld vacuum can't.

For cleaning really hard-to-reach areas, even the handle can be removed.

Note: unit doesn't come with a clip or any similar onboard storage for the crevice tool. It would be nice, but ...

Black and Decker BDH1200FVAV is powered by patented "motor in the filter" technology, which allows the unit to be very compact.

Maximum suction power is 12.5 Air Watts - acceptable for a unit of this size and weight. Note that this vacuum doesn't have an attachment with a motorized rotating brush, thus cleaning long hair (pet, human) deeply embedded into the fibers (depending on the surface, of course), could be problematic.

BDH1200FVAV vacuum weighs only 3.3 pounds (~1.5 kg) - we say 'only', since it doesn't look small nor that lightweight. Vacuums dimensions are (HxWxD): 11.9 x 10.8 x 6.5 inches (~30 x 27.4 x 16.5 cm).

Air filtration is based on cyclonic dirt-air separation in combination with a mechanical air filter.

Cyclonic action forces dirt and debris away from the filter, maintaining optimum suction power until the dust bowl is almost full. A mechanical filter is actually a combination of two filters:

- mechanical pre-filter - it protects the inner pleated filter from spinning dirt and debris, which might even damage the inner filter.

- pleated filter - it filters fine dust and other particles and helps the unit achieve good air filtration. Filtration is not a true HEPA grade, but it is OK for such a unit.

Both filters are reusable and can be washed using warm water with mild detergent/soap. When returning them to the unit, be sure that they are fully dry.

The unit doesn't come with "dirty filter" or "dust bowl full" sensors, but the dust bowl is transparent, allowing the user to see when it is time to empty the vacuum. IMHO - empty it after each use.

Unit is emptied through the side empty door, quickly and easily.

During operation, the unit is not quiet as some weaker cordless handhelds, but it is not loud either.

How To Use Black&Decker BDH1200FVAV At Home?

Black&Decker BDH1200FVAV and other similar 12V vacuums that use car cigarette lighter sockets are possible to use even at home if wall 110V AC to 12V 10A DC converters/adapters are used.

Such adapters converter mains AC electricity into 12V DC electricity that is suitable for 12V car vacuums.

They are cheap and reliable and can last for a long time.

However, when choosing a 110V AC to 12V 10A DC converter/adapter go for the model that supports at least 10 Amps of current - cigarette car lighter ports support 10 Amps, and practically all devices that are powered by these ports use 10 Amps or less.

Another option is using portable power stations/solar generators that also feature 12V DC car sockets, but portable power stations/solar generators cost much more than the AC to 12V DC adapters.

Long story short - Black and Decker BDH1200FVAV is an excellent 12V corded, bagless, handheld vacuum cleaner. Like many similar 12V vacuums, its suction is good but could be perhaps better. It is a very well-designed, affordable car vacuum cleaner.

For the best offers, check Black & Decker BDH1200FVAV 12V Flexi Automotive Vacuum Amazon link (link opens in the new window).