DeWalt DCV581H 18/20-Volt MAX Cordless/Corded Wet-Dry Vacuum
DeWalt DCV581H is sturdy and versatile cleaning tool. It is corded/cordless powered unit, that can be used as both vacuum cleaner and blower, can be used for vacuuming dry and wet dirt, it features large dirt tank and excellent, true HEPA air filtration.
DeWalt DCV581H can be operated using broad range of 18/20V DeWalt's batteries, making it very affordable for people already having DeWalt 18/20V batteries. Even if you already don't have DeWalt 18/20V tools, and you need a good workshop vacuum, you should also consider this unit.
Published: January 16, 2019.
DeWalt DCV581H comes with 5 feet (~1.52 m) long power cord, which is manually wrapped around the central handle. Power cord is not long enough, but it is used to connect the unit with the extension cord, which is common in the workshops or construction sites.
When choosing appropriate power cord, keep in mind that DeWalt DCV581H is operated using 120V mains power and that it draws 2.6 Amps (rated at 290 W).
DeWalt DCV581H features also 5 feet (~1.52 m) long heavy-duty, crush-resistant cleaning hose. Its diameter is 1-1/4 inches (32 mm) and theoretically it can accept any cleaning tool design for that diameter, but it is not recommended.
Unit comes with two cleaning tools which are more than enough for most cleaning tasks in the shop or on the construction site: Crevice Tool and Wide Nozzle Tool Attachment.
- Crevice Tool is stored in the handle and is design for cleaning narrow places and gaps, corners, edges and similar.
- Wide Nozzle Tool Attachment is by-default connected to the cleaning hose and is used for general cleaning.
DeWalt DCV581H is wet-dry vacuum cleaner and it features large, 2-gallons dirt tank.
To prevent the fine dust and other debris from being released back into the cleaned area, DeWalt DCV581H comes with wet-dry true HEPA air filter, which is capable of filtering out 99.97% of 0.3 microns and larger particles from the sucked air.
HEPA air filter is washable, leading to low maintenance costs - when it get dirty, just tap it onto the hard inner surface of your trash can and when it gets really dirty, rinse it with water.
Note: Never use your vacuum without air filter. Also, to get accustomed to your new unit, before the very first use, be sure to read the instructions. Better safe than sorry :)
Maximum air flow through the unit is 31 Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) which is good for such unit - again, if the suction is decreased and the unit is powered via power cord or charged lithium-ion battery, check if the air filter is dirty or if there is some clog or blockage of some sort in the unit.
DeWalt DCV581H is designed to be powered using a DeWalt 18V NiCd, NiMH, or Li-Ion battery pack, or 20V MAX Li-Ion battery pack.
Battery port is located on the side and easily accessible.
Note: when the battery is plugged into the unit and the power cord is also plugged in, DeWalt DCV581H doesn't charge the battery - to charge the battery, separate battery charger must be used.
Although not officially recommended, the best results are generally achieved using DeWalt 20V MAX XR Lithium Ion battery pack. These are 5-cells, lithium ion batteries with onboard control electronics, featuring 20V when the battery is fully charged (hence the name) and 18V during use. Also, they provide fade-free power during operation, have no memory effect, no self-discharge (or at least not for shorter periods of time), and are rather light.
For example, DeWalt DCB204 battery has 4.0 Ah and it weighs 'only' 1.42 pounds (~0.64 kg). We say 'only' 1.42 pounds, since that gives 72 Wh per battery (4.0 Ah x 18 V) and ~50 Wh/lbs (~112 Wh/kg), which is very good result for sturdy and resilient battery with tough casing.
These batteries can be quickly recharged using DeWalt's chargers (never use some other charger for DeWalt's batteries) - speed of charging depends on the battery capacity and the model of the DeWalt's charger.
DeWalt DCV580H vs DCV581H Wet-Dry Vacuums
DeWalt DCV580H and DeWalt DCV581H are two very similar wet-dry, workshop vacuums, sharing the same design, cleaning hose, attachments, filter, handle, dirt tank etc.
Main difference between these two models is that DeWalt DCV580H is cordless only model (there is no power cord wrapped around the handle - photo to the right), while DeWalt DCV581H is both cordless and corded unit.
Other than that, there are no other difference. Some sites claim that DCV580H is not using HEPA air filter - well, both DCV580H and DCV581H uses the same HEPA air filter, thus both are HEPA vacuum cleaners.
Long Story Short: if you are looking for a tough and versatile workshop/construction site vacuum cleaner, consider DeWalt DCV581H vacuum.
It can be used as both vacuum and blower, as wet-dry vacuum, cordless/corded vacuum and has extra large capacity and HEPA air filtration.
Owners of DeWalt 20V MAX cordless tools (and batteries and chargers) can purchase bare-tool only at very affordable price.
If you don't have any DeWalt 20V MAX cordless tool (nor battery or charger), getting DeWalt DCV581H with the both battery and charger, can save money right away, but also in the long run, since DeWalt 20V MAX batteries can be used for 100+ DeWalt 20V MAX tools.
For more reviews and recommendations, check DEWALT DCV581H 18/20-Volt MAX Cordless/Corded Wet-Dry Vacuum
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