Sometimes, you don't need to be a whizz with electronics to fix something.
This Dyson V12 "Laser Head" has a motorized rotating brush to help pick up dust and debris, and a laser diode to illuminate the dust on the floor. It also conveniently uses exactly the same motor as the V15's laser head.
Regardless of which head you have, (when you turn on the laser, and fire up the vacuum) if your laser only flashes on for an instant, and the brush doesn't spin at all, your head's motor is toast, and needs replacement. Replacing the motor will make the laser work too, so just focus on replacing the motor.
It's actually a really achievable process, and it will probably save you hundreds... because a motor costs $80 (Australian, delivered), whereas a whole new Dyson head costs over $300 new!
Let's see what's involved...
Please note: You don't need to "salvage" or "cannibalise" a working head to get a motor, there's a link below to the motor I bought... (it's way cheaper, and better for the planet).
Where to get the motor from?
Actually, I found it on AliExpress (after playing the game: "What does AliExpress call this thing?")
Click on the image for the direct link.
What did I actually get?
The process....
Honestly, it was such a relief to see just how closely the new motor matched the old one. The wires were the identical length, the mount points matched up. Even the wire terminals were the right type. it was literally impossible to tell which motor was the new one if I couldn't see the chinese label on the new one... (and the screw holding the head onto the shaft of the old motor was removed).
It took me about 20 minutes to dismantle the head with the above video instructions... but only 10 to put it back (I left it in a somewhat disassembled state while I was waiting for the motor to arrive).
Perhaps the most challenging part...
So I've carefully ran the wires through the holes, and along the channels in the plastic, and around the end of the laser head. The "black to back" of the head (although the socket is labelled "BLK", and the grey (or gray if you're in the U.S.) to the front... the socket is labelled GRY on the circuit board.
After that, it's just a matter of carefully replacing the screws (perhaps just enough to hold it together for an initial test with the vacuum running).
It works!
If it all checks out like mine did, finish putting in all the screws, and pat yourself on the back with a tasty beverage! (or snack, or steak dinner if that's your thing.. I'm not your doctor, I won't judge!)
Conclusion
It's this sort of project that is good to "try to repair" if you're just starting out.
The Dyson head is quite expensive for what it is (over $300 Australian) and that's assuming you can get a replacement. Right now, Dyson Australia hasn't got any, and overseas sellers on eBay are charging as much as $400.
Ok, sure, you can buy an "off brand" head for less, but Dyson has designed their head for maximum cleaning efficiency.. then patented it so imitations can't flood the market. I just don't think you'll get the kind of performance you've come to expect out of your Dyson vacuum... if you literally "cheap out" where the "tyres hit the road" (so to speak). That's a pretty bitter pill to swallow after spending so much on a vacuum.
Isn't it a bit of a gamble?
It is a gamble to buy parts online. I was honestly, looking for key phrases like V12 laser head motor... because if it doesn't work with my v12.. I have a valid argument to say "It's not as described" and use that as grounds to get a refund.
This time, it worked out, and I'm very happy, and even pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of the tools to fix this head. But I wasn't completely reliant on "hope".
Is this really an electronics job?
Well... if you have an electrical device that's not working, and simply screwing a replacement part back into place, and plugging it in to make it work... you could argue that it's EXACTLY the same as replacing a shorted transitor, or blown inductor (after all, that's largely what a motor is... from an electrical standpoint). We just didn't need to use all the electronics equipment like multimeters, soldering irons, and benchtop power supplies... to name a few.
I actually did do some tests on the old motor in my electronics lab...
The motor shaft didn't spin at all, even when twisted by hand, (It was jammed) I tried my programmable power supply to give the motor the expected 16V at a variety of currents up to 2A... absolutely nothing happened. If the motor itself it toast, it's just easier to get a repacement because few people have the means to re-coil a motor, or manufacture any number of parts at home.
So why talk about this project specifically?
I like recommending these sorts of simple electronic repair tasks because the electrical risks are low. There's not many parts to check, and for common household appliances, there's often some great instructions online, who've been generously shared for free by people who've had to figure it out for themselves.
The fact that this whole repair can be done with a few differently sized torx screwdrivers with very little cost is just the icing on the cake.
You can't really go wrong. You know if your vacuum is the problem.. it doesn't suck... so the head is likely to be the issue.
I hope this helps you to fix your V12/V15 laser heads (the motor are completely interchangeable), and hopefully save money while learning something.
All the best!!
Ham.