No, the two systems rely on completely different principles of physics and are not interchangeable.
To understand why, you must look at the difference between High Velocity (household) and High Volume (industrial) systems:
1. High Velocity Systems (Residential Central Vac)
The Physics: These move a low volume of air (e.g., 50–75 CFM) but at a terrific velocity (normally 8,000 FPM) and high pressure.
The Design: Designed to lift heavy dirt from carpets through small pipes and hoses (1″ or 2″ diameter).
2. Conventional Dust Collection (Woodworking/Industrial)
The Physics: These move a massive volume of air (High CFM) at a lower velocity (normally 4,000 FPM).
The Design: Designed to capture floating dust and chips from machinery through large pipes (4″, 5″, 6″+ diameter).
Summary: The “Milkshake” Analogy
Because the sciences do not overlap, mixing the components results in failure:
Shop Collector on Home Piping: If you try to pull a conventional dust collector’s volume through a 1½” central vac hose, it is like trying to suck a milkshake through a cocktail straw. The resistance is too high, and airflow stops.
Shop Vac on Industrial Machine: Conversely, if you attach a 2″ high-velocity vacuum hose to a planer with a 5″ outlet, the vacuum lacks the CFM volume to evacuate the hood, leaving the machine clogged.