The differences between the Karcher FC 3 Cordless and FC 5 Cordless are as follows:
- Mechanism
According to customer service, the main difference is that the Karcher FC 5 Cordless hard floor cleaner has a suction motor which vacuums the dirty water off the back of the two rollers and into the waste water tank which located on the back of the machine.
The FC 3 Cordless hard floor cleaner does not have a vacuum motor, it uses a scraping method to remove dirty water off the back of the rollers and collects the water in the waste water tank which located at the bottom, on the front side of the machine. - Tank Capacity
Both of them have dual tanks: a clean water tank and a dirty water tank. The tanks on the FC 5 cordless is a bit larger, its clean water tank holds up to 13.5 oz, dirty water tank holds up to 6.8 oz. Whereas the FC 3 cordless clean water tank capacity is 12.2 oz and waste water tank capacity is 4.7 oz. - Dirty Water Tank Removal
The dirty water tank on the FC 5 cordless is easier to remove to empty. Whereas the FC 3 cordless dirty water tank is under the floor head cover, you will need to remove the cover to reach the dirty water tank. - Weight
The FC 5 Cordless is heavier, it weighs approximately 9.6 pounds (without accessories and cleaning fluids) versus 5.3 pounds on the FC 3 Cordless. - Dimensions (L x W x H)
The FC 5 Cordless is a bit bulkier.
The dimensions of FC 5 Cordless are
12.6″ x 10.6″ x 48″
The dimensions of FC 3 Cordless are
12″ x 8.9″ x 48″ - Storage Station
The storage docks of the two units are also a bit different.
The FC 5 Cordless storage station is not only for storing the machine and rollers, but also allows you to rinse the device with fresh water in the storage station when finished using. You place the FC 5 Cordless into storage station, fill storage station with water and turn on the unit to do the rinsing procedure.
The FC 3 Cordless storage station on the other hand does not have the feature to rinse the device. - Charger Cord Length
The FC 5 Cordless charger cable length is 59.06 inches versus 70.87 inches on the FC 3 Cordless. - Battery
The FC 5 Cordless has 25.2V battery pack versus 7.2V on the FC 3 Cordless. Since the FC 5 Cordless has a vacuum motor, the run time are the same.
| Floor Cleaner | Karcher FC 3 Cordless | Karcher FC 5 Cordless |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 7.2V lithium ion battery | 25.2V lithium ion battery |
| Detachable Battery | No | No |
| Battery Indicator | Yes | Yes |
| Charge Time | 4 hours | 4 hours |
| Run Time | Up to 20 minutes | Up to 20 minutes |
| Rated Power | 40W | 165W |
| Number of Speeds | 1 | 1 |
| Roller Speed | 500rpm | 500rpm |
| Vacuum Motor | No | Yes |
| Removable Cleaner Head Cover | Yes | Yes |
| Dual Tanks | Yes | Yes |
| Clean Water Tank Capacity | 12.17 oz/360 ml | 13.5 oz/400 ml |
| Dirty Water Tank Capacity | 4.73 oz/140 ml | 6.8 oz |
| On/Off Control | Yes | Yes |
| Spray Button | No | No |
| Charger Cord Length | 70.87 inches/1800 mm | 59.06 inches/1500 mm |
| Storage Station | Included | Included |
| Detergent | Includes one bottle 16.9oz/500ml | Includes one bottle 16.9oz/500ml |
| Weight (without accessories) | 5.3lbs/2.4kg | 9.7lbs/4.4kg |
| Dimensions | 12" x 8.9" x 48" | 12.6" x 10.6" x 48" |
| Warranty | 3-year limited warranty | 3-year limited warranty |
Similarities:
- Powered by lithium-ion battery.
- Have separate dirty water tank and clean water tank.
- No separate detergent tank.
- Have On/Off button on the handle.
- LED display to show battery level.
- Include storage station to store the unit in upright position.
- Include a bottle of detergent (RM 536) 16.9oz/500ml.
- Floor head cover can be removed to clean up.
- Include two rollers that can be detached to clean. You can clean the rollers under running water or wash them in washing machine.
- Carry 3-year limited warranty.
Some questions and answers:
- How long will it take to charge?
Empty battery will take approximately 4 hours to charge. - What’s the run time?
Approximately 20 minutes. - How many speeds do they have?
One. - Is the battery replaceable?
The battery is not detachable. You cannot buy a second battery to swap out the battery to extend the run time.
Disconnecting the battery will invalidate the warranty. - Is there a button for spraying solution?
No. Only a On/Off button. - What types of floors can these machines be used on?
These units can be used to clean all sealed hard floor types including varnished parquet, enamelled tiles, linoleum, etc. - Do they vacuum?
No, they are not vacuum cleaners. - Can you use just plain water?
Yes. - Can you use vinegar with water?
According to customer service, yes. - Can you use your own cleaning solution?
According to customer service, yes.
However, “detergents containing bleach, ammonia, or other corrosive substances is not permitted for use in this machine”.
Download manuals to learn more:
Karcher FC 3 Cordless Floor Cleaner manual:
https://s1.kaercher-media.com/documents/manuals/raw/000/BTA-5652543-000-01.pdf
Karcher FC 5 Cordless Floor Cleaner manual:
https://s1.kaercher-media.com/documents/manuals/raw/000/BTA-5658979-000-01.pdf