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Remote Dust Collector Switch

mbcabinetmaker

Satarday I begain a project that has really mushroomed. I am doing a complete reset of my shop. My table saw and jointer will be sharing a dust collector. The problem is there will be a wall between the two. I have never used the remote switches available for dust collectors and would like any information avaliable through the forum. How well do these work? Will they work through walls? I have 2 units that are 240 volts and one 115. The other option would be to wire it on a 2 way switch but that is going to be a lot of work.

dicksterp

Mark,

I have one of the Shopsmith wireless on/off switches in my shop. I just tried it and it worked from my family room to the garage with the door closed. I also tried from the florida room (next to family room) so it was going around corners or it went thru wall across patio and thru back wall of garage. It worked every time.

It is SS part # 556021, but is showing as not found doing a search for it. Mine says it is channel A, so I am ass u ming there is a channel B. I would like to find a channel B so I can hook up both of my dust collectors to them. They work great. The SS units are 120v/8A with a 100' range. They may not be hefty enough for you though. I know Rockler, Woodcraft, Grizzly carry similar items with, I think, higher amp ratings.

Good luck

stevespix

I have had great success with my SS remote switch hooked up to my dust collector. In fact I use one of those neck tag holders you get at conventions and keep that and my shop apron on the same hook. When I put the apron on I also put the remote around my neck.

mbcabinetmaker

Thanks guys, I am going to look at one next time I go to Woodcraft. I will need it for a 1 1/2 hp so I will check the amps.

rkh2

Mark

For what its worth, I have the DC 3300 (Shopsmith's Dust Collector) which is 120 VAC and the remote control unit which shopsmith did sell, however when I went to their web site I could not find it offered so not sure if they still carry it. My units are all in the same room, however, I just went out and did a test with my remote and I can turn the unit on & off up to 25 feet away from outside the shop with the door to my shop closed. Don't know if this info will be useful to you or not but thought I would try to see what my remote would do after reading your post.

fjimp

rkh2 wroteMark

For what its worth, I have the DC 3300 (Shopsmith's Dust Collector) which is 120 VAC and the remote control unit which shopsmith did sell, however when I went to their web site I could not find it offered so not sure if they still carry it. My units are all in the same room, however, I just went out and did a test with my remote and I can turn the unit on & off up to 25 feet away from outside the shop with the door to my shop closed. Don't know if this info will be useful to you or not but thought I would try to see what my remote would do after reading your post.

This could be good information to have. My remote came with and extra remote. I could let my wife have it so she could shut the noisy thing offf and enhance my ability to her her. Wait a minute I'm not telling her about that. What was I thinking. Now I sweating and it cool in here. Whew:confused::confused::confused: fjimp

dicksterp

Mark,

Check out this link

http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=4390289&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=

mbcabinetmaker

Thanks Dick.

That is a good source of information. I am going to check out the Long Ranger.

robinson46176

In my old shop the main machine area was a long narrow area and had a low ceiling. There I always wanted to install a long rod along the length of the ceiling that would operate a knife switch 30 amp disconnect down at one end. In that shop it would have always been only one step away. All mechanical, simple and trouble free. I had seen that system used in a factory I once worked in.

My new shop however does not lend itself to that system.

In the still jumbled mess that is the new shop (soon to be organized, soon to be organized, soon to be organized) :o I just walk over and flip the switch on the collector I am using.

-

You know, the remotes do not have to reach the physical dust collector. You can either install a longer cord on the DC or even use a "properly sized" extension cord so that you are powering it from a central location that your push button remote will always reach from all directions.

I am thinking of building a large well insulated "closet" type space onto the outside of the back corner of my shop (so I don't lose floor space) to house my DCs. The air coming out of the DCs would re-enter the shop by passing through a big panel of furnace filters. I can just blow it outside here in this rural setting but I would rather not lose the heat and AC when they are running. I will just blow the DC connected to the planer outside if I am planing a lot of rough cut lumber at once. In fact if I have a huge batch to do I might just move the planer to the sawmill location and plane it outside in nice weather.

The big advantage of running the DCs outside when not heating or cooling is that it also gets rid of all of that really fine dust that is so bad for your lungs and hard to catrch.

allsas

Found this switch in 10 year old woodworking mag. It even has a delay on start and shut down. Could worry about the reliability but at the price....and you don't have to press a remote.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00924031000P?keyword=craftsman+automatic+switch#descriptionAnchor