Automatic dust collection

[Pat]

Has anybody used or know anything about a product called the Automater it automaticly turns on your dust collector when you turn on your tool.

[Richard]

The one disadvantage I see is starting more than one motor at the same time. My dust collector requires a 30 amp breaker to start. My saw requires about 20 amps to start. Starting them at the same time could cause an electrical overload on your system.

[Lou_williams]

Richard convert to 220 volts operation and cut the current requirements in half.

It also has other advantages.

[MadMark]

Sears sells a $20 gadget that you plug both your saw and shop vac into. When the saw comes on the shop vac comes up automatically.

However the problem is that you can't manually override to turn on shop vac when using other tools! Kind of limits it's usefulness.

Trying to do the same thing on a "whole shop" DC would suffer from the same drawback. Which tool is going to control and how do you override?

Just hit the switch when needed. Lots easier. Works for everything without complex electronics - just another thing to go wrong!

M

[DICK]

my garage is about 24x30 and has 2 rooms in it with about 6 tools hooked up a dust collection sys. and also about 3 ports for cleaning up messes elsewhere. I use 2 switches wired up by using 3 way switches, so which ever one iam closest to I can turn my vaccum sys. on. works well.