Thread: Auto on dust extractor?

Originally Posted by jenno

Thank you BobL

It has a 14 inch impeller btw

Originally Posted by jenno

It has a 14 inch impeller btw

I have an Ecogate system which I originally used with 4" gates on my Jet 1200 DC but is now being connected to my new Clearview.

The reason why the Ecogate is so important to me is that my workshop is not a production shop and I do a lot of small cuts /operations with large time intervals in between.

I definitely do not want the DC continually running because of the noise and power use when I am not actually using a machine. I can set the shutdown delay long enough that the DC continues running when I am making multiple cuts. I will have up to 6 or 7 individual tools connected to the DC when final setup is complete.

The Ecogate system is ideal for my situation. It turns on the DC, opens the appropriate gate for the machine being used and shuts down the DC with a programmable delay when I'm finished with a particular tool.
I agree that the Ecogate is expensive. However given what I do in my shop it is one of the best things I have installed. When I am working I never have to think about the DC. It is just there and it always works when required. I was lucky in that I bought my Ecogate a long time ago but I have been able to upgrade my system from 4' to 5" & 6" gates as required for my Clearview

I will finish by quoting BobL from another thread

"The other problem, that I recognise even within myself, is laziness.
The following is a typical scenario.
I have to undertake a low level fine dust generating activity (i.e. drill a couple of small holes in a piece of wood or use some hand tools) and knowing what I know about these activity (i.e. not much fine dust generated at the time of activity) so I don't bother to turn the DC on. This happens a number of times over a few days, the shavings lay on the floor I walk back and forth all over them and at the end of the week, there's that patina of fine dust all over the shed. . . . . .

Eventually it all gets too much and there's a major clean up and vowing to be more rigorous about using the DC and cleaning up immediately afterwards but inevitable I forget and I end up going through the whole cycle again."

I think Bob has made my point for me

Cheers
Ron

Originally Posted by Evanism

I have a Festool shop vac hooked to a dust deputy and a heap of 2" hose. Plug in the tool, switch the Festy to auto and when I turn the tool on, everything comes to life.

Wonderful!.........

Now, ..... but I love the idea of an automatic electronic unit. In fact, I'd love it even more if it left the DE on for 5 more seconds once the tool is deactivated.

I've never seen anything like this for sale....any ideas friends?

(side note: today I spoke with a knowledgable sparky that does air con and he'd never heard of such a thing).....is there a gap in the market here?

Good Morning Evanism

I raised had the same query about ten years ago. Basically you have three options:

First. Do nothing!

Second. Buy a Festool vavuum. Cost only $1,000.

Third. Get your sparky mate to wire in one of these master-slave switches from Jaycar. Cost an exorbitant $29.95.
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=AA0212
Mine is wired into an old 2HP domestic vacuum cleaner. Tools plug into the power takeoff on the vacuum - where the turbo-brush lead plugs in - and it then works just like a Festool switch. If, say, you are using a sander - squeeze the trigger on the sander and both the sander and the vacuum spring to life. Ease the trigger and both stop. Full and very detailed wiring instructions and options comes with the master-slave switch.

Unfortunately, no time delay on the off switching.




Fair Winds

Graeme