Video

Back in 2015, just never uploaded it to CZcams

My dust collector is 240 volts, so you need to switch both hot wires. If you are controlling a 120 volt dust collector you would only need one rely.

@@rob_smith im about to do a similar project myself and thats why im asking and im not saying your wrong because im no expert. But the relays have 240vac written on them, doesn't that mean they can handle 240ac each?

kezzaman 240 volt power has two hot wires, each 120 volts in opposite phase. Therefore you need to switch both wires requiring two relays.

Those relays should be inside of a listed box. Reminds me of the days guys use to run their amplifier power thru the fender without a fuse and wonder why their car caught fire.

kpxoda1 - i just found this video, and have never played with a current sensor, OR an arduino before... so was just going to do this same thing, so you're saying instead of having the sensors on each tool, that you could, for instance, (assuming you're using the actual romex type wiring from the panel and ONLY tools use that circuit), that you put the sensor on the wiring in/out of the panel, and have that turn the dust on? so you would have to have a separate circuit for tools that DO use the dust collection and tools that DON"T use dust collection?

@@rapunzeleh546 That is correct, look up CR magnetics. They make the part you will want with a 20 normally open contact. There is alot of different specs you can get it in though so download the datasheet off the website and it will have a key to explain the model numbers and such. You can then sometimes find a used one on eBay. I think a new one is like $80. There are some genaric ones on ebay as well and they are a bit more universal having switches and dials on them to configure them to your use. Personally I prefer to buy quality American made (sometimes American designed) electronics

@@rapunzeleh546 Oh and if the dust collector or load that you want to switch is too great for the 20a contacts on that part I told you about you can simply add a contactor and have the current sensing relay trigger the contactor and the contactor turn on the dust collector

kpxoda1... uh... you had me up until contactor. was going to buy a 30amp relay anyways... i got one of those double barrel monster 3hp 220v collectors...still have to upsize my cyclone first though... matthias wandel has got some awesome projects - guys' a freaking evil genius when it comes to woodworking. he also has a relay box to turn on the dust stuff. saw one 'iliketomakestuff' i think.. he's even added servo's to automatically open the gates, but that seems a little unnecessarily whiz-bangy. if i'm standing right next to the tool, opening a gate just isn't a biggy. cool, but lots of other stuff to spend my dubloons on!

It's because with the Arduino he can open the gate before the dust collector start and he can close the gate after the dust collector shut off. Without Arduino you cannot control all your elements of your dust collection system. Just take a look at those small modules Arduino and you will be surprise what we can do with it . He can put a dust sensor in his bag and it will light a red bulb with mean it's time to empty the dust bag or container. Thousand of possibility with Arduino.

3457 CVD ii

eBay is your friend. I saw a couple of different models on there recently.

Make sure your computer is connected while testing the system, and then you can use the serial logging output from the Arduino to understand what the software is doing. If you look at the code you'll see there are debugging statements throughout the code, just open the serial monitor while the Arduino is running and connected to your computer and you'll see the output. In the Arduino IDE, it is under Tools -> Serial Monitor.

Do not know if you will reply, but fingers crossed :) How did you attach the current sensor. Did you use the 3.5mm jack or did you strip and solder it to the wire going to the Fundino ?? Also how do your blast gates operate? I think I am going to try stepper motors and a gears.. I have ordered your wish list so hopefully I will be able to make this. Intensive Arduino teaching ongoing now :) Thanks for the video and webpage with links TR

Currently my blast gates are manually operated. I have considered automating them but haven't started working on that project yet. The hardest part is going to be attaching motors to the blast gates to get them to open, I would probably use linear actuators but these are not cheap. It looks like you can get some linear actuators from aliexpress.com that aren't too expensive, so that might be an option. I cut the 3.5 mm plugs off the current transformers, soldered the bare wire so it would be stiff, and then plugged the wires into the female headers on the protoshield. You can purchase 3.5 mm plugs and solder those onto the shield instead, but I didn't think that step was necessary. One quick note since you mention having 8+ tools: the standard Arduino only has 6 analog inputs, so you can only connect it to 6 current sensors. You could work around this by having multiple tools share a current sensor, or you could add an extra board with more analon inputs. I'd recommend trying to just automate the dust collector power first and get that working, then move on to the blast gates. It should be a good project, let me know how it goes!