Replies

1. 
   DanAlberta | Nov 19, 2006 12:37am | #1

   Usually when you connect a secondary circuit to a magnetic swith it is connected to auxillary contacts mounted on the side of the swtch itself. In you instance they should be normally open contacts so when the switch closes the auxllary contacts also close turning on the dust collector. Make sure the switches on the blast gates are wired so that when the gate is open that power can flow to turn on your dust collector at the same time your tool gets turned on

   On some swithes they are shown with symbols. A normally open looks like a pair of capital letter T's turned sideways with their tops toward each other. Normally closed looks very similar but has a diagonal line through both T's.

    

   Without being able to see the book this is what I would think the author is talking about. It is also what I plan on doing when I build my new shop next year.

2. 
   Don01 | Jan 03, 2007 05:18am | #2

   An easier solution is to purchase the Automater Dust Collector Control switch. There are 3 designs - search eBay. I do not think they are available elsewhere.

   I purchased the inline style as my dust collection will be on a seperate 220 V circuit and all of my tools will be on another. The dust collector is activated when the primary tool is started.

   Don

1. 
   tinkerer2 | Jan 03, 2007 06:52am | #3

   Does that automatically open the blast gate also?

1. 
   Don01 | Jan 03, 2007 04:05pm | #4

   No. Power flow to the tool energizes the switch controlling the dust collector. Economics would lean towards one dust collector and one switch for many tools.
   There is nothing preventing one from attaching an Automator to each tool. You could then create sub circuits to do what ever you required.Automated blast gates seems like an awful lot of work for little return.Don