Remote Control
for Dust-Collection System
R
ECENTLY,I MOVED MY CUSTOMwoodworking business out of
my home into a historic mill. As part of the move, I made sev-
eral shop improvements, including upgrading to a 2-hp dust-collection
system that I hooked up to several additional tools. That’s when the
problem surfaced. I was spending too much time running over to the
dust-collector switch.
One evening, I plunked down my weary bones, grabbed the re-
mote, and turned on the television. Click. I realized my dust-collector
problems were over. I purchased a remote-activated on/off switch
from Radio Shack for less than $25, which works like a television re-
mote. By itself, the Radio Shack switch is not beefy enough to power
the collection system’s motor, so I bought a 2-pole, 30-amp/240v AC
contactor with a 110v AC coil and enclosure from my local electrical
supply distributor for about $60. The Radio Shack remote-controlled
switch serves as a pilot for the heavy-duty contactor.
After a couple of hours of wiring, I could start or stop my collector
from any location in the shop, which is a real time-saver when a cus-
tomer walks in or the phone rings.
—JEROMELOUISON,Savage, Md.
CHAPTER ONE
220v power supply
Remote
transmitter
Receiver
switch
2-pole
power contactor
Dust
collector