Dust collection Full Indicator System

[Dan Henry]

I have a home made cyclone dust collector that has (2) 12 X 24 filter's and I have let the 35 gal container get over full too may times, when this happens the filters get full of shavings and dust. It is a real PIA to clean the filters!!

Does any one have a good idea to on how to install either a store bought or a home made indicator system that would let me know when the bucket is getting full.

Dan

[Jerome Hanby]

I recall some discussion on optical methods, but that seems like it would not be reliable because this is dust we're talking about:D. I wonder if you could cobble something together out of an old set of bathroom scales. Probably couldn't detect an absolute level, but you could alarm whenever you hit a certain weight...

[Scott Hildenbrand]

Drill a 2" port hole and cover it with a sealed piece of plexiglass. Behind the glass 1-2" away place an LED so that it shines out the port. When it's full, the port will be blocked and no light will shine through. That way not only can you "look" into the port hole to see if there's sawdust against it, but you can also see across the room that no light is shining out the port as an added indicator.

[Matt Meiser]

I have an industrial paddle-type bin level indicator which is wired to a light/buzzer. Very reliable as long as I notice the flashing or beeping which 99% of the time occurs when I'm using the planer. But there some safety factor so I haven't overfilled it yet. The day I do I'll probably buy a bell or something. You could wire it to shut down the blower when the bin gets full, but I'd rather it didn't shut off mid-board.

The sensors show up on Ebay from time to time, but you need to know what you are buying and how to wire it. I have mine wired through auxillary contacts on my contactor so it runs when the cyclone is on.

[Bryan Cowing]

I use a Rubbermaid plastic garbage can, bored two - 2" holes one above the other and fastened lexan over the holes. Just have to remember to look at it. I usually get it emptied before it overfills, 9 out of 10 times. Using the plastic can , I had to put an oak hoop inside to keep it from collapsing.

[Phil Harding]

Does any one have a good idea to on how to install either a store bought or a home made indicator system that would let me know when the bucket is getting full.

Dan

I use the Penn State Industries Cyclone Bin Sensor. It's a paddle that fits in the collection drum and is driven by a low voltage motor. When the bin fills up and restricts the rotation of the paddle a built in alarm sounds. The alarm isn't very loud so I have a flashing red light wired into the circuit. It works very well for me.

http://www.pennstateind.com/graphics/275px/BINSENSOR2.jpg

http://www.pennstateind.com/store/BINSENSOR2.html?mybuyscid=987556372

-- Phil

[Dan Henry]

All suggestions have merit but my system is a adjoining room to my shop and would need some sort of remote indicator.

The Penn State rotating paddle looks like it could work. I have very close clearance between the lid of the container the bucket, does the rotating paddle fold??


Dan

[Doug Shepard]

I picked up the 110V version of this on eBay for I think around $50
http://www.dwyer-inst.com/Products/Product.cfm?Group_ID=205&sPageName=Ordering

or you can get the same one here
http://store.oneida-air.com/levelmetersensor.aspx

[Red Dwyer]

Take a look at this one. http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?referrerid=5960&t=79451 I built one and it works good.

[Robert Payne]

I posted a thread (http://www.ncwoodworker.net/forums/f81/controlling-hidden-beast-12691/?highlight=bin+sensor) on the NCWoodworker.net website 18 months ago that showed a circuit I devised following the concepts first described by Alan Schaffter (a member here, too) that uses a Dusk-to-Dawn photocell and a 7W candelabra bulb in a circuit to turn off a dust collector when the bin fills. I can't use a simple window in the side of the bin because my DC is in a dry crawl space under my shop, so I wanted a clear indication of a full bin. Based on comments I recieved from others, I updated the circuit diagram to power the circuitry and sensor thought the 120V remote power switch and which uses a 12V low-cost strobe found on eBay as a visible alarm in my shop. I've attached the revised circuit in both PDF and jpg formats.