Jim Becker
10-16-2004, 8:38 PM
Last Saturday I blew out another X-10 240v 20a HD Appliance module...the one I use to control the DC. This one only lasted about 9 months. So I had this bright idea to forget controlling the motor directly with a wireless switch and "switch" over to using a contactor that is rated a bit higher and up to the job. Coincidently, Dennis Peacock has an excellent article (http://home.alliancecable.net/~woodworker/dcremote.html) on the same published on his web site which I put to good use today.
While I could have sourced the contactor relatively cheaply if I ordered from a surplus outfit and waited for it to arrive, there's nothing like "instant gratification", so I trotted out to the local electrical supply this morning and picked one up. Then it was off to the 'Depot for a few other things I needed for various projects in addition to some more rubber coated 12 guage cord, a 120v plug and the load center case that Dennis recommended. Radio Shack supplied the crimp connectors (which I also needed for some auxiliary lighting on the tractor) and a new X-10 120v switch module.
It took about a half hour to put everything together and I'm pleased with the results. The X-10 stuff is still finicky so I'm contemplating replacing it with a low-voltage switching system or maybe just one big, fat on-off switch in the middle of the shop, but no matter...the contactor works beautifully!
Thanks Dennis for an excellent and very useful article!
Obligatory Pics:
1) Parts ready to go
2) Assembled contactor and box mounted next to the DC
3) Zoomed out for the "big picture" (DC filter is removed for clarity...that grey foam is the "silencer" that reduces sound levels of the air rushing into the filter)
While I could have sourced the contactor relatively cheaply if I ordered from a surplus outfit and waited for it to arrive, there's nothing like "instant gratification", so I trotted out to the local electrical supply this morning and picked one up. Then it was off to the 'Depot for a few other things I needed for various projects in addition to some more rubber coated 12 guage cord, a 120v plug and the load center case that Dennis recommended. Radio Shack supplied the crimp connectors (which I also needed for some auxiliary lighting on the tractor) and a new X-10 120v switch module.
It took about a half hour to put everything together and I'm pleased with the results. The X-10 stuff is still finicky so I'm contemplating replacing it with a low-voltage switching system or maybe just one big, fat on-off switch in the middle of the shop, but no matter...the contactor works beautifully!
Thanks Dennis for an excellent and very useful article!
Obligatory Pics:
1) Parts ready to go
2) Assembled contactor and box mounted next to the DC
3) Zoomed out for the "big picture" (DC filter is removed for clarity...that grey foam is the "silencer" that reduces sound levels of the air rushing into the filter)