Help please: what I need to buy to switch on/off a far away dust extractor?

[Byron Lu]

Hello I need help! Since I move my dust extractor kind of away from the laser machine, each time I need to turn the blower on/off, I have to run back to where the blower is physically. That is a lot of back and forth running for me. I remember I read somewhere about a switch or whatever it is called, but I just could not find it anymore. Can anyone tell me how to conveniently hoop up a dust blower in the back room to close to the laser machine so I can easily switch on/off without physically run back and forth?


Thanks!

[Scott Marquez]

I just Googled “dust collector remote”, came up with some great solutions.
Scott

[Kev Williams]

$12 for this one on Amazon, I have like 15 of these all over the house, different brands, they all work great-- you just need to make sure they can handle the amps, this one can...
-- since you're not a contributor yet you won't see my pic, so here's a link to it:
https://www.amazon.com/Woods-32555WD-Weatherproof-Outdoor-Holiday/dp/B001Q9EFUK/ref=asc_df_B001Q9EFUK/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167140365824&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13599271290561568287&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9029741&hvtargid=aud-801657747996:pla-273878094210&psc=1

417072

[Byron Lu]

Thanks for the suggestions so far, but I kind of intend to get something NOT wireless. I need two such devices, one for the dust collector, one for air compressor. In your experience for those who use these, are the wireless remote ones working as reliable as WIRED ones? Thx

[Steve Utick]

Thanks for the suggestions so far, but I kind of intend to get something NOT wireless. I need two such devices, one for the dust collector, one for air compressor. In your experience for those who use these, are the wireless remote ones working as reliable as WIRED ones? Thx

Either do it yourself or get an electrician to wire in a regular switched outlet. Very easy to do, put a regular light switch wherever you want it that you flip on and off to switch the outlet. Just need appropriate gauge wire for the load and put it wherever you need. I've got a switch to turn our blower on and off that way.

[John Lifer]

I bought a half dozen of the outdoor remotes that Kev posted a few years ago at Home Depot for 1 cent each. Closeouts. I got all they had and gave away a couple.
I use two of them with my laser. One for the Air pump and the other for the blower. They work perfectly as long as you have a straight line to the switch. My outlet is high, above the laser so is easy.

I just made a wired switch for my dust collector. Used a 30 amp relay and cheap microswitches on each of my blast gates. I had just put on a couple and they worked when I bought a member's Cyclone that has a VFD.
I just wired in the same microswitches to the VFD which work fine. 12v DC low voltage. But that is a side issue.
I got the idea from a Youtube video

Mine was made similar to Franks here at this link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqJ1gggJfO4

Uses low voltage wire and switch that you can place anywhere.....

Mattias did one where the DC comes on when his saw is turned on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfHB5AoAAbs

[Ross Moshinsky]

I have been using a simple power strip for years. Run the power from the laser to the dust extractor turn it on and off at the laser. Just don't run the wire on the floor

[Mike Chance in Iowa]

I used all three methods listed above. I started out with a power strip near the laser that I would turn on and off when needed. I then plugged the dust collector into a wall socket wired to a light switch on a nearby wall and that made the work area more organized. I finally went to a wireless remote switch from Harbor Freight when I moved the collector to another location outside and have been using that for maybe 14 years now. I LOVE having my key fob right next to the laser or the ability to pick it up and move it to another part of the room while working on other projects. I will only give it up kicking and screaming and crying. The only time I had a problem with it was when the battery in the key fob finally wore out about 4-5 years ago and I had to put in a new battery. My HF one looks like this one on Amazon (https://tinyurl.com/yy8p56f9)

[Byron Lu]

I used all three methods listed above. I started out with a power strip near the laser that I would turn on and off when needed. I then plugged the dust collector into a wall socket wired to a light switch on a nearby wall and that made the work area more organized. I finally went to a wireless remote switch from Harbor Freight when I moved the collector to another location outside and have been using that for maybe 14 years now. I LOVE having my key fob right next to the laser or the ability to pick it up and move it to another part of the room while working on other projects. I will only give it up kicking and screaming and crying. The only time I had a problem with it was when the battery in the key fob finally wore out about 4-5 years ago and I had to put in a new battery. My HF one looks like this one on Amazon (https://tinyurl.com/yy8p56f9)

Thanks for your story. I think I will try the remote one for now.
And thanks everyone else for your perspectives and help.

[Keith Outten]

Take a look at the Grizzly Long Ranger remotes. I have two of them, one on my dust collector and one that controls the exterior lights on my barn. They have been reliable for over ten years and you can program them to operate on a different frequency so you can use multiple remotes and configure them as needed. For instance my barn lights are controlled by two remotes one in the house and one in my shop. I hang the remote for the barn lights near the entry door, the remote for my DC I carry around the shop as needed, sometimes i clip it to my belt when I am laser engraving for long periods and have to multitask.

Trust me you will be glad you decided to purchase remote starters over having electrical switches.

https://www.grizzly.com/search?q=(remote+AND+control+AND+switch)+OR+(remot e+OR+control+OR+switch)

[Julian Ashcroft]

My two laser chiller units are connected to smart plugs, and the plugs are programmed to switch on just before I usually start in the workshop, its saved quite a bit of electricity, as I used to run them 24/7. The plugs are also connected to Amazons Echo, so in theory from the house I could also turn them on with a voice command, I also have an echo in the workshop, mainly for playing the radio, but I could also use it to control the chillers, could the same work for you?

[James Minick]

I use wired remote to activate the blower on the CO2. The wireless controls air, additional blower, and lights.
$25 for both.417166

[Tim Bateson]

I've used these switches in my last 2 shops. My blower is far enough away that it's very low noise & the light reminds me it's on/off. Same with the Air Assist.