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I have created this masterful dust extraction system by sticking an old vacuum cleaner under a bench and connecting it to some pipes so I can have vacuum through some flexies over my work benches as well as a floor vent by the vacuum cleaner where I can sweep floor dust into.
It all works amazingly well but I have to keep walking across the garage to turn it on and off which is a drag. I would like a remote switch on each of the down pipes so whichever bench I am working at I simply reach up to turn it on or off. I also want to be able to switch it on and off when stood near the dartboard.
I think I need some kind of three way switch connector between the main power and the plug socket that the vacuum is plugged into. The power to this switches will always be on but will only connect if any of the switches it turned on. There won't be the situation where I turn on two or three of the switches at the same time so only ever one switch will be 'on' at any time.
Does that make sense?
I am struggling to think how to wire this together. I did wire in the two rings of sockets around the garage with help from a mate so am happy cutting wires and wiring sockets I just want to be sure I don't blow anything up by getting the switching bit wrong.
Help and advice welcome.
It won't matter where you turn it on. It's not a dust extraction system.
But beside that a 3 switch relay system would do what you want. That is the main switch to the vacumn cleaner under the bench is driven off a relay that's triggered by any one of your other switches.
you could just wire all of the switches in 'parallel', so that turning any one on switches it on. It has the disadvantage that if you forget which one it is turned on at then you need to go round and check them all. Nice and easy
The alternative would be like the push button switch in a hallway to turn the lights on. You have 3 push buttons in parallel connected to an on/off relay. The buttons move the relay between on and off each time you press any one of them. I think that is the nicest solution
edit: my second solution is what trail_rat sed
[i]It’s not a dust extraction system.[/i] - Fair point but seemed easier to call it that rather than a dust mover from one place to another and stop dust from the tools getting in the garage system.
[i]You have 3 push buttons in parallel connected to an on/off relay. The buttons move the relay between on and off each time you press any one of them. [/i] - Sounds about right to me. Any links to the appropriate relay and push buttons to make sure I don't get the wrong bits please?
I think a Hager EPN510 would do it. What you are looking for in my view is a 'mechanical latching relay' that will carry enough current for your vacuum. You don't want an electronic one as they tend to be designed for lighting circuits that won't normally handle the inrush of your vacuum which is mainly an inductive load so mechanical would be better in my view.
I can't really get on to screwfix from where I am as it keeps throwing me onto the euro site which isn't helpful.
That switch has a 240V coil as well. If you have 12V available somewhere then you could use a 12V supply for the coil and then your 3 press switches would get cheaper and easier to wire as well
Why not KISS...
Just put a bathroom style lightswitch with a string hanging down in the centre of the workshop?
Just put a bathroom style lightswitch with a string hanging down in the centre of the workshop?
Actually, you could even rig up 3 bits of string all tied together at one point with some pulleys 🙂
Likes
Cant you just use a smart plug?
Or just wire it up as a 3 way switch with some 3+1 cable. (Assuming you can get 3+1 and switches in the right rating, easier to use a smart plug)
What about a smart plug and an alexa?
[i]smart plug and an alexa?[/i]
Can I just check that I have this right. You think the easiest way to turn on an of a machine in a noisy garage is to get a switch operated by voice where the person speaking will be next to/behind a noisy machine?
Perhaps it would be easier to by an Apple phone and get that out of my pocket each time I want to turn the switch on and off. Assuming the touch screen works when wearing safety gloves.
Seriously, the string and pulley system makes more sense.
Back to three switches and a relay unless anyone else has a better suggestion It feel
I also like nickdavies 3 switch solution although I have never actually seen one of those middle change over switches. I guess that will also expand to more than 3 as well, the wiring is just a bit messier
Remote controlled plug socket. Home easy for example. Actually have some somewhere. They do switches or zapper style remotes.
You dont need alexa to have a smart plug. Ive got some byron ones here which are about 15 years old which just have a little remote.
If i was doing it id use the ikea tradfri remote plug with an extra 2 switches - £31 that would cost you.
Plenty of remote plugs on amazon alternatively which would do the job without having to mess about with wiring or pulleys. Search remote sockets rather than smart sockets. Just had a look and the dewenwils stuff looks heavy duty and a bit chunkier for garage use.
Leffeboy: they’re called intermediate switches rather than by the number of ways for some reason.
Nixie - buy it and if it works I will pay you for it <£30
Nick, you can have them if I find them. Will look in the morning.
Note of caution re the 3-way switch option. Check the power of the vacuum cleaner, stick it in an online ohms law calculator to check the current drawn by the device. Are the 3 way switches suitable for the current?
As already mentioned, a relay / contactor would be be safest solution, ideally with a 12VDC coil. A simple job then to were in a couple of switches. Get a latching relay with momentary switches.
When I first moved in to my house there was a 3 way switch for the upstairs landing light. The house originally had 2 bedrooms and a the bathroom upstairs but the main bedroom was downstairs. In what had been the downstairs bedroom was a switch down at the level of the power sockets. The idea I think was that if you needed to get up in the night to use the bathroom you could switch the light on from the bed. Strange really as there is also a downstairs toilet, maybe the idea was that the upstairs light gave enough light downstairs without actually being too bright in the middle of the night. It took a while to get our heads around it, my dad did his apprenticeship as an electrician and had never seen a set up like it before. It worked though.
maybe the idea was that the upstairs light gave enough light downstairs without actually being too bright in the middle of the night
Thats gotta be a night light for a kid surely leave the landing light on while they go to sleep then turn it off from bed.
Alexa
Its the IT solution.
Over complicated and rarely the right solution.
But it involves little input from the developer.