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Dust Collector intermittent or continuous use?

3K views 21 replies 16 participants last post by  becikeja 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I haven't found any discussions regarding this, but if anyone knows of one, please post a link here.
I'd like to know folks' opinion or experience with running a dust collector as needed… only when a connected tool is in use, as opposed to just leaving the DC on the entire time you're in the shop and opening each blast gate as needed. I'm sure there are several factors to weigh, such as electricity use, wear/tear on motor/starter/switch, shop noise level, etc.

Thanks! :)
 
#2 · (Edited by Moderator)
As a retired electrician, I have mine set up for autu start when I start the table saw, jointer, planer, shaper, beltsander, and bandsaw. For other machines, l have the start stop control locations to manually start DC for lathe and other low dust tools. I never let it run continuously. I have a time delay built in so the DC runs long enough to clear the ducts. The auto start system is easy to wire and not very expensive if there is a magnetic starter on your DC to connect to. And the auto start can be overridden by manual if I have a lot of work at a machine and turning the machine on and of frequently.
 
#3 ·
i only turn mine on with a remote as needed since i dont own an electric utility.they run the old electric bill quite high especially here in socal.sce sends me letters all the time saying im above the neighbor hood average.hey i pay my bill on time every month so shut up and leave me alone-lol.plus i dont want to heat that thing running all the time.
 
#5 ·
I will typically only run the DC when needed and if I am not actively running any machines needing collection will shut the unit down. To make shut-down easier, I removed the switch from the DC and placed it on the wall adjacent to my most-used equipment which makes it quite simple to activate - and with very little cost compared to remote switches (basically just the cost of a little wire and a couple electrical boxes and a receptacle). I also don't have to spend time looking for a misplaced remote DC switch (which I know would happen)

Each of my woodworking machines has it's own blast gate and I will generally only have the machine I am using open, though during some processes in which I am going back and forth between machines, I will leave two gates open with great collection.

Wood Gas Cable Electrical supply Paint
 

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#6 ·
I will typically only run the DC when needed and if I am not actively running any machines needing collection will shut the unit down. To make shut-down easier, I removed the switch from the DC and placed it on the wall adjacent to my most-used equipment which makes it quite simple to activate - and with very little cost compared to remote switches (basically just the cost of a little wire and a couple electrical boxes and a receptacle). I also don t have to spend time looking for a misplaced remote DC switch (which I know would happen)

Each of my woodworking machines has it s own blast gate and I will generally only have the machine I am using open, though during some processes in which I am going back and forth between machines, I will leave two gates open with great collection.

Wood Gas Cable Electrical supply Paint


- BattleRidge
my jet came with a remote so when im working i just keep it in a pocket of my apron,it's always handy when im going from machine to machine,i walk enough miles without having to go to a central switch each time.
 

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#8 ·
There are a number of players in this game. The one I first came across was called an I Vac They come for 110, 0r 220 use. Vac. or Dust collector is plugged in, and tool as well. Turn on the tool, and it automates the vac, after the tool is off, the vac runs for a few seconds to clear the dust from the hose, then shuts off. I want to say they max at 15 Amps, but likely for more money, someone has bigger capacity if needed.

I've got 3 of them in use. Awesome for router tables, miter saws, and such. I've not had any issue using them, and they always work as described.
 
#10 ·
Many of the motor manufacturers will specify the max number of on/off cycles per hour that a motor can handle. It's usually a very small number, and it's always directed toward industrial users (Oneida use to suggest it with their DCs). Even so, I find I'll shut mine off between cuts often more than the recommendation (wireless remote). But if I'm bouncing around between tools, like sawing veneer, then jointing the face flat, then sawing again, I'll leave it run. I think in a hobbyist shop do whatever you want…but be aware that rapid on/off can blow a capacitor.
 
#12 ·
Many of the motor manufacturers will specify the max number of on/off cycles per hour that a motor can handle. It s usually a very small number, and it s always directed toward industrial users (Oneida use to suggest it with their DCs). Even so, I find I ll shut mine off between cuts often more than the recommendation (wireless remote). But if I m bouncing around between tools, like sawing veneer, then jointing the face flat, then sawing again, I ll leave it run. I think in a hobbyist shop do whatever you want…but be aware that rapid on/off can blow a capacitor.

- Fred Hargis
That's what I'm concerned about! Where I work has an new 5hp Oneida cyclone with that warning label on the motor not to cycle it more than 6 times per hour. Our shop is on an upper level mezanine and the DC is downstairs on the main level…and when we run it for prolonged periods of time, such as half an hour while bouncing between machines, we get complaints from the people working down near the DC of the excessive noise. But we already had one motor failure and replaced under warranty…I presumed it was from the frequent cycling on and off but later on an electrician determined that the contactor was burning itself up from all the starting and stopping. Thus my post of this question. Thanks for all the info and opinions…keep it coming!!
 
#14 ·
The only systems I've seen being left on continuous is where multiple simultaneous users operate machinery in a production environment. These systems tend to be very large and are only turned off during breaks and at the end of the day.

For a smaller shop, or the home hobbyist, the remote control, or automatic start systems seem to be the order of the day.

This has been my experience, FWIW.
 
#15 ·
Contactor ratings are PIA to engineer and specify.
My guess is that Onieda decided to save money and use AC3 nominal rated IEC contactor, when a commercial operation should be using a larger AC4 rating. What this often translates into is bigger and more expensive relay, so it can deal with extra heat generated by increased contact arcing.
Solution is simple: If current D20-D30-D40 contactor fails too soon, install a larger D40-D60 next time. It will last longer.
YMMV
 
#16 ·
I had a large, commercial cyclone system, but sold it and went to three smaller collectors instead.

Just for reference, two, on opposite sides of the shop, are "four bag" (two up, two down) collectors and one is a two bag collector. One has a cyclone and the other will have one.

My reason for the swap is simple - large systems do not tolerate being turned off and on as well as smaller systems do. As such, I chose to switch to a couple 3 horse units and one 2 horse unit (which does double duty as a pine cone cleaner-upper, working in conjunction with a Super Dust Deputy.

My 2 horse is activated by the miter. The other units tend several tools and may run five minutes, repeatedly, or five hours.
 
#17 ·
The only systems I ve seen being left on continuous is where multiple simultaneous users operate machinery in a production environment. These systems tend to be very large and are only turned off during breaks and at the end of the day.
- DS
I don't even shut down during breaks or lunch. She runs continuously for 10hrs/day. Cheaper to leave it running vs. the massive draw it takes to ramp up.
She's a big girl though….100hp 250ish? bags and just under 30,000 cfm.
The main fan alone probably weighs 800 to 1000 pounds. Even with a soft start you can hear the electrical surge on liftoff.
 
#18 ·
I think in an industrial environment such as yours, you either have to do something to quiet the DC for the comfort/sanity of the other employees or you have to accept that you will burn up motors due to the frequent on/off cycling. Maybe you can get a different motor that's rated for the duty cycle you need? Or maybe you just keep a spare motor on hand and replace when one gets burned up? Or enclose the DC in a sound dampening chamber? Move DC outside?

Just some thoughts based on the information :)
 
#19 ·
Good ideas! The company I work for is expanding their facilities, so hopefully the DC can be moved outside into a little shelter (and upgraded to higher horsepower ;-D) so we can leave it on all day. Problem is heat exchange in wintertime. Maybe a little room indoors with some soundproofing would work, as long as it can keep the motor from getting overheated. They should really be using their 3 phase service, but they bought a 1 phase unit. If we ever add a CNC setup, that one might be too underpowered to keep up….then I can buy it from them next take it home ;-P
 
#20 ·
The only systems I ve seen being left on continuous is where multiple simultaneous users operate machinery in a production environment. These systems tend to be very large and are only turned off during breaks and at the end of the day.
- DS

I don t even shut down during breaks or lunch. She runs continuously for 10hrs/day. Cheaper to leave it running vs. the massive draw it takes to ramp up.
She s a big girl though….100hp 250ish? bags and just under 30,000 cfm.
The main fan alone probably weighs 800 to 1000 pounds. Even with a soft start you can hear the electrical surge on liftoff.

- Tony_S
sounds like something we have at the lumber company i work for,it takes a few days just to clean and change the filter bags,and it runs all day long.
 
#21 ·
Build it cheap, sell it cheap, buy it cheap. A quality starter will cost more, but won't burn out. I have all used starters on my equipment, salvaged from industrial use, and I never have problems with contacts burning out. Sounds like Oneida is trying to keep either the price down or profits up.
 
#22 ·
Contactors have duty cycle ratings. I have seen contactors on equipment start and stop as high 20 times per minute with no damaging effects to the contactor or motor over several years, this is what they are designed for. If undersized however, frequent starts will burn out the contacts. I don't have an Oneida but based on the comments above, it definitely sounds like they went with the minimum contact size and did not consider the duty cycle in their selection. They must be experiencing a high number of customer complaints or possibly trying to mitigate some type of safety risk. Why else would they include the note. This causes me to question what else they took quality cuts on…....
 
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