Lee Valley's slick Vaccuum Switch

[cgallery]

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...13&cat=51&ap=1

Kindy nice in that it allows you to use two circuits (for when the combination of tool along with the vac/DC would exceed the amperage of your breaker). Price is decent, too. If I didn't already have a remote...

[pelligrini]

That is pretty cool. I really like the dual circuit.

I picked up the i-socket a while back, but I quit using it due to tripping the breaker.

[tfischer]

That's pretty nice, but for the $40, I can just walk the 15 feet and swith it on and off I usually just leave it running if I'm actively doing power-tool work anyway.

[DaveS]

I have read that running your DC on such a device can cause premature death of the motor.

I can see it being handy for the shop vac though.

[jussi]

This is perfect for me. I'm in that exact situation. I have 2 20A breakers in the garage so using a regular vac switch wasn't a possiblity. How are Lee Valley's shipping charges? They're based in Canada right?

[tfischer]

Yeah, I was thinking DC, not shop vac. I could see how having the ear-shattering roar of a shop vac would get really annoying unless you're actually using it...

[skamath]

i was considering getting this product as well. my garage circuit cannot handle both the tools and i have to use a circuit from the laundry room.

anybody has tried this product?

[jussi]

Just curious if anyone ever tried one of these and if they really do cause damage on the DC's motor.

[L. D. Jeffries]

I'm not sure about CA, but here in NY they ship to a warehouse in the States and then the shipping is based on FedX or post office or UPS depending on size of items. Not sure if they have other drop-ship locations. The bummer here in NY is that they sales tax the shipping cost as well. If it wasn't for the great service and speed and great selection I'd buy somewhere else!

[cgallery]

Just curious if anyone ever tried one of these and if they really do cause damage on the DC's motor.

"They" (as in the LV switch) don't cause damage to the motor, the damage is caused by frequent starts of the DC motor. Doesn't matter if you use the LV switch, the switch on the DC, or some other remote control.

Some DC manufacturers suggest no more than four or five starts per hour. Spinning up the impeller creates a sizable load on the motor. Kind of like starting the table saw motor with the blade already buried in the wood.

So I wouldn't suggest using one of these if you're using a DC w/ induction motor. Instead, get a remote control that allows you to leave the DC running while changing setups on on saw (for example).

[LCHIEN]

"They" (as in the LV switch) don't cause damage to the motor, the damage is caused by frequent starts of the DC motor. Doesn't matter if you use the LV switch, the switch on the DC, or some other remote control.

Some DC manufacturers suggest no more than four or five starts per hour. Spinning up the impeller creates a sizable load on the motor. Kind of like starting the table saw motor with the blade already buried in the wood.

So I wouldn't suggest using one of these if you're using a DC w/ induction motor. Instead, get a remote control that allows you to leave the DC running while changing setups on on saw (for example).

that's it.

[jabe]

Sears has one for $20.00, plugs direct into an outlet works great.

[LCHIEN]

Sears has one for $20.00, plugs direct into an outlet works great.

you miss the point. while the Sears works great for what it is, it does have one flaw in that it powers the switched device (vac) from the same circuit as the sensed device (the power tool). If the tool draws 15Amps and the Vac draws 10A (two very possible numbers) then the whole unit will want to draw 25A from a single outlet and circuit which will probably end up tripping a breaker or possibly even damage the tools.

The LV described (and pictured in the link) has two power cords - one that can be plugged into one circuit that will supply the current (up to 15A) going to the tool and the other can be plugged into a circuit on a different breaker and supplying up to 15A to both the vac, safely. THat makes it different and worth more, than the sears autoswitch.

The sears autoswitch is compact, half the cost, and saves having one or two cords dangling about to trip over, but doesn't have the two circuit feature.

[Al R.]

This is perfect for me. I'm in that exact situation. I have 2 20A breakers in the garage so using a regular vac switch wasn't a possiblity. How are Lee Valley's shipping charges? They're based in Canada right?

LV charge almost $12 dollars for shipping.

[Hoover]

LV charge almost $12 dollars for shipping.

That may be true, but what does it cost you to stop what you're doing, start up and drive your vehicle to the woodworking store? I know for me the cost is much more to do the driving. Just keeping it all in perspective.