just one more thought to the emergency switch topic. I also wanted to put that into my shop but didn't do so up to now. Reason: My TS has got an electrical brake which is not functioning without power (required by the local code here for new machines). With a heavy dado blade on it will stop spinning after 5 seconds with the brake active as compared to close to a minute w/o. So before you cut-off power in your shop, make sure your equipment does not behave similarly.
Regards Matthias
"Brett A. Thomas" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@speakeasy.net...
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> 4) How do *they* work? Can I wire three circuits through one without
I had initially replied to your reply to Bill Pounds' reply. However, I got too random and snipped the entire text and now this stands alone.
You might want to consider a big safety switch like one of these:
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$file/safetyswitchFrameset.htm]Put this in between your two panels. Make sure you get one with a lockout. Alternatively, you can place one on the front end of any circuits that you want to disable.
Ask yourself what all of those panic buttons are going to do for you. If a child is able to get the machine turned on and gets bitten by its teeth, then they probably won't be able to get to a safety switch. If they can't turn it on in the first place, there would be less danger. You can still cut yourself on a non-powered saw blade. DAMHIKT. Therefore, you should also lower your Table Saw blade after use. You should anyway.
If you do go the route of all of the emergency stop buttons, you will probably also want to have magnetic starters on all of your machines. That way a machine that was shut down from the power down will not be restarted on power up.
Another option would be to remove and lock up all of your blades, chisels, planes, etc in a cabinet.
I'm in a similar situation with little ones and am contemplating some of the same issues that you are.
$file/safetyswitchFrameset.htm]Thanks for the suggestion and link. Am definitely planning on doing this for kid safety (and, like I said, not just my own - don't want any neighborhood hoodlums bleeding all over my shop either if they get in).
If you look at my original article, I'm asking about buttons and safety switches. The switches are to lock out the kids, the buttons are for me, when I'm in the shop. It seems like they won't add much to the cost of the wiring, and as long as I don't have any wall coverings, it should be easy enough to toss 'em in.
Excellent point. I do on my tablesaw and jointer, but I'm not 100% sure of my planer.
Well, like I said, with them at the ages they are now (2 & 4), plan A is to keep the garage locked. Obviously I don't want them touching knives, saws, chisels, etc. at this age. But I'm thinking there'll be a point where I'll let them in the garage under minimal supervision but not let them use powertools under minimal supervision. While you are correct that you can cut yourself on a human-powered saw, I don't think I've heard of anyone cutting his own arm off with one - at least by accident. ;)
Hi, This is not something I know much about, so there could be any number of flaws in my reasoning, but how about switching (pun intended) things around: a normally open relay with normally closed stop switches? That way any tools on the subpanel after the relay will get power only if there is 24v on the relay. As soon as you hit a stop switch, you open the 24v circuit and the relay opens. Restore 24v and the relay closes again. Note that I'm assuming you can get stop switches that are N.C., and that will stay open after you push them (as opposed to closing again as soon as you let go). Lewis
ANY safety switch is N.C. and will stay in once it's pressed, some can be released by pulling it out, others need a key for rearming them. You can also have a rope attached to special emergency switches, so that when you pull the rope the power goes away, they are used for example along converor belts or other large machinery that's hard to secure with ordinary switches.
Our experience differs; I have seen some that are momentary contact, but they were connected to systems which dropped a relay based on that momentary opening of the contacts.
I don't know how old that system was, however. But momentary-contact e-stop mechanisms _do_ exist, and on medical equipment even.
Yea, I know it gets harder, not easier when they get older. I remember my own youth. Our garage didn't even have a door for some of my teen years, and my dad was an HVAC and steam fitting contractor so we had lots of power stuff around. Not much woodworking though we did have a radial arm saw. I shudder when now when I think of the stuff I did with that, and no instruction from dear old dad at all. Just wasn't his style to worry about the kids doing dumb stuff.
In addition to the RAS, I can recall:
-Playing with gasoline on the BBQ and setting my entire shirt sleeve on fire - no burns, just singed hair.
-Putting power caps from the stud gun in a vice and firing them with a hammer - no injury
-Welding stuff - might have been bad on my eyes, they aren't too good today
-Hooking the welder into the edison power drop above the rain hood with alligator clamps - blew the fuses on a pole somewhere and shut down the neighborhood power - I was smart enough to hide the evidence before edison showed up to repair.
-Shot my brother in the chest from 50 feet with an arrow - lucky for us both it was the blunt practice points. Actually, luckier for him than me. Hit him dead center too.
-Shot the cat in the head with the same bow - but we all did that right?
Most of this was around JHS age. I'm amazed that bro and I survived without any serious injury whatsoever. I do know that I learned a hell of a lot about building things and making stuff work. I also learned to keep the garage door locked whenever I was away.
Its a good thing you got wood to take out your agression on. Now I understand teh pen name. I previously thought it hads something to do with your last name.
Don't worry though, I'll still value your woodworking advice. I might look over my shoulder for those Con-Ed guys though. The power company doesn't believe in a statute of limitations.
Eric in MN
Pounds > Yea, I know it gets harder, not easier when they get older. I
I don't5 claim to be an electrician, however I am a former woodworking and metalworking Industrial arts teacher (program closed and I am now a school librarian: LONG story!!!) However I still maintain my home shop.
What you are seeking is/was standard equipment in most (if not all) school shops. The entire shop could (and was whenever the teacher was not there) turned off from any of several locations within the room. There was usually one "panic button" per wall. The shop was "turned on" either with a separate key switch mounted on the wall or by opening the circuit panel and resetting the main breaker. Frequently the only functioning electricity in the room was the lighting and the clock outlet.
In my basement, I have most of the lights and power tools on two circuits though if one of the breakers trips, there is redundant lighting. I could separate the lighting out and control both these circuits with a single throw double pole switch which could be locked. (this doesn't give you the panic buttons" but does give you security and it is cheap! I wired most of the shop so the switches control outlets fastened to the ceiling joists. These allow 4' fluorescent tubes to be plugged in or drop cords to be used to power tools as needed.
Good luck and enjoy your new shop! PS I like the idea of Plywood walls!!
snip: >Spent some time trolling the archives and Google, and couldn't really
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