I built my own relay to control my dust collector for less than $20 in parts.
- 25A Solid State Relay
- Deep Electrical box This needs to be deep enough so the relay can rest behind the light switch.
- Wall outlet
- 20 Amp Single Pole Switch
- cover for the electrical box
- Nm/Se Connector
- PC power cable
- 12 gauge wire for the relay load and ground.
- 22 gauge wire for the relay signal
- wire nuts
- electrical tape
Using all appropriate precautions for running housing electrical:
Run your signal wire into the electrical box through a Nm/Se connector. These connect back to the X-Carve to the same wires you would use to control the IOT relay.
Chop off the PC plug, strip the wires, and run them into the electrical box through a Nm/Se connector.
Wire the PC plug ground to the outlet, switch, SSR, and box.
Connect the neutral wire to the neutral side of the wall outlet.
Branch the live wire and run one end to the Load-in on the Solid State Relay, run the other to the switch.
From the relay Load out, run the line to the hot side of the outlet.
From the switch, run the line to the hot side of the outlet.
Screw down the relay inside of the electrical box, behind where the switch will be installed. You’ll most likely need to drill your own mounting holes. Connect the ground to one of these mounting screws.
Mount the switch over the relay. Mount the plug. Put on the cover.
The switch provides an alternate mechanism to power the outlet. You can turn on whatever is plugged into it on demand without needing to engage the relay. For example, if I am using my dust collector with another tool, I can just flip the switch without having to mess with the plugs.
If there is interest in this, let me know and I’ll write up a proper tutorial with pictures.