We use cookies to personalize content, interact with our analytics companies, advertising networks and cooperatives, and demographic companies, provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. Our social media, advertising and analytics partners may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. Learn more.
The front of the box has a main power switch (Single-Pole, Single-Throw, 20 amp switch) and three indicator lights. When you flip the switch, power is applied to the main output, which turns on the X-Controller and the indicator light. Power is also applied to the two Solid-State Relays. When a signal is received from the X-Controller, the appropriate SSR will turn on and supply power to the outlet and the indicator light.
The project box was purchased through Ebay for about $25.00 and measures 203mm x 144mm x 68mm (For us Americans that’s 8” x 5.5” x 2.5”). The original box had an aluminum finish so I powder coated it to make it look nicer. The SSRs were also purchased from Ebay. The ones I used are available for under $10.00.
Because of the small size of the box I had to get creative with the outputs. I used the Coleman Cable 6991 Power Strip Liberator, cut off the input and used solder & heat shrink to add extra wire length.
I used the box for several months just powering the X-Controller and the router. Everything worked great, that is, until I hooked up the vacuum system. (BTW: The vacuum system from Inventables is GREAT!)
The original power switch I installed, even though rated for 15 amps, let me know, in spectacular fashion, that it was not happy with the extra load. Doing the math, the Dewalt draws 7 amps, the vacuum is 5.5 amps and not sure exactly what the draw on the X-Carve is. Anyway, I now have a 20 amp switch installed and haven’t had any more problems.
Phil - That would work but it defeats the purpose of a single point of control. I flip one switch and ALL power is shut down. If it becomes a problem I will just rewire so the main output is on the switch and the SSRs use the low voltage control only.
24V 400W power supply. Quick math says max draw is 16.67A. The default Xcarve though, at idle with torque reduction enabled, is about 3A, assuming a constant draw of 0.7A on each motor.
If you’ve got vac, router, and Xcarve on the same circuit, I could see a way you might trip the breaker if you’re really pushing the machine. A 20A breaker will help but it’s still possible.
Right, but that’s on the DC side. Current draw on the AC side is about 6.5 amps. So, you’re right, I’m still running pretty close to max on the new switch. I’ve been using it for about a week now with no noticeable problems. However, should I get any overheating problems again I will just rewire the box so that only the X-Carve is on the switch and the router & vacuum are controlled by the low voltage and the SSR.
@Rikster I love your idea, you have put some time into it. I’m curious though as why you choose to switch the hi side AC load load vs the low side D.C. Load but whatever works works right. I don’t know your background and I don’t want to assume but do you know motors are incredibly noisy so it’s not a good idea to run your controller/ spindle/ D.C. on the same 110vac circuit. Hell when I used a 611 I didn’t even have it on the same phase as my controller. Did I say I loved the design yet? I have a question, I’ve read the inventables D.C. Hose is a anti static hose, is there a lead at the vacuum end to connect to a ground wire?
While my math was off, my statement about breaker and such does actually line up. That’s what I get for doing math too early in the morning.
The Max 16.7A DC would be more like 3.64A on the AC side, ignoring inefficiencies of power supplies and such. Under no load with idle current reduction enabled, you’ll only see about 0.75A.
But, you’ll never see an idle condition with router and vac on so it’s unrealistic.
Assuming a full load during a carve: 5.5 + 7 + 3.6 = 16.1 which exceeds the 15A capacity of your original switch, hence the breakdown, but is 80% loaded for your 20A switch.
The same applies for your breaker. On a 15A breaker, you’ll probably trip it with everything on it. You would be 80% loaded on a 20A circuit.
Now I understand why the Idle Current Reduction is enabled by default on the Xcontrollers (other than to try to control the temp of the steppers).
I beleive that @Rikster is just trying to have one switch to turn off the power to every A/C device (Vac, Router, and Xcontroller). I don’t think the point of it is for an E-stop, he has the E-stop on the Xcontroller. It’s a light switch for the Xcarve! It just kills power to all devices.
Also, the DC voltage is contained in the Xcontroller so it’d have to be brought out and then back in and then it’d be redundant with the built-in Xcontroller Estop.
True, you can do that. But that entails additional components, cost, complexity and requires additional space (that I don’t have) to implement. The bottom line is; will the benefit derived outweigh the hassle needed to implement. In my case, I don’t think so.
I hear you about the noise factor. So far I haven’t had any problems. I think the power supply in the X-Carve has enough filtering capacity to handle the noise. The only times I have had problems with noise is when I used to switch the router on manually. Then switch bounce would kill the data stream sometimes.
Yes, the Inventables vacuum system comes with a static strap that you can connect just below the X-Carve table then connect the other end to a ground. It’s a nice system and I have been very happy with the ease of operation.
Cool, the only time I’ve ever had a noise problem and it wasn’t noise but an ESD was before I had a anti static D.C. Hose it touched the z Axis motor during a carve and sent the machine wildly off direction ruining the piece.
