Hmm, yeah that might be a good solution and probably close to what it would cost me to make my own by the time I factor in the ESP8266s, a CTs or ACS7s, boxes, SJ cable and plugs, etc. And they're rated for 15A high in-rush so they should work well for the table and mitre saw. Good idea--thanks for the suggestion.
In thinking about this some more, I realized that there are some significant potential safety issues with using the Zen15 on a power tool. While remote, there is a possibility that human error or a device/hub malfunction could cause the Zen15 to switch off during a cutting or routing operation and then unexpectedly turn back on. At best, this is a recipe for unexpected kickback. At worst...well I don't really want to think about that.
That said, the Zen15 will be perfect for controlling the dust collector. For now, it;s back to the drawing board for power tool current detection.
I'd be curious what you come up with.
I went with https://www.ivacswitch.com/ivac-for-hobbyists/ and have been very happy, although it was expensive getting it all setup. I went with the contactor and remote switch unit for the dust extractor control, the tool units for detection as well as the remote for turning on the extractor for cleanup, and the 4" blast gates which were the most expensive part. It's great turning on a tools and having the correct blast gate open while my cleanup port closes (one is always open to prevent the dust collector from coming on with them all closed) and dust collection turn on then having the dust collector turning off 10 seconds after the tool is stopped to give it time to clear the dust, then the tools blast gate closing and the cleanup port opening again. I don't have to worry about the dust extractor overloading the switch with the contactor relay on the outlet rather than pulling current straight through the switch.
1 Like
That's a well earned gloat... I'm just a bit jealous and not ashamed to admit it.
@Terk, nice setup, mine is all over the place and many of my tools require that I unplug the hose from one machine to connect it to the other one next to it. I'm in the planning stages of our new house (in about 2 years) and the basement will be hosting a large workshop with all the automatic gates and all, instead of in the garage like I have now and prevents people from washing the cars inside (my wife hates going to a car wash).
Okay, gentlemen... let’s please keep this thread on topic. Woodworking shops are very interesting, and thus probably deserve their own thread with tips and tricks to use home automation in that type of space.
Thanks for understanding.
5 Likes
The specs gives this info...
Overcurrent Transient Tolerance : IP 1 pulse, 100 ms : 100 A
Not sure how long of an inrush a typical motor last, but this is what it can support in the specs, seeing how cheap these are, I would tend to take a chance a do a few tests.
Like you deducted, I also believe this would be a real major problem and potential safety hazard.
I myself since I don't use automatic gates, just got a cheap remote control from Amazon to control the dust collector as well as the airborne dust filtering system, when I go to work I just put the remote on my belt with a retractable belt clip and use that.
Eventually I will be facing the same dilemma and will want to activate gates and dust collectors automatically when a tool is turned on. I was thinking also in the lines of current sensing and some high torque position motors on the gates.
1 Like
@ogiewon my original post was (mostly) on-topic but with a woodshop use case 
. I'm interested in using Hubduino with an ESP8266 to detect when a table/mitre saw or router table are in use to activate a contactor to turn on a dust collector and leave it on for 30 seconds after the tool turns off. Can you offer any suggestions on best way to handle current detection using an ESP8266?
Maybe a NEMA 17 stepper motor and two hall effect modules (one or gate open, the other gate closed), all controlled by an ESP8266 would probably be doable. Given the cost of the commercially available options this would be a great project.
1 Like
Current Transformers can be interfaced with an ESP8266 using HubDuino (see ST_Anything/Arduino/Sketches/ST_Anything_Power_ESP8266WiFi/ST_Anything_Power_ESP8266WiFi.ino at master · DanielOgorchock/ST_Anything · GitHub as an example).
However, I would probably simply build this as a completely standalone Arduino/ESP8266 project. Is there really any reason for Hubitat to know that a power tool was turned on, and thus the dust collection system? I would keep it as simple as possible. Arduino sense current draw from a tool, turn on dust collection system, waits for power tool to turn off, and then turns off dust collection system. This has to be a very common problem to solve in a woodworking shop, right?
Thanks for the link.
Mostly to simplify communication from each power tool "module" to handle turning on the dust collector.
This is a common wood shop issue but commercially available multi-tool systems get very expensive very fast. Besides, this sounds like a fun project 
Hi All Before i jump down this particular rabbit hole, i thought id ask if it can do what i want it to!
I want to use a stepper motor to turn a lead screw to close my curtains, i want to control the stepper via a d1 mini and control that in hubitat. is this app the way to do this?
cheers!
if you can do it in arduino, you can do it in this app. most things translate over to the app
Thnx And down the rabbit hole i gooooooooooooooo!
There is no support for stepper motors in HubDuino/ST_Anything, currently.
Hi Dan, Thanks for all the work that you have done on this
im not sure that i specifically need "support for steppers)" im no expert at arduino or HE come to that but dont i just need a switch or 4?
Pin 1 low = turn clockwise so many revolutions (open curtains)
Pin 2 low = turn anticlockwise so many revolutions (close curtains)
Pin 3 low = turn clockwise until pin high (adjust curtains open)
Pin 4 low = turn anticlockwise until pin high (adjust curtains closed)
would that work? and if hubduino cant do this is there anything else i can use?
To do this in HubDuino, you would need to create a new EX_Stepper class, similar to the EX_Servo class. You could start with the EX_Servo class as a template, and then include whatever stepper motor libraries you need inside your new EX_Stepper class. The issue with stepper motors is that you have no idea what position they are in when they are powered on. Are the curtains open, closed, or somewhere in between. This typically requires the use of at least two 'overtravel limit switches', to prevent the motor from damaging the device it is trying to control. So, it becomes a slightly complicated device to build - not impossible by any means, but not something I have personally had a use for. If you're a decent C/C++ programmer, it should be too difficult to add the aforementioned EX_Stepper class to the project. I am happy to accept pull requests to enhance the system.
Thanks Dan.
Unfortunately for wooden curtain poles there are no commercially available system to be bought and so if i want to do this then ive got to build my own. Because im using lead screws the curtain will always be left where the motor last drove the curtain to. could that not help?
using hall sensors is something i considered, so are you saying that it would be simpler for me to use a normal motor and limit switches rather than a stepper? if i did this would this be controllable from your app without additional coding? From what ive read although a stepper is more controllable it could still function as a normal motor.
Ive obviously misunderstood how your app works i had assumed, that all of the motor drivers would be installed in the arduino board code installed by the ide and that id be able to send pin state commands via your app to activate the code on the arduino, similar to just pushing a local button on a bread board.
I know these are very newbie type questions and i thank you for your patience and time in replying.
The microcontroller running the Arduino sketch, would include the libraries necessary to control the stepper motor... However a stepper motor has no way of knowing its exact position without some sort of feedback device. If the curtains were already in the 'open position', but the Hubitat hub doesn't know this, then a user could command the curtains to open further, beyond the end-point of the leadscrew. Thus, a pair of overtravel limit switches is required to prevent mechanical damage of the system. Also, upon power up of the microcontroller, the system would need to 'home' the curtains in order to establish a reference position. Only then could commands be received to open or close the curtains, or to move somewhere in between fully open and fully closed. All of this logic needs to reside in the microcontroller in order to make the system safe and reliable. Thus, about 99% of the effort would be in developing that new EX_Stepper class within the design of the ST_Anything architecture. Once this is complete, adding support on the Hubitat side is relatively simple, IMHO.
Ok Thanks Dan,
Ill get a working prototype on a blink wifi control and then come back here for the advice on how to convert to HE control.
