Dual Dust Collectors

[mxracer]

I have a Delta 50-720 1 HP DC and a HF 2HP DC. My initial plans were to build a 55 gal drum separator and just put it in front of the HF DC and dedicate my smaller Delta to my RAS and router table.

However as I read here my mind started to wander and I have ideas about having both DCs behind the drum???

What I'm thinking is a 6" inlet into the drum, 6" outlet from the drum and then a 4" Y which would go to the inlet of each DC.

Any thoughts there? Would it be a waste, or would it actually boost the CFM at the drum and really give me enough to pull the 6" PVC?  ???

Thanks,
Dan

[mxracer]

Well I guess I'll answer my own question.  :)

I have been playing for the last two days with the baffle and the two dust collectors. My last "test" was to run the dust thru the HF dust collector as it would be normally, then route the output of the HF DC to the 55 gal drum with the baffle, then I routed the output of the barrel to the inlet of the Delta DC. It worked great. I had a lot of suction even with 3 ports open. Oh and I only did 4" instead of 6". Once I get playing I might switch to 6". Anyway this provided the best results as far as suction, and also would allow "safe" overflow if the barrel got too full. It would simply go to the other DC which would give plenty of time to catch the problem.

[servant74]

If you can afford the space, how about one in front of each and powering different tools as needed?  Even possibly make one into a 'portable' collector.

I could see an issue with one collector if ducted together could just 'suck back through' the less powerful collector thus nullifying the benefit of having two.  Unlike computers (my day job), load balancing doesn't work well with disparate powered units with dust collectors.

If both were about the same power, I could see it as a benefit.