Shut off when can is full

[jgt1942]

I've looked in the forum and was not able to find any post regarding an automatic shut off when the DC can is full. I've been playing with my TopHat for what seems like forever and finally got all working.

First I mus say it works GREAT. As you can see I draw the air (saw dust) through the Tophat and the through the impeller. When I first got the Grizzly I sucked up a couple of things (bolt and wood block) and did not like the idea that large stuff could damage the impeller or worst yet create an explosion. Thus I went to pains to mount the impeller unint on top of the TopHat.

My original thought was to use a plastic bag in place of the Brute can but when I turned on the DC the bag got sucked up. I was going to use a 32 gal Brute but with the current design there is not enough clearance thus I used a 20 gal Brute.

Two things wrong with the 20 gal Brute

• 20 Gal is TOO SMALL
• I cannot find a bag that will fit inside the can

I plan to modify the unit and raise both sides thus allowing me to use a 32 gal Brute, The ring I have on the underside of the TopHat is large enough for the 32 gal Brute.

Currently I just use a couple of wedges to raise the Brute, this will be replaced by a Lazy-Susan on a threaded rod to easily raise the can.

As you can see the entire unit is on wheels, my first thought was because I'm using this in my garage I want all of my shop tools (well most of them anyway) on wheels and I can then wheel the DC to the tool I'm using, connect it and then turn it on. Now that I've done that a few times I don't like this idea, as I bounce between the various tools it is a bit of a pain to be disconnecting something and then connecting to another tool. This mod is somewhere in the future.

To make the unit more fixed will require installing pipes to the various locations in my garage. I need to think about this and optimize the locations. I could still use the flex hose from the fixed points to the various tools. My table saw and joiner are fixed at this time (I map put a base on the joiner but I'm also thinking of replacing the joiner and my planer with the Hammer A1 Jointer/Planer combo).

The other neat thing I'd like to install are the controls to turn on the DC when I turn on a tool.

All that aside I ran into an issue when joining and planing a bunch of 2x4s. In the image if you look at the TopHat on the right side you can see that I used Plexiglas and I can easily see the TopHat in action (yea). Not thinking  far enough ahead I quickly overfilled the Brute and the sawdust also filled the Tophat and then the sawdust went directly into the bags on the left side of the image.

Thus I'd like to install a sensor that will shut off the unit when the can is full. Robert R. Payne makes a really neat Bin Sensor System (see http://www.clearvuecyclones.com/Bullentin/showthread.php?t=1272) but it only works with the Clear Vue Cyclones and he thinks that if I install the LED units under the Tophat the dust dropping down into the Brute will trip the control and shut the DC off.

Any suggestions for the sensor?

[jgt1942]

Quick update - I've exchanged a lot of emails with Robert and we think we have a solution for his unit and my setup. The bad news is that I'm super backed up with higher priority projects thus this will be on hold for a while. I'll update as I make progress.