I have a dust collection system set up with the Long Ranger system of blast gates from Penn State.
Yesterday, one of the blast gates failed. That is, I shut the blast gate, and the dust collector continued to run. I jiggled the blast gate, and it shut off. I plunged back into the melee, and promptly forgot all about it.
Then today, another one failed. Same thing, only this time, jiggling, pushing, swearing and maneuvering didn’t convince it to shut down. I hit the reset button on the Long Ranger base unit, no effect.
So now I’m stuck journeying back and forth across the shop to turn the dust collector on and off. Seems like I’m back working with sharpened stones on green twigs. At night in the pouring rain. And I’m getting hungry.
They are the two blast gates with the heaviest use– the tablesaw and the chop saw.
Has this happened to anyone else? If so, how did you fix it?
Replies
Geez, Jammer, I'm surprised nobody's come to the rescue yet! I only have a vague idea of how these gizmos (gizmoes?) work, but assuming there are little electronic parts that might get blinded by dust, I'd grab a compressed air hose and gently clean all the dust out. The Penn State guys should be happy to help you out if nobody else responds here.
As FG stated Jammer.. ain't your everyday problem and I would personally have already called Penn State as they designed it..
Good luck...
Sounds like a stuck relay in the Lone Ranger.
Jammer,
I just went over to the Penn State website and took a look at the Long Ranger blast gates. They appear to have a simple micro switch that makes and breaks contact with the lip of the gate. First, these switches are usually pretty delicate you should not be doing any slamming or pounding on the gate. I would take a look at the switches and see if they have come out of alignment, or possibly a screw holding one of the wires has vibrated loose. These switches can, and often do, fail. You could use a basic millimeter to test the switch for proper operation (continuity). It is not likely that these switches carry any real current that would be a safety hazard if you ask me. It's more likely they are of the dry contact variety. A make or break is carried to the controller and the circuitry there turns on or off the dust collector. I would remove the wires from one of the micro switch if the collector doesn’t start, I would short these wires together, if it still doesn’t start I would begin by testing the switch, it’s likely wore out. You may also want to look at the wires going from the gates to the controller and see if one or more has come loose or has been accidently cut. I wish you were closer; I could come troubleshoot it for you that’s what I do all day, every day.
After another look at the Penn State site, I see that the controller is a multi gate type. If you have other gates that are working then you can rule out the controller. You should be concentrating on the wires, switch, and the contact between the lip of the gate and the switch lever. Replacement switches are listed on their site for $2.95 ea; at that price I would have a hand full on hand.
Thank you!
Thank you very much!
I will try what you suggest, but now I'm not certain: do I short out the two leads at a bad switch?
I'll start by merely disconnecting it, and see what happens. (This is known as the Sudden Death method of electrical testing.)
Some days, I wish I had paid attention when we built that little thing with paperclips that went around and around...
(I don't know anything about electricity, other than it's a mysterious, powerful force controlled by wizards known as "Electricians", who are raised from infancy to their priesthood, and who are born with an innate understanding of and ability to control this force. In spite of this, the occasional Electrician is still smote by their God; this turns them instantly into a small pile of smoking dust to punish them for their arrogance, sins and blasphemy.)
Update
Okay, this is what I did.
I disconnected the offending switch. All the other gates are closed. I turned on the power, the dust collector came on.
I tied the two wires together. The dust collector continued to run.
I tore them apart. The dust collector continued to run.
I fled in terror. The dust collector may still be running.
All the wires on all the gates terminate on the same two terminals. In fact, there is one set of wires down the main line, and each switch merely ties in to that main run.
Take a deep breath and call Penn State. When the Sarge(grinder47) says call, call! LOL! What're'ya wasting time with us for?
Blast gate
Hi Jammer... In case you haven't found a solotion yet, here's my 2 cents worth. For the switch to work properly, the gate slide must seat all the way into the housing. Take a thin piece of stiff wire, bend the end into a 1/4" 'L' and fish around the back of the housing to dislodge any sawdust that has gotten stuck back there. You may want to use your air-gun to blast out the remaining bits. Check the corners very carefully too. After a good clean-out give it a try and see if it works properly. Let us know what your results are, so if someone out here in e-mail land has the same problem, we won't have to go through the same problem solving you're going through right now.
SawdustSteve Long Island, NY (E of NYC)
Thank you, Steve.
I have the offending switch off the gate, so it's not the mechanics of the gate.
I'm going to call Penn State, but I keep forgetting about it until it's too late in the day. (They operate on Eastern time)
Tomorrow. I swear.
Are you sure that is the offending switch. If it is the, the dust collector should not be running (assuming it is a momentary off switch). If the DC is still running, that switch is probably not the problem. Take all the wires off the relay switch and connect them back on, one at a time until the DC starts up. The wire that starts it up is the offending circuit.. Note - it could be two bad switches. If, however the DC is running when all the wires are off, your basic problem is not the individual switches but rather the relay - transformer system that the switches control.
In a simple system like this, electricity is very similar to the flow of water with piping and shutoffs instead of wires, switches and relays. You have to think of it as a solid system with the wires of the electric system compared to canals or open tubing in the solid system. It is really quite simple but, as you know, simple things confuse us simple people sometimes. I whish I could make the font larger.
Paul
Jammer, I have the same problem remembering to call early enough. My solution? (also works to remind me to put clothes in the dryer first thing in the morning) -- a sticky-note on the coffee maker! Works like a charm.
Solved!
Well, I solved it.
I never could have done it, except for my long experience in construction, my high level of skill with woodworking equipment and my native intelligence. A lessor man would be calling Penn State right now!
One of the other switches was slightly open.
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