I need help with how to wire an indictor light to signal when my dust collector motor is running. I attached the wiring diagram. There is a small LED on the circuit board, but the collector is in a small closet. I need to wire a light into my shop.

Should I add an LED light in parallel to the motor? If so, what size light and where do I connect?
Or, should I try to run wires from the existing circuit board LED light to another LED bulb? Again, what size LED light would you guess?

Thanks for your help!

 

What makes sense is to wire a mains voltage indicator directly in parallel with the motor. Then there is much less chance of damaging anything on the circuit board.

 

What makes sense is to wire a mains voltage indicator directly in parallel with the motor. Then there is much less chance of damaging anything on the circuit board.

Thanks for the advice. Can you advise where on the diagram to make the connections? And what should I use? A 120V LED indicator light?

 

This Indicator or similar will work wired directly across the motor connections.

 

Here is an approach that will handle all safety issues.

Wire a single AC outlet in parallel with the motor, just a normal outlet in a standard outlet box. Plut into the outlet a USB wall wart phone charger. Now you have a fully isolated 5 V source that can power a very bright LED, a relay for a larger AC load, etc. For example, most small LED flashlights run on 3 AAA batteries. Carve up one of them and it should run fine on 5 V.

For larger DC lighting, use a 12 V wall wart.

ak

 

I would advise against running the motor circuit beyond the motor. A 110 coil relay at the motor/control board will function a separately powered indicator of your choice.

 

For complete isolation with no physical wiring to the motor or control board could be a LDR monitoring the red LED on the circuit board which turns on a transistor to drive an external LED.

 

First, the wiring must be done by one competent to do mains voltage wiring. Next, the wire must be rated for at least the mains voltage. The unfortunate thing is that the one advertisement called out #10 triple boat wire, which is suitable for 30 amperes current. That demonstrates no understanding of the application at all. So no valid advice can be found from that source!!

Given that the TS does not have a clue as to what I have suggested, my best advice is to not attempt such a connection until one with a great deal more knowledge is available for the task. Some projects are simply too demanding of skill and insight to be started by those lacking them.

 

Thanks everyone. This advice certainly helped me solve my problem.

 

And that solution is . . . . . . ?

 

I used an LDR to turn on another light. Easiest way to stay out of the dust collector electric panel.

 

Certainly the application of an LDR to operate an external indicator could be the safest scheme.