CT22 remote control - off the shelf solution in Europe

[Mettes]

I wanted to be able to switch my CT22 remotely, I know the Maxsys is available for the newer CT's and that it can be adopted to the old vac's if you contact Rick.  But being in Europe and dealing with import would drive the price up I decided to see if there were other possibility's.
Remote control switches are easy enough to find but the one I used is particularly interesting for use in the CT's.  A Belgium company, Niko, came out with a wireless switching system.  They have a module that has a single pole potential free contact which works of 230v, so no need for an adapter to 12,24 or 5v.  It's also very small and fits within the electronics bay of the CT.  Installation time was just 10 minutes, four wires and some plugs.
The wireless communication is on the 868.3mhz band, so pretty standard stuff should you wish to use a different controller.  I first tried a wireless switch which uses the 434mhz band but this was interfered by the engine of the CT, switching it on was never a problem, but switching of was hit and miss, plus it needed an adapter.
No problem on the 868.3mhz band, at least not with this module from Niko.

Price is about €65 for the switch and €30 for control, excluding VAT.

Works perfect!
For anybody in Europe looking to make his vac wireless this is an easy solution, ordering the parts online shouldn't be any problem or if you have a Niko distributor nearby they can sure order it for you.
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[L.N.]

In the Netherlands is a company called KlikAanKlikUit, which offers similar solutions. It is mainly focussed on remote controlling lights and other forms of home automation, but can also used for the CT22. It is much cheaper then the solution above.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: the switch that Hans used is suited for 6A max, which means 1380W, which is less then power consumption of the CT22 (plus machines attached to the power socket) and creates a potential hazard!

 

[Holmz]

I wanted to be able to switch my CT22 remotely...
...
Works perfect!
...

You sir are a champ.
Nice job, and nice write up.

 

[Mettes]

The switch just needs to close the two contacts on the circuit board that are there for the automated switching when using the compressed air module. It has nothing to do with the power of the attached tool and certainly not the dustextractor itself.
I know klikaanklikuit, but I believe they use the 434mhz band, and they don't have a potential free contact. With this solution the automated tool activation is still present, same as the Maxsys system.
But thanks for the concern and comment!

 

[Cheese]

Just curious [member=3587]Hans Mertens[/member] if you know if this works on a MIDI vac?

 

[Rick Christopherson]

But being in Europe and dealing with import would drive the price up I decided to see if there were other possibility's.

Price is about €65 for the switch and €30 for control, excluding VAT.

I haven't been able to confirm this for Belgium yet, but most EU countries do not impose Duty and VAT on purchases in the price range of Maxsys. Belgium may be an exception. Without Duty and VAT, you paid about the same price as Maxsys.

Aside from that, your setup looks good, and would be the same that I would have instructed you for a Maxsys install on a CT-22. Yes, you were correct in locating a module that is what's called "Dry Contact", or non-potential output. I suspect yours is a solidstate output, whereas Maxsys is a physical, isolated relay, where even in catastrophic failure, still cannot put voltage into your vacuum.

 

[Rick Christopherson]

Oh, by the way, a significant difference with Maxsys versus your setup, is that Maxsys will support having multiple vacuums and multiple remotes to control them all as an integrated system.  [big grin]

 

[Mettes]

Hey Rick,

Then Belgium is the exception, under €25 is import and vat free, but everything above that gets picked out by customs.
I know it's about the same price as you're solution, it's the remote which, in my opinion, is to expensive. I decided not to start with ordering a remote from a different brand, but I will give it a try someday. Giving that it operates on the very common 868.3mhz band, that shouldn't be a problem.

You can add up to 30 controls on one receiver, so you can make it work for multiple vacs and controls.

The Maxsys is a very nice solution, especially for the newer vacs,  but being able to buy an off the shelf solution in Europe has it's benefits.

Thanks for your insights and opinion!

 

[Mettes]

Just curious [member=3587]Hans Mertens[/member] if you know if this works on a MIDI vac?

I don't think so, the Mini and Midi aren't configured for an extra module (the compressed air activation), so I suspect that the contacts are not present on the switchboard. I have a Mini and will be checking it but I'm pretty sure it's a no go.

 

[Cheese]

I don't think so, the Mini and Midi aren't configured for an extra module (the compressed air activation), so I suspect that the contacts are not present on the switchboard. I have a Mini and will be checking it but I'm pretty sure it's a no go.

Thanks, that makes sense.  [big grin]  I wondered why the MINI & MIDI didn't have extra hot pins.