It has been a long time since I posted anything but I have been busy – I just haven’t posted.
A number of months ago I visited a friends woodworking shop and had a look at his dust collection set up since he used the same Oneida cyclonic collector as I have. One difference I noticed is that he had the Oneida Infrared Dust Sentry Bin Fill Level Indicator (https://www.oneida-air.com/dust-collectors/system-components/electrical/bin-level-sensors/dust-sentry-adjustable-bin-level-indicator). I had made my own dust detector about 20 years ago using a paddle and a motor so when the paddle couldn’t move a micro switch was flipped. It worked fine although it was cumbersome to deal with when the bin had to be emptied.
I decided to have a go at replicating the function of the Oneida detector except instead of a light I have a beeper – although it would be easy enough to add a light. Other than the power supply (which I had in a drawer) I got all the parts off Amazon for
My design seems to work fine (6 barrels of dust and counting). for about C $26 (beeper $20, sensors about $6 each).
I suggest mounting the sensor closer to the center of the drum than the outside since the shavings/dust form an inverted cone.
Also, the thing “chirps” as it nears being full because clumps of shavings start rolling around. The beeper I chose is plenty audible even when wearing hearing protection.
Documented Designs 