In this video I show how I used a heavy-duty smart switch to remotely control the air compressor using a smart home app. This allows for on-off timers and emergency shut down due to air leaks.
WHERE TO BUY
EMBRIGHTEN 40A Smart Switch - amzn.to/3SDmhFL
NOTE: Watch Part 2 to see how to solve the issue of air pressure not being released if the power to the motor is shut off mid-cycle, preventing the motor from restarting due to the back pressure. • How To CONTROL AIR COM...
The shop air compressor would benefit from a smart switch that could do the following.
1. A timer that shuts off the air compressor after hours and starts it up again in the morning. This is simple enough, except that there are times when we want the air compressor to stay on after hours, like if we have resin items that are curing in the pressure pot. A simple timer won't account for these anomalies, and we would need to add a bypass switch and remember to enable the bypass switch. With a smart switch, it would be possible to add a switch or pressure sensor at the pressure pot line that gets turned on when the pots are on. This prevents the smart switch from turning off the air compressor.
2. A remote shut-off that allows us to turn it on/off remotely from the smart home (SmartThings) app.
3. An auto shut-off that will stop the compressor from running if there is a leak or burst air hose. It has happened a few times that an air line breaks or some large leak occurs and the air compressor runs nonstop. There are switches designed for pumps and air compressors that have timers that shut them down if they run for too long due to a leak. A smart switch could also be used for this but may require some basic programming. Using a smartwatch that can measure current/load, a timer could be set to shut down the air compressor if it is running for too long.
Each of these requirements could be solved individually with individual components. However, a single smart switch could also solve all the problems at once.
The 120V air compressors I use are already on the edge of tripping 15 to 20-amp circuits. The oil air compressor will often trip the circuit breaker, usually on start-up, while the oil-less air compressor rarely trips the circuit breaker, even when running continuously. Therefore the ~2 HP motors on these air compressors won't work with 15A-rated smart home switches. There are basically no 20A 120V plug-in smart home switches because 20A outlets are less common.
This is the Kobalt Quite Tech oil-less air compressor that the switch will be used with. It has a 1.8HP motor. It's similar to the California Air Tools Ultra Quite air compressors, but the quality is a little lower. See the post where I replaced the prematurely worn piston rings with ones that I sourced myself because Kobalt doesn't offer replacement parts.
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▼ VIDEO CHAPTERS:
00:00 40A Z-Wave Smart Switch to control 110/220V air compressor
00:30 KOBALT Quiet Tech air compressor
01:10 Enbrighten 40A 110V 240V Z-Wave Smart Switch
02:08 What's In The Box - Enbrighten 40A Smart Switch
02:41 Enbrighten 40A wiring diagram options
03:33 Smart Switch + Air Compressor setup overview
04:33 How smart switch is wired to air compressor and accessories
06:31 Status indicator lights
06:47 What do the internal buttons and switches do?
08:20 Controlling from the Smart Things app
08:48 Power watt meter
10:00 Emergency auto shut off if hose bursts
11:19 Schedule on and off
12:11 On/Off control through mobile app
12:24 Final thoughts on Enbrighten/GE 40A Smart Switch
How To Remotely Control Air Compressor With A SMART SWITCH using ENBRIGHTEN GE 40A 240V or 120V AC
How To CONTROL AIR COMPRESSOR REMOTELY With A SMART SWITCH using ENBRIGHTEN GE 40A 240V or 120V AC
Hack Your Air Compressor: Remote Control With Enbrighten Ge 40a 120V/240V Smart Switch For Ultimate Efficiency!
Hack Your Air Compressor: Remote Control It With Enbrighten GE 40a 120V/240V For Ultimate Efficiency
Control Your Air Compressor Remotely With The Game-changing Enbrighten Ge 40a 240v Or 120v Ac
Control Your Air Compressor Remotely With A Smart Switch Using Enbrighten Ge 40a In 240v Or 120v Ac.
Smart Switch Controls Air Compressor Remotely | Enbrighten Ge 40a For 240v Or 120v Ac
The products shown here were purchased by me with the intent to use them. I did not receive any free items, and I am not being paid or compensated for this review. The video, description, and comments may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link, I may receive a commission. Money earned helps to support my channel and bring you more informative videos about engineering, crafting, and DIY.