IVAC fill level meter

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after seeing a review on the ONEIDA dust sentry i went and looked to see if there was something else cheaper and maybe better ? i found the IVAC fill level meter. it was half the price at 69.95 as opposed to oneidas at 149.00. oneidas also only tells you when it's full, ivacs tells you what it's at at 5 different levels . green 31" or more, 2 green 16", first orange 9" second orange 6" time to empty and red/blue blinking over full. having just hooked it up i cant say yet how well it works but it's showing 2 green which is right about where the drum is now. once ive used it more ill give an update. one thing thats wrong is they say to drill a 1/2" hole to run the cable through. kinda hard to get a 3/4 plug through a 1/2" hole ! other than that it's a simple hook up. 

working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.

11 Comments

Nice! Is that indicator light bar easy enough to see? Looks kinda small, but I guess if it’s bright…

The one on my SuperCell looks kinda like a small version of the old school red bubble gum lights found on old cop cars. 

Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".

 The price should force me to drop my ONEIDA "review" a * (star) or two.  Love that progress meter... sortta craps over the once in-your-face one off strobe.  I'm guessing even that has served you well in making you aware of a product genre and thereby investigate... "investigate" in my household spells "reading" and you know my view about reading.

My only concern would be regimentation... not having one to live compare, while yours seems to be reasonably located, it's a case of regularly looking at it... depending on your fill rate... mine sometimes lasts 12 months before full and I have the brain span of a gold fish... how often do you drain your compressor? I have trouble finding a lost tool in the middle of my workbench... 

I suppose my "defence" of the ONEIDA is that when it trips, it's impossible to miss... even with your eyes closed there is flashing shadows behind the eyelids... not to be confused with alcohol haze.  

If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD

well the light is small but it's bright and right over the collector. i dont  find that an issue at all. i like that it shows progress the most. and the price wasn't bad either 😍🤑

working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.

You have just bought and installed it, so it's in the forefront of your mind... be interested in you fessing up to how often you'll look at it in 6 months time.
The price is certainly better... if you honestly admit you check it regularly in 6+ moths time.

If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD

time will tell ? but i can see it right when i walk in the shop 30 feet away. im gonna make a little shroud to cover it from the bright lights above which will also help.

working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.


 Pottz 
..... but i can see it right when i walk in the shop 30 feet away......

Might be easier to see if it was 10 meters away.
Put it in a box under lock and key so no one will interfere with it...

If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD

I look forward to the update! I have an Oneida Dust Cobra, and got the package without the sentry. If this is half the price and works well, it looks better featured than the sentry. Over full hasn't been an issue with the dust Cobra yet, but might be good for the main dust collector. Running the jointer and planer I've stuffed that thing until the bag around the filter was half full on more than one occasion lol

MosquitoMade.com

maybe ill run the big planer and fill it fast so i can give a good idea how well it works under pressure !

working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.

I'd say the planer chips aren't the tough application. It's sanding dust coating the sensor.  Dave mentioned that in the Oneida review.  If you have a drum sander and some poplar or pine, that would be a good test of the reliability of the sensor.
Hi Pottz,
I don't have a dust collector, but your comment about one thing wrong being the hole to drill had me curious so I went to the IVAC site to check it out. This is what is on  the web regarding mounting instructions:

Did your included copy have this?
yep thats the instructions i got. it was no big deal but when i looked at the plug i knew right away it was bigger than 1/2".

working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.