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.
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.
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
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?
After having spent half a day in the on-and-off rain vibrating the dust out of my clogged filter, for the hundredth time it seems, now I find this. Well, better late than never. If they did the IR light pulse coding properly, then a film of dust on the sensor lenses should not be a big problem. Same principle as a laser tape measure. But still .... Murphy.
Let us know how this works out. I'll get one forthwith if you have good luck with it.
Huh? Whadaya mean it ain't "measure once cut twice"?
when i ran DC last weekend it would light up full but once i turned it off and the dust settled it would show two green meaning 16" to full. so far it seems to work great.
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
did a bunch of cutting yesterday and the first orange light is now on meaning 9" to full. working perfectly. dust seems to have no effect on the sensor.
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
ok another update. both orange lights came on meaning 6" to full so i decided to empty it. well it was actually only about 9" to full so it was a little off. next time ill wait until the blue green light comes on before dumping it. other than that it works pretty well.
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
