Kill switch extension cord.

[mklotz]

Great idea, Tuomas, and very nice implementation.

For the benefit of folks contemplating building their own kill extension cord, please allow me to offer a few thoughts on the subject...

A big red button is visible and easy to actuate but one must consider its location as well. I once had a table saw arrangement that had a horizontal bar kill switch across the front edge near the user's hips. Pressure on this bar would stop the saw. No hunting for the kill switch with hand or foot; just bump the table with your hip. Putting such a bar across the front of the drip pan on the lathe would be even better. If you got entangled and the machine started pulling you in you would without thinking hit the bar and shut down the lathe.

This led me to the following concept for a kill switch mechanization...

Separate, dedicated, tailored switches permanently mounted to each machine. To keep costs down, low current switches would be used. In turn these switches would interface via light-weight signal wire to a relay that controlled the power switching in the extension cord. A better description of this arrangement is discussed in my remote controlled relay post...

Remotely controlled relay