1 Topic by Heartlander

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  • From: Kent from Kansas City
  • Registered: 2013-06-23
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Topic: On/Off switch?

Plugging and unplugging the power supply will eventually lead to problems. Has anyone added a simple Power switch to their printer? If so, where did you splice in?

Also, anyone devise a Sleep mode for the extruder and bed to power down after X minutes of XYZ inactivity? THey have to draw a noticeable amount of power each month just Idle. I often forget to power them down manually.

Robox printer, HICTOP (Prusa i3 variant) Model 3DP17 printer, ELEK 2.5W laser engraver, AutoDesk 123D Design, Windows 10

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2 Reply by solijohn

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Re: On/Off switch?

There printer shouldn't be harmed turning it off this way. We have machines that are over 1 year old who haven't been damaged in this way.

You can set your printer to turn off the heater after a print with the end gcode.

Former Solidoodle employee, no longer associated with the company.

3 Reply by ronsii

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Re: On/Off switch?

solidoodlesupport wrote:

There printer shouldn't be harmed turning it off this way. We have machines that are over 1 year old who haven't been damaged in this way.

You can set your printer to turn off the heater after a print with the end gcode.


Electrically speaking I think it is fine.... however mechanically the plugs and sockets are not really rated to be used as a 'switch' smile with that said I have mine on most of the time and like support says just turn off the heaters when done printing if I will using the printer again soon otherwise they get unplugged.

I think it would be very easy to put a switch inline with the low volt out of the PS just before the mainboard... I just haven't had time to do it with everything else that need to be done around here wink

4 Reply by dubbsd

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Re: On/Off switch?

I bought  a Tripp lite surge protector.

it is the next best thing to a battery backup and it has a switch

http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-ISOBAR … ite+isobar

Ultimaker S3.

5 Reply by raptor_ani

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Re: On/Off switch?

I cut the cable on the 12v side of the power supply of my solidoodle 2 pro and added a switch with a fuse and flashing led on it. Now it's very easy to turn off the power in case I need to stop the printer quickly. Also I don't have to worry about plugging it in and out of the mains all the time each time I want to print.

It was well worth the mod in my opinion. I don't know why the on/off switch was omitted because I use the switch all the time.

6 Reply by saymo606

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Re: On/Off switch?

I have a power strip... each outlet has a switch... cost...about £4... 5 outlets...

....am I missing something here?

7 Reply by pastprimitive

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Re: On/Off switch?

No I think that is the best solution.  You don't really want a switch on the DC side, you'd just end up running up your electricity bill from the power supply components that stay powered even when you aren't drawing any DC output.  I have electronics project power supplies I've made from computer power supplies, and I do essentially the same thing. 

For my printer setup I simply attached a permanent switched out let to the under side of my desk, and a light switch that controls it on the front, looks clean, discreet, and is a million times easier to use.  I think the manual plug and unplug is one of those... solidoodle-saving-money things.

8 Reply by Claghorn

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Re: On/Off switch?

My setup uses linux udev scripts to notice when I plug in the usb cable and tells my home automatic system to power up the solidoodle, so the only thing I have to plug and unplug is the usb connector :-).

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9 Reply by SnakeEyes

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Re: On/Off switch?

Lookie Lookie     http://www.amazon.com/Inlet-Module-Swit … &psc=1

Overkill is underrated!!!