Power Cord with Pedal Switch (DIY) for any Electric Tool

[@danielmp-007]

The the green wire or the equipment ground is one of the most important wires in the circuit. All green wires must be connected together making only one path for any ground fault possibilities.

[@OuttheCave]

You are right Daniel! Other viewers have also pointed this out and I'm planning on making a new video with this correction soon. Thanks for your comment and Cheers!!

[@lesjames5191]

Just the instructions I was looking for, thanks.

[@OuttheCave]

All my pleasure! I'm telling you, you will love that thing. Let me know how it works for you and don't hesitate if any questions. Cheers!

[@els1f]

If that pedal is metal, it's always a good idea to ground the chassis. I've been looking around at ideas to do this same thing✌️🙂

[@OuttheCave]

Good point! I should have thought about that. Thanks for taking the time to comment and good luck with your project! You will see this will be very useful in your shop! Cheers!

[@scottcates]

Very nice videro. One small, trivial bit of feedhack would be to use a 2-conductor lamp cord instead of burning that 3-wire extension cord out to the foot switch. Unsolicited advice but might help someone.

[@OuttheCave]

Hi and thanks for your comment. Great point! Cheers!

[@gopro2804]

How about tools with the “zero power cutout” so they don’t start unexpectedly after a power cut?

[@OuttheCave]

Hi, I'm not sure what those "zero power cutout" tools are (I searched a bit but didn't find anything). However, this pedal is the same as a ON-OFF switch, it's cutting only the hot wire (not the neutral). Also, if the power goes out and gets back, it will remain in the same state (if it was OFF, it will stay OFF and if it was ON, it will stay ON). I hope that helps but if not, give me an example of your tool and I'll do my best to answer your question. Cheers!

[@arkansasmountainman]

⚡⚡⚡ The pedal and the metal outlet box BOTH should be connected into the ground circuit. If the hotwire touched either and you touch the box, you would become the ground path and you would get a shock. It may be only 110v but that can kill! That's why the cases of anything, that's not double insulated, has to be grounded! An electric range, your clothes dryer and any other appliance that's not double insulated will have a "cabinet ground wire or strap". Double insulated items have the case completely insulated from the chance of shorting, usually because the outter covering is plastic and can't carry electricity. That's one reason the screws attaching the cover are very deep in a "recess well". The screws attach to the metal frame and can carry electricity if there's an internal short. That way you can't contact the screw and get shocked. The double insulated items don't require a ground plug, HOWEVER the outlet and switch box are separate from the tool and still have to be grounded! All you had to do was connect the ground to the switch box and the outlet box, that gives a path to ground and would trip the breaker or blow the fuse if you have fuses instead of breakers. Don't trust that the disclaimer would save you from suit. You should edit the video and explain your mistake or remove the video, you might not be liable for anyone being affected, but you could possibly be liable because legal documents require specific information and wording in a specific format. (The disclaimer is a legal document) At any rate, if someone was hurt or worse, I think it would bother you greatly. Too many people on youtube don't understand how electricity works or what IEC says and they shouldn't be showing things on youtube that could get someone hurt or killed. It's a small thing but when the white wire exited the switch box and entered the outlet box, the wire should have been marked as a hot (black) wire. Paint or wrapping the white wire end with black electrical tape would suffice. It's a safety measure in case someone else is working on it and to remind you later if you work on it, but mainly because IT IS CODE!!!

[@stampydragon2739]

Could this be used to turn on and off my small little old unimat sl lathe

[@OuttheCave]

Hi, Yes, that should work no problem! Anything with normal 1 phase power would work. For 2 phases power, you would need a dual power pedal and a second switched wire. I looked up this small lathe and the stock motor is 1 phase, so no problem there. I hope this helps! Cheers!

[@stampydragon2739]

Out the Cave thanks also will give you a shout-out in my next video as I’ll be replacing my lathes motor and adding this foot pedal

[@OuttheCave]

That sounds good! I'll be watching that! I subscribed too. Cheers!

[@arkansasmountainman]

Make sure the extension cord and switch is rated for the amperage of the tools you will control with the switch! If either is too low of a rating and you could burn out the switch, the plastic connection block could melt, or the motor on the tool could burn out from too low of amperage, or even short out something and start a fire! Be positive it's unplugged from the switch or wall when not being used or you are doing anything dangerous to the tool. Like changing bits, blades or just adjusting something and you don't want anything moving while you are doing it. You don't want the tool cutting or mashing you or catching clothes or hair by starting accidentally. 🤕. There's more wrong in the video, see my other post. ⚡⚡⚡

[@musang2026]

3:54 that cheap yellow wire stripper is normally used for stripping network UTP cable. You missed the twist motion before yanking the insulation out. Check it out here kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3vVmHxuj6d1q5o Cheers!

[@OuttheCave]

Thank you so much for sharing this information, I will know how to use the tool if I find another one. The one I had broke into pieces and I believe I threw it away. Cheers to you as well !

[@linejumper8204]

Looks like some wet floor fun.

[@arkansasmountainman]

The whole build is a 911 call in the making.

[@paquitoperez2116]

Cutting wires with a cutter knife?! OMG... Buy yourself a Stanley FMHT0-96230 Wire Stripper.. you'll thank me for it!!!

[@OuttheCave]

I checked and that looks like a very good wire stripper ! Thanks for the comment and Cheers !!

[@spray-n-prey9717]

I know electric but these foreign color codes mess me up

[@OuttheCave]

Thanks for your comment! I really understand what you say, I'm also watching electricity videos from other countries and it is a real puzzle to know what wire is what ;o) Cheers!

[@seedubyu]

so you take a mains THREE CORE power cord , do away with ground (earth) and then conect it to a METAL foot controller. Wow, glad I'm not gonna be using it.

[@OuttheCave]

Hi, Actually, the ground is only running from the outlet to the plug. between the outlet and the foot switch, I'm only using 2 wires that are connecting/disconnecting the LIVE. Let me attempt to draw this in text here : PLUG OUTLET FOOT-SWITCH G---------(Ground)----------G W---------(neutral)----------W W--------(used as live) -------W B-----------------------------------------------------(live)----------------B G---------(not used)------------G ...I hope this comes out well on your side. Let me know if not, I'll find another way.

[@OuttheCave]

...Are you saying I should ground the pedal as well ?

[@arkansasmountainman]

@@OuttheCave The pedal and the metal outlet box BOTH should be grounded. If the hotwire touched either and you touch the box, you would become the ground path and you would get a shock. It may be only 110v but that can kill! That's why the cases of anything, that's not double insulated, has to be grounded! An electric range, your clothes dryer and any other appliance that's not double insulated will have a "cabinet ground wire or strap". Double insulated items have the case completely insulated from the chance of shorting, usually because the outter covering is plastic and can't carry electricity. That's one reason the screws attaching the cover are very deep in a "recess well". The screws attach to the metal frame and can carry electricity if there's an internal short. That way you can't contact the screw and get shocked. The double insulated items don't require a ground plug, HOWEVER the outlet and switch box are separate from the tool and still have to be grounded! All you had to do was connect the ground to the switch box and the outlet box, that gives a path to ground and would trip the breaker or blow the fuse if you have fuses instead of breakers. Don't trust that the disclaimer would save you from suit. You should edit the video and explain your mistake or remove the video, you might not be liable for anyone being affected, but you could possibly be liable because legal documents require specific information and wording in a specific format. (The disclaimer is a legal document) At any rate, if someone was hurt or worse, I think it would bother you greatly. Too many people on youtube don't understand how electricity works or what IEC says and they shouldn't be showing things on youtube that could get someone hurt or killed. It's a small thing but when the white wire exited the switch box and entered the outlet box, the wire should have been marked as a hot (black) wire. Paint or wrapping the white wire end with black electrical tape would suffice. It's a safety measure in case someone else is working on it and to remind you later if you work on it, but mainly because IT IS CODE!!!

[@OuttheCave]

@@arkansasmountainman , you are right. I can't edit the video but I'll do another video including the ground connection and the black tape on the white wire. Thanks for taking the time to write this very detailed explanations!