Is it safe to leave your 3d printer on overnight? (Probably not unless you have one of these)

Could your 3d printer cause a fire? Unfortunately, no matter how good your software safeguards are, there is always a possibility that part failure could cause thermal runaway and, in some cases, fire! If you have your printer in your house or anywhere other than a fireproof enclosure, then you should add this system.
This safety system will shutdown power to your printer (or any other device you choose) if any part starts to get hotter than you want it to.
This system is hacker proof, software independent, and will automatically kill power to your printer if a problem occurs.
Full build instructions are detailed and all parts needed are listed below.
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Affiliate links (If you purchase something after clicking any of the below links I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. This is a great way to support the channel)
Power Relay
US amzn.to/3nPxSC4
Crimp connectors
US amzn.to/3xmaejK
JST Connectors
US amzn.to/3CMumMY
Wire
US amzn.to/30V2SHA
Blade Fuse Holder (Use 2A blade fuse)
US amzn.to/3nNAal5
Heatshrink
US amzn.to/32wG9Cz
Thermal Fuses - You may wish to choose these yourself and I ordered from ebay in the UK.
The specification needs to be over 5v and 2A (most are 250v and 10A so almost anything will work).Then I would advise getting the lowest temperature you can for electronics (I found 60°C), 100-110°C for heatbed and above printer, and 240°C for the hotend heatsink.
These may work but are not the ones I bought. amzn.to/3cMyOR4
US eBay options:
60°C www.ebay.com/i...
100°C www.ebay.com/i...
240°C www.ebay.com/i...
Electrical Crimp Pliers
US amzn.to/3DQnpMa
Heatgun
US amzn.to/2ZiiC72
Multimeter
US amzn.to/3nMudog
Smoke Alarm
US amzn.to/3cI8hV4
Automatic Fire Extinguisher
US amzn.to/3zrBvAD

[@charlesfield9286]

It seems like you deliberately preparing videos to address my current concerns. Just finished your enclosure. Working on the filament case, but was worrying about the fire. Thanks!

[@RickyImpey]

Great Charles, sounds like we're on the same journey. 👍

[@hagel7208]

Was planning on leaving a print overnight then came upon this video just now in bed and went down and turned it off :(

[@quiescenttraveler]

Thank you. Excellent design. Great work. I'm planning to acquire the parts and put it together. I have watched several videos on this topic by Teaching Tech and Thomas Sanlander and they have workable solutions but I think you have designed a more elegant solution that relies on simple hardware rather than sensors and a relay. I'm looking forward watching your Enclosure video next. I bought my Ender 3 V2 in July -- never did any 3D printing or design previous to that.

[@RickyImpey]

Glad you enjoyed the video. This one hasn't been that popular but I still like the system and it works very well. I like having the extra safety for when I don't have eyes on my printer. Thanks for the comment.

[@jcracoustics]

Great and useful video as always Ricky 👍

[@legocircus]

Hi! Thank you so so much for the incredible video! It's super informative and very smart. I'm ordering a couple things through your links and I see the wire you linked, from Amazon, is 22awg solid core. Did you end up using 22awg solid core for your entire fuse circuit for the relay? I was extra curious with you running the wire through the bed power's sleeving, with solid core being less flexible than stranded. Super awesome vid, thank you for everything.

[@RickyImpey]

Hi, they have probably changed the supply on this, I'll have a look. I didn't use solid core. I would recommend a silicone sleeved muticore. As you probably know, mutlicore is much better when things are moving around and will last much longer.

[@elookon]

Very good video!

[@starkastic]

Useful information presented clearly. Also, today I learned about automatic fire extinguishers!

[@RickyImpey]

Great, glad to have introduced you to them👍

[@WaschyNumber1]

This Ball Fire Extinguisher aren't so safe. kzbin.info/www/bejne/maHVYWmBh8uVfpo

[@MaximRodin-s9u]

Thanks! Now I can print overnight and my parents will allow it!

[@ProfessorOzone]

Nice video. I like the methodology. I'm considering whether I should put a smoke alarm inside the enclosure or outside. I saw you put it inside, but I was concerned that the fumes from printing normally would cause the smoke alarm to fail. I think I read somewhere that the sensor can get coated. Did you consider this?

[@RickyImpey]

I haven't noticed any problems with the smoke alarm but then I also haven't had a fire so it's very difficult to say. I do actually have another smoke alarm outside of the enclosure as I have other printers in the room. For the cost of them, it may be worth going belt and braces and doubling up.

[@AndreaDeTogni]

I've put a smoke alarm very close to the printer and it never switched on due to the fumes. If you find the source of this coating issue, let me know please

[@paultakoy7091]

Great video! Glad I found your channel.

[@RickyImpey]

Thanks Paul

[@BradKwfc]

Look up Wham Bam Clouds. If a flame hits them for 3 seconds they explode releasing fire extinguishing agent. Their small, about $30, and will fit inside just about any 3d Printer.

[@RickyImpey]

These look just like the balls i use but in a better shape. No UK shipping options unfortunately. Thanks for the info.

[@bombsquad1989]

The power relay is no longer available on Amazon

[@KenCantrell]

The automatic fire extinguisher link in your description is no longer valid. Do you have one you currently recommend? Thanks!

[@RickyImpey]

Hi Ken, not one that I've personally tested no. There are lots of products on the market like this now though. There are even some 'specially designed' for 3d printing that are basically just flatter.

[@michaelfrancone6922]

Great video! I know it's a bit old but have you done the octopi video yet

[@RickyImpey]

I haven't, sorry. I held off doing anything with octoprint because raspberry pi boards have been so difficult to buy for the past couple of years. I do plan to come back to it though.

[@craigandness]

Great video would like to see the octoprint video

[@RickyImpey]

👍 I'll get on it Craig

[@NigelPeart1]

Good advice! Have already started to buy the bits but could do with a 240v version 👌. What’s then orange ball in the last few seconds of the video?

[@RickyImpey]

That's the automatic fire extinguisher. It explodes fire extinguisher powder everywhere if there is a fire, putting it out👍 240v version coming very soon🙂

[@WaschyNumber1]

@@RickyImpey this Video shows that they aren't so safe. kzbin.info/www/bejne/maHVYWmBh8uVfpo

[@mike43798]

@@WaschyNumber1 sadly those balls are the only automatic fire extinguishers I know.

[@adambeedle]

Great video and great idea 👍

[@RickyImpey]

Thanks Adam👍

[@drfailbucket]

This might be a simpler idea than with what I went... I've build a box that's capable of resist a burning printer 😅 I tested it by placing 2 empty plastic spools inside and lit them up, then closed the door and waited with an extinguisher what happens. After around 13-15min the fire was off, the glass from an old oven was black but all in all nothing really happened. Even the box outside was cold to touch while the stuff was burning The cutouts for the fan and filament path were sealed with an special stuff that resist the heat but swill when it heats up so that it seals the cutouts 😂 seems a bit overkill but my intention was to fu** off the 200buck for an printer instead of my entire house

[@RickyImpey]

Nice, I was toying with the idea of building something similar but haven't done it yet. I don't suppose you took any pictures?

[@drfailbucket]

@@RickyImpey of course I did 😁 it was an colab with an friend who has way more Printing experience so he gave me some additional tips for the actual printing stuff, where to put filament, displays and so on I will soon release an blog post about it with my basic testings. When it's done I'll post a link in here 😄

[@RickyImpey]

@@drfailbucket Great, I'd like to see it👍

[@drfailbucket]

@@RickyImpey check yours mails for a view on the prototype 🤫

[@mike43798]

​@@drfailbucket Seeing pictures of your fireproof enclosure would be very nice. I'm interested in the details of the build because I wanted to build an enclosure myself, but putting a potential fire hazard into a wooden box and then leaving it unattended gives me a bad feeling.