Added a "BitRunner" to the pro

[greg5 (Greg)]

Molex Microfit, shielded cable with the shield grounded at this end conveniently, and through the cable chain

Run it through the X axis, had to use a fiberglass fishing rod to get it through

Out the other side and into the cable chain

Into a Controllable Four Outlet Power Relay Module version 2 [(Power Switch Tail Alternative)] : ID 2935 : $29.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits (stocked at Adafruit, Digikey, Amazon, etc)

The power bar has a 14ga cable going to it, and it runs the router and shop vac on the normally off. The Shapeoko is plugged into the “always on”.

[greg5 (Greg)]

I’ve figured out my remote e-stop.

I’ll be using a WiFi smart outlet. It will plug in to the “always on”, and then the Shapeoko itself will plug into the always on. This way, the smart outlet is not in the path of the high current (shopvac / router) devices. Turning off the shapeoko will inherently kill the spindle/shopvac immediately. (Go ahead, ask how I know this )

Any wifi outlet will do, but personally I prefer UL approved ones. I picked up a few 3-packs from Costco 2 years ago which happened to be Intertek/UL approved - very rare - so I’m set for life

[shakezoola (Jimmie Todd)]

@greg5 Excellent work here. I’ve been waiting for the BitRunner, but this is certainly a great option.

In the first pic, looks like there is a gray wire grounded to the frame. Are you splitting the ground from the black wire running from the relay to the frame and molex connector? Where does the gray wire connect to?

Thanks

[Ed.E (Ed)]

I’ve been using the same setup for a while now, works great. The only difference is I have my Shapeoko and laptop plugged into a surge protector on a different circuit.

[BrokenEndmill (Andreas)]

@shakezoola

Where does the gray wire connect to?

The grey wire shown in the first picture, is the BitRunner (PVM) connection at the Shapeoko controller and it(grey wire) goes to the green connection on the side of the IOT relay.

[greg5 (Greg)]

@shakezoola

In the first pic, looks like there is a gray wire grounded to the frame. Are you splitting the ground from the black wire running from the relay to the frame and molex connector? Where does the gray wire connect to?

No.

The cable is a shielded 2 conductor. So the red/black is digital ground and the PWM signal from the Shapeoko.

The crimped eyelet that goes to the frame is attached to the braided grounding sheath, that runs along the entire cable. The braided sheath forms a faraday’s cage, but also any noise that “hits” the outside of the cable will be sent along the conductive braiding to protective earth, or the ground found in your outlet. Not the same ground as the digital ground. This keeps nasty noise away from both the Shapeoko circuit board, as well as the circuit board in the IoT powerbar.

(As you strip the cable, you can just grab the strands of the sheath and twist to form a crude wire and then get an eyelet crimped on it.)

It is important to connect 1 end in this manner. Connecting both ends is not needed, and I think it might also be a bad idea in some situations, although I"m not certain.

While I only have a week under my belt with this setup, it has been flawless so far.

[shakezoola (Jimmie Todd)]

I don’t think that is correct. I’m referring to the small gray wire, not the gray shield on the pair of wires (red and black) that go to the relay.

[greg5 (Greg)]

Need a picture. There is no grey wire.

[BrokenEndmill (Andreas)]

@shakezoola

referring to the small gray wire, not the gray shield on the pair of wires

Ahhh, maybe it is the shielding sheath You mean:

@greg5

As you strip the cable, you can just grab the strands of the sheath and twist to form a crude wire and then get an eyelet crimped on it.)

[greg5 (Greg)]

Yes, the 2 conductor cable has a grey PVC outer

[shakezoola (Jimmie Todd)]

This is what I am referring to (next to the orange arrow). The small gray (or possibly silver) wire/loop?

[greg5 (Greg)]

Ah yes. That is just the twisted bare-metal strainds/braid of the shield. It goes into the eyelet.

It’s just cut off at the other end. As mentioned it’s not needed and I thiiiiink it might be worse to do that.

[SLCJedi (Josh Tenny)]

Nice, clean install! I have the iot relay on my SO4 until they have the BitRunner V2 available. I like the iot realy, but it is built like a toy compared to the BitRunner V1 that I have on my SOPro.

I used the PWM connector that is unpopulated on the board and used a press-in Molex connector from JTech. I plan to use that for the 7W laser later, once the BitRunner V2 goes on. That way I can have both hooked up full time later.

I got a bit lazier than you running the cables. I just ran mine thru one of the bottom bed-frame extrusions. They are actually really nice for that use.