#Homemade ‘Motion Activated Solder Fume Extractor’ | #MakerTools

Wow what a cool project from forums user HarpDude! This is definitely a tool that every maker workbench needs. (And always fun to see what makers manage to cram inside small ABS plastic enclosures.)

There are a few fundamental devices that beginning makers design: clocks and solder fume extractors. After many, many years of making, I thought it was about time to finally build the latter. Requirements: 1) small, no larger than 3x5x3 inches, 2) low-profile, 3) rechargeable battery powered with 1-2 hour run time, 4) activated carbon filter, 5) low noise, 6) USB port for gooseneck work lamp, 7) at least one colorful LED status indicator. To meet #3, I added a low-power motion detector to watch the parked soldering iron, only turning on the fan for a predefined period when the iron is removed. I also adjusted the enclosure design so that the motion detector would work with right-handed and left-handed solderers. Here’s the wiring diagram and parts list.

Using a 500mAh battery, the unit runs for about 4 hours between charges when used nominally (~20% fan duty cycle, 100% medium-brightness lamp duty cycle). During the motion detection mode test (power on, blue LED indicator glowing, USB lamp off, fan not running), the extractor patiently waited for over 28 hours for me to start soldering — I terminated the standby test out of boredom.

The PowerBoost 500C was perfect for this design. Thanks Adafruit!

No thank you HarpDude for sending this in! Wow!


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