Craftsman Auto Switch
Buy it on Sears.com for $19.99

Craftsman Auto Switch Reviews


www.sears.com


4.06 of 5 (by 17 reviewers)
Rating Summary | 82% of reviewers recommend (14 out of 17)

Pros
  • easy to use (5)
  • works well (3)
  • rugged (2)
  • great (1)
Cons
  • covers entire outlet (2)
Most Helpful Favorable Review

“Works Well, Cheap Price”

This is actually the second one of these that I have purchased. The first is several years old and still works well. I have a garage workshop with a table saw and several other sawdust-generating machines. In a previous house, I had run vacuum hoses around and collected all the sawdust in a common...

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Posted on Apr 24, 2011
Most Helpful Critical Review

“Not Sensitive Enough for TV”

This could have been just the perfect device for me if it were either more sensitive to the current draw or adjustable.  All I was trying to do was use my 19' TV as the master to turn on the amp for the TV speakers.  I had read in other comments this worked and that is why I bought this device.  Not...

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Posted on Oct 03, 2010

Craftsman Auto Switch Reviews

Displaying reviews 1 - 13 of 17 in total

“Works great for garage tools or computer accessories”

I have owned 2 of these and plan to buy another.

The first worked great for years until I unplugged an accessory item when the power was on and fried the who thing.

Always power the switch down first before unplugging the cords and I will keep on working.

I bough this for my garage power tools to turn on a shop vac when using a chop saw, but I discovered I needed it more for my home computer to turn on the monitor and printer when I turn on my computer, and turn them off automatically when I turn my computer off.

I works great, no problems does just what you would expect.

I now want another for...

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Posted on Apr 26, 2010

“Auto Switch”

After 2-3 months of intermittent use (and well within recommended)guidelines it stopped working. Though the top outlet still works, the bottom two plugs are useless. It's fairly obvious that Craftsman has a product that is performing less than desired as per other consumer ratings on this site. For this reason I cannot recommend this product. Too bad, as this item has great potential!
Posted on Jun 11, 2009

“Dental Lathe”

We have this craftsman auto-switch connected to a shop vac and light which turn on when the 1/3 Hp Baldor dental lathe is switched on. We have been using this about 30 times a day, 5 days a week for over 3 years without a problem. The first shop vac lasted 2 years, but the switch continues to function. The switch is well worth the money. My son uses another one to turn computer accessories on with his computer. Dr Fred, Seminole, FL.
Posted on May 05, 2009

“Not reliable”

I have purchased 3 of these to control an external fan for an electric heater. After about 2 months of operation, all 3 have failed. I am operating the switches within well their specs. Now I am looking for a more reliable switch.
Posted on Mar 01, 2009

“Craftsman Auto Switch”

This gadget is a must. It is a must for the diyer or the contractor. You can run for example a miter saw and shop vac togeteher, when the miter saws turns on to cut the vac turns on to vac the dust away. It is well worth the money and it is very reasonable.
Posted on Sep 15, 2010

“Great Product”

I purchased this product for use in my MAME arcade cabinet. I wanted to be able to turn everything on and off with a single button, and thanks to this device, now I can. I press an arcade button on top of the cabinet that is wired as the PC power button, the computer boots up and this wonderful device powers up my speakers, monitor, and marquee lights. When i shut the PC down, everything else turns back off. It works great, I couldn't be happier with it. and at $20, it is a great value. I highly recommend it to anyone building their own arcade gaming system.
Posted on Oct 19, 2007

“Solid product”

I purchased the device a few years ago and use it as a dedicated switch for my router table. It stays on for a few extra seconds after switching off the router in order to clear the hose of any dust and chips. Works great. Well worth the price. I just recommended to friends on the Fine WoodWorking site.
Posted on Jan 28, 2008

“Many Uses”

I primarily use this switch to switch peripheral computer components on when the PC they are sued with is turned on. It works well. I have used several for over 3 years. Yes, it also works well for turning on a vacuum when used with power tools. Connection for a third switched outlet are hidden behind the plastic housing between the other two 110 VAC ports.
Posted on Feb 06, 2007

“Remote your equipment”

This switch can obviously be used to turn on anything. So I plugged in my TV so it would turn on the rest of my equipment. It worked most of the time but then today, it clacked for about a minute. Luckily my equipment survived. I think the TV did not function well as a trigger mechanism. Too bad they didn't provide a sensitivity adjustment. I'm sending it back. It would probably have been just fine with a power saw.
Posted on Nov 01, 2006

“Works as advertised”

The only thing I would like to see changes is the delay at turn off. That is when the powered equimpment is turned off (table saw) the controlled unit (dust collection) needs to run for at least 10 seconds after the table saw is turned off.  The current delay is maybe two seconds at best.

 
Posted on Oct 23, 2011

“Auto Switch Modification”

I bought the auto switch about 2 years ago and it still work great. I use it with my shop saw and my sander to run a Sears shop vacuum with a cyclone seperator attached. It works great, but it used to takes up the whole outlet. You can run an extension cord and plug into the back of the autoswitch, however that arrangement is awkwards because the switch sits at an angle on its side and the extension cord has a tendence to come loose. My solution was to remove the plug prongs from the back of the unit, drill a hole in the side, and solder 15' of heavy duty extension cord to the auto switch. Now... read full review »
Posted on Sep 01, 2011

“Auto Switch - EXCELLENT”

I've had one on my miter box that turns on the shop vac for over 10 years, and it still works great! There are 4 employees in this shop.
Posted on Jun 27, 2011

“mine dosent work”

the switch worked fitfully and now not at all very disapointing as i ordered it on line and paid shipping on it sorry i cant recommend
Posted on Dec 13, 2008

Reviews of Craftsman Auto Switch

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