Trigger Configuration: Activation Level and Power Profiles
Category: Configuration / Triggers
Summary
Correctly setting each tool's Activation Level and Power Profile in the Trigger's detail configuration screen is essential to the overall functioning of the GRIT system. When GRIT Lock® can accurately assess whether a tool is running, the system can turn on an associated dust collector, open associated blast gates, and quickly initiate an Emergency Lock. All of this depends on each tool's power characteristics being accurately captured in its configuration settings.
Key Concepts
Activation Level tells GRIT what current level to check for — the threshold above which a tool is considered running.
Power Profile tells GRIT when and how to check — accounting for the unique startup behavior of each tool.
Setting the Activation Level
For a tool to be considered "running" in the GRIT system, its current draw must exceed the value set for the Activation Level. Use the tool's power graph (visible on the Trigger detail screen) to determine the right setting.
Example: A drill press pulls approximately 10 Amps consistently when running. Setting the Activation Level anywhere between 1.0 and 9.0 Amps would allow GRIT to accurately determine when this tool is on.
Accounting for Idle Power Draw
Some tools draw a small amount of power even when they are not actively running — for example, a built-in light, an onboard computer, or a digital readout. If this is the case, the Activation Level must be set above that idle draw to prevent the system from thinking the tool is running when it is not and to avoid an Emergency Lock event when the Trigger is unlocked.
Example: A drill press has a light that draws approximately 0.5 Amps when the Trigger is unlocked but the tool is not yet running. The Activation Level should be set above 0.5 Amps.
Note: Some incandescent lights pull a significant amount of power when first turned on from a cold state. Keep this in mind when setting your Activation Level.
Power Profile Settings
Each tool's startup behavior is different. The Power Profile setting controls the timing of when GRIT measures current after a Trigger is unlocked. There are four options:
| Power Profile | Use When |
|---|---|
| Normal | Tool starts immediately at full power when switched on |
| Delay | Tool has a slow or soft start motor |
| Spike | Tool has a large inrush current spike at startup |
| Advanced | None of the presets accurately capture the tool's behavior |
Normal
Use Normal for tools that roar to life as soon as they are powered on. The system measures current immediately after the Trigger is unlocked.
Example: A drill press that jumps to approximately 10 Amps the moment it is turned on. Set the Activation Level between the idle draw (if any) and the running draw, and select Normal.
Delay
Use Delay for tools with a slow-start or soft-start motor. This setting adds a sub-second pause (approximately 100ms) before measuring current, giving the motor time to begin pulling power.
Why it matters: With a Normal profile, the system measures current immediately after the Trigger is unlocked. If a soft-start motor hasn't ramped up yet, the reading will be below the Activation Level and GRIT will miss that the tool is running. This impacts dust collection activation, blast gate operation, and — critically — the system's ability to initiate an Emergency Lock if needed.
Example: A router table with a soft-start motor. With the Delay profile, the system waits 100ms before checking if the tool's power draw exceeds the Activation Level, which is enough time for the motor to reach its full current draw.
Spike
Use Spike for tools that have a large inrush of current when they are unlocked — for example, a SawStop table saw with a computer or a wood lathe with a single-phase-to-three-phase converter. These tools produce a huge inrush as capacitors are charged. Without the Spike profile, the system would see this inrush, incorrectly think the tool is running, re-lock the Trigger, and log an Emergency Lock.
The Spike profile tells GRIT to wait until after the initial inrush has settled before measuring current.
How to tell if you need Spike vs. Normal: Compare the height of the startup spike to the tool's running current on the power graph.
- If the spike is lower than the running current, you can use a Normal profile and simply set the Activation Level above the spike. Example: A miter saw has a light that causes a small spike when unlocked, but its running current is significantly higher. Configure with Normal and set the Activation Level above the spike (e.g., 2.5 Amps) but below the running draw.
- If the spike is higher than the running current, you need the Spike profile. Example: A wood lathe with a phase converter produces an inrush spike that exceeds the lathe's steady running current. Configure with a Spike profile and set a lower Activation Level (e.g., 0.3 Amps) so GRIT can detect the tool running after the spike settles.
Advanced
Use Advanced when none of the preset profiles accurately capture a tool's specific power startup timing and levels. This unlocks three manual settings for full control over Trigger behavior. Machines that frequently require Advanced profiles are CNCs.
1. Activation Delay
Controls how long the Trigger needs to sense current flowing above the Activation Level before the tool is considered running.
Use this for tools like CNC machines where brief current spikes (such as a gantry moving) should not be interpreted as the tool running. Only when the current stays above the Activation Level for the specified duration will GRIT send commands to open blast gates and turn on the collector.
2. Deactivation Delay
Controls how long the Trigger needs to not sense current flowing before the tool is considered off.
Use this for tools that produce repeated on/off current spikes during normal operation, such as CNC machines or lasers. Rather than interpreting each spike as a separate on/off cycle, the system waits for the current to stop flowing for the specified duration before considering the tool off.
3. Unlock Measurement Delay
Controls how long the Trigger waits between unlocking and measuring the current from the attached tool. This is functionally similar to the Delay profile but with a manually configurable wait time.
If GRIT is not correctly detecting a tool that was left in the "ON" position when the Trigger is unlocked, increase this value to give the tool more time to draw current before the measurement occurs.
⚠️ Trade-off: The higher this value is set, the longer a tool could run unintentionally during an Emergency Lock situation before GRIT cuts power. Set it only as high as necessary for accurate detection.
Configuration Checklist
When setting up a new Trigger, work through these questions:
- What is the tool's running current? Check the power graph to see the consistent Amp draw during operation.
- Does the tool draw any power at idle? Look for small draws from lights, computers, or displays, and set the Activation Level above that idle draw.
- How does the tool start up? Immediate full power → Normal. Slow ramp-up → Delay. Large inrush spike → Spike. Complex or inconsistent behavior → Advanced.
- Verify the configuration. Lock the tool, then unlock it and run it. Confirm that GRIT correctly detects the tool as running (check the dashboard and verify that associated dust collection and blast gates respond as expected).