Limited power is a common constraint on UK sites, yet dust control cannot wait for a bigger supply. The goal is simple: keep effective on-tool extraction running without tripping breakers or starving airflow. With planning, sequencing, and a few smart choices, you can keep controls reliable and productive.

Plan loads before you plug in

List every tool and extractor, note their rated current, and group them by circuit. On 110 V systems, distinguish 16 A and 32 A supplies; on 230 V, keep total current on a ring well below the breaker rating. Stagger start-up to avoid inrush tripping, and avoid daisy-chaining extensions which increase voltage drop.

Prioritise capture at source

Assign your most robust extraction to the highest dust risks (e.g., RCS from cutting/chasing). Lower-risk tasks can share time on a secondary unit or be sequenced. If power is very tight, consider water suppression on cutting and grinding to reduce airborne release, then finish with vacuum clean-up.

Make limited power go further

• Use extractors with soft-start or external anti-surge devices to cut inrush.
• Run shorter, thicker-gauge extension leads to minimise voltage drop.
• Schedule dusty operations so only one high-demand extractor starts at a time.
• Where possible, run one unit on a separate circuit or transformer output.

Keep airflow under load

Do not size extraction by free-air figures. Check performance under load with hose and filters fitted, and keep hose runs as short and smooth as practicable. Match hose diameter to the tool shroud to avoid choking. A pre-separator can reduce filter loading and keep airflow steadier through the shift.

Control the background

An air scrubber in the work zone reduces residual airborne particulate and buys time when you must cycle extractors between tools. Duct clean air to where people breathe, not just the far corner. This does not replace on-tool capture but stabilises site conditions when power is constrained.

Verify and adjust

Use a particulate monitor to see if controls hold up through the day; when numbers climb, clean prefilters or pause to empty the extractor. For silica work, remember the HSE WEL for respirable crystalline silica is 0.1 mg/m³; treat the reading trend as an early warning, not a compliance certificate.

Practical takeaways

• Map circuits and stagger start-up to prevent nuisance trips.
• Protect high-risk tasks with the most reliable on-tool extraction.
• Keep hoses short, seals tight, and use pre-separators to stabilise airflow.
• Add an air scrubber to control background dust when sharing extractors.
• Track dust levels with a PM meter and service filters before they choke.

Power limits should not force unsafe practice. With planned sequencing, realistic airflow expectations, and simple monitoring, you can keep productivity up and dust exposure down.