Bluetooth Battery doesn't work. In just one tool!

[thudchkr]

Not sure what's going on so thought I'd throw it out here and see if anyone has encountered this.

I have the following 18V cordless Festools, DWC 18-4500, TSC 55 and an HKC 55. I recently purchased two of the 6.2 Ah bluetooth batteries in order to use with the remote control on the CT 26 and I've had flawless performance using my TSC 55.  I keep one of the bluetooth batts with the TSC and the other with the HKC.

Today I went to use the HKC and when I hit the trigger, no operation.  Figure the battery might need to be charged, but it showed a full charge as being present.  I switched out the battery to a 5.2 non-bluetooth one and the saw worked fine that way.  Placing the BT batt back in the HKC, I tried again and noticed a red indicator at the front of the housing the battery mounts into, would light up when I triggered the tool. Still no operation of the HKC.  Tossed the battery onto the charger and it showed a full charge.  Placed this battery into the DWC and it operated fine.  Placed into the TSC and also operated normally.  Returned it to the HKC and only the red light. 

Tried my other BT batt, the one I've been keeping with my TSC 55, in the HKC and the HKC operates normally with that batt.

I just tried calling Festool service, but am outside their normal hours,  [sad].  Will probably give them a call here next week though. 

In the meantime, I thought I'd throw it out here and see if anyone has ever incurred a similar issue.  Also curious as to what others might surmise to be the problem.  Is it the HKC that has an issue? Or the BT battery that is causing the problem?  Seeing as how they both seem to work normally with every other item I've paired them with, it could be a tough determination to figure out.  I suppose that as long as I keep those two apart, I won't have a problem, but that's not quite the way we should have to do business. Both items are under warranty so I hope to get some type of resolution.

Let me know your thoughts if you got em, and especially let me know of any similar experiences and what, if anything, rectified the issue.

Thanks,

 

[demographic]

I have a HKC and a 6.2 Ah bluetooth battery.
Just on the very odd occasion it refuses to power it and I have sorted it by removing the battery and putting in back in.

Think it flashes up something different on the saws LEDs but as its only happened maybe three times I cant say I can remember exactly what it was.

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

Hi thudchkr     

LED red - flashing
General fault indication, e.g. incomplete contact, short circuit, defective battery pack, etc.

LED red - lit continuously
Battery temperature is outside the permitted range.

Maybe check the contacts on the machine, and the battery.

 

[GarryMartin]

[member=2575]thudchkr[/member] I have exactly the same issue with a 5.2Ah Bluetooth battery.

Works absolutely fine in my TSC, but when used in the HKC, doesn't even switch it on. Other batteries work fine in the HKC.

[member=41214]Phil Beckley[/member] said he hadn't heard of anything similar and that I should send both the HKC and the battery in for service. I haven't done that yet but will do so this week.

So that's at least two of us with an almost identical issue and on the same saw...

 

[demographic]

Another thing I've noticed with the 6.2 Ah Bluetooth battery is that its tighter to fit it into the battery holder of my HKC.
Takes a bit more of a push to get it in. I wonder if its that that causes the problem?

Mind, its got to be said that the battery isn't just an easy thing to just slot in even on the 5.2 Ah.
Nothing like as easy as my tools by other manufacturers.

All that said, I still absolutely love that HKC and its used most days at work.

 

[thudchkr]

Thanks to all for the info.  As I stated, I plan on contacting Festool next week and see what they have to say.  Nice to know, it's not just me.  (Sorry, however, that others are having the same issue though.)

 

[GarryMartin]

I've checked all my batteries, and now have two 5.2Ah Bluetooth batteries that light green but don't power the HKC. For clarity, the batteries work fine in everything else. So I'm betting at this stage that it's a HKC problem but will send both away to Festool this week.

 

[thudchkr]

Will probably try ding the same. Test each battery in each tool. Guess I should label them all first though. Could get confusing otherwise.  [eek]

 

[GarryMartin]

I've initiated a warranty repair to be collected from me tomorrow. As soon as I hear anything back, I'll reply to this thread.

 

[demographic]

Nice one. Be good to know what causes it.

 

[GarryMartin]

Just had a call from Festool Service.

It appears that there is a software issue in a particular revision of the electronics on the HKC that causes communication issues between the saw and the battery. In some cases, the saw incorrectly believes that the battery is drained and hence the saw does not start.

The electronics in my saw have been replaced for a new revision with a software update and the saw is on its way back to me.

So repair order created Monday, saw collected Tuesday, repaired and shipped back on Wednesday, should be back with me tomorrow (Thursday) - that's what I call great service!  [big grin]

 

[RKA]

So it's only the BT battery in the HKC that will cause the issue to surface?  I don't have any BT batteries, but I will probably get some someday.  If my saw needs to be updated, I'd certainly rather know while it's still under warranty.

 

[GarryMartin]

So it's only the BT battery in the HKC that will cause the issue to surface?

They didn't specifically say it was an issue when used with Bluetooth batteries, but the two batteries I had an issue with are Bluetooth ones. Other Bluetooth batteries worked fine in it though.

 

[mrboult]

Hmmm, just like RKA says i don't have any BT batteries yet, but I'd be well annoyed to find out my saw is a duffer (in this respect) after the warranty runs out! Is there anyway to tell if our saws have the affected electronics [member=41214]Phil Beckley[/member] ?

Irrespective of the auto on Bluetooth vac, I assume all batteries now shipping are Bluetooth and so this will be an issue for affected saws sooner or later. (Edit: i now see that Gary said some of his BT batteries do work.... But still..)

Thanks for the discovery and follow up info [member=11629]GarryMartin[/member].

 

[thudchkr]

Just went through this morning and tried each battery I have, in each tool they fit.

Seven separate batteries, all airstreams. Three are 5.2 AH, two are 6.2 AH, and the last two are 6.2 AH Bluetooth batts.

With the exception of the one battery I originally reported, each battery worked fine in my DWC, TSC, & HKC.

One of the Bluetooth batts works fine in the HKC while the other just gets the flashing red light. That battery, however, works fine in every other tool.

I called Festool today and they directed me to send in both the HKC and the battery the HKC isn’t happy with.

Here’s hoping I’ll get as good of service as Gary received. Thankfully, I don’t have any specific projects in the pipeline for the HKC.

Will post updates as they occur.

 

[threesixright]

Stating the maybe obvious. Did you guys updated (and checked version/)  the firmware on the batteries?

I have updated my BT battery (don’t have a HKC) at least twice in the last months.

Sent from my X using Tapatalk

 

[mrboult]

[member=65767]threesixright[/member] how do you update Festool BT batteries? Is it with one of the festool apps? Which one? Just curious, don't have any yet.

 

[threesixright]

[member=65767]threesixright[/member] how do you update Festool BT batteries? Is it with one of the festool apps? Which one? Just curious, don't have any yet.

For me it works via the iOS "Festool Work" app. As a matter of fact a new update is available.

 

[thudchkr]

That app is not available to me here in North America. Am guessing you’re located somewhere across the pond.

In response to your question, No, have never updated firmware on the batts. Don’t know if there is even a way for me to do it as an enduser.

Will do some exploration though in the meantime.

Thanks

 

[GarryMartin]

Stating the maybe obvious. Did you guys updated (and checked version/)  the firmware on the batteries?

Festool Service specifically said it was the electronics and firmware on the HKC that was the issue. One of the batteries with an issue was Version 13 software, and the other Version 19 (the latest). The other Bluetooth battery that worked fine was also Version 19.

I sent the HKC back with the battery with Version 13 software, and it came back still with that version, so pretty convinced it's not a battery firmware issue.

Nonetheless, good reminder for people that the battery firmware is upgradeable via the Festool Work app.