C15 still turns on when directional switch is in the middle

H

hockey_magnet

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Nov 6, 2011
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I asked this question on another board so hope it's ok to post here as well. I noticed on my new c15 that when the directional switch is in the locked (center) position, if I apply pressure to the lower part of the trigger, the drill turns slowly. If you apply pressure on the upper part of the trigger, it stays off. Someone else has commented that they all do this. Is this correct? Certainly something I can live with but of it were just mine, I'd return it.

Thanks,

Chris
 
Chris,

I know that Shane will be away from the internet for the rest of the day, so if you don't here back from him don't think that you are being ignored.  I don't have a C-15 but my T-15 does exactly what yours does.

Peter
 
I just checked my C12, and it does that to. Then I went and checked my protool drill, and it was very hard to keep the switch in the middle, but it just spun counterclockwise. Then I went and checked my makita impactdrivers, and for the first time I noticed they actually had a locked- centre-position.

My guess is the festool drills don't have a central locked position (I don't really feel a detent, which is definately there with the makita drills), you're just putting it in between positions.

BTW, I don't really see the usefullness of such a feature, especially on a D-handle type drill like the C12.
 
My old C 12 doesn't come on at all in the center locked trigger position.

The answer to Frank-Jan of why you'd want or need that feature -- have you ever had tools accidently triggered while in their case or bag and the batteries drain because of it?  Or you happen to have a sharp bit chucked and something catches the trigger, even the 'C' drills it happens to on rare occasions.  Some drills require you to put it in that trigger locked center position to tighten the chuck on a bit so the shaft won't spin.

Hope that helps.
 
Thanks , I guess I answered my own question - I was back at Lee Valley this afternoon and checked their display models: T18, T15, C15, C12, CXS - All but the CXS did exactly the same thing. checked back in the manual and they refer to the switch as a "right/Left" switch, no mentin at all of a center position.

I agree it would be nice to have a center position where you knew the trigger was absolutely locked "just in case" when you're transporting it around or even carrying it on a job site. I don't know why they wouldn't do that. I had a Bosch iDrive driver that was the same, no center lock but if you fiddled with it, you could get the switch to a position that it would lock but it wasn't designed to do that - maybe Festool would look at this for future designs. Otherwise the C15 is a really nice drill. as a first time Festool owner the thing I notice the most compared to my other drills - 18v Milwaukee and Dewalt is how smooth and precise the control is when driving screws. I know I'll really appreciate the 90 degree chuck as well.

Chris
 
I see no need in a centre position 'lock'. And I believe festool feel the same and hence why they didn't put it on their drills.  

I know no one including my self who would use such a feature in mater of fact it would annoy me that it had a centre lock I recon.  

Some circular saws have these locking features and they annoy me. Your ready to cut pull the trigger and it doesn't work cus you accidentally knocked it into lock I know it's not bi deal but is just something which is no need.
[2cents]

Jmb
 
jmbfestool said:
And I believe festool feel the same and hence why they didn't put it on their drills. 
Click to expand...

Uhm, they put it there, they just didn't do a very good job at it. I don't know why it's there but all drills I've ever used have it, must be a safety feature against accidental activation for when it's unwanted. For me it's also a useless feature, if not irritating because it happens often that I accidentally put it in the middle position when using the drill. 
 
My C12 (older NiCad/NiMH version) definitely has a center position, and that definitely locks the drill -- no rotation when it is locked.

This regression would bother me.
 
Post number 1. I thought I'd shift from lurking to contributing. What a great Forum by the way!

I just purchased a T18 last week. After reading the original post I was curious, so I checked mine this morning. I was easily able to position the switch in the middle, although I didn't notice a detent or the lack of one. I squeezed the trigger in several spots, high and low, and there was no motor movement. The LED still turns on though.

woodie
 
Try squeezing it very firmly - it takes a bit of pressure and the drill turns very slowly but I'm pretty sure they all do it other than the older models, on the demo models I checked, some took less pressure than others but they all did it, including the T18. I'm not recommending this by an means. I also am in the camp that thinks there should be a detent position that provides a real lockout to prevent accidentally engaging the trigger. But that's a subjective thing. The LED comes on with just the slightest pressure - it takes quite a bit more to get the drill to turn.

This is from another thread from a retailer:

"The forward/reverse button is separate from the trigger assembly. It simply moves a small rare-earth magnet into proximity of the main control board to change directions. It has a tab that touches the trigger to prevent you from switching direction inadvertently with the trigger pulled (although the software in the controller would prevent this from happening anyway). It can serve as a trigger lock, but not all models have a detent position in the center (the old C12 does, the new T drills don't). To that end, it does serve that purpose, but because it is a separate piece, you can force the trigger to still deflect enough to slightly engage the trigger. But in doing so, you are bending the connecting rod between the physical trigger button and the internal resistor."

woodie said:
Post number 1. I thought I'd shift from lurking to contributing. What a great Forum by the way!

I just purchased a T18 last week. After reading the original post I was curious, so I checked mine this morning. I was easily able to position the switch in the middle, although I didn't notice a detent or the lack of one. I squeezed the trigger in several spots, high and low, and there was no motor movement. The LED still turns on though.

woodie
Click to expand...
 
AudioChef said:
My New C15 also turns in the center position but other then that WOW :o very cool tool!!!
Click to expand...

Hi AudioChef,

Welcome to the FOG!  [smile]

Hmmmm, audiochef...... audiochef.......  [scratch chin]    Sound Mixer?

Seth
 
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