CT 22 plug won't fit my outlets

[pafekete]

I just bought a CT22 and went to set it up with my new TS 55 saw. I thought the vacuum could be plugged into a regular 120 V wall outlet but the plug on it does not match any outlet I have (not even my outlet that is 20 amps for my delta table saw and joiner or my 30 amp outlet for another bandsaw I used to have. )Help please. Did I get a european one by mistake?

Thanks,
pafekete

 

[Daviddubya]

The CT22 comes with an short adapter cord that converts from the Festool (European?) plug to a USA 120 volt plug.  Maybe it was packed inside your vac?

 

[Frank Pellow]

The CT22 comes with an short adapter cord that converts from the Festool (European?) plug to a USA 120 volt plug.  Maybe it was packed inside your vac?

You are partly correct David.  But the conversion is from a standard North American 120 volt 20 amp receptacle to a standard North American 120 volt 15 amp receptacle.

 

[pafekete]

Thanks, I found the adaptor and it converts from 20 amp to 15 amp regular outlet (120V). However I wonder why it has a different plug than my 20 amp outlet. I 'll have to look into changing the 20 amp outlet to match the cord on the festool.

 

[Frank Pellow]

Thanks, I found the adaptor and it converts from 20 amp to 15 amp regular outlet (120V). However I wonder why it has a different plug than my 20 amp outlet. I 'll have to look into changing the 20 amp outlet to match the cord on the festool.

Is your 20 amp outlet 120 volts or 240 volts?  The North America standard configuration for these is different.

 

[Notorious T.O.D.]

Exactly correct Frank...the 240 volt will have two horizontal blades over a ground/neutral blade.

The 120 volt will have one horizontal blade and one vertical blade and the ground blade...IIRC.

Lowes and Home Depot should have either in stock.

Best,
Todd

 

[Dave Ronyak]

In USA wall receptacles designed and rated for 20A at 120 VAC have a different blade pin orientation than those rated only 15A.  I have both types of circuits in my home.  Most of my 20A rated receptacles are designed so they can accept either a 20A or a 15A male plug, which as you know have different blade pin orientations.

Dave R.

 

[alanz]

I'm curious... why not just use the adapter all the time?  I figured that if I didn't affix (with some gaffers tape) the adapter to the end of the power cord, I'd never find the adapter if I had to take the CT out of my shop and plug into someone else's house. 

Thanks, I found the adaptor and it converts from 20 amp to 15 amp regular outlet (120V). However I wonder why it has a different plug than my 20 amp outlet. I 'll have to look into changing the 20 amp outlet to match the cord on the festool.

 

[Dan Clermont]

As David mentioned look inside the vac for the small pigtail which will allow you to plug the vac into a North American 15Amp circuit. If you did not get one call your dealer or Festool tech support for a replacement.

If you plan to use some of the larger tools with the vac it may not be a bad idea to have a couple of 20 Amp circuits in your shop as the vac and router could pull enough current to pop a 15Amp breaker.

Dan Clermont

 

[alanz]

I agree that having some 20 amp circuits is a fine idea.  However, it's worth noting that it might not be not just a matter of changing the wall socket and/or circuit breaker.  One has to make sure the wiring is the right gauge to handle the load.

 

[Notorious T.O.D.]

Yes, good advise because the electrical path is like a chain...you don't want any weak links.  Breaker, wire, switches, plugs and proper grounding are all important and should be of the same rating for proper safety.  Please don't try to save a few dollars by using the wrong size or less expensive component in your wiring...and if you don't know what you are doing or are not sure about something be sure to get the answer or help of someone who does know.  Safety First.

Best,
Todd

 

[nickao]

Many homes have wring for the 20amp, but all the sockets are the 15 amp type. My home is this way, all 20 amp breakers and wiring.

So check the panel first and if you have 20 amp breakers there is a 95% chance you can just change the socket.

 

[Notorious T.O.D.]

Interesting...that seems to go against safe practice in my view because you are putting in a socket that is not rated for the rest of the load of the circuit, therefore becoming a weak link that could in theory overheat and cause a fire before the breaker would see enough load to trip. Is there something I am missing here that would allow this in the national electrical code?  Got me curious now...

Best,
Todd

 

[nickao]

Actually if the wiring and breaker are rated at 20 amp and you have 15 amp sockets it is safer, not less safe at least for the home wiring itself. With this setup it is unlikely that a fire could start within the walls. But does leave a possibility of the device plugged in to accept more current then it was designed for, destroying the device or the device itself starting on fire.

A breakdown of what ever you plugged in may not be able to handle the 20 amp and a cord may begin to melt, but long before a fire could occur the 20 amp threshold will pop the circuit. The 5 amp leeway allowed for the initial spike in current many appliances have for that split second when it is turned on.

At least that was  the thinking and why the wiring was passed that way at that point in time.

Now the inspectors want  15 amp breakers to match the 15 amp sockets(this protects the plugged in device itself from faltering), but the wiring  itself can be greater a gauge , just not a lesser gauge. You can still use 20 amp breaker, 20 amp wring and a 15 amp receptacle though.

In the last 5 years the contractors I have worked with use the cheapest smallest gauge wire allowable. I think the days of overkill are done.

I just pulled a socket. Although the  setup on the socket is the traditional 15 amp style the receptacles at my home are heavy duty and can take 20 amps.

Here is the current  code, as you can see a 15 amp socket is okay for a 20 amp circuit, circuit meaning breaker and wiring combination:

210.21(B)(1) "Single Receptacle on a Individual Circuit"
A single receptacle installed on a individual branch circuit shall have an apere rating not less than that of the branch circuit.
Can't put a 20 amp receptacle on a 30 amp circuit in this case.

210.21(B)(3) "Receptacle Ratings"
Where connected to a branch circuit suppling two or more receptacles or outlets, receptacle ratings shall conform to the values listed Table 210.21(B)(3)
Circuit Rating = 15 Amps, Receptacle Rating Not over 15 Amps
Circuit Rating = 20 Amps, Receptacle Rating 15 or 20 Amps
Circuit Rating = 30 Amps, Receptacle Rating 30 Amps
Circuit Rating = 40 Amps, Receptacle Rating 40 or 50 Amps
Circuit Rating = 50 Amps, Receptacle Rating 50 amps
Can't put a 20 amp receptacle on a 30 amp circuit here either.

In short a 15 amp receptacle can handle a 20 amp load but a 20 amp receptacle can not handle a 30 amp load.

 

[Notorious T.O.D.]

OK, now that makes more sense...  I think I may have a few of the 15 plugs on 20 amp breakers in some wiring in the basement of this house we bought a couple years ago.  So, I guess this is OK with the code as long as the single rule is followed too...  I probably will just continue to have 20 plugs on 20 amp breakers on any added wiring.  Thanks for the information though...

Best,
Todd

 

[nickao]

Here is the current  code, as you can see a 15 amp socket is okay for a 20 amp circuit, circuit meaning breaker and wiring combination:

210.21(B)(1) "Single Receptacle on a Individual Circuit"
A single receptacle installed on a individual branch circuit shall have an apere rating not less than that of the branch circuit.
Can't put a 20 amp receptacle on a 30 amp circuit in this case.

You also cannot put a single 15 amp receptacle on a 20 amp circuit.  You can put a 15 amp duplex receptacle (multiple (2) receptacles) on a 20 amp circuit.

Do they even make single receptacle and not duplex anymore? I rarely see them. I always took  receptacle to mean two three prong sockets in the same receptacle. I never thought about it because I have not seen a single in years, interesting. I think it would be hard to make that mistake as the single 3 prong outlet is not very common un less paired with a switch.