CT SYS vs CT Other...Am I crazy or just plain stupid (Forest Gump)

[Llap Goch]

My (UK) Mini, Midi and 26 all power tools in the Manual mode. My new CTL Sys does not.

Strange move by Schloss Wendlingen but as I use a DeWalt 18v SDS drill I just keep it on manual when using the dust or clamp nozzle. But I understand where you are coming from Gregor, I wouldn't like to have a drill running to begin drilling against the mark in the dust nozzle or once the hole has been drilled.

I wonder if there is a work around without affecting the warranty or why this has been incorporated in the spec of the Sys CTL?

 

[Stone Message]

None of the USA vacs with outlets can be used as an extension cord .  Meaning , the outlet only has power when switched to the correct setting and the connected tool is running.

I'm not sure on the EU vacs.

Just checked my vacs:
CTL 36 (AC): set to manual (so the vac is running) the outlet has power. Which IMHO actually makes sense.
CTL-SYS: set to manual (so the vac is running) the outlet is dead. Which IMHO dosn't make sense.

Can I just check the logic, regardless of Schloss Festool...

If I want to run a tool with auto start up I plug the tool in and switch to auto.

If I want to run the vacuum "on demand" then I switch to manual so it runs until I switch it back - great for clean ups.

Why would I want to have it in manual to support a tool when I can get the vacuum support for that tool from the CTL Sys being in Auto ?

Now on the other side of the argument it also makes sense as one can use the tool or not in manual mode.

For me it does not matter which way around the CTL is set up as the user still has complete control.

What might matter is that there needs to be consistency which is a completely different matter but not something that bothers me despite my age.

Peter

 

[Llap Goch]

Peter

All the extractors in my fleet have live sockets in either manual or auto mode. All that is, bar my new Sys CTL, which has a dead socket in manual mode.

So what? you might say, and indeed you do, but an old codger like me likes to use the dust nozzle to keep the Memsahibs floors in pristine condition. I much prefer to position the nozzle to the mark with the vacuum running, leave it stuck firmly to the wall, offer the non-running drill bit to the mark (without touching the metal bush of the nozzle) and drill to me hearts content.

This I have done for many years till the new fangled Sys CTL arrived with its dead socket. Fear naught, the newly acquired DeWalt 18v SDS drill was hastily commissioned into action and the dust free environment was maintained to the Chief of Staffs satisfaction. But years of service in the Festool Light Infantry conditioned me to the system approach and the Germanic adherence to the Rheinheitsgebot of tool use and operation. It flummoxed me flummox when I first got the Sys CTL and the drill did not switch on.  ;D

 

[Stone Message]

Peter

All the extractors in my fleet have live sockets in either manual or auto mode. All that is, bar my new Sys CTL, which has a dead socket in manual mode.

So what? you might say, and indeed you do, but an old codger like me likes to use the dust nozzle to keep the Memsahibs floors in pristine condition. I much prefer to position the nozzle to the mark with the vacuum running, leave it stuck firmly to the wall, offer the non-running drill bit to the mark (without touching the metal bush of the nozzle) and drill to me hearts content.

This I have done for many years till the new fangled Sys CTL arrived with its dead socket. Fear naught, the newly acquired DeWalt 18v SDS drill was hastily commissioned into action and the dust free environment was maintained to the Chief of Staffs satisfaction. But years of service in the Festool Light Infantry conditioned me to the system approach and the Germanic adherence to the Rheinheitsgebot of tool use and operation. It flummoxed me flummox when I first got the Sys CTL and the drill did not switch on.  ;D

Yes, I understand and as I said, consistency may be important, which it is for you and perhaps many others as well.

It is a good point. Does anyone know if there is a reason for the difference?

Peter

 

[antss]

Peter - why you ask?

Well sometimes there are tools that need power on a jobsite that don't require a vacuum. Like a battery charger , or an edgebanding iron, or a fan or light or a hot glue gun, or a conturo. Even the vecturo which certainly benefits from extraction but has no provision for it gets plugged in and requires two hands leaving none to hold the vac hose, so why bother ?

We use the iron frequently and have to run another extension for that. I'd rather not though. Haveing the CT socket hot without the vacuum running would be very convenient for us.  In the shop it really doesn't matter because outlets are always nearby.

Gregor - now that you mention it , I'm not sure about the AC vacs here. They may well have a different setup.  [unsure]

 

[Gregor]

Gregor - now that you mention it , I'm not sure about the AC vacs here. They may well have a different setup.  [unsure]

Out of curiosity: could you test that next time you use them and report back (even non-AC versions, if available), please? We're talking about socket #1 in 'manual' mode.

Haveing the CT socket hot without the vacuum running would be very convenient for us.  In the shop it really doesn't matter because outlets are always nearby.

For the CT 26/36/48 vacs (with the option for the second socket) you can get #496142 that is always live as long as the vac is on anything but 'off' (and dosn't start the vac if used). We're not talking about this (in socket #2).

 

[rst]

My US version CT-26 has a live socket without the vac but my Midi does not.

 

[antss]

Okay,  there must certainly be different setups depending on the manuf. dates.  Or defects  [scared]. None of my CT 22s or 26s have power except when in auto. However my midi socket does have power when in auto or manual, which is different than rst reports.

This is also contradictory to the supplemental manual :

"Manual and Automatic Modes
The main power switch has three positions: Off, Manual, and Automatic. In the Off or Manual positions, the electrical receptacle on the front of the vacuum is disabled. In the Automatic mode, the receptacle will have power, and the vacuum will automatically turn on when the vacuum detects that the connected tool is turned on."

The same scenario is detailed in the orig. owners manual too.

[member=25351]rst[/member] - are you saying your ct26 has a powered socket in the O position or when it is in manual ? How old is yours ?

Gregor - thanks for the tip on the accessory socket. I'd forgotten about that.  I don't think they are available in the U.S. though.  And, that's not possible with a midi or mini anyway.

At any rate, having power to the socket in manual mode really doesn't do anything for me either.  In my case it's worse than using the triggered mode.  And Festool's own info is that this is not how it's setup.  [member=57769]TylerC[/member] - will you check with engineering and find out if there has been a change or we have defective trigger / elect systems  ?  Prob. a good idea to query the tech writers too and see why this isn't in the manuals if in fact the socket is supposed to have power in the manual switched position.

What operations would use the vac continuously but need the ability to turn off the tool ?  Meaning I'm stopping the tool but want the vac to run until I go over to it to turn it off.  [unsure]

 

[Gregor]

Okay,  there must certainly be different setups depending on the manuf. dates.  Or defects  [scared]. None of my CT 22s or 26s have power except when in auto. However my midi socket does have power when in auto or manual, which is different than rst reports.

This is also contradictory to the supplemental manual :

"Manual and Automatic Modes
The main power switch has three positions: Off, Manual, and Automatic. In the Off or Manual positions, the electrical receptacle on the front of the vacuum is disabled. In the Automatic mode, the receptacle will have power, and the vacuum will automatically turn on when the vacuum detects that the connected tool is turned on."

The same scenario is detailed in the orig. owners manual too.

From the ctl 26/36/48 manual just pulled fromhttps://festoolcdn.azureedge.net/pr...ment/828ac6c7-40e2-11e5-80d0-005056b31774.zip

"MAN" switch position
Appliance socket [1-3] is connected to the power,
the mobile dust extractor starts.

So it seems to be intended, at least on the current models.

Gregor - thanks for the tip on the accessory socket. I'd forgotten about that.  I don't think they are available in the U.S. though.

Quite possible, would be sad as it's a nice feature (as it to be able to connect two tools with auto-on using the E/A module).

What operations would use the vac continuously but need the ability to turn off the tool ?  Meaning I'm stopping the tool but want the vac to run until I go over to it to turn it off.  [unsure]

Vacuuming, CT-Wings, Drill-Nozzle (possibly in combination with a power tool like a drill, vecturo, ...).

 

[antss]

That is contradictory to the USA manuals.  [blink]. Hopefully Tyler will dig up the official answer.

Festool in their infinite wisdom or laziness decides the NA market doesn't need a lot of their items.  And it's not just limited to things with motors.  e.g. the CT modules.
We can have the pneumatic one but not the others. I'm betting they don't sell a whole lot of those either.

What tools would you use with the CTwings ?  I use them to hold a level or a ledger board once in a while, but can't think of an instance with a power tool.  I can see how the drill shroud would be handy to have fixed on a spot an then bring the drill to it.  [smile]