Ct26 starts up briefly on it own when plugged into ets-ec125

[alecnet]

First post here, but following the forum for a while now. I'm having a very odd issue that just started recently. I've been hearing some weird noises coming from the shop when I'm not out there over the last few weeks. Finally it happened while I was out there and it appears that my CT26 will occasionally start itself, rev up briefly and then shut down when my ets-ec125 is left plugged into it. I'm not sure if any other tools cause this as well as the sander is the tool most frequently left hooked up to the vac. Unplugging the connector from the sander seems to stop this, so I'm assuming the sander is the issue here? Festool sent me a brand new one this summer to replace a previous ETS that kept failing on me, so really hoping this one isn't on it's way out too.

Just wanted to see if anyone else had seen this issue before? I'm a one man furniture shop, so tool failures can really set me back.

 

[ultane]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Do you have another Plug-It cord for the sander? The CT26 starts up when it detects a current, so maybe the cord of your sander has a defect where the two wires can touch? Or maybe wires inside the sander, or maybe the switch is faulty. But first change the cord and see if the problem persists.

 

[DeformedTree]

definitely try a different plug it cord.  Is this plugged into an AFCI (Arc Fault) protected circuit?  If not and you have one, plug it into that and see if things change, it might pick up and issue in the vac, cord, sander.

My guess is something is shorting someplace, but even that gets odd if the stuff is just sitting there. Are things in a climate controlled place or are they someplace with temp variation?

Also are there other items on this circuit? There may be a remote chance that a CT notices a load someplace else on the circuit that causes it to go (I would say unlikely, but if there are some issues with that circuit...who knows).

Other options,  critters hitting buttons, large spiders, ghosts.

 

[alecnet]

I have plenty of other cords, but I've got a sleeved hose with the cord wrapped up with the hose, so it's a bitch to swap out. I guess I can just leave the plug it cord out of the hose for testing purposes.

Vac has been plugged into the same circuit for over a year now and the issue has just started in the last couple weeks. Definitely not on an AFCI circuit as there are none of those in my house.

Shop is climate controlled, though this is a very recent thing. Come to think of it, this issue started about the same time I installed the  mini split, but that's on it's own breaker, which isn't even in the same sub panel as the power for the shop, so no idea how that could be at fault.

I'm going to go with ghosts as the culprit until proved otherwise, for now  [big grin]

 

[alecnet]

Swapping the cord didn't make a difference. And it only seems to be doing it with etsec125. Left the domino and rotex plugged in and no vac startup without me turning on the tool. Getting really irritating having to turn of the vac everytime I'm done sanding.

 

[DeformedTree]

Well,  you have solved that it is the sander, send it back, or send in for service.

 

[Vtshopdog]

CT turns on when it detects current and it appears the current is isolated to the sander. Assuming the sander does not start running when this happens so my guess is there is small leakage directly across the switch poles or wiring between switch and plug.

I had a Bosch router switch that was completely packed with sawdust to point that it did not run: 
Kinda wild guess, perhaps your switch or adjacent wiring has enough semi conductive (sanding any metal lately??) dust packed in to make a current that the CT detects.  Blasting switch and plug-it areas with compressed air and maybe applying a shot of contact cleaner might be worth a try.

 

[Vtshopdog]

Also, if you have a multimeter you should check the sander plug poles for continuity with tool switch both off and on.  If you show continuity in “off” then test for resistance.

Perhaps test the bare sander at plug-it connection and also with a cord attached at the male plug poles.  Perform same test on another tool to verify.

 

[alecnet]

Thanks all. I'll run a few checks and see if there's something I can find with the sander. I hate sending it in as it's my primary sander and my backup finish sander sucks.