CTL mini airflow drops

[Marcel71]

As a Festool Fan I read a lot on this forum to find solutions, tips an tricks, now I've got a problem I couldn't solve, so my first post 

I've got a CTLl Mini and experience some problems with de suction.
Sometimes it looks like somone fools me turning the adjustable electronic air flow control button up and down.
It happens mostly when it's connected to a machine that creates many sawdust, like a table saw.
First I Thought it was a power drop because of the power consumption of my table saw, but when I put the hose of the Mini in the swept together sawdust, it also happens.
I didn't experienced with a small sander like the dts400 f.e. or  when there is a little sawdust it.

I used a new filter and dustbag.

Anyone who can help me?

regards,
Marcel (Netherlands)

 

[AlexThePalex]

Hi Marcel, welcome to the forum.

Sometimes the suction can drop when the pores in the dust bag are filled with very fine dust. This closes them up, and thus reducing suction. Next time you experience a loss of suction, open the Mini and stir the bag by hand to open the pores again, see if that works.

You can also lose suction when the hose is (partially) clogged.

If it's none of the above you might need a call to Festool service department.

 

[carlb40]

[welcome]

Is there a slight blockage in the hose?

 

[Marcel71]

Hi Marcel, welcome to the forum.

Sometimes the suction can drop when the pores in the dust bag are filled with very fine dust. This closes them up, and thus reducing suction. Next time you experience a loss of suction, open the Mini and stir the bag by hand to open the pores again, see if that works.

You can also lose suction when the hose is (partially) clogged.

If it's none of the above you might need a call to Festool service department.

It's not only los in the suction, it looks like it's almost powering down and then starts up again.
I will change the bag again, maybe I overlooked that somehow.

[welcome]

Is there a slight blockage in the hose?

I Just checked that but I couldn't see anything.
I got an older spare hose in my storage, tomorrow I''m gonna try that to verify if it's blocked.

Btw, couldn't it be the brushes?

 

[carlb40]

It will be difficult to see a blockage on a 3mtr hose. The spare hose is a good call.

As to the brushes i'm not sure. I know some of the hand held macines such as the ehl 65 shut down completely when the brushes need renewing.

Not sure if the same applies to the extractors?  [embarassed]

 

[Doug S]

Now and again my midi power just drops off, only for a split second like someone turned it off and straight back on again. I should send it in but never caused a problem so have not got round to it.

Doug

 

[AlexThePalex]

Ok, if it's not a loss in suction but in electric power there is a real problem there and the only ones who gonna fix it for you is Festool service. Maybe it's the brushes, but we really can't tell on the forum, somebody who knows his stuff needs to look at it.

 

[Stephen B]

It will be difficult to see a blockage on a 3mtr hose. The spare hose is a good call.

As to the brushes i'm not sure. I know some of the hand held macines such as the ehl 65 shut down completely when the brushes need renewing.

Not sure if the same applies to the extractors?  [embarassed]

My CT22 just completely shut down last year: good to go with new Brushes installed by Festool. Was told by dealer rep, that sometimes a jolt will get you a few more hours of use from warn brushes.

New brushes were reasonable cost too; well when compared to total Vac replacement.

Anyway like Alex said, contact Festool.

[member=51384]Marcel71[/member]

 

[Julian Tracy]

You're scaring us suggesting that just new brushes are reasonable only when compared to a new vac's price....

Brushes should be more than $20 or so for a simple vacuum.

What the heck did they charge you for the installation?

JT

 

[Marcel71]

So far my attempts to solve this.

I checked the hose, nothing in it that can block the dust.
A new dust bag
Almost new filter, cleaned it with my compressor
Opened the mini and cleaned it inside.
looked at the brushes and they looked like new to me from what I can see.
Checked the powercable.

I bought it 2nd hand a few years ago, so i got no warranty. (2011-2 labeled on the mini)

I dont wanna spent much money on the unit, because I wanna buy a ctl sys when there's a hose adapter to control the suction power (very much needed with my ets125 and rts400 or maybe Festool will bring out a new version with electronic control management.

And I'm thinking of a cyclone to use with my table saw and ehl65 (and ts55 somewhere in time, need more money [cool])
This must solve the problem of the little bag capacity.

Or maybe I buy a new ctl mini if the ctl sys is not so good choice.

 

[carlb40]

I would still contact festool as it could be something simple and cheap to repair.  [smile]

 

[Holmz]

So far my attempts to solve this.

I checked the hose, nothing in it that can block the dust.
A new dust bag
Almost new filter, cleaned it with my compressor
Opened the mini and cleaned it inside.
looked at the brushes and they looked like new to me from what I can see.
Checked the powercable.

I bought it 2nd hand a few years ago, so i got no warranty. (2011-2 labeled on the mini)

I dont wanna spent much money on the unit, because I wanna buy a ctl sys when there's a hose adapter to control the suction power (very much needed with my ets125 and rts400 or maybe Festool will bring out a new version with electronic control management.

And I'm thinking of a cyclone to use with my table saw and ehl65 (and ts55 somewhere in time, need more money [cool])
This must solve the problem of the little bag capacity.

Or maybe I buy a new ctl mini if the ctl sys is not so good choice.

I second the repair idea.
I cannot envision the reasoning of getting yet another Festool vacuum until you discover that this one is doing.

 

[UncleBS]

Could a tool that produces a lot of dust/debris like a table saw be overloading the mini? The following is off the Festool website and describes the Main applications for the mini.

For dust with limit values > 1 mg/m³
Ideal for mobile use in assembly applications
Integral automatic electronic switch-on/shut-off for extraction from electric power tools
Best suited to smaller sanding, routing, sawing and drilling tasks
Ideal for final clean-up
Suitable for wet and dry extraction

Also check the hose where it connects to the vacuum at the 90 degree bend for a restriction.

 

[Marcel71]

I've not solved the problem it self, but solved my problem  8)
I've bought an other ctl mini, the new t-loc version.
It works good, even with my table saw.
The hose is different from the old one, 27mm to 32mm, thats a good adjustment.

maybe I can switch parts to fing out what the problem is with my older ctl

 

[HARRYSPADGE]

Any update on this problem ?
I have a Mini which is doing the same occasionally !