Festool CT Vacuum Remote Turn On/Off

[jbasen]

The feature I've always wanted with my CT Mini is to be able to remotely turn it on when using battery powered tools or just when using the floor nozzle or suction brush to clean up the shop.  Constantly bending over to turn the vacuum on/off is, to put it bluntly, a PITA.  The On/Off switch is only 8" off the floor and I guess I'm not as young as I used to be.

I was surfing and stumbled across the Compressed Air Module, part #452829.  According to the description it can trigger a CT dust extractor when an air tool is used.  From what I can see there is a 2 wire connector that plugs somewhere into a CT vacuum that triggers the CT On/Off. 

So, my questions are:

1) Does anyone know where this connector plugs into on a CT Vacuum?  Something else?
2) Does anyone know the electrical characteristics of this interface?  Is it a simple contract closure?  If so, what level voltage is it?

I would just like to extend this connection along a wire that would be attached to the vacuum hose and have a small switch mounted out by the tool end of the hose that would allow me to remotely turn the vacuum on/off.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Brent Taylor]

You could always just use a "Clapper"  ;D Just kidding, but a drop light work pretty good for me.B

 

[E30Mark]

Do you get remote control plugs in the US? I use one on my mini here in the UK, you can switch the machines on & off with a small hand held remote.

 

[jbasen]

Thanks for the ideas. 

I have thought of using a remote switch on the whole vacuum; even a clapper  .  But I've been concerned about the amount of current being pulled through the remote turn on switch when you have something like a track saw plugged into the outlet on the vac.  In this case the remote switch has to handle the current of both the vacuum and the track saw.

I already keep a dedicated extension cord plugged into the vac that I have "velcro'd" to the hose and that is a great convenience when using power tools with the vac.  It is just when using the vac without a power tool that it is a pain.

When I stumbled across the the compressed air module it just seemed like a remote turn on system consisting of a simple toggle switch run on an extra wire "velcro'd" to the hose in parallel to my extension cord could be a great solution.  That is, if I could find out more about the compressed air module interface.

Because I already have an extension cord plugged into the outlet, plugging in a drop light out at the tool end of the cord to switch on the vac using the vac's outlet, I would think, would get in the way. 

Thanks again

 

[GarryMartin]

The compressed air module is a pass-through connection for your air hose that auto-switches the vacuum on/off when air flows through/stops. It's an addition to the power auto on/off, so you don't lose that functionality.

It's primarily designed for use with air sanders, where you'd want extraction when the tool was in use. The module fits into the 'spare' or second space on the front of the CT. The space is just to the right of where you plug in your tool now.

You connect a hose from your air compressor to the module, then you connect another hose from the module to your air sander or other air tool. So in order to use it in the way that you propose, you'd need to be able to have air flowing through the two connectors in a loop.

I don't think this would really work for you unfortunately.

I don't know the electrical characteristics or have access to schematics associated with how it works.

 

[Stone Message]

The feature I've always wanted with my CT Mini is to be able to remotely turn it on when using battery powered tools or just when using the floor nozzle or suction brush to clean up the shop.  Constantly bending over to turn the vacuum on/off is, to put it bluntly, a PITA.  The On/Off switch is only 8" off the floor and I guess I'm not as young as I used to be.

I was surfing and stumbled across the Compressed Air Module, part #452829.  According to the description it can trigger a CT dust extractor when an air tool is used.  From what I can see there is a 2 wire connector that plugs somewhere into a CT vacuum that triggers the CT On/Off. 

So, my questions are:

1) Does anyone know where this connector plugs into on a CT Vacuum?  Something else?
2) Does anyone know the electrical characteristics of this interface?  Is it a simple contract closure?  If so, what level voltage is it?

I would just like to extend this connection along a wire that would be attached to the vacuum hose and have a small switch mounted out by the tool end of the hose that would allow me to remotely turn the vacuum on/off.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

I have set this up on my CT. Before I made the Dust Hub I just plugged a radio operated socket into the second socket that I fitted to the CT. Into the radio socket I plugged a low power light. When I sent the signal from the remote controller the light turns on and hence causes the CT to fire up. I use it mostly for clean-ups but also with my battery operated PSC 420.

With the Dust Hub the setup is almost identical except that the sockets are part of the Hub. I show this at about the 8 minute 30 second point in the Dust Hub video. The remote control sockets are easy to find.

Peter

 

[JZ Bowmannz]

I did this to my CT-33 with remote (the one on the right side) as it sits in the corner, and to CT-22 with light control by MFT.

Not a perfect drawing, but hope this helps.

JZ

[attachimg=1]

 

[nclemmons]

I use this and really like it:

http://www.amazon.com/FASTCAP-Remote-Vacuum-Control-Channel-0/dp/B00D425RWC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415729541&sr=8-1&keywords=remote+control+vacuum+switch

Fastcap makes them and they work really well.  Come in two frequencies if you end up with more than one.

neil

 

[jbasen]

The compressed air module is a pass-through connection for your air hose that auto-switches the vacuum on/off when air flows through/stops. It's an addition to the power auto on/off, so you don't lose that functionality.

It's primarily designed for use with air sanders, where you'd want extraction when the tool was in use. The module fits into the 'spare' or second space on the front of the CT. The space is just to the right of where you plug in your tool now.

You connect a hose from your air compressor to the module, then you connect another hose from the module to your air sander or other air tool. So in order to use it in the way that you propose, you'd need to be able to have air flowing through the two connectors in a loop.

I don't think this would really work for you unfortunately.

I don't know the electrical characteristics or have access to schematics associated with how it works.

Thanks Garry

I went searching all through my CT Mini and couldn't find a place where the compressed air module would plug in.  Reading the description in more detail it says it is for "E" vacs so I don't think I can use the interface even if I could figure out the kind of electrical connection needed. :'(

This leaves me with some of the solutions suggested by others.

Thanks again

 

[jbasen]

I wanted to thank everyone for the suggestions of using a remote controlled light plugged into the outlet on the CT.  That seems to be the best solution though it irks the engineer in me to be turning on an unnecessary light just to switch the vacuum. 

Professionally I program residential and commercial building automation systems.  My own house is automated and the software focuses on energy management.  Whenever my wife and I leave the house the HVAC is set back, lights are all turned off, TV is turned off, and even the hot water heater is set back.  When we come back home heating and hot water heater are restored to their proper settings and pathway lights are lit at night. 

Not that one small light bulb is going to waste a lot of power, but it just goes against everything else I've tried to accomplish in the house.  If I had been able to find a way to make it work, the compressed air interface just seemed, at least to me, like a better solution.

Thanks again to everyone for their suggestions.

 

[goyya76]

I got a cheap (10-15 eur) remote controlled plug (with a a small remote, i guess similar to that of an automatic car gate) - still have to try it, it's rated at 1500 w (didn't remember tha max current to be honest), the idea is to just plug a vac into it and switch it on when needed - don't know if it may fit the bill, anyway... my two cents!

 

[morts10n]

Fastcap has a remote power tool switch that will work for only $30

https://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=45290&idcategory=0

 

[jbasen]

Thanks. I believe neilc had a link to the Fascap switch on Amazon.  The Fastcap is only rated for 10 amps so it can switch my ct mini but not with any tool plugged into the ct mini's outlet.  It could be used to turn a small light on / off and act as a trigger in the ct mini's outlet.

Thanks again

 

[nclemmons]

Just an FYI...  I leave my vac plugged into the fast cap switch and have had no problems using it with saws and sanders and a 1010 router as far as amp draw.

I never looked at the amperage on the remote.

 

[wow]

I was surfing and stumbled across the Compressed Air Module, part #452829.  According to the description it can trigger a CT dust extractor when an air tool is used.  From what I can see there is a 2 wire connector that plugs somewhere into a CT vacuum that triggers the CT On/Off. 

And did you look at the price on that module? $172 for a remote switch seems a bit pricey even by Festool standards?

I do wish someone would develop a module that could pop into that slot and provide remote control capability like you imagine. At anything less than $100 I'd buy one myself.