Festool Mini with Hilti 267-E

[ChrisGTE]

Hi Festool Owner?s Group,

New member here and I think I may have already made a mistake with my tool choice but thought I would check the experts before totally giving up.  I just bought a Festool Mini dust collector and am totally excited.  While waiting for it to be delivered I was doing some reading on my new toy and think I have found a major issue with the way I want to use the Mini.

I was hoping to use the Mini with a Hilti 267-E (along with a couple of other sanders) and just realized that the Hilti is rated at 1500W and the tool triggered outlet on the Mini is only rated at 1200W.  By the numbers this is a no go but I wanted to check to see if this was a doable combination.  I found the below thread here on the Owner?s Group discussing a similar topic (topic ID is 1121.0).  The one glimmer of hope is the post where Forrest Anderson (great post by the way) points out that the Mini is bundled with the TS 75 which has a higher power draw then the Hilti.

The last thing I want to do is burn up a perfectly good tool but I was really hoping the Mini would work for me.

Related Thread:
http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=1121.0

Thanks
Chris

 

[jakiiski]

It should still not burn, even if the amperage draw was bigger than the vacuum would supply - it should pop the fuse instead, that is why the fuses are in place. I have a totally different vac and a sliding mitre saw (1800W) and that's just too much - my 16 AMP fuses pop every time I try to turn the mitre saw via the automatic power switch on the vac. But nothing breaks down or burns.

The limitations come more or less from the fact, that 1-phase wiring can only support a maximum of 16 amps (in EU at least) with typical 2.5mm2 wires and if you start counting from that, you can take 16A*230V=3680W plus some losses on the way it easy to pop the fuse. Typical wires are actually 1.5mm2 and that can only supply 10A, i.e. 2300Ws - it's far too easy to draw more current than that!

 

[ChrisGTE]

Thanks for the reply jakiiski

That is a great point about the fuse, and makes since, tools of the quality of Festool seem to do a good job of protecting themselves. 

I guess a better question would be does anyone have experience running tools with a greater power draw then 1200W off of a Mini?  Does anyone run a TS 75 with a Mini?

I am not happy about it but I am thinking that the Mini wasn?t the right tool for my needs.  It is really too bad as the form factor on the Mini is just awesome.

 

[bustedbolt]

well it seems you have 30 days to test it out. I have the hilti, nice saw, I use the ct22 no problems but would probably turn down the vac if i was ripping 2" hardwood with a 40 tooth blade for example. that hasn't happened yet tho. You could always run a 20 amp circuit to your work area if your breaker was tripping. These are often near airconditioners or microwaves.

I would assume that the CT MINI draws less amps at full power than say a ct22, so you have more amps for your saw to play with, like a dialed down ct22. which by the way, with the small diameter hose, isn't really much different. (ie.. the typical small hose on the larger power ct22 would be limiting the dust collection potential of the ct22 motor anyway)

Another note would be to watch that people commenting on power/amps in the EU generally are not using 120v so they have more power to use and never really run up against a wall for motor power like us on the 15 amp 120v circuits.

Another note is that soft start tools will play better with the vacs. So a 1500watt tool is not the same amp draw as all 1500watt tools like a 1500watt heater or something.

 

[Loren Hedahl]

What you need to be aware of is the vac only draws full power when the airflow is completely unrestricted.  Even the hose provides some restriction.  When hooked up to the saw, there is more air flow restriction and less current draw.

In the case of the saw, it only uses full power when cutting to the point of almost stalling the motor.  With a sharp blade and reasonable cutting speed, you would seldom approach a full current situation.  The soft start function (if the Hilti has this) also prevents full initial inrush current to the motor.

I would expect you won't have a problem on normal cutting.

If you do run into a fuse blowout problem, you could always not use the automatic switching feature of the vac.  In this case you would plug both the vac and the saw directly into the power main and manually turn on the vac before starting the saw.

 

[ChrisGTE]

Thanks for the replies jakiiski, bustedbolt and Loren Hedahl

I am feeling a lot better about the Mini after your replies.  I am going to give it a shot and see what happens.  I will try and remember to post an update to this thread once I get a chance to try this combination and will start out with lower settings and thinner material and will work my way up to see if I end up getting the fuse going out on me.

Thanks again for the replies
Chris

 

[ChrisGTE]

I thought I should pass along an update.  While I haven?t had a chance to cut any hardwood, cutting 2x4 and some inch think pine planks (while it is pine it is some of the hardest pine I have seen) everything looks good.  I had no issues with the saw or the Mini, both on the highest settings.  So far I am very happy!

Thanks for everyone's input
Chris