Kapex and CTMini

[newinwood]

I can't use Kapex if it connected to power outlet on CTMini. In both positions - auto or manual. I did asked about this problem on last ww show at Festool booth, but got answer that CTMini is not good for Kapex? Is this try?
I don't have much problem except inconvenience to manually turn dust collector and Kapex, connected to wall outlet. But still, is anybody has the same experience?
Thank you, Ed.

 

[peter halle]

The kapex should work.  Call Festool in the morning.  Their number is on all your tools.

 

[Brice Burrell]

I can't use Kapex if it connected to power outlet on CTMini. In both positions - auto or manual. I did asked about this problem on last ww show at Festool booth, but got answer that CTMini is not good for Kapex? Is this try?
I don't have much problem except inconvenience to manually turn dust collector and Kapex, connected to wall outlet. But still, is anybody has the same experience?
Thank you, Ed.

Ed, this is news to me.  I've used my Kapex plugged into my CT Mini for a few years now with no problems.

 

[EcoFurniture]

Worked fine in my shop... Only thing you have to watch for is that you have at least a 16 amp breaker. Anything lower and the vacuum will not allow the kapex to turn on. Kind of a surge protection I guess.

 

[jvsteenb]

It's probably my lack of understanding re. the physics of circuit breakers in the US, but how would a CT "know" the rating of your breaker ?

Regards,

Job

 

[chrisrosenb]

It's probably my lack of understanding re. the physics of circuit breakers in the US, but how would a CT "know" the rating of your breaker ?

Regards,

Job

I removed this because Rick stated it was wrong information.

 

[Rick Christopherson]

I think we should be careful here not to start an urban legend without more information. I don't know if the vacs or tools have voltage sensing circuitry, but if the situation described above were correct, then we would be hearing more complaints about people not being able to use their tools from extension cords. I don't recall hearing such complaints, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.

By the way, the only way a vac/tool could sense that it was operating from a 15 amp circuit (i.e. 14 gauge wire) is from the voltage drop, not from a lack of current.

On a typical circuit with 14 gauge wiring and 15 amp circuit (without an extension cord) you will most likely trip the circuit breaker before you experience a significant voltage drop. Moreover, the soft start function of the tools reduces the initial start-up current. If this situation were to occur, it would be more likely to happen when the tool was under a heavy load, not during start-up.

On the other hand, if there is a voltage drop due to using long extension cords, that would happen regardless whether the house circuit was 15 or 20 amp.

However, it is very true that you should not operate a vac and one of the high power tools from a 15 amp circuit to begin with, as they will draw more power than the circuit is designed to support.

 

[Rick Christopherson]

I did asked about this problem on last ww show at Festool booth, but got answer that CTMini is not good for Kapex? Is this true?

Oh, back to the original poster's question. The reason why you were told this, is due to a bureaucratic rule within UL regulations for vacuums (UL1017), and Festool is bound by these regulations. If you ask Festool this question, they are required to tell you that it can't be done.

The UL1017 rule stems from a paragraph in the National Electric Code (NEC) that states that no single appliance is permitted to draw more than 80% of the total capacity of a circuit. However, it is permissible for 2 or more appliances to draw a full 100% capacity of a circuit.

Therefore, you can legitimately plug both the CT vac and Kapex into the same duplex receptacle (2 receptacles by NEC definition). However, UL has made the ruling that with a tool plugged into a vac, it thereby becomes a single appliance, and as such, it must follow the 80% rule.

The power cord on a CT vac is rated for 20 amps (25 amps actually), the receptacle (half of the duplex) is also rated for 20 amps, and the wiring in the wall doesn?t know the difference whether one plug is used or two.

The other part of the equation that UL (and NEC) overlooks is that both the vac and the tool are variable loads, and rarely ever operate at their full nameplate amperage.