Loose plug-it connection on ETS-EC 150/5

[ear3]

Over the past month I've started to experience occasional cuts in power on my ETS-EC 150/5 from a loose connection with the plug it cable I have tied into my main hose.  I know it's a loose connection, because when I place a little torque on the head at the point of connection, there is no longer any power cut.  And when I use another plug, there is no issue,

So far so good, but here is the odd thing.  I don't experience power cuts when working with any other tools on that same plug.  And that includes sanders that produce a lot more vibration, like the RO150.

I can easily change over to a new plug -- it's just going to be a bit of a pain, as I will have to disentangle it from the flex sleeve I have covering it and the D27 hose, and possibly buy a new sleeve if I have to cut into it.

I'm just wondering if anyone has experienced this sort of behavior with the ETS-EC sanders, i.e., whether they have particularly sensitive connections at the plug in point.  Maybe there's also something slightly loose in the sander, which, when combined with a slightly loose plug, produces this sort of effect (in which case, I might also consider a service call?)?  I'm just trying to theorize why the problem is unique to this sander, and absent from my other tools with the same plug.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Maybe try bending the pins in the socket of the sander a bit, just slightly so they make better contact?

Other option I see is replacing it all, cord and/or tool socket. This stuff is hard to repair, most of the time replacing is the only option.

 

[peter halle]

Edward,

If you start having plug it cord issues you also need to check the pins on the tool.  If the cord loosens from the tool or for some reason isn't inserted and turned all the way there may be intermidant contact and even arching.  It the pins on the tool get burned by arcing the cord may also be.  A new cord can be affected by the bad pins on the tool.  If you use that old cord on another tool it may cause burnt pins on the new tool.

Peter

 

[Vondawg]

As I remember that's what sent Dovetail over the edge (re: I'm done)

 

[ear3]

Good to know, thanks guys.

Edward,

If you start having plug it cord issues you also need to check the pins on the tool.  If the cord loosens from the tool or for some reason isn't inserted and turned all the way there may be intermidant contact and even arching.  It the pins on the tool get burned by arcing the cord may also be.  A new cord can be affected by the bad pins on the tool.  If you use that old cord on another tool it may cause burnt pins on the new tool.

Peter

 

[lino-man]

I had this same problem with the same sander occur about 6 weeks ago. Sure enough, the pins showed signs of arcing. I immediately replaced the part as well as the cord and everything is good again. My cords get a serious workout, switching between sanders, saw and routers all day long. Once a person accepts that this is a part that's going to need to be replaced every so often, it's not a deal. The other option is to hard wire a cord.

Sent from my ZTE A2017U using Tapatalk

 

[ear3]

Problem solved.  Tools for Working Wood in Brooklyn sells spare sockets for most Festools, so I picked one up the other day for $7 and replaced it myself, which was quite easy, and thus saved me a trip to service:
https://www.toolsforworkingwood.com...Replacement_Socket__Housing_for_Festool_Tools

No issues with power cutting out so far, and that's after spending a good portion of the day sanding with the ETS-EC 150.

 

[Gregor]

Problem solved.

In case you didn't change the cord: do it to be on the safe side as this kind of defect tends to spread between connectors, similar to a STD.

 

[grbmds]

I have never had this problem, but, just for my information, the socket on the tool is apparently easy to replace with the appropriate Festool part? Is that correct?

 

[Gregor]

I have never had this problem, but, just for my information, the socket on the tool is apparently easy to replace with the appropriate Festool part? Is that correct?

Yes.

 

[pingvinlakrits]

I am glad I found this thread, my ETS EC 150 has started to switch itself off a few times each time I use it - very annoying!
Have been to busy to attend to it last week and this week but have been thinking I need to get it sorted.

Now I know what too look for, I was kind of thinking it was the Plug It cord on the hose but all other machines work without problem so I figured the problem is on the ETS EC 150. Will check the cord as well.

Thanks guys.

 

[ear3]

I found a pair of needle nose pliers useful to detach the wires of the old socket (and attach those of the new one) from the board.
The only tricky part is that since all the components are really tightly packed inside the housing, you have to be careful that everything is seated properly when putting the cover back on, otherwise the cover will not go back on.  The electronic component in particular (500255) has a tight fit into a pair of tabs (only one of which will be visible), and when you pull off the cover, it's easy to unseat the board ever so slightly from one of those tabs, and not notice that you've unseated it until you try (unsuccessfully) to put the cover back on.  It always helps in my experience to take a picture of what the insides look like as soon as you take the cover off just in case. 

I have never had this problem, but, just for my information, the socket on the tool is apparently easy to replace with the appropriate Festool part? Is that correct?

 

[pingvinlakrits]

Haven't gotten around to ordering the part yet - maybe I will hand in the ETS EC; today when there was no machinery running in the background I heard a crackling/hissing sound as I was connecting the plug it  [eek] so will put the sander aside until I have time to hand it in for repair...