Modifying UK cord in vacuum hose to work in US

[RSmike]

I think the subject line says it all.

If a person accidentally shipped a 493996 suction hose from Europe (this is the one with the cord inside the hose) back to the US and accidentally replaced the 220v cord end with a standard NEMA1-15 plug would it connect into a US built Festool products.

I know the power end can be changed but my question would be is the US version of the PlugIt different than the one in Europe.  That would be a real bummer to find out they are keyed for voltage at the PlugIt end.

Has anyone ever done this modification. 

I searched the web and cannot get a firm answer.

Yeah...it'll void the warranty. But will it work.

I so want a cord in my vacuum hose.  UL can just deal with it. 

 

[Dongar]

The wire size is probably too small for the current at 120 v. If you half the voltage you double the current (amps) and need a larger wire to handle it without over heating or causing a voltage drop and potentially damaging your tool. I think the festool plugit cords are 16 gauge for the larger tools.

 

[Rick Christopherson]

Yes, it will work, and it is what I did several years ago when Festool gave me one of the hoses as a gift.

 

[RSmike]

I guess it's good to know the PlugIt cord would fit.

I'm not sure I'll do doing it though.  The wire gauge thing is a concern since I do want to use it with my 55 saw. 

I see stock is low or out in many UK sites.  Makes me think the covered hose will be the replacement or there is something new on the horizon.  Sorry I don't know all the info...I just started thinking of this crazy idea. 

Thanks for the help.

 

[Frank-Jan]

The plug-it hose isn't as practical as it seems. When the ctl26 vacuum was introduced festool offered a package deal, where you could get the plug-it hose as an extra with the vac for 50€, so I got one.
The part between the couplings where the cord enters and exits the hose has a larger diameter as to not restrict airflow, this makes the hose heavier and more unwieldy than the 27 mm hose.
So much so that I ordered the spiral hose guide to put on the vac (which didn't help much, it didn't have the bottom spring thing at the time); and later I bought an ex-demo boom arm for my old ct22, and the plug-it hose hasn't left the boom arm since.

I think the best way is just wrapping the hose and cord yourself with a mesh-sleeve, this way it will also reduce snagging, the old plug-it hose is still ribbed.