New CT owner : Is my CT MINI broken?

[RSmike]

I need some help.  I just received my CT mini.  I'm confused about how the Auto/Man switch should function and what the accessory outlet should be doing.  My owner's manual seems to indicate that the outlet should be active when in the AUTO or MAN position.  Currently the outlet is dead in the MAN and O position.  Is this by design?  Is this correct?

Here's how it's been behaving:
AUTO - accessory outlet active; vacuum motor will turn on with tool activation and run for a few seconds after the tool shuts off as expected.
O - no power to anything
MAN - accessory outlet dead and vacuum motor runs.

Can someone please tell me if this is correct?

I'd much prefer to have power on the outlet all the time. 

RSlater,
RSmike

 

[Dan Lyke]

Yes, that behavior is correct. The through plug is off for both "0" and "Man", only on for "Auto".

Scenario for why this might be important: You leave a tool, say the jigsaw, plugged in, but you grab the hose to do a little cleanup. In my case, I'm constantly having to vacuum out the jigsaw shield. Let's say I'm forgetful and don't unplug the jigsaw before bringing my hands and the hose up around the jigsaw blade, and I bump the jigsaw switch. Bad stuff ensues.

I can see arguments for making the switch behavior both ways, I'm glad they went with this way.

 

[poto]

As Dan said, your Mini is behaving as it should. The thing that took me a while to figure out was the speed switch - it's really hard to tell where it's pointing. I finally had to put it on Man, and rotate the switch to figure out which way the pointer went. On my machine, it pretty much points the opposite direction of the symbol (rabbit or turtle). Not particularly helpful, in my opinion. But you get used to it...

 

[RSmike]

Thanks for the help.

RSlater
RSmike

 

[Dave Ronyak]

I need some help.  I just received my CT mini.  I'm confused about how the Auto/Man switch should function and what the accessory outlet should be doing.  ...

I'd much prefer to have power on the outlet all the time. 

RSlater,
RSmike

RSmike,

If you want the power outlet energized all the time the vacuum machine is plugged in, get a Fein Turbo II.  I have both a Fein Turbo II and a CT 22E.  (I purchased the Fein before I learned of Festool, and still prefer it for general use, and so does my wife.)  But the comments of others about the increased safety of the Festool design ring true -- I have surprised myself by accidentally energizing a tool that was plugged into the Fein when it was on Manual Mode.

Dave R.

 

[John Langevin]

Gee Dave I wonder how Fein slipped that one past UL! We can't get a Plug it!

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Gee Dave I wonder how Fein slipped that one past UL! We can't get a Plug it!

Excellent question.  Maybe someone who knows how UL goes about their business can explain.  I cannot.  I can say that I have had several UL approved electrical products malfunction, mostly hand-held appliances made in China, but also some major brand name GFI receptacles/breakers allegedly made in USA.

Dave R.

 

[nickao]

I need some help.  I just received my CT mini.  I'm confused about how the Auto/Man switch should function and what the accessory outlet should be doing.  ...

I'd much prefer to have power on the outlet all the time. 

RSlater,
RSmike

RSmike,

If you want the power outlet energized all the time the vacuum machine is plugged in, get a Fein Turbo II.  I have both a Fein Turbo II and a CT 22E.  (I purchased the Fein before I learned of Festool, and still prefer it for general use, and so does my wife.)  But the comments of others about the increased safety of the Festool design ring true -- I have surprised myself by accidentally energizing a tool that was plugged into the Fein when it was on Manual Mode.

Dave R.

As far as the outlet I prefer the Fein setup. In my shop If I want to quickly use the outlet on the vac to say power a drill for a minute or so with the Festool the VAC HAS to turn on. Now with the Festool I have to go to the wall and plug any tool that uses no VAC to plug it in. With my Fein I can stay right at the table or the area I am working with the VAC.

So many times at a job site I would just use the VAC outlet to power my tool, now I have to drag an extension because the VAC turning on all the time is frustrating. Until I got used to it the Festool drove me crazy because of this.  Other than that the Festools are nicer. I am selling all 3 of my Fein.