New CXS - is this normal behavior?

[bwehman]

Just got a new CXS and can't believe it took me this long to get! I have a quick question about the trigger though - my only experience with Festool drills has been of the brushless variety - PDC 18, T12, T18, BHC - and with those, as soon as you put pressure on the trigger, it starts ramping up from 0 smoothly up to full speed. With the CXS, it seems like you can press the trigger for a little bit before anything happens, and then it like immediately starts at something like, IDK, 10%. Does this description make sense?

It's like, press slightly, nothing, press slightly more, immediately goes to 10% power and ramps up smoothly from there as the trigger continues to be depressed.

Not at all a big deal and still love it, just had me wondering since it's not like the rest.

 

[woodbutcherbower]

Can’t speak directly for the CXS, but my Hilti does exactly the same thing when the torque is set very low. Maybe it’s this?

 

[Knight Woodworks]

Interesting. I own two CXS, a TXS, a T12 and a T18. The smaller drills have a longer trigger pull. Once started they all behave about the same.

John

 

[Cheese]

Ya, that's the same for my CXS. In the photo below the 2nd pencil mark is where the drill chuck starts to slowly rotate.

So...there will be some initial slop, then the LED comes on and then 1 mm later the drill chuck rotates.

[attachimg=1]

 

[Jim_in_PA]

With a light touch on the trigger, the CXS lights the lights without starting the motor running which is very handy when you are working in a closed space with limited visibility. From there, it will progress smoothly all the way up to full speed for the slow/fast setting you have selected on top of the tool. (generally for driving vs drilling)

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Mine does the same, so it must be "by design"? I guess it gives you some tactile "feel" before anything happens. The thing is capable of being very gentle, when needed.

Can’t speak directly for the CXS, but my Hilti does exactly the same thing when the torque is set very low. Maybe it’s this?

There really is no "torque" setting, just a 2speed transmission and a ratcheting style clutch. I'm thinking that It might be more as Jim suggested, to allow the light to come on without moving, because the light doesn't stay on after releasing the trigger. My Makita does that, for something like 8 seconds? but if I remember right, you have to pull the trigger enough to make it spin, before it lights on the first place.

 

[Sparktrician]

Pull the trigger a small amount and the light (only) comes on.  Pull it some more and the motor starts.

 

[4nthony]

With a light touch on the trigger, the CXS lights the lights without starting the motor running which is very handy when you are working in a closed space with limited visibility.

One thing I wish the CXS had was a delay before turning off the light. My Dewalts keep their lights on for maybe 15-20 seconds before they turn off. Kinda nice when you're inside a cabinet and need to see and do something with both hands before actually using the tool.

Also, why do you think Festool put the battery meter on the tool and not on the battery?

 

[woodbutcherbower]

After reading these replies saying the first trigger movement activates the LED followed by activation of the motor using increased trigger movement  - I gotta say that’s a little piece of genius design right there.

 

[Samo]

Also, why do you think Festool put the battery meter on the tool and not on the battery?

For the weight?  The early version has no battery meter at all?

 

[squall_line]

Also, why do you think Festool put the battery meter on the tool and not on the battery?

For the weight?  The early version has no battery meter at all?

My C12 is the same way; the meter is on the tool rather than the battery.

I see it as a cost-saving measure on the 18V platform, where you can save on the design of the tool itself by offloading the gauge to the battery itself.  From a usability standpoint, it's also nice to be able to check the battery without plugging it into a tool just to pull the trigger and see what the level is.  My Makita LXT batteries are the same way.

I'd imagine the CXS/TXS stayed on the tool because there wasn't a good place to wedge in the LEDs on the battery after redesigning it, and those are the only two tools that use that battery platform, so there isn't much incentive to offload the gauge.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I would see it as the opposite, from a cost standpoint. The batteries are the part that is potentially replaced more often than the tool. So, you are adding to the cost of the battery, which is already expensive. Keeping the gauge in the tool, means only one is ever needed.

From the practical (end user experience) position, the gauge built into the battery is far more friendly. You can tell the charge of the battery straight from the place you store them, before ever plugging it into a tool.