plug it cord FYI caution

[Bill in seattle]

I just thought I would share a problem that a customer had (or what happens when you loan or let someone else use your tools) with the plug it cord.
Always make sure that the cord is twist locked into the tool.  when it falls in and out SSSOOOO many times  when not locked, the little arcing electrons trying to jump the increasingly larger  gap, they will totally fry the little brass pins inside and then start looking for anything else to burn up, like the socket and  then the cord.
the net results:
$ 32 new plug it cord
$10  tool socket
several hours non-productive time
the telltale smell of fried electrical parts "priceless"
I'm sure theres a moral here.

 

[Eli]

The lessons I get are:

always lock the cord on.

never let anyone touch your tools.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Always make sure that the cord is twist locked into the tool.  when it falls in and out SSSOOOO many times  when not locked, the little arcing electrons trying to jump the increasingly larger  gap, they will totally fry the little brass pins inside and then start looking for anything else to burn up, like the socket and  then the cord.

\

I've got a 16g cord that I can't twist-lock by hand. The rubber neck is a tight fit within the plastic collar. Any tips on loosening or lubricating that?

 

[Lou Miller]

Always make sure that the cord is twist locked into the tool.  when it falls in and out SSSOOOO many times  when not locked, the little arcing electrons trying to jump the increasingly larger  gap, they will totally fry the little brass pins inside and then start looking for anything else to burn up, like the socket and  then the cord.

\

I've got a 16g cord that I can't twist-lock by hand. The rubber neck is a tight fit within the plastic collar. Any tips on loosening or lubricating that?

Just force it on. I had a few of them like that when they were new. They give in just a little with use and then they're good to go from then on. Try a little silicone spray if its really needed.

 

[Forrest Anderson]

Always make sure that the cord is twist locked into the tool.  when it falls in and out SSSOOOO many times  when not locked, the little arcing electrons trying to jump the increasingly larger  gap, they will totally fry the little brass pins inside and then start looking for anything else to burn up, like the socket and  then the cord.

\

I've got a 16g cord that I can't twist-lock by hand. The rubber neck is a tight fit within the plastic collar. Any tips on loosening or lubricating that?

As Lou says, silicone spray is good and is recommended by Festool in their (I hate to say it!) list of FAQs which seems to have more articles every time I check it. This one is in the General section:

Question :
I am having problems with the plug-it cords pulling out of the socket while in use. I turn the plug-it mechanism to secure it to the tool but it does not hold properly.
 
Answer :
If you do not twist the plug-it cord a full quarter turn, it will not lock and will pull right out. The new improved plug-it is a little stiffer; you may have to give it a good twist. If you squirt a little lubricant in the opening of the housing at the base of the prongs, being careful not to get it on the electrical contacts, it will loosen up nicely. Silicon lubricant is best, and it?s good for the plastic, too.

It took me quite a while to realise that I wasn't locking the connector properly - I was probably turning it about 1/8th of a turn rather than 1/4 of a turn, and as a result the pins did blacken a bit. Unfortunately, the design of the TS55 doesn't really encourage you to turn the connector fully, as your knuckles tend to get skinned if you're not careful!

Forrest

 

[Brice Burrell]

It took me quite a while to realise that I wasn't locking the connector properly - I was probably turning it about 1/8th of a turn rather than 1/4 of a turn, and as a result the pins did blacken a bit. Unfortunately, the design of the TS55 doesn't really encourage you to turn the connector fully, as your knuckles tend to get skinned if you're not careful!
Forrest

Forrest, I think I mentioned this before on FOG, you can bevel the TS55 to make more room for your hand to attach the cord. I'll have this and a few more tips on my site in the, I hope, very near future.

 

[Forrest Anderson]

Forrest, I think I mentioned this before on FOG, you can bevel the TS55 to make more room for your hand to attach the cord. I'll have this and a few more tips on my site in the, I hope, very near future.

That's a useful tip, and one which I must admit hadn't occurred to me. I look forward to seeing your collection of Festool tips!

Many thanks 

Forrest

 

[rodwolfy]

It took me quite a while to realise that I wasn't locking the connector properly - I was probably turning it about 1/8th of a turn rather than 1/4 of a turn, and as a result the pins did blacken a bit. Unfortunately, the design of the TS55 doesn't really encourage you to turn the connector fully, as your knuckles tend to get skinned if you're not careful!
Forrest

Forrest, I think I mentioned this before on FOG, you can bevel the TS55 to make more room for your hand to attach the cord. I'll have this and a few more tips on my site in the, I hope, very near future.

Hey Brice,

I just wanted to tell you how much I apprecitated your website and all the info there. It's been a great resource!

Thanks,

Rod

 

[Brice Burrell]

Hey Brice,

I just wanted to tell you how much I apprecitated your website and all the info there. It's been a great resource!

Thanks,

Rod

  Rod, I'm really glad you, and the two or three other people that have checked out the site, have enjoyed it. It's been fun working on it, I just wish I had more time to spend on getting the site to where I'd like it to be.

  Forrest, my TS55 plug-it tip is one of those things where you say to yourself "now why didn't I think of that?" I secretly had a dream to help to save knuckles around the world, that dream has now been realized.  ;D

 

[Michael Kellough]

Thanks for the tips guys!

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Hey Brice,

I just wanted to tell you how much I apprecitated your website and all the info there. It's been a great resource!

Thanks,

Rod

  Rod, I'm really glad you, and the two or three other people that have checked out the site, have enjoyed it. It's been fun working on it, I just wish I had more time to spend on getting the site to where I'd like it to be.

  Forrest, my TS55 plug-it tip is one of those things where you say to yourself "now why didn't I think of that?" I secretly had a dream to help to save knuckles around the world, that dream has now been realized.  ;D

Brice,

I have not had a chance to fully check out your site, but I agree with the others that what you have posted there is excellent and very helpful, and very creative.

By the way, I am writing this from Wetter, Germany (northeast of Cologne).  Just arrived today on a business trip.  May find some time next week to try to track down a Festool store in Munich or Berlin, as I am interested to see what they have to examine and how they display/demonstrate them compared to the few stocking dealers I have seen in NE Ohio, USA.

Dave R.

 

[rodwolfy]

So Dave,

Is there a problem with buying a Festool while in Germany? Like do you loose the warranty, or is the power supply completely different? Or is it like buying while in Canada and everything works fine?

Rod

 

[jo041326]

I had the same result (burned plug-it cable and connector) even in locked position. I think, Festool has too high tolerance with the cables.
Joseph

 

[Dave Ronyak]

So Dave,

Is there a problem with buying a Festool while in Germany? Like do you loose the warranty, or is the power supply completely different? Or is it like buying while in Canada and everything works fine?

Rod

I am now in Berlin - a beautiful and amazing city.  Last evening at KaDeWe (a large department store comparable to Harrod's in London) they were giving samples at many stations on the gourmet foods floor, including of 20+ year old single malt (90 Euros per bottle) and blended scotch whiskies and high end bourbons, among other items.  No Festool, though, in this fancy store. 

I hope to stop in at a Festool dealer while here.  Tomorrow afternoon I hope to meet a German carpenter / craftsman who has done many projects on his own home.  And maybe go to a Festool outlet on Monday. 

The electrical current here is very different than in USA and Canada.  In Germany, the turbines run at 3000 RPM (got that 3 days ago from a man who makes his living rebuilding them), thus 50 cycles to the outlets, and the voltage is double that in North America.  That translates into a need for fewer amperes needing to be fed into the power tool through the power cord and any Plug-It fitting.

Dave R.