Power Cord Nonsense

[Owego]

This post is for Festool's consumption. 

Why do you supply two different power cords when one would suffice ?  I just lost two #$%# HOURS because I had the wrong cord attached to the Midi at a remote site.  A cynic would think your marketing people just wanted to sell more cords.  There is not enough benefit to the flexibility of the smaller cord to justify a second part number.  DAMM I'M PISSED.

Thomas Rispoli

 

[Oldwood]

I have to say I agree completely. I can't tell the two apart without looking at the end. It  is just not worth the hassle there should only be one cord supplied. Anybody interested in a bunch of the lighter sander grade cords? I will trade two to one for the heavy cords!! [big grin]

It is kind of a mystery why a company so focused on customer service has not admitted this is a mistake and just included  the heavy cord with all machines.

Gerry

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

On the flip side, I can just see the dozens of enraged posts by users complaining about power cord overkill for the smaller tools if Festool adopted a single, heavier-gauge cord.

I did make a similar mistake one time. 10 seconds and a sharp utility knife will remove the tab on the smaller cords. Not a perfect solution, but it got the job done...

 

[AlexThePalex]

It is kind of a mystery why a company so focused on customer service has not admitted this is a mistake and just included  the heavy cord with all machines.

A mystery indeed, on par with the mystery of why an entire continent can't admit 110v is an even bigger mistake.  [wink]

 

[peter halle]

Been there done that.  Looked at the idiot staring at me in the mirror and flipped him the bird.  He did likewise.  I blamed him and he blamed me.  We later laughed and each had a beer.

Now I keep 1 larger diameter cord under the seat of each of my two trucks just in case.

Peter

By the way, that other guy looked vaguely familiar.  [big grin]

 

[duburban]

I've hidden all the smaller gauge cords. When one leaks back into the mix i become enraged.

Calling the larger cord larger is only to distinguish between the two, it is not noticeably larger or stiffer.

 

[hopper]

A mystery indeed, on par with the mystery of why an entire continent can't admit 110v is an even bigger mistake.  [wink]

I'm glad for 110/120 volts. Over my 50 some years of working, I can't count how many times I've been shocked (my own stupidity/carelessness most of the time).  Can only wonder what would have happened if it had been a 220/240 volt system. the 110 is much safer, although less power but not enough to cause problems.

 

[safety1st]

sorry i am probably missing something. i thought you cannot plug in the 18AWG cord into the 16AWG tool. didn't understand the OP's comment.

 

[semenza]

sorry i am probably missing something. i thought you cannot plug in the 18AWG cord into the 16AWG tool. didn't understand the OP's comment.

Right but the other way around works and is OK. So one size cord in the heavier gauge would work for all the tools.

Seth

 

[Sparktrician]

I leave a 16 gauge power cord permanently associated with each of my CTs.  End of story.  No problem. 

 

[AlexThePalex]

A mystery indeed, on par with the mystery of why an entire continent can't admit 110v is an even bigger mistake.  [wink]

I'm glad for 110/120 volts. Over my 50 some years of working, I can't count how many times I've been shocked (my own stupidity/carelessness most of the time).  Can only wonder what would have happened if it had been a 220/240 volt system. the 110 is much safer, although less power but not enough to cause problems.

Just a small tongue in cheek remark, not meaning to open up a discussion about the subject. It is just that we seem to keep hearing complaints about how there are two different cords in the USA, and here in 220v country we don't have that problem. And I have read about a lot more other types of problems stemming from having 110, while those problems never seem to arise in 220v countries. 

As for safety, there is very little data to suggest you're actually right about that. I've been shocked myself many times by 220v and it never was the slightest problem. A 9v battery on the tongue is more irritating than any of the 220v shocks I had on the skin. Of course there are conditions where it could be a lot worse, but you have to ask yourself how often those situations really arise. 

I have also tried many times to find official statistics about accidents happening with electricity in 110v and 220v countries. So far without luck. No idea why, there is a lot to find about other types of accidents and fatalities, but not about electrocutions. Makes me lean to the conclusion it is a fairly small and insignificant fraction in both 110v and 220v countries.

Everytime the 110v "safety" argument comes up, I have to scratch my head, just like when I hear Americans can't eat Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs out of "safety" concerns.
 

 

[hopper]

A mystery indeed, on par with the mystery of why an entire continent can't admit 110v is an even bigger mistake.  [wink]

I'm glad for 110/120 volts. Over my 50 some years of working, I can't count how many times I've been shocked (my own stupidity/carelessness most of the time).  Can only wonder what would have happened if it had been a 220/240 volt system. the 110 is much safer, although less power but not enough to cause problems.

Just a small tongue in cheek remark, not meaning to open up a discussion about the subject. It is just that we seem to keep hearing complaints about how there are two different cords in the USA, and here in 220v country we don't have that problem. And I have read about a lot more other types of problems stemming from having 110, while those problems never seem to arise in 220v countries. 

As for safety, there is very little data to suggest you're actually right about that. I've been shocked myself many times by 220v and it never was the slightest problem. A 9v battery on the tongue is more irritating than any of the 220v shocks I had on the skin.

I have also tried many times to find official statistics about accidents happening with electricity in 110v and 220v countries. So far without luck. No idea why, there is a lot to find about other types of accidents and fatalities, but not about electrocutions. Makes me lean to the conclusion it is a fairly small and insignificant fraction in both 110v and 220v countries.

Everytime the 110v "safety" argument comes up, I have to scratch my head, just like when I hear Americans can't eat Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs out of "safety" concerns.

I don't know the actual facts either about 110 vs 220.  I was basing my comments on other posts re: the UK making construction sites go to 110 because of safety at least that is my understanding of those posts.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I don't know the actual facts either about 110 vs 220.  I was basing my comments on other posts re: the UK making construction sites go to 110 because of safety at least that is my understanding of those posts.

You are of course correct about the UK.

The UK is of course also the country where people are left to drown in shallow water because of safety concerns. 

 

[Sparktrician]

Let's be mindful here about electrocution.  Under ideal circumstances, it can take only 1/10th of one amp to knock a full-size human stone dead.  The reality is that "ideal circumstances" rarely occur.  I has little to do with 125 or 250 volts; but has everything to do with the quantity of current passing through the body.  In a normal residential 15 amp circuit, there is 150 times the quantity of current needed to kill a human under ideal circumstances.  The reality is that electrocution rarely occurs, although most of us have experienced a stout shock at some time in our careers, and have survived unscathed.  I have survived a 400volt, 400 Hz. blast when a breaker that was locked out and tagged was turned on while I was working on the circuit, but the one that hurt the most was accidentally getting across 90 volt, 20 Hz. telephone ring current. 

 

[Iceclimber]

While we are at it.

Why does the Kapex not have a plugit.

Unless I'm missing something integral as to not having one it sure would beat the stupid cord real i took off my saw on day one so o could get it closer to the wall.

Seems silly to me as Festools all have plugits silly!

 

[Gary in Texas]

Been there done that.  Looked at the idiot staring at me in the mirror and flipped him the bird.  He did likewise.  I blamed him and he blamed me.  We later laughed and each had a beer.

Now I keep 1 larger diameter cord under the seat of each of my two trucks just in case.

Peter

By the way, that other guy looked vaguely familiar.  [big grin]

Okay, you be a funny, funny man.  I had to LOL when I read your reply!  Nice to see you have some humor, another good sign you are making great progress!!!!

 

[wow]

Since Festool is convinced of the value of the lighter cords, I'd be happy to trade them 2 of my brand new, unused ones for 1 heavy duty one. IF the lighter weight cords really have value, that should be a no-brainer trade, right?

For that matter, I'd make that trade to ANYONE who wants - dealer or end user.

Any takers?

[popcorn]

 

[Just F Me]

This post is for Festool's consumption. 

Why do you supply two different power cords when one would suffice ?  I just lost two #$%# HOURS because I had the wrong cord attached to the Midi at a remote site.  A cynic would think your marketing people just wanted to sell more cords.  There is not enough benefit to the flexibility of the smaller cord to justify a second part number.  DAMM I'M ticked.

Thomas Rispoli

I see your frustration, however, in the end, it's your fault...lol.

 

[Iceclimber]

Its all the Kotch Bros. Fault

Really it is.....

Think about it lol

 

[RJNeal]

I'm with Peter, one 16 ya under the truck seat and one on the each CT.
Then all cords stay in their own systainer because I don't always use the tools with a ct.
Problem solved.
Rick