Ras 115 and plug-it pig tail

[Chris Hughes]

I love it when you talk technical Carrol!  How are you doing these days?

So do I need to un-wire my tool and reconsider witch wire goes where?

 

[AlexThePalex]

Paul, most of us call them "double pole" switches, which disconnect both lines at the same time. Festools which do not have a ground wire are double insulated. An important part of that design is the use of double pole switches.

Allright, now I understand my confusion with what Paul said. He probably meant to say double pole instead of double-throw.

Nice explanation ccarroll.

So do I need to un-wire my tool and reconsider witch wire goes where?

No, as said before, it is not important. But if you want to do it 100% according to regulations, brown goes on top (if you look at my picture) and blue on the bottom. It is hard to see in the picture because the wires were dusty and the flash over exposed it all. Anyway, the European colour coding of the pigtail does not apply in America. Blue and brown are used in Europe, brown being the phase (hot) and blue the neutral.

 

[PaulMarcel]

Yes, sorry, double pole, one for each lead.  Yes, it's A/C so as I said it makes no difference when the tool is on... it's a circuit.

But if the switch were single-pole and on neutral, you'd have "hot" voltage throughout the tool making it a shock hazard (no current because it isn't a closed circuit, but the voltage is there and your finger can complete that circuit ).  Typically single-pole switches are on hot and right at the entrance of the tool, making the rest of the tool at 'neutral's potential, which is ground's potential in an American 110V circuit.

As Carroll pointed out, Festool uses double-pole switches, so flipping it really doesn't matter.  Nice to see they do that... most vendors out there don't even put a dust protected switch on a router!  [blink]

BTW, the big reason why we started using 'polarized' plugs ages ago was because manufacturers used single-pole switches so if you plugged the item in 'backwards' putting the switch on neutral, the appliance was a shock hazard; the polarized plugs ensure the narrow spade is on the switch.

 

[agarwalsa]

I am keen to get a pigtail for my RS2E. I travel to Europe very frequently - twice each month but last time I tried to look at the foriegn language sites there were several pigtails and I got confused which is the right one for a 110V RS2E. If anyone would have the right part number, I would appreciate it. I may buy a few extras if anyone would like one. I travel mainly to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Madrid.

 

[semenza]

Hi,

There are a number of threads on this topic here on FOG. Here is one of them with some info--

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/plug-it-info/

Seth

 

[ccarrolladams]

I love it when you talk technical Carrol!  How are you doing these days?

So do I need to un-wire my tool and reconsider witch wire goes where?

Hi Chris,
After class Friday I got a really good night's sleep. The drive back to Los Angeles had dry roads and hardly any traffic early Saturday.

The convention in Europe is that the blue wire is the designated ground. However, almost certainly the RAS 115 has a double pole switch. Otherwise the Festool service department would have made it clear which lead should go where.

Enjoy having the plug-it on your sander.

I don't own an RAS 115. I didn't realize its body is shared with the Deltex 93 which I do own and use frequently. That and my OF2200 are my only Festools with attached power cords.