Syslight Problem

[grbmds]

Unfortunately dropped my Syslight the other night and it, of course, landed in water. I picked it up right away but haven't been able to get it to light or charge since then.

I've tried -
*  Letting the whole unit sit in rice for about 24 hours
*  Opening it up to let it dry out (if there is water inside), but haven't been able to completely separate the body after removing all possible screws.

Tonight, after sitting for most of the day partially open and air drying, it actually lit again when I plugged it in, so there is hope.

It is out of the year reconditioned warranty (but it was my fault anyway) and Festool Service can't really suggest anything else than I've already done. I can send it in, but Service isn't confident that the repairs can be made at a cost that justifies repairing it, so that would be my last resort.

Any other suggestions or am I the only one who has dropped the Syslite and into water?

 

[jbair]

My Ace Hardware store almost always has a bucket of $0.99 led flashlights on the counter near the cashier. Buy 175 of these and when you drop one, throw it out and pull out the next.

 

[JoeFarese]

Wrap it in a small cotton towel, put it in a quart size zip lock bag, put you vacuum hose in the zip and snug it up. Cut about a two inch hole in the bag on the other side of the light and suck out as much moisture as you can, just don't burn out your vacuum!

 

[Birdhunter]

Try putting the light in a Ziplock bag filled with uncooked rice. Let it sit for 12 hours. This worked when my wife dropped her iPhone in the dog's water bowl.

 

[Cheese]

My Ace Hardware store almost always has a bucket of $0.99 led flashlights on the counter near the cashier. Buy 175 of these and when you drop one, throw it out and pull out the next.

[member=26949]jbair[/member]
Ya good idea, humor right?  If not, I think you're actually trying to exascerbate the situation. Any idea as to how many lumens these el chepo lights put out? Besides that, the convenience factor is really nice because before I have to start the demo I only have to position 175 flashlights around the perimeter. Sweet...I'll be making bucks off of that program...

 

[Cheese]

Try putting the light in a Ziplock bag filled with uncooked rice. Let it sit for 12 hours. This worked when my wife dropped her iPhone in the dog's water bowl.

Those damn dogs...can't live with em ...can't live without em. They've cost us so many $$ but I wouldn't change it for the world. Just had Samantha the Golden at Menards today as the official Menards greeting dog...what's not to love? She meets and greets with the best of manners. Some people should be so well schooled...

 

[grbmds]

Try putting the light in a Ziplock bag filled with uncooked rice. Let it sit for 12 hours. This worked when my wife dropped her iPhone in the dog's water bowl.

[member=15289]Birdhunter[/member] Thanks for the suggestion. I already did that but in a sealed container. It may have worked better if I had been able to completely get the light apart right after it fell in the water. I was in Indianapolis at a Festool class just before Christmas and asked Service. They gave me more info on how to get it apart and essentially diagnosed the problem. I believe the switch corroded from the moisture. I tried cleaning some of it off while open and now it seems to charge but still won't turn on unless it is plugged in. So, I have to plug it in, turn it on, and then I can use it with just the battery.

 

[mwildt]

Doesn't look like the switch is separate on the ekat. Is it soldered on ?

 

[grbmds]

Doubt the switch is something I could just order and fix. If I want it to operate as designed, the next step is likely to send it in to Service and, if the cost is too high to fix, just not have it anymore; find a cheaper LED light that serves my needs. Just getting used to having it. Kind of handy just to use for single spot tasks. I won't pay for another though. I got this one at the reconditioned sale for a great price.

 

[mrboult]

I thought the 'put it in rice concept' needed days/week rather than hours to work properly. 12hrs/24hrs doesn't seem enough. It's osmosis not magic. . .

 

[grbmds]

When I got it partially open the first time there was no actual water inside. None now either, but just corrosion which does not appear to be removable. I don't believe it needs to be in the rice for much longer than a couple of days unless it's been through a flood and has been in water for  a long period. Problem with rice is it gets in places that you don't want it, like in little slots and under boards; places you can't get at to get the rice out.

 

[mrboult]

Problem with rice is it gets in places that you don't want it, like in little slots and under boards; places you can't get at to get the rice out.

Put it in a sock in and into the rice?

 

[grbmds]

Right now there is no more moisture that I can see, so rice won't really help right now.

 

[mrboult]

I'm a little sad to hear of this vulnerability with the syslite. 

After the youtube videos of the Festool drills working after serious liquid submersion, I had guessed my syslites might be similarly robust.  It seems not.  Useful info, sorry for your troubles.

 

[mwildt]

Doubt the switch is something I could just order and fix. If I want it to operate as designed, the next step is likely to send it in to Service and, if the cost is too high to fix, just not have it anymore; find a cheaper LED light that serves my needs. Just getting used to having it. Kind of handy just to use for single spot tasks. I won't pay for another though. I got this one at the reconditioned sale for a great price.

Would be interesting if you could post a picture or two of the internal problem. First then we can conclude what can be done.

 

[Cheese]

I looked at EKAT and noticed that a replacement switch is not available, so your best option is to try to clean the contacts of the existing switch. Try using the eraser end on a wooden pencil if you have the room. If it's too confined for the pencil, try using some narrow strips/pieces of 3M wet-or-dry sandpaper in 800-1000 grit.

And as already mentioned, a good picture or 2 may also spark some creativity. [big grin]

 

[mopowers]

Dropped mine in a lake while kayaking at night. Light started flickering, then only worked sporadically, then not at all. Took it apart a day later and let it set out in a room at 40 - 50% RH for over two weeks. Works fine now and use it everyday.

Bummer was a few days before I dropped it I just got it back from Festool service for warranty repair. I did get a free upgrade to the new model which was a sweet surprise!

 

[grbmds]

Thanks for the input. I will try to post a picture later tonight. There is some corrosion around the switch, but less now since I've cleaned some off.