Tool plugs falling out from vac

[paulgordon]

My rotex125 plug keeps slipping from the vac outlet.  I have tried to widen the plug, but no success.  It seems that the weight of the plastic flap is enough to pivot the plug down enough to turn the tool off.  How about a connection similar to the tool end attachment for the vac?  And a regular plug to run the vac with non-Festool tools.

 

[mouppe]

I can envisage precisely what is bothering you. One of my plug-in cords was similarly loose, but I had others and now use one from another Festool.

I don't understand the last part of your post. Why can't you run non-Festool tools with the CT?

Richard.

 

[Frank-Jan]

If I understand correctly it's not the plug-it end that's loose in Paul's case, put the end that goes into the vac.
I've read about people having the same problem and it was caused by the metal pins inside the outlet that had become too loose to hold the plug adequately.
In one case the guy with the problem solved it by dissassembling the outlet from the vac and bending the pins, in another case the person with the problem received a new outlet from the festool service department.
I'd recommend contacting the service department.

Anyway, personally wouldn't use the outlet in it's current condition, because if those contacts are so loose it can cause arcing and possibly melt the plastic of the outlet.

 

[bjackson3]

I had the same problem, festool sent me a new outlet. Now 6 months later the new one does it.  This time i removed the door, seemed kind of silly anyway.  Plugs are still not as tight as I'd like, but at least the door doesn't push them out.

 

[ForumMFG]

I'm with Jackson too.  I had the same problem then I called Festool.  They sent a new one and all is good.

 

[kfitzsimons]

Wish I would have called Festool service.  I ordered an outlet from my dealer and paid about $36 for it. Mine was not holding the plug tightly.  New one has solved the problem, but I'm still out $$.

 

[ForumMFG]

Why didn't you call Festool?  Was it still under warranty?

 

[Chris Hughes]

Fis your own tools, especially when its easy.  You don't need a new part.  Now I am biased because in the late '80s I was a repair tech for Rockwell, Delta, PC and as far as repairs go this would take about 5 minutes without German forthought.

 

[kfitzsimons]

Negative - not under warranty.  I bought it used. It works fine now.  But this sounds like it's an on-going issue with the vacs. Hope not though.

 

[tigger]

paulgordon, - sounds like you got a lemon. For those stressing about the vac outlets, I have 1 x 22, 1 x 33 for the past 4 years and never had this problem. In all honesty, I have'nt had any of the problems most guys stress about regarding their Festools. I can't fault the product. Always works first time, everytime. Except when my ebq55 died yesterday with "brush failure". But after being in almost everyday use for the past 5 yrs, I can't complain. Reading the posts on the Kapex problems make me a bit nervous though. I'm saving up for one and I really hope my luck holds with faultless Festools.

RichardLeon - Some power tools have different international plugs on them. In South Africa, we have 3 round pin plugs which won't fit the vac's All our Festools come with the two pin. I simply cut off the vac two pin, about half a meter from the plug, replaced it with out standard three pin plug. I then used my half a meter "offcut" and made an adaptor to accept our three pin. Works like a charm.

 

[AlexThePalex]

paulgordon, - sounds like you got a lemon. For those stressing about the vac outlets, I have 1 x 22, 1 x 33 for the past 4 years and never had this problem.

It doesn't sound like he's got a lemon but a regular problem. Tigger, I don't understand your comment since in your same post you acknowledge different countries have different plugs. So the fact that you don't have a problem with it doesn't apply to America where they probably have different plugs. I myself also never have this problem because the plugs we use here in my country fit very well. But judging by comments made here by Americans it seems they have less luck with their plugs which can cause all sorts of problems and inconveniences.

 

[tigger]

paulgordon, - sounds like you got a lemon. For those stressing about the vac outlets, I have 1 x 22, 1 x 33 for the past 4 years and never had this problem.

It doesn't sound like he's got a lemon but a regular problem. Tigger, I don't understand your comment since in your same post you acknowledge different countries have different plugs. So the fact that you don't have a problem with it doesn't apply to America where they probably have different plugs. I myself also never have this problem because the plugs we use here in my country fit very well. But judging by comments made here by Americans it seems they have less luck with their plugs which can cause all sorts of problems and inconveniences.

Well the way I see this is that Festool makes the vac and the power cord that plugs into the vac so......? Unless, the two pin being referred to here is the "narrow" type which means using a power tool other than Festool with the vac. Then yes, he may be having a "common" problem. Make sense? Or am I missing something?

The different plugs refers to using power tools where the power cord of the tool in no way matches the socket of the vac.

 

[EcoFurniture]

This is not just Festool problem... We have quite a few outlets in our home that wont hold plugs... Very frustrating. The system used in Germany is better, WAY better!

 

[AlexThePalex]

Well the way I see this is that Festool makes the vac and the power cord that plugs into the vac so......?

The type of electric plugs and sockets used in a country are specified by that country's government. All tool manufacturers like Festool can do is comply to those standards. They have no influence on the tolerances that are specified by the government. And it are exactly those tolerances in a design that make the difference in how good or bad something fits. The problem is that the plugs and sockets used in North America just don't fit as tight together as plugs in some other countries do. That's a North American problem, not a Festool problem.

 

[ccmviking]

Open the flap, while holding the flap yank it off the vac, just yank, it won't break.  Flip it over and snap it on the other way and see if that helps.  It isn't going to tighten the grip on the cord prongs but it may keep from pushing the cord out.

Chris...

My rotex125 plug keeps slipping from the vac outlet.  I have tried to widen the plug, but no success.  It seems that the weight of the plastic flap is enough to pivot the plug down enough to turn the tool off.  How about a connection similar to the tool end attachment for the vac?  And a regular plug to run the vac with non-Festool tools.