Voltage Question for USA owners?

[Rob-GB]

What voltage do your Festools operate on, is it 110v or 220v?

The reason for the question is that in the uk we have a stupid regulation that tools on site have to be 110v while 230v is acceptable in the shop.( the mains supply voltage is 220-230v)
There has been no respite, despite the advances in circuit breakers and NVR switches and as such have now got a problem with the new kit I have attempted to invest in. This will become apparent once this first question is answered. I think [unsure]
Cheers in advance, Rob.

 

[mastercabman]

In the USA it's 110 v.

 

[Frank Pellow]

In the USA and in Canada most hand held electric tools operate at 120 volt 60 cycle.  Large stationary tools such as table saws often operate at 240 volt 60 cycle.

 

[chrisrosenb]

Here in the US, most all portable power tools operate on 120 volt.
I thought all UK tools were 220 volt.

 

[Rob-GB]

Thanks for the fast response guys.
Now what is the max wattage you can plug into your Festool vacuum cleaner?

Chris- most are but on construction sites we have to lug around 240 to 110v transformers or run generators [eek] I have worked all over europe and never seen anything like it there! England! Separated from the rest of the world by more than just language, common or not!

Please bare with me on this subject as it will I believe be interesting.

 

[Frank Pellow]

Here in the US, most all portable power tools operate on 120 volt.
I thought all UK tools were 220 volt.

No, not on the job site.  Somewhere  ??? I still have a 110 volt 50 cycle drill that I was given when I was working in the UK in the 1970s.

I also have 3 step down transformers.  Why I brought them with us  when we moved back to Canada, I have no idea.  [doh]

 

[AlexThePalex]

In Holland we even have 380 on the job site.  [scared] For the rest, everything is 220.

 

[Rob-GB]

Here in the US, most all portable power tools operate on 120 volt.
I thought all UK tools were 220 volt.

No, not on the job site.  Somewhere  ??? I still have a 110 volt 50 cycle drill that I was given when I was working in the UK in the 1970s.

Yep! A total lack of confidence abides here after all the fantastic advances in technology! Keep hold of it Frank it will one day be a museum piece, about the same time as my transformer becomes a paperweight for all the non essential IRS paperwork we get  [big grin] Most tools here now work 50/60 cycles, but that took a looooong time. Rob.

 

[Rob-GB]

Alex- In the workshops most machinery is three phase, due to the tools needing more grunt to convert big stock fast. This also allows Spindle moulders to run clockwise which enables certain cutters to be used upside down for a safer run of work.  Just to clarify your post though, is 380v the standard voltage on building sites in the Netherlands?
Rob.

 

[chrisrosenb]

I am guessing that a friend of of the some powers at had a transformer company.
That is the way it works in the US. 

 

[speed]

it maybe a fair bit cheaper for us to import items from the us and fit a uk 110v plug.

 

[Rob-GB]

I am guessing that a friend of of the some powers at had a transformer company.  

And I suspect the subsequent 'Inheritors' are also in the 'house'  [big grin]
But back to the Q? What is the max wattage you guys can plug into the Festool vac'.?

 

[Rob-GB]

it maybe a fair bit cheaper for us to import items from the us and fit a uk 110v plug.

Cost is not the issue, if I felt I could not afford something I would not buy it. I own in excess of 20k's worth of machinery and tooling, but, all of it works together.

 

[Daviddubya]

...But back to the Q? What is the max wattage you guys can plug into the Festool vac'.?

According to the CT22/33 Instruction Manual, the "Connected load to appliance plug socket max" is 1200 watts.  I have no trouble using the OF1400 Router plugged into the appliance socket, and the OF1400 Power Consumption is rated at 1400 watts.  Lots of folks use the TS75 Saw with the CT22/33 and it is rated at 1600 watts.  A friend regularly uses the Kapex with the CT22 and it is rated at 1600 watts.  I wonder what the maximum wattage really might be?  Hmmm.

 

[Rob-GB]

Well David I am shocked to inform you that in the UK the sticker on the outlet states MAX500W on a 110v CTL Mini, though there is no mention of that in the online catalogue, so one can not even plug a TS55 into it for the auto switch on facility!!!!
Of course I only found that out after getting the unit home. Looks like I am back to the old wet&dry tin can vac!
I have sent an E-mail to Festool UK and copied it to my dealer with whom I have dealt with for over 12 years so one hopes that a happy ending will result.
I really wanted to get a homogeneous power tool system set up over the next 6 months or so, my existing power tools are a mix of makes and have more than paid for themselves over the years I have had them, though a complete system that looks as professional, to my clients, as they work would be worthy of the investment. Of course, while working in Germany the issue of volts/watts did not occur, the tools were supplied and the legislation was not so 'static'.
Just having a hard time how something can be sold that is obviously not fit for purpose in the UK.
confused and upset.... that'll be me.

 

[speed]

id like to know the outcome of this as my next festool will/was going to be a mini......

 

[speed]

http://www.festool.co.uk/mediandoweb/index.cfm?sLanguage=English&ID_O_TREE_GROUP=2658&PARENT=1767&AKTIVPROD=1

Max. appliance socket connected load 2400 W......

 

[KeithS]

Hi
I use my TS 55 with a midi extractor all 110v and they work no problem. I did see the sticker you mentioned but thought
this refered to the size of transformer the extractor could be pluged into.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Just to clarify your post though, is 380v the standard voltage on building sites in the Netherlands?

Well, most (bigger) building sites simply have two voltages. 220 is the standard here for everything, also on the building site. But there are many bigger machines that run on 380 volts. They are mainly meant for stationary machines in the shop and factory floor, but many are also found in abundance on construction sites.

Well David I am shocked to inform you that in the UK the sticker on the outlet states MAX500W on a 110v CTL Mini, though there is no mention of that in the online catalogue, so one can not even plug a TS55 into it for the auto switch on facility!!!!

Rob, this issue has been brought forward on this forum before. The CTL Mini can handle a higher wattage without problem, it is more that UK law forbids the maximum wattage on an outlet to be higher than a certain amount. That's why it says 500 watt max on the Mini, because  the maximum allowed on the outlet is the Mini's own power consumption + the 500 watts. The Mini's internal circuit  can handle what it says in the specs in Festool's documentation.

 

[jonny round boy]

in the uk we have a stupid regulation that tools on site have to be 110v

Rob, I believe that is wrong - there is AFAIK no official regulation ANYWHERE that states 230V can't be used on site. 110V was promoted years ago as being safer, but thanks to technology 230V with an RCD is far, far safer than 110V without any protection. If the site manager/foreman won't let you use 230V tools, ask him to provide paperwork from the government or regulatory body stating that rule - he won't be able to.

It annoys me that companies/managers enforce this 'non-rule' just because they don't know the facts. Contractors usually can't even argue against it, because if they do then in many cases they will be let go, or just won't get the work in the first place

Until someone is brave/stupid enough to stand up to them, get fired from the job, and then sue them for wrongful termination, this situation will continue. And, as you've discovered, the current draw on the 110V tools is excessive! The rest of Europe use 230V on site, so why can't we?  [mad]