Why I HATE the "plug-it" cord!
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Daviddubya
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Dan Clark said:
Since you can buy the cords as an accessory, it seems like a good idea to buy one large gauge cord and leave it connected to the dust extractor all the time. Then you don't leave yourself open to the possibility of arriving at a job site with a cord missing from the Systainer.
Corwin
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Daviddubya said:
This seems to be the best answer. Some of those taking their tools to and from the job site have forgoten their cord -- keeping the original cords in the Systainers with the tools and an additional (bigger) cord with the vac could help prevent this from happening again.
maxrpierce
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Iwas working with my ro125 today and thought about this discussion that I read last night
I also have had some problem with my cord coming loose but not often enough to be bothered.
I felt fairly smug that I knew how to twist the cord.
Anyway while sanding I decided to follow your advice and was amazed to twist hard and sure enough the cord with a little resistance clicked and turned another 1/8 turn or so -I have used this every day for four months and never had it connected correctly-
I am amazed and wish you all could watch me use all my tools and tell me what other stupid things I am missing
I also have had some problem with my cord coming loose but not often enough to be bothered.
I felt fairly smug that I knew how to twist the cord.
Anyway while sanding I decided to follow your advice and was amazed to twist hard and sure enough the cord with a little resistance clicked and turned another 1/8 turn or so -I have used this every day for four months and never had it connected correctly-
I am amazed and wish you all could watch me use all my tools and tell me what other stupid things I am missing
Brice Burrell
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This is one one the best quotes I have ever read, Max I know how you feel.maxrpierce said:
Brice
LaserGecko
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The only way it shouldn't work is from the smaller guage cord (sander) to the larger current draw tool (router). There's a tab on the Plug It that keeps it from being inserted into the other tools. You can always use a larger wire than necessary.
The smaller guage wire cannot provide any protection to the motors. The only way it could protect would be to become a fuse...and that would be bad. It is a bit annoying, but I suspect the smaller guage wire has to do more with matching the draw of the motor. I suspect some sort of UL issue comes into play, too, but that's a WAG.
Michael Kellough
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Is there some kind of lubricant that would be safe to use on the tight Plug-Its?
Toolpig
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I know exactly how you feel! That's why this forum is so great -- you get first-hand experience and knowledge from people who actually use the tools every day. Thank you Matt for creating this forum -- it's my favorite second only to sawmillcreek.org.
TP
TP
maxrpierce said:
Dan Clark said:
I don't think this is true. The 16 ga cord from my TS 55 operates all my tools, Domino, LS 130, and ETS 150/3. Therefore, I leave this cord plugged in to the CT 22 all the time. However, the 16 ga cord that came with the Domino has the infamous v-notch, and it will not plug in to the TS 55. What's up with that?
brandon.nickel
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The smaller cords will not run the larger tools. Hence the interference fit. The cord that comes with the larger tools (TS55, OF1400, et al) will fit all of the smaller tools (Domino, Trion, etc). However, the inverse is not true. It's exactly the same as how a 20A electrical receptacle is T-shaped so that you can plug in a 15 or 20A cord. A 15A receptacle will not allow you to plug a 20A cord in.
Hi,
I had a problem for about a month with my Rotex 150 FEQ. The speed was sometimes changing and when sanding on lower speed there were occasional short bursts to max. speed. I thought it was a problem of electronic. My Plug-it cord was locked. Yesterday my Rotex stopped and plug-it cable and the connector in Rotex burned. I am sure the cable was locked - turned to the right to outermost position. So there had to be clearance between the cord and the connector and arc discharge burned them.
I have next 5 plug-it cables. Some works normaly with my Rotex, some with interruptions and one cable works not at all. So there must be different clearances from factory and because the sander is vibrating and used in different positions it is most prone to such a thing.
I have ordered two connectors for my Rotex and am very dissapointed with such a problem. I thought it is a profi machine which stands heavy and roagh treatment.
Josef
I had a problem for about a month with my Rotex 150 FEQ. The speed was sometimes changing and when sanding on lower speed there were occasional short bursts to max. speed. I thought it was a problem of electronic. My Plug-it cord was locked. Yesterday my Rotex stopped and plug-it cable and the connector in Rotex burned. I am sure the cable was locked - turned to the right to outermost position. So there had to be clearance between the cord and the connector and arc discharge burned them.
I have next 5 plug-it cables. Some works normaly with my Rotex, some with interruptions and one cable works not at all. So there must be different clearances from factory and because the sander is vibrating and used in different positions it is most prone to such a thing.
I have ordered two connectors for my Rotex and am very dissapointed with such a problem. I thought it is a profi machine which stands heavy and roagh treatment.
Josef
Programmergeek
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Here is what I did to remidy the problem.
TechFlex
Now my vacuum gets pulled not the cord which I think is safer anyhow.
I aggree though, I havenet had a problem but a better jack would of been nice.
I do however love the plug it cord saves me a ton of tangles when switching between sanders. I want to adapt all my other tools to plug it if I could only get the dang retrofit cord in the us. Why festool can't import a simple plug is beyond me. I know UL BS but just put it through and make customers happy.
EDIT> bad / dead link
TechFlex
Now my vacuum gets pulled not the cord which I think is safer anyhow.
I aggree though, I havenet had a problem but a better jack would of been nice.
I do however love the plug it cord saves me a ton of tangles when switching between sanders. I want to adapt all my other tools to plug it if I could only get the dang retrofit cord in the us. Why festool can't import a simple plug is beyond me. I know UL BS but just put it through and make customers happy.
EDIT> bad / dead link
Dave Ronyak
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Programmergeek,
Specifically, what sleeve product did you use to wrap your 27mm Festool hose? Do you have a similar recommendation for use with a 36mm Festool hose? I visted Techflex's site, but soon found the number of choices overwhelming. I find th external helical ribs of my Festool hoses frequently catch on various edges when in use - very annoying, at minimum, and sometimes interfering with precision of the cutting action.
Dave R.
Specifically, what sleeve product did you use to wrap your 27mm Festool hose? Do you have a similar recommendation for use with a 36mm Festool hose? I visted Techflex's site, but soon found the number of choices overwhelming. I find th external helical ribs of my Festool hoses frequently catch on various edges when in use - very annoying, at minimum, and sometimes interfering with precision of the cutting action.
Dave R.
jmbfestool
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New tools are tight but it will become looser. I have never had a single problem with the plug it cord. I think it is a good idea you can have a cord attached to the vacuum hose and just change the tool with out needing to take the cord of the hose.
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On more than one tool, I can't get a good enough grip on the cord to twist it "home" if I have the hose attached. I have just gotten in the habit of putting the cord on first.
It also helps to apply some dry lube.
Tom
It also helps to apply some dry lube.
Tom
Frank Pellow
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I do like the plug-it cord and three of my tools have them.
But, I do not like the fact that the cords are not universal, that is Festool has (at least) two different connections on the machine end of the cord. I found this out in a most akward way last autumn. I took my LS 130 linear sander and my TS 75 circular saw to a firend's place half a days drive away to do so work and I only took one power cord -the one for the sander. That cord would not work with my saw. I had to use his Makita saw and that slowed things down quite a bit.
But, I do not like the fact that the cords are not universal, that is Festool has (at least) two different connections on the machine end of the cord. I found this out in a most akward way last autumn. I took my LS 130 linear sander and my TS 75 circular saw to a firend's place half a days drive away to do so work and I only took one power cord -the one for the sander. That cord would not work with my saw. I had to use his Makita saw and that slowed things down quite a bit.
AlexThePalex
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Same here. I am impressed and pleased with the ease of use the Plug-It system gives me. I also plan on fitting all my other tools with this thanks to the small extension you can buy and fit to non Plug-It tools.
I never had the problem of it coming loose from my Rotex. In fact, the first time I got the machine I had a very hard time to take it off. And it wasn't that easy to put it on again too. This got better over time, like people said above.
Nevertheless, I think the OP has a point when he says it is poorly designed. It feels a bit flimsy to me too, the plastic feels too weak and I am worried that if I use it too much the connector might break. I do hope Festool will improve this design in the future with stronger plastic, a stronger connection and more of a snap-lock feel to it than what it has now.
Btw OP, you shouldn't pull too much on the cord, that is never a good thing. If you feel you need a bigger range you can get a longer 7,5 meter cord instead of the 4 meter standard cord.
I never had the problem of it coming loose from my Rotex. In fact, the first time I got the machine I had a very hard time to take it off. And it wasn't that easy to put it on again too. This got better over time, like people said above.
Nevertheless, I think the OP has a point when he says it is poorly designed. It feels a bit flimsy to me too, the plastic feels too weak and I am worried that if I use it too much the connector might break. I do hope Festool will improve this design in the future with stronger plastic, a stronger connection and more of a snap-lock feel to it than what it has now.
Btw OP, you shouldn't pull too much on the cord, that is never a good thing. If you feel you need a bigger range you can get a longer 7,5 meter cord instead of the 4 meter standard cord.
nickao
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You know, the quick plug on my DeWalt routers do feel a lot stiffer and more expensive. That being said I have not had any Festool "plug its" break yet and I am rough on my tools.
Frank you are correct there are two and I am trying to change all mine over to the same type that are made for the higher amp tools like the TS 75. If you use the other with the plugs for the lesser amp units like you said they will not work and it can be a hassle.
Frank you are correct there are two and I am trying to change all mine over to the same type that are made for the higher amp tools like the TS 75. If you use the other with the plugs for the lesser amp units like you said they will not work and it can be a hassle.
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I think the plug it cord is a great addition to the more modern Festool's. The Rotex though is more prone to problems due to the higher current draw. You really need to make sure the connectors are properly mated or you can burn out the plug.
What I really like about the system is it forces me to unplug the tool before replacing the blades.Back in the old days I used to be lazy with the Bosch jigsaw and wouldn't bother unplugging it.
As Frank mentioned it would be nice if Festool designed all tools with one cord in mind rather then having two different style connectors. Another option would be too color code the plug it cord and connector on the back of the tool to help identify which tool gets which cord.
Dan Clermont
What I really like about the system is it forces me to unplug the tool before replacing the blades.Back in the old days I used to be lazy with the Bosch jigsaw and wouldn't bother unplugging it.
As Frank mentioned it would be nice if Festool designed all tools with one cord in mind rather then having two different style connectors. Another option would be too color code the plug it cord and connector on the back of the tool to help identify which tool gets which cord.
Dan Clermont
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