I have bought several new tools in the past year and all of them have a gizmo attached to the power cord. I can’t figure out it’s purpose. Does anyone know? If yes please explain. The unit is black and about 3 or 4 inches long. Some are tight enough to be stationary on the cord while other are loose enough to move along the length of the cord.
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Replies
Is it a velcro strap on the cord to keep it wrapped?
lmao probably is
No its a black plastic thing. I have one on my Dremel and a tag that do not remove.
I was kinda wondering myself.
I think it goes along with the black helicopters.
It's likely a device for attaching an allen wrench, drill chuck key or some other device that was supplied with your tool for changing blades or bits or ???
If that's the case, you can locate the thing where it's out of the way while using the tool, but at hand when you need to change your tooling.
Best place is usually near the plug so that you're more likely to unplug the tool when handling the business end.
The Hitachi router I just bought has one. It is definately not velcro or a key holder. I was guessing some kind of choke coil or something. Probably the gps locater to signal the black helicopters. I checked the Hitachi parts book and manual and no mention. I am sure Bill Hartmann will have the answer.
Edited 4/10/2005 12:20 am ET by RASCONC
Lets find out.Hey Bill, what are those things ?The equivalent of the "do not remove" tag on a mattress ?
The person you offend today, may have been your best friend tomorrow It is easy to be friends with someone you always agree with.
Without seeing one I did not have a clue until I you said. "I was guessing some kind of choke coil or something. "I have never seen these on powertools. But you will see exactly that one certain computer cables. The run the lines through a torid coil. The purpose is to stop the cable from acting as an antenna. The FCC Part 15 covers things like low power transmitters (remote controls and walkie-talkies) and "unintended radaitors".Almost all electronic equipment has labels on it and instruction in the manual mentioning FCC part 15.Now it has been 20 years since I looked at Part 15 and power tools used to not be included.Doing some googling it appears that they still are not, but anything with an oscillator over 9 or 10 kHz is covered.I don't see any "common" power tool would have anything like that. It would need some that has a digital display and/or programing such as the digital readouts on some table saw fences. Variable speed control would not.However, some battery chargers might use switching power supplies which would require testing and maybe need the filters.But tools with brushes do throw off RFI from the brushes and it might be that the Common Market is starting to cover power tool RFI and thus some companies are testing for it and put filters, where needed, on all of their lines.
Kind of what I thought but in more technical terms. :-) This router does have electronic variable speed control 8000-24000 rpm. I did not see any wording except the "do not remove tag" imprint. I do not have it here ( on job site) or I would shoot a pix and post it.
My digital camera to video port cord has a similar although shorter device.
I'm pretty sure Bill is correct - it is stop interference in some fashion.Several people in Maryland had complained to the phone company of having interference on their phone lines, and the phone company's response was to tell customers to go and buy a device that plugs into the phone line near the telephone that stops the interference (basically the same as on the cords). So I bought two of them from the local Radio Shack. The one on my telephone worked great - as an antenna! It made the noise about ten times worse. Funny thing is, it worked pretty well on the FAX line.
My telephone has a filter on it because of the DSL. It was put on there by the installer. He also gave me some extras incase I should add some more telephones in the future.
DaneI will always be a beginner as I am always learning.
The DSL filter is a completely different concempt from the RFI filter "bulge" on computer equipment, but they both have the same very basic function of keeping unwanted signals out of places where they are not wanted.The filter that is built into the computer cables is used to prevent RFI that exists inside the equipment from "flowing the cable" and using it as an antenna. Much like a drip edge is used to keep water from flowing around a window sill and then down the backside. It is basically a torrid form and the wires eithe just pass through it or wrapped around it a couple of times.The phone line, when used for DSL has both normal voice band signals used for talking, but also higher frequency signals used for the DSL.Th phone is not designed to handle those higher frequencies and would short them out. The phone plugs into the filter and the filter plugs into the phone jack. So that the circuitry of the filter is in series with the wiring so that it puts up a road block to the DSL signal, but lets the voice signals through."How does the store stop this thing from activating there security system, after you purchase the item, with it still in the box?"I assume that this system is compatable with the other systems. Don't know of the details of how they work.The basic systems are very simple. The consists of a "coil" and capacitor that forms a tuned circuits and a few other componets. They are so simple that they can be "printed" (silk screened with conductive inks) on paper tages.When you go out the doors there is an RF source and if the tag is not deactivated then it is tuned to the singal from the RF source and it "replies". Possibly with a diode so that it generates hormonic signasl.At the checkouts, on the end of the counter, there is a pad and the items are passed over them. And you will often see the clerks repeated it so that all sides are passed directly over the pads.I really don't know, but my guess is that it is a high power RF source that "blows" out the tags.
Thanks for answering my questions Bill.
DaneI will always be a beginner as I am always learning.
I got my answer from Bosch tool on my question to them about the EMTAG cord addition. It is definitely a security devise and can be removed if you so desire, but will not interfere with the working of the tool to leave it there.
My curiousity is satisfied!
How does the store stop this thing from activating there security system, after you purchase the item, with it still in the box?
Is the thing used to clear the tag on the outside of the box used to clear the tag, on the item, inside the box?
DaneI will always be a beginner as I am always learning.
Well, being one who tore matress tags off as a youngster, I removed the EMTAG device from my Makita portable table saw and it turned into a Ryobi.
Well, someone crack one of the things open and see what's inside. (Even if it is an RFI filter, it won't really hurt anything to remove it -- just 0.0000000001% more RFI floating around.)If it's an RFI filter, it will contain a cylinder of ferrite -- a sort of plastic material, brown/black in color. If it's an antitheft tag (or other black helicopter thing) it'll probably contain some sort of flexible printed circuit.
I'm not sure about this but that looks suspiciously like a terroidal ferrite RF filter. I see them on a lot of electronic equipment. Supposed to keep RF signals from propagating down the power line. In electronics it protects sensitive equipment. In this case I suspect it keeps the noise caused by the universal AC/DC motor from traveling down the power line.
If you read down the the thread you see that some of them have a brand one them.And checking that indicates that it is an security device.But I agree, from that picture it certainly looks like and RFI filter.But I was also "concerned" by the reports that it was loose. The results of RFI testing would have been much different depending on where it was along the line.That and the fact that I could not find any requiresment for RFI testing on power tools gave me doubt.But again that picture did look exact an RFI choke.
Is it a plastic box, sort of, with the wire running through the middle? That would be an RFI (radio frequency interference) filter. You see them a lot on computer equipment, but they may be required on motor devices now, and the mfgrs haven't gotten around to building them into the handle.
Now I'm more curious. I figured it was kind of a dumb question, but I now see that everyone seems befuddled by it. I think I'll call the Bosch help line and see if I can get an answer. If So, I'll post it here for everyones knowledge. It's on a Makita 7 1/4" circular saw; Bosch Router; Bosch electric planer. All these were purchased within the past six months, so it's something new. Watch for Bosch's answer!
If it is the sort of plastic box (or sometimes a lump shrink-wrapped onto the cord) then it's almost certainly an RFI filter.
View Image
This is from todays Lowes ad. The cord plugged into the yellow ext cord is what we are talking about.
Bob
Edited 4/10/2005 9:23 pm ET by RASCONC
Edited 4/10/2005 11:10 pm ET by RASCONC
That certianly does look like an RFI choke.
Active retiree said some of them are loose on the cord (slide up and down).
Can an RFI choke work like that? I don't know a thing about them, just interested.
Dave
I think so, but I am not sure.I never worked with this kind of stuff.I think for differential mode noise the leads need to be looped through a core and of course it could not more. For common mode I thing that whole cord could go through. Now if it is movable then you only have 1/2 turn and more would be higher imdepence (more filtering).
What state(s) are these turning up in?Never seen anything like it in Illinois.
Q: What is the difference between men and pigs?
A: Pigs don't turn into men when they drink.
I would doubt that it is a state specific issue, my Hitachi came from Amazon Tool Crib. Stop by Lowes and see if they have the 2 1/4 hp Hitachi router.
"Stop by Lowes and see if they have the 2 1/4 hp Hitachi router."
We don't have Lowes out here in the sticks.
(-:
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We don't have Lowes out here in the sticks.
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B) Just wait...
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My Dremel 400XPR has one of those on the plug end of the cord. On one side it says EMTAG (tm) the other side gives the patent number. Both sides say Do Not Remove. I can turn it around the cord and slide it up and down the cord. It is not securely fastened to the cord but the cord does run threw it. Nothing in the OM about it either.
My new Ridged worm drive does not have this thing.
Just did a Google search and came up with 405 results on EMTAG.
DaneI will always be a beginner as I am always learning.
> Active retiree said some of them are loose on the cord (slide up and
> down).
>
> Can an RFI choke work like that? I don't know a thing about them, just
> interested.Yes, it's basically just a cylinder/tube of ferrite that surrounds the wire. Usually made in two half-circle halves and then clamped tobether around the wire by the "shell".
It seems that this group is asleep.http://www.routerforums.com/showthread.php?t=564Here is a thread about them from December.They (at least the ones labeled Emtag) are secuirty devices.http://nationallabel.com/security_products.htmhttp://www.bgplastics.com/html/10_1_2002.htm""By attaching directly to the cord, the Emtagtm protects the product... not the packaging", said Jack Mohrle, National Sales Manger, EAS Products for B&G. "The improved product protection permits more aggressive merchandising, which has been proven to dramatically increase sales and profits for both the retailer and supplier", he said.The Emtagtm has been designed to subtly blend with the power cord, masking the anti-shoplifting protection that it provides. The device can be customized to a client's color and imprint requirements, and is available in a range of sizes to accommodate multiple cord dimensions."
So, I wonder if now all the tools showing up in pawn shops will be "cordless"
Well, it looks like you have the answer. I read both statements you posted and EMTAG is definitely what we have here. I guess it's being required by the big boxes for extra protection. I'll check with my local tool supplier to see if it is showing up on his inventory. Thanks for solving the mystery for us.
who was asleep? speak for yourself
Barry E-Remodeler
That's definitely the unit I'm asking about. I e-mailed the question to Bosch yesterday so I expect an answer by today or tomorrow at the latest. I'll post it when I get it. I was wrong on the approx. length. It's only two or 3 inches long. The logo on it says (EMTAG) Do not remove. Just curious what its purpose is.
Smack that thing with your hammer and tell us what happens. What falls out . Does the tool work with it flattened/shattered.
I think these gizmos are an attempt to identify authentic tools from knock-offs. I noticed one on my Makita circular saw that I bought at Sears. I thought it was a security device to prevent shoplifting, but I asked them if they needed to remove it and they didn't even know what it was.
I read something a while back about how prevalent knock-off tools are today and it showed some specific things to look at to make sure the tool was authentic. Tools with three prong plugs was one of the things they said to look for to identify a knock-off. That's the only one I can think of right now.
I think the Emtag is a anti-theft device for store securityYou aren't supposed to remove your mattress tag either.
Barry E-Remodeler
Emtag. Go ahead and remove it.
It is just a fancy case for the magnetic inventory control tag (the thing that sets the alarm off at the store. The strip is taped to the inside. See attached photo. They put the "do not remove" on there to make thieves think its part of the tool. Probably a liability thing too, so the manufacturer doesn't get sued when Bubba nails his hand to the table with a screwdriver trying to crack it open. Took me less than a minute to open mine, and less than a second to be certain of what it was. My wife says if they put up a big red button with caution signs all over it, I'd have to push the button....
I took one off once and right after that the tool was stolen.
Don't ask a redneck something unless you want to know. I just broke the EMTAG off of my Makita circular saw. It looks like it is an RFID tag Theft deterrant). It is certainly not a ferrite bead (RF device).