Currently reading:
torque screwdrivers

Discuss torque screwdrivers in the Electrical Tools and Products area at ElectriciansForums.net

No way I would let any of them loose on a wheelbarrow never mind a vehicle . Just another example in the fall in standards .

Oh I agree!!!
Had my brakes knackered by a garage once (I didn't have time to do them at the time for MoT and work), lasted about a week, re-did them myself, no trouble since!
Tyre/wheel change, couldn't care less, never had a wheel come off!
 
Inserting copper conductors into (mainly) brass terminals and tighten them to the specified torque as prescribed by the manufacturer with a calibrated torque screwdriver seems all very well when taken at face value.
However, in the real world, multi-stranded copper conductors suffer mechanical 'creep' of the connections due to the way they 'settle' after the individual conductors of a cable core have been displaced and compressed by the initial tightening action. When this is coupled with changes of both ambient temperature and the final operating temperature of the circuit due to electrical loading, these combined stresses cause changes in ‘tightness’ over time due to the temperature coefficients of expansion of the differing metals. I think I can confidently predict that you would expect to detect a change in the 'tightness' of the connections by the re-application of your calibrated torque screwdriver after a week or more of in-service use.
Treating the domestic consumer unit as a piece of mission-critical kit is impracticable, how many home owners are going to pay for the regular torque setting of the terminals? Once every 10 years is not going to solve the problem. Mission critical systems rely on pre-planned, short duration, periodic maintenance. Try selling that to your customers!
The latest electrical fire statistics suggest loose electrical connections are a major factor in domestic installations. So, if the authorities take this seriously they will need to introduce annual statutory electrical safety checks and national advertising campaigns before the general public will cough up for it, and probably even then only with reluctance.
However, the politicians have just dodged the sensible single statutory electrical registration body in the recent Part P changes, under intense counter pressure from the NICEIC /ESC and others with a vested interest in maintaining the status-quo. They are unlikely to welcome statutory annual safety checks which would add power to the single organisation argument and raise the spectre of a government U turn. These same vested interests are likely to argue for a voluntary industry lead scheme that means even more cash for their coffers and yet another money making fudge, Kerching!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Bought a set of Wiha ones last month. I think they are sound when working in boards.
They are pricey at 130 quid.

Also the skinny tips are handy for working on terminal connectors.

Haven't managed to loose any of the set yet either.

Was shown them today by our supervisor and informed that we'll so be getting them in the next few weeks.
 

Reply to torque screwdrivers in the Electrical Tools and Products area at ElectriciansForums.net

Electricians Tools | Electrical Tools and Products

Thanks for visiting ElectriciansForums.net, we hope you find the Electricians Tools you're looking for. It's free to sign up to and post a question yourself to find a tool or tool supplier either local to you, or online. Our community of electricians and electrical engineers will do their best to find the best tool supplier for you.

We also have a Tiling Tools advice from the worlds largest Tiling community. And then the Plumbers Forums with Plumbers Tools Advice.

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Electrician Courses Green Electrical Goods PCB Way Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Pushfit Wire Connectors Electric Underfloor Heating Electrician Courses
These Official Forum Sponsors May Provide Discounts to Regular Forum Members - If you would like to sponsor us then CLICK HERE and post a thread with who you are, and we'll send you some stats etc
This website was designed, optimised and is hosted by untold.media Operating under the name Untold Media since 2001.
Back
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website. For the best site experience please disable your AdBlocker.

I've Disabled AdBlock