Consumer units...

[Dustydazzler]

When fitting a consumer unit what do you use to tighten terminals...?

regular screwdriver either slotted , pozi or pz/s Tip

torque screwdriver either slotted , pozi or PZ/s tip

impact driver / battery drill with a pozi bit

i have always used a regular slotted or pozi screwdriver but wondered what others use

 

[Baddegg]

Bit of a stickler so torque driver for me ?

 

[littlespark]

Torque driver with pozi/ slotted bits.

just have to remember to change the setting between the mainswitch terminals and the mcb ones

 

[Colin Jenkins]

When fitting a consumer unit what do you use to tighten terminals...?

regular screwdriver either slotted , pozi or pz/s Tip

torque screwdriver either slotted , pozi or PZ/s tip

impact driver / battery drill with a pozi bit

i have always used a regular slotted or pozi screwdriver but wondered what others use

Hello Dustydazzler.
I use a standard screwdriver every time as pre-set torque figures unsettle me a bit. I "settle" stranded conductors by hand whilst tightening the terminal, then tug test-check for security. Single-strand conductors need care to avoid crushing the conductor; I double these over. On completion of the entire consumer unit I then tug and re-check all screw terminations, re-settling the stranded ones. The incoming main tails get three settlement checks like this and I always check these any time I access an isolated consumer unit. It works for me, but I've been in game since long before torque screwdrivers appeared on the scene and prefer to rely on experience. I've never encountered a subsequent loose connection that I've been made aware of. I use the same basic procedure for all accessories too.
Regards,
Colin Jenkins.

 

[telectrix]

same here, except i use a small battery driver with variable torque in the first instance. firstly to back off all MCB terminals to ensure that the busbar is "in" the cage and not behind it; then to tighten before using a regular +/- hand driver (Wiha). after a few minutes, wriggle and recheck. might use a torque job if I can find it. never had a loose terminal ever, except once or twice had busbar prong behind cage due to a magnetic driver pulling back on the screw head.... corrected after a few choice expletives.

 

[Pete999]

same here, except i use a small battery driver with variable torque in the first instance. firstly to back off all MCB terminals to ensure that the busbar is "in" the cage and not behind it; then to tighten before using a regular +/- hand driver (Wiha). after a few minutes, wriggle and recheck. might use a torque job if I can find it. never had a loose terminal ever, except once or twice had busbar prong behind cage due to a magnetic driver pulling back on the screw head.... corrected after a few choice expletives.

"Choice Expletives" unlike you Tel.

 

[telectrix]

"Choice Expletives" unlike you Tel.

well it is sinday sunday

 

[Dustydazzler]

While on topic...

are people using the older solid strand tails or using the Fine multi strand newer tails...

I have seen afew youtuber bods using the newer fine stranded tails

 

[telectrix]

question is whether or not to ferrule the ends of fine strand as they are in a cage, not directly under a screw. personally i'd ferrule them if i were to use them. i'd like other members opinions.

 

[mattg4321]

It used to be the case that UKPN did not accept anything other than 7 strand insulated and sheathed meter tails, so that's all I fit.

 

[bill01803]

Ferrule for me every time

 

[Baddegg]

Not used em but I ferrule all other fine strand so gonna say I would...

 

[Dustydazzler]

Does anyone still fit 16mm tails when the tails from the cut out to meter are 16

or does everyone just do 25mm as standard from meter to consumer unit regardless

 

[davesparks]

I use 19 strand tails, which are not fine stranded conductors, they are still coarse stranded, just a bit less coarse.

 

[pc1966]

I would hardly call the 19-strand tails "fine", I mean the strands are about the same a 10mm 7-strand!

Fine stranded to me would be tri-rated, and that should be ferruled in all cases (and definitely out for DNO connection).

 

[davesparks]

It used to be the case that UKPN did not accept anything other than 7 strand insulated and sheathed meter tails, so that's all I fit.

UKPN won't connect if the wind is blowing in the wrong direction, its hardly surprising they throw a fit about perfectly compliant, and arguably better, 19 strand tails.