cu screwdriver - unaware

T

tbs1983

Hi guys, i bought a screwdriver for the terminals in a CU today. Ok you say! but the reason im posting this is because ive been an apprentice then electrician for 8 years now, and only found out such a tool existed recently. I put this down to the fact the guys i learnt from never used them or mentioned they existed, and neither did my college, let alone have any for us to use during practical lessons. Therefore ive always used a pozi screwdriver because thats what i thought u used.

Question 1 - anyone else had same thing?
Question 2 - does proper one make a difference (i dont even know what u call them!)
Question 3 - why aren't colleges educating students about them.
 
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Heisenberg said:
So that begs the question, which type of screwhead do most MCB manufacturers use, Pozi or Phillips? Whilst I know the difference between the two in principal, I've never been able to tell visually, only by using either a PZ or PH driver and seeing which feels the best fit.
Click to expand...

Looking at a philips head it has just two 'grooved' at 90 degrees forming a cross. A pozi head has a smaller, additional 'cross' at 45 degrees to the main one, more like a star.
 
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Phoenix said:
Looking at a philips head it has just two 'grooved' at 90 degrees forming a cross. A pozi head has a smaller, additional 'cross' at 45 degrees to the main one, more like a star.
Click to expand...

Cheers, I think I've just been looking at different makes of PZ thinking one is a PH. DOH! What a muppet.
 
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There ya go :) @ heisenberg
konc_ph-pz-1.jpg
 
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I am still amazed at how many times I go to undo a pozi screw, only to find that it's been ruined because someone has used a philips screwdriver on it. The difference between the two was one of the first things we were taught during our apprenticeship. Then again, I guess you can't learn in 5 weeks what took us 4 years...
 
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MarkieSparkie said:
Oh yes they do, but only the Wiha VDE Torque Driver 18 piece set 2872T18 contains SL/PZ1 and SL/PZ2.
The additional interchangeable blades you require for the Wiha VDE Torque Driver are SL/PH1 Cat No. 33585, SL/PH2 Cat No. 33571, SL/PZ1 Cat No. 33572 and SL/PZ2 Cat No. 33586. Or alternatively SL/PZ1 Cat No. 35489 and SL/PZ2 Cat No. 35490 slim bits are available if you have the slim bit adaptor.

Insulated VDE tools /  Onlineshop /  Wiha.com /  Premium Tools for Professionals
Click to expand...

Thanks for that Markie. I blame myself for not checking the set contents properly before parting with over £100. I guess that will teach me to think that Wiha actually thought about what the set was for....
 
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Guitarist said:
I am still amazed at how many times I go to undo a pozi screw, only to find that it's been ruined because someone has used a philips screwdriver on it. The difference between the two was one of the first things we were taught during our apprenticeship. Then again, I guess you can't learn in 5 weeks what took us 4 years...
Click to expand...

It could of course have been ruined because it was just a crap screw, but maybe you were off the day they taught that :tongue3:
 
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First time i saw them was around 8 years ago, ...that was only by chance too. The team connecting final distribution boards were using them, i picked one up to open a control panel, only to find it was one of these ''Modulo'' plus/minus Jobie's!! lol!! Can't say i've ever seen any advertisements or recommendation data etc, from MCB/MCCB manufacturers... Come in two sizes as i recall!!
 
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Heisenberg said:
So that begs the question, which type of screwhead do most MCB manufacturers use, Pozi or Phillips? Whilst I know the difference between the two in principal, I've never been able to tell visually, only by using either a PZ or PH driver and seeing which feels the best fit.
Click to expand...

Generally you will find equipment of American origin will have Phillips/Slotted combination screw head, equipment from Europe will have Pozidrive/Slotted combination screw head and equipment from the Asia may have either. It is important to select the right combination screwdriver for the type of head because damage or wear to the cross-drive faces through slippage and/or cam-out is likely to result otherwise.
 
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Heisenberg said:
It could of course have been ruined because it was just a crap screw, but maybe you were off the day they taught that :tongue3:
Click to expand...

What's the first thing you do with screws which come included in any equipment for fixing it to a wall? Chuck em in the bin with the crappy wall plugs they generously give you :)
Still amazed at how many "tradesmen" I come across using the wrong bit in their drills. Often think it's the torque ratchet going off untill I realise it's just the screw head being destroyed...
 
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Must try something other than CK. I've had 3 of the smaller size 1 modulo drivers and wrecked the tips on every one. Put the first 2 failures down to me giving them a bit too much on the bigger sized 2 screws, but the last one that cracked on Friday, was not being abused or every used incorrectly on the larger screws!

IMHO the smaller CK modulo drivers are too brittle, so I' ll try another brand.
 
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wildgoose said:
Must try something other than CK. I've had 3 of the smaller size 1 modulo drivers and wrecked the tips on every one. Put the first 2 failures down to me giving them a bit too much on the bigger sized 2 screws, but the last one that cracked on Friday, was not being abused or every used incorrectly on the larger screws!

IMHO the smaller CK modulo drivers are too brittle, so I' ll try another brand.
Click to expand...

The ones I've had for years are Facom, similar to the picture above, if that helps.
 
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wildgoose said:
Must try something other than CK. I've had 3 of the smaller size 1 modulo drivers and wrecked the tips on every one. Put the first 2 failures down to me giving them a bit too much on the bigger sized 2 screws, but the last one that cracked on Friday, was not being abused or every used incorrectly on the larger screws!

IMHO the smaller CK modulo drivers are too brittle, so I' ll try another brand.
Click to expand...
Generally for mcb's and contactors the larger modulo is the one. These screwdrivers are particularly prone to breaking if you use the wrong size, I had the CK ones for several years, they didn't break but eventually the contact faces got worn.
 
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Guitarist said:
I am still amazed at how many times I go to undo a pozi screw, only to find that it's been ruined because someone has used a philips screwdriver on it. The difference between the two was one of the first things we were taught during our apprenticeship. Then again, I guess you can't learn in 5 weeks what took us 4 years...
Click to expand...

saying that an old spark rounded off some torx heads with pozi

he should know better as he knows i had some torx bits in bag
 
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shanky887614 said:
saying that an old spark rounded off some torx heads with pozi

he should know better as he knows i had some torx bits in bag
Click to expand...

The clue is in the 'old spark' comment. Sometimes I need my reading glasses to tell the difference between the smaller Torx & Pozi. Buy him a cheap pair of +1.5 reading specs from ASDA, for a couple of quid, give them to him then duck & run! (bet he uses them though)! I speak from experience and age!!!

- - - Updated - - -

shanky887614 said:
saying that an old spark rounded off some torx heads with pozi

he should know better as he knows i had some torx bits in bag
Click to expand...

The clue is in the 'old spark' comment. Sometimes I need my reading glasses to tell the difference between the smaller Torx & Pozi. Buy him a cheap pair of +1.5 reading specs from ASDA, for a couple of quid, give them to him then duck & run! (bet he uses them though)! I speak from experience and age!!!
 
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I've been using the CK Modulo screwdriver's for years now. When I first tried one i could not believe how much easier it made things.
And likewise i've always been surprised not to see more sparks using them when terminating CU's
They also work exceptionally well on detector bases! ;)
 
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tbs1983 said:
Hi guys, i bought a screwdriver for the terminals in a CU today. Ok you say! but the reason im posting this is because ive been an apprentice then electrician for 8 years now, and only found out such a tool existed recently. I put this down to the fact the guys i learnt from never used them or mentioned they existed, and neither did my college, let alone have any for us to use during practical lessons. Therefore ive always used a pozi screwdriver because thats what i thought u used.

Question 1 - anyone else had same thing?
Question 2 - does proper one make a difference (i dont even know what u call them!)
Question 3 - why aren't colleges educating students about them.
Click to expand...
modulo drivers..
I`v got 2 of `em...
 
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