- Thread starter TAZ
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imago
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I don't use one because firstly I believe I have the hand skills and experience to judge the correct torque pretty accurately. Secondly they rely on the manufacturers of the threads in question machining them to a uniform tolerance and they don't. Thirdly there is no way of checking that a screw was or was not torqued up to the correct setting once it's been in service for a while.
I have one for things like CU changes, with set of bits, and I do actually use it sometimes. But more importantly, I can say I have one in my tool bag, should I ever get asked.
I recall hearing a story a while back about someone who had installed a CU, which had overheated and caused a fire, and was asked what tools he had used, and not having a torque screwdriver, was deemed to have not followed manufacturer's instructions, and thus be liable. Don't know if it is true or not, but good enough reason to carry one for me.
I recall hearing a story a while back about someone who had installed a CU, which had overheated and caused a fire, and was asked what tools he had used, and not having a torque screwdriver, was deemed to have not followed manufacturer's instructions, and thus be liable. Don't know if it is true or not, but good enough reason to carry one for me.
Totally agree mate. More red tape and office-bod interferance imo, but I use one, then put a sticker on saying it was torqued. Just covering my backside if Mr DIY messes about and leaves a loose connection.
imago
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Which touches on my point about them being useless. So, something goes wrong and the torque issue is raised. Unless you fit seals to the screws there is no way of proving that it was not tampered with. Even if you fit screws then how can anyone prove what torque was used? You have thermal effects, thread creep, and core deformation to take into account. All of which render any investigation after the event useless.
If you can prove the installer did not have a torque screwdriver when the work was done, then (in the case I vaguely recall) that was enough to prove manufacturer's instructions were not followed - no need to investigate the charred remains to see how tight the screws actually were (it might well be the screws were tightend sufficiently, but that is of no help).
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Have torque wrench for busbars and bigger MCCB, the ones that take hex bolts or cap bolts. For those little screws in a CU, its a laugh, with the ones from BG you would be hitting max torque before you have even started moving the screw towards the wire.
"I have big hands, your honour, trust me they are tight"
"I have big hands, your honour, trust me they are tight"
W
Welchyboy
Oh what a sad thread
Imago destroyed all reasons for buying and using these tools for a bog standard domestic consumer unit by stating the Bg example
You can buy and use all the torque screwdrivers you want,it will never meet the superior method of screwing a connection and using the feel through your fingers for the grip and a pull on the wire to confirm
Personally,I wouldn't use one if the schemes donated them to me for free,I would rather be reliant on my own senses
Imago destroyed all reasons for buying and using these tools for a bog standard domestic consumer unit by stating the Bg example
You can buy and use all the torque screwdrivers you want,it will never meet the superior method of screwing a connection and using the feel through your fingers for the grip and a pull on the wire to confirm
Personally,I wouldn't use one if the schemes donated them to me for free,I would rather be reliant on my own senses
imago
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ELECSA and the rest will need to start treading carefully with what they insist on. They're already on thin ice, so it wouldn't take much for them to hear "get stuffed" on a regular basis.
B
Brendan976
Whether we like or not, torque screwdrivers will be one of those tools that you just will have to have. We cannot cherry pick what reg we will adhere to and which one we will choose to ignore, unfortunately ( manufacturers instructions ) ties you into doing what they recommend.
Ben
Ben
imago
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OK, with most regs there is going to be evidence which shows it was not followed. With the torque setting there isn't. Prove I didn't torque the screws on the board I did last week. Prove it hasn't been tampered with since. Prove that the thermal effect of the fire didn't alter the torque on the screw. Can't be done, and I very much doubt the will to try and enforce it anymore than they do anything else.
Did a multible switch board installation with three phase busbar system. Used a torque wrench on all the nuts and bolts as specified by the manifacturer. Boss came in showed him what I had done. First thing he does is to get a spanner and then tighten the nuts that were available that little bit more just in case he said. In case of what I replied only to get the answer he knows best.
AdieB
AdieB
H
Heisenberg
I heard that the Wiha slimVario ones...
Wiha 10pc Slim Vario VDE Torque Screwdriver Set from Tool Venture
which seem to be the ones most people would use, are only good for around 5000 uses then they need to be re-calibrated.
It would be interesting to know if the powers that be consider over-tightening to be as significant a problem as under-tightening, given that over-tightening is more likely than under :crazy:
Wiha 10pc Slim Vario VDE Torque Screwdriver Set from Tool Venture
which seem to be the ones most people would use, are only good for around 5000 uses then they need to be re-calibrated.
It would be interesting to know if the powers that be consider over-tightening to be as significant a problem as under-tightening, given that over-tightening is more likely than under :crazy:
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