Torque screwdrivers

[TAZ]

Sorry if there is already a post on this subject. With regulations stating that installed equipment is to be as per manufacturers instructions, what % of you folks use a torque screwdriver. Thanks

 

[Des 56]

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

Are you saying you don't use the "just in case" turn on them there nuts

I like your boss, he seems to want to be sure the mechanical contraptions have done their job

With the above in mind,I can't fault him for being so diligent, because in the domestic sector useful tools are becoming abused
Did you know ? It has been rumoured for people to actually use torque screwdrivers for domestic boards (instead of the skill in their fingertips) :90:

I know its hard to believe but we have to be careful sometimes that the job is continuing to be done to a proper standard, not relying needlessly on silly mechanical toys

 

[kingeri]

I don't have one..considered it a while ago but it's hardly a priority at the moment. Maybe I should cut down on luxuries like gas, electric and food so I can afford one.

 

[Dcf]

Not overly convinced that torque drivers are really needed for boards myself
Most Recommend 2.5 to 3 nm which is hee haw really.
if I don't know what's tight and not tight after 25 years I really should give up
i use one of my Bosch 10.8v "lady" drills set to 4 or 5 and it's on the money with a wee check with a hand driver
Main switches are a different thing altogether .had a Crabtree 63 tp switch today and the fuse bolts must have been put in by king kong himself.
all this does is stretch the bolt and instead of a decent connection it is slack.
I've one across in the past and the result is usually a burnt out terminal, so torque for them, DBS no

 

[Marvo]

We have torque screwdrivers and 1/2" ratchets in the workshop, we only use them on control panels/DB's if there's a specific request in the specifications. I don't carry them in my handtools or use them for general work, I prefer to tighten termination screws and bolts by feel.

 

[TAZ]

Ok fellow sparks i have today ordered a torque screw driver £ 105 more so to show any future assessment that i have one in my toolbox. I do have to agree with IMAGO that proving that you used it would be very difficult even if you put those anti tamper stickers on as well, even a photo would not be proof you tightened it to the required torque. As mentioned before copper is a soft metal & is subject to creepage & thermal effects as well. I have often found on consumer units fed with 25mm tails having done them up to the point where the main switch looks like it is going to part company in the middle & going back in a few months time & found the terminal will take up a bit more & thankyou for all your input guys.

 

[somersetsparks]

I once read manufacturers instructions stating terminal torque should be 1-4NM, I think it might of been wylex.
Now how important can a torque be if the high figure is 4x the low figure?
Do up up tight and check them again a bit later after the strands have compressed.
Then you can sleep tight, torque driver my a*se.

It would seen that some sparks would find them useful for faceplate screw though! The amount i see that have been wrenched up!

 

[Rockingit]

I've got one, cost me about £30 I think, but hardly ever use it. I think tbh the main reason the domestic board makers insist on them being used but then have such low torque settings anyway is simply to avoid us sparks discovering just how poorly made the screws are and how easily the heads shear due to cheap materials. I can normally get quite a decent 'nip up' with a conventional driver long after the torque screwdriver has been clicking away.

 

[TAZ]

£30 I think i have been taken for a ride i just coughed up £105 " ouch"

 

[Rockingit]

£30 I think i have been taken for a ride i just coughed up £105 " ouch"

Like others before you! Can't for the life of me remember what the make is, but it's a captive 1/4" hex head for your bit of choice, and a simple setting mechanism with a sliding needle gauge down the handle. Picked it up from a wholesalers somewhere so must be more to be found out there. Not VDE rated, though you could probably adapt an old vde shaft to fit if you really needed it.

 

[Robert Turnbull]

£30 I think i have been taken for a ride i just coughed up £105 " ouch"

you where already on the ride the moment you considered it necessary to buy one on the here say you might fail you scam assessment without it.

 

[Dbm3237]

Got one last week. First day usiong it. Torqued a 6amp MK MCB down with it and the MCB went Crack and nice big bit of plastic flew off the top of the MCB. " Great"

 

[sparkdog]

My assessor said its so the manufacturers can cover themselves if the board goes up in smoke.If a torque wasn't used they don't want to know.

 

[IanHug]

Got one last week. First day usiong it. Torqued a 6amp MK MCB down with it and the MCB went Crack and nice big bit of plastic flew off the top of the MCB. " Great"

Got my lb/ft and lb/inches mixed up once. Did wonder why a needed a two ft torque wrench to tighten up a small aluminium set screw.

The torque settings that are being talked about are very small & I'd doubt that you could be that accurate fightening a brass screw onto a soft copper wire anyway.