circuit breaker installation

[imported_bdweller]

I understand that one should apply 20 inch pounds of torque when attaching wires to a SquareD circuit breaker. Should I purchase a torque screwdriver, or is not just important that the wire be very tightly attached.

[Wgoodrich]

If you read the Code and UL listings and Manufacturer's installation instructions EVERY electrician is required to have an inch pound torque screw driver or nut driver or both.

In reality my calculated guess is that maybe on the optimistic side of my statement about 5% of the electricians own a torque screw driver and 0% commonly use that torque screw driver.

Yes they are all violating 110.3.B almost daily but if I red tagged every electrician in my County for this violation I would not be an inspector for long.

Shame on us all. Yes it is important. Most electricians feel and believe that they know how hard to turn the screws without stripping the threads but making it as tight as possible without damaging the threads of the screws.

I once did a test and followed my men and screwed out the screws of the meterbase conductor lugs on many meterbases they just installed as a test. I found 75% of those threads damaged because of overtightening. Now is the time that I should have called a meeting of all employees and really nailed them to the wall, problem was a couple of those meterbases I was talked into testing and also found the threads on those conductor lugs stretched and damage, I did those installations. Hard to yell at employees for doing the same yourself as you caught them doing.

Is this confession time? Alright everyone who reads this post either chime in and post guilty or innocent. Innocent means you not only have an inch pound torque screw driver but you also use it evertime you are supposed to use that torque screwdriver. Come on time to confess too?

YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT AND I, WE, US ARE WRONG, OR ARE YOU ALSO INNOCENT OR GUILTY?

Curious

Wg

[Anonymous]

I would like to own a torque screwdriver but when I priced them (Klein) I almost fell over. Do you know of any more affordable brands? I know some guys have talked of using a crartsman inch lbs torque wrench, the kind with the needle pointer. Too clumsy for me and a lot of metal to be swinging around in a live panel.
Brian

[Wgoodrich]

I don't know of one that I can speak of off hand. Maybe one of the other people in this forum may chime in and give you an idea of alternative yet affordable torque screw drives in inch pound levels.

Good Luck

Wg