Torque wrench anyone?

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Inspectors are there to verify compliance with code, rather than quality of the work, maybe I should have used other wording.

In my job I strive to meet the NEC everyday and if I find my employees violating the NEC I make them change their work at my expense and if I am not satisfied with the quality of the workmanship, code compliant or not I make them correct it to my standards.

And I stress utilizing a torque wrench for connections.
 
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mark32 said:
Hello, I was just wondering how many out there use a torque wrench and/or torque screwdriver on their terminations.
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When it comes to lugs on a switchboard/ panelboard/ transformer , or other similar equipment, I think it is very important to use a torque wrench.

Not only to ensure proper torque, but also as a final check on all of the terminations.

I usually terminate whatever equipment I'm working on then torque each termination . After each torque I draw a line across the entire lug with a sharpie, this is a way to double check my work.

As for a torque screwdriver, I use one very rarely. Although I have had inspectors require every termination to be torqued.

ibew441dc
 
AMEN to celtic...I don't use a torque wrench as often as I should, but there is a very good reason for doing so. (I use them on larger terminals such as disconnects, distribution panels, etc) I have been on MANY service repairs where terminations have burned up because of loose connections. Over-tightening is a problem too..its so easy to snap the plastic on which the lug is fastened on certain panels or meter cans.
 
Sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference of damaged caused either by a loose connection or one that has been over torqued.

For anyone who thinks an inspector is to inspect for torqueing, you do not understand completely the process of torqueing.

Once torqueing has been performed, there is no way to check for proper torqueing either by an inspector or an individual. Remember that after proper torqueing, there is some relaxing of the termination, this has been accounted for in the design process of the manufacturer.

There was a case in Maryland where the contractor admitted in court that he did not torque his connections. He was convicted as charged.

Here on this site, I am surprised that anyone performing work on at least the larger terminations is not using a torque wrench. As Brian has mentioned, it does not take any more time to perform. I still think that the real reason some do not use torque methods is the lack of understanding what it is all about.
 
Pierre C Belarge said:
For anyone who thinks an inspector is to inspect for torqueing, you do not understand completely the process of torqueing.
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I once did a job at an airport installing lighting poles. One of the airport's inspector was with me for every pole we erected - to make sure the pole's bolts were torqued to specs (visual inspection during installation)..a total PITA to have an audience.

(Not the same as the intent of the thread, but a related byline)
 
I found out when I started using the torque wrench the set screws were no where near a tight as I had been doing by hand and guessing about the value.

No I do not use the screwdriver.
 
Celtic:

I have been on sites with the same issue, inspector watches as they torque the hardware, which is OK. I asked if he watched as they made the HV terminations, splices and stress cones (taped, not kit type) the answer was no. I kind of think the HV terminations were as or more important than watching as every piece of hardware as it is torqued.


I feel a certain amount of integrities involved if an electrician is going to fudge torquing, he?ll fudge other items as well.
 
brian john said:
Celtic:

I have been on sites with the same issue, inspector watches as they torque the hardware, which is OK. I asked if he watched as they made the HV terminations, splices and stress cones (taped, not kit type) the answer was no. I kind of think the HV terminations were as or more important than watching as every piece of hardware as it is torqued.
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No agrument there!
BUT...
The job of inspecting the MV (I have never done a HV termination), usually falls on the testing company - 3rd party but hired by customer. The testing company will do their thing to verify the integrity of the termination and cable.

brian john said:
I feel a certain amount of integrities involved if an electrician is going to fudge torquing, he’ll fudge other items as well.
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Absoluetly.
BUT...
Some of these guys know the inspectors "act" all too well.

I did a service upgrade and some additional work at a home, but couldn't be there for the inspection. I explained all this to the HO and the EI (over the phone). When the EI came around, he opened the panel cover (not just the door), looked for a second, closed it up and slapped a green sticker on it. The HO asked "Aren't you going to look at anything else?"
The EI replied " If this guy took the time to make the panel insides look good - everything else he did will be of equal quality"

Now, if I knew what this EI looked for (his act)...I could have easily bamboozeled him and the HO....and sadly, there are guys who do play that game. Me, I'm too anal for that sort of nonsense :D .
 
In my presentations, I always talk about torque. Under torquing is as bad as over torquing. That joint is also meant as a heat sink to draw heat away from that component.
We has manufacturers have been required in Circuitbreakers, Fuse holders, Power Distribution blocks & Terminal blocks to list torque righ ton the actual component, based upon wire size.
Even 110.3 is a bit vague.
UL508A now in table 54.1 specifies specific torque based upon wire sizes.
It's just a matter of time, before all installers will be required to cary one.
 
I had to install a new breaker in a distribution panel that did not have provisions for one. Made phone calls to find torque requirements until I found an engineer at the mfgs plant. His answer was something like "We use a Dewault cordless on setting 5" Didn't say whether it should be freshly charged or not. I only had a Milwaukee. So far so good.
 
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