Impact Driver Vs MCB

[Dustydazzler]

Every big build I have had the pleasure to work on the last 10+ years I would say 99% of the sparks use their 18v impact to do the consumer unit connections

Good practice as its fast and effective Or butchery and will lead to knackered switch gear

 

[littlespark]

What kind of idiot uses an impact on a CU?

There’s torque limits stated on those things for a reason.

 

[Dustydazzler]

What kind of idiot uses an impact on a CU?

There’s torque limits stated on those things for a reason.

99% of site sparks from my experience

 

[littlespark]

99% of site sparks from my experience

I’m glad I’m in the 1%

 

[SparkySy]

I wouldn't use my 10.8vimpact driver on terminals or MCB's RCBO's let alone the 18v Milwaukee, too easy to destroy the component parts. I do use my bativa power screwdriver or Bosch ixo to loosen them off and for running up the slack in the terminal but only for that never for a final tighten that's always a screwdriver!

 

[MJPD29]

I've never seen anyone do it except on YouTube. I would never even consider it, extremely bad practice

 

[Dustydazzler]

It is mainly youngers sparks I see using their impacts to speed do a consumer units on site trying to do a board in an hour

I have tried my 12v impact to do a consumer unit but just doesn't feel right , feels like I am cheating or something

 

[timhoward]

If you freeze the video you can see the screws disintegrating.
Anyone with a hint of respect for mechanical items would realise that a small machined screw shouldn't be subject to forces like that.

 

[Dustydazzler]

An 18v impact will tighten the screw and totally annihilate it all at the same time, so it will be tight but anyone who tries to loosen that terminal screw at a later date will it will be knackered and impossible to remove

I cringe when I see site sparks using their impact on boards and that hammering action as it cranks down on the screws , knowing full well its smashing the screw head to bits

 

[TheConduitKing]

Using an Impact Driver to do up connections? Madness. I'm only an apprentice and I know it's rough as. I've only seen sparks use an Impacter to rip out old CUs that are going to the scrap anyway.

I've never seen anyone use a torque screwdriver though. I've seen testers use torque wrenches for doing mains switch gear on sites. But thats about it.

After seeing that new efixx video were no one was able to get the settings right, it seems like a good idea to get one. Even if it's just to cover your own A$$.

 

[Dustydazzler]

This sparks made me laugh , uses his 18v impact to do all the final board connections....

But had to reach for his normal screwdriver to do the Rcbo as his impact bit wouldn't fit in the narrow terminal

 

[TheConduitKing]

This sparks made me laugh , uses his 18v impact to do all the final board connections....

But had to reach for his normal screwdriver to do the Rcbo as his impact bit wouldn't fit in the narrow terminal

I bought these Wera Slotted Pozi screwdrivers for doing MCBs. Fit the screws perfectly.

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[nicebutdim]

This sparks made me laugh , uses his 18v impact to do all the final board connections....

But had to reach for his normal screwdriver to do the Rcbo as his impact bit wouldn't fit in the narrow terminal

Funnily enough I was watching that Artisan video someone posted last night & noticed them struggling to mount an enclosure with a 2" bit on the impact driver. Youtube sparks must not have cottoned on to 6" bits.

 

[plugsandsparks]

I use a hammer and large flat blade for getting difficult to access gland nuts but never even thought of using an impact driver on ANY electrical terminal, where did the practice even originate from ?

 

[nicebutdim]

I use a hammer and large flat blade for getting difficult to access gland nuts but never even thought of using an impact driver on ANY electrical terminal, where did the practice even originate from ?

Lazy people with no mechanical sympathy.

 

[Zerax]

I think we should be careful to differentiate between 'impact drivers' and 'cordless screwdrivers'... My main cordless that I use all the time, has torque settings on it... so it's very possible to dial that down to do the initial run up of breaker screws. I don't use mine for that of course... I've got the Bosch cordless screwdriver that's permanently set a low torque for that purpose... with a proper torque screwdriver for the final tightness.

...just saying

 

[Dustydazzler]

Lazy people with no mechanical sympathy.

I would say site sparks on price who get paid per flat or per house who want to smash out a board in an hour

 

[Dustydazzler]

I think we should be careful to differentiate between 'impact drivers' and 'cordless screwdrivers'... My main cordless that I use all the time, has torque settings on it... so it's very possible to dial that down to do the initial run up of breaker screws. I don't use mine for that of course... I've got the Bosch cordless screwdriver that's permanently set a low torque for that purpose... with a proper torque screwdriver for the final tightness.

...just saying

Yes you can use a small low torque battery drill to wind up all the screws and then do round with a screwdriver to 'tweak up' the terminals

But most guys I have seen us an impact as you can clearly hear that rat a tat tat that an impact makes as it hammers down the screw

 

[Dave OCD]

Just another example of idiots taking over the world. It's pretty sad really.

 

[UNG]

The problem is for every type of screw head that is produced there is an impact bit to fit it, so do consumer unit screws need to be of a unique patented type that prevents the manufacture of impact bits. Might also limit the DIY brigade doing CU swaps