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If I want to add a torque driver to my toolbox, so I can improve the quality of DIY electrical work in my home, what is a suitable torque range and precision I should look for? It should be suitable for use with breakers, panel buses, outlets, and switches with copper wire from #14 to #10. Assuming no prior knowledge of what devices, from what manufacturer, I might buy in future ... what is a reasonable range of torques that ought to cover these needs and how precise does the driver need to be?

Also, I believe a screwdriver with a straight or T handle would be more convenient to use than a wrench-style driver because they are easier to to use single-handed. For the kinds of projects a homeowner would DIY, for working on screws inside boxes or dangling from boxes with the noted wire sizes, I think single-handed is an advantage. Any advice on that?

MackM
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jay613
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2 Answers2

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For normal residential work I'd suggest a torque screwdriver with a range of 5 to 60 in-lbs . That should cover your switches,outlets and circuit breakers which have an approximate range of 9 to 14 in-lbs. For main lugs in panels, you'll need to torque to about 250 in-lb or a 20 ft-lb so a wrench in the range of 0-30 ft-lbs would be needed with hex fittings. I like the types that click when the set value is reached. The actual torque values are stated on the labels of the equipment you'd be working on.

JACK
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Simple is good. There are torque wrenches that have a fixed nominal setting, and if you're always working on the same values, then a hard-configured tool is one less thing to get wrong.

Downside of these is you need one for each torque setting you intend to use - if a fastener needs a higher torque you either need a larger one, an adjustable one, or "add some more torque" with a spanner/driver.

You can't just "lean on these harder" to go beyond the fixed setting.

Example, (from the cycling world) This one is 4Nm which is ~35 inch pounds: ""

Criggie
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