Loading…
2
My journeyman told me to always torque the main lugs, and I finally saw why
He said it about two years ago when I was a second year apprentice, and I kind of brushed it off. I mean, I'd tighten them good and snug, right? Last week, I was called back to a service upgrade I did six months ago because the main breaker was getting hot. Found the 200 amp aluminum feeder lug on the panel was only hand tight, maybe 15 inch pounds. The heat had started to discolor the bus bar. Had to replace the whole main breaker. Has anyone else had a call back that made a piece of advice finally click?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
lisaf386mo ago
Hand tight" is my middle name.
7
keithlane6mo ago
Wish I could say the same, my middle name is probably "overtighten and then panic." I learned the hard way putting together a bookshelf and had to drill out a screw I welded into the particle board, lol.
10
adamgreen6mo ago
Got to agree with you @lisaf38, that phrase is a lifesaver. I used to crank things way too tight and ended up stripping a bolt on my bike rack last summer. Now I just go hand tight and give it one little nudge with the wrench, no more. It feels wrong at first like you're not doing enough, but it really does the job. Saved me from a bunch of headaches since I made that switch.
7