Old timer at the supply house insisted I use torque screwdrivers on breakers. Finally caved after years of ignoring him.

2 comments

2 Comments

Old timers mean well but that's a little extra for most residential work. I've been doing this 15 years and never used a torque screwdriver on a single breaker. As long as you're not cranking them down like a gorilla you'll be fine, the lugs will tell you when they're tight enough.

elizabeth_williams27d ago

Man, I gotta say @river_bailey2 you're probably right for most jobs. But I had a buddy who used to just tighten by feel on commercial panels, and one time a lug got loose and the neutral bar actually MELTED, took out half the building's circuits. That old timer might be onto something for the bigger stuff at least.