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g/electrical • Posted by u/breaker_bob •

Torque specs — how many of you actually use a torque screwdriver on every connection?

This is a real question, not a gotcha. I was POCO for 30 years and I watched every utility meter tech torque their connections religiously. Now as a contractor I see JWs who never touch a torque screwdriver.

NEC 110.14(D) (2020 and later) requires connections to be made per manufacturer's torque specs. That's a code requirement, not a suggestion.

But I also know this is one of those rules that 90% of shops ignore because no inspector ever checks. What's your shop policy? Do you actually torque? Especially on residential where speeds matter.

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u/admin_jake ADMIN •

We torque on all service entrances, panel lugs, and breaker terminals. On device work — no, we don't torque every receptacle. I know that's technically non-compliant with 110.14(D). The practical enforcement gap is real and the AHJ around here never asks about it. On commercial jobs where there's a commissioning checklist, we torque everything.

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u/panel_pete •

I started torquing service work and panel work after a service call where a loose 200A lug caused a neutral failure. That repair cost the customer more than the original panel install. I've been religious about lugs ever since. Device work — I use a calibrated feel after 15 years. Probably not code compliant, definitely not failing.

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u/journeyman_hopeful •

Our foreman requires torque drivers on all panel work and service entrance. Device work he lets slide with experience. I'm going to start torquing everything when I test out as a JW — build the habit now.

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u/nec_nerd •

110.14(D) is real and enforceable. It's being enforced more frequently on commercial jobs. If you want to be code compliant — which I always recommend — you torque everything. Klein makes a decent torque screwdriver, and Greenlee has a good set. It adds 20-30% time to device work. Budget accordingly when bidding.

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