My journeyman told me to torque every lug on that 400 amp service, and I'm glad I listened

We were doing a panel swap in an old San Diego bungalow last week, and the main lugs looked tight. He made me get out the torque wrench anyway. Sure enough, two of them were a full 15 inch-pounds under spec. That could have been a real bad meltdown waiting to happen. How many of you actually torque everything to the spec sheet, or just go by feel?

3 comments

3 Comments

wesley_jones20d ago

Man, that's scary. How many guys do you think skip it just because it looks tight?

the_willow20d agoMost Upvoted

Totally get what you're saying, Wesley_jones. I've seen friends bail on trying a new helmet or wetsuit because it felt weird at first. They'd rather use their old, loose gear that's basically useless. It's crazy how a little bit of initial discomfort makes people ignore basic safety. A proper fit feels tight until you move around in it.

andrewreed20d ago

Ugh, I've definitely been that guy with a new bike helmet, feeling like a bobblehead.