Its a sad sad day , my 18v impact died

Dustydazzler · May 7, 2022

So after around 10 years my Hitachi 18v impact died doing a consumer unit change this week

Can anyone recommend a decent mid-range £100-120 impact driver for light / general use ?

pc1966 · May 7, 2022

Not really mid-priced as such, but I have been impressed by my Milwaukee M18FID2 hex impact driver (about £90 without battery).

I rarely need the max power, almost always have it on minimum, but good for drilling, 20mm hole saw, and generally driving larger screws and medium size bolts. Small screws, etc, just get trashed as no fine control, but that is true of practically all power tools.

There is a quieter 'hydraulic' version that might have been better, but more expensive and not (I think) on sale when I got mine originally.

pc1966 · May 7, 2022

I think this is the kit I got:

Milwaukee M18FPP2A2-502X 2 Piece M18 FUEL Power Pack

Milwaukee M18FPP2A2. Combi drill and 1/4 inch hex impact driver Milwaukee twin pack power tool kit. Generation 3 FUEL. Milwaukee cordless brushless drills and impact drivers combo kit. UK equivalent for US Milwaukee Tool 2997-22. Milwaukee 4933464269.

www.bigredpowertools.co.uk

Hardly ever used the normal drill, but it is powerful and with care (and glove to save my knuckles) it was used to drill 100m holes in the BT/Openreach style of Quadbox (walls about 10mm plastic,double skin).

littlespark · May 7, 2022

Wait wait…. You said you were doing a CU… with an impact?!?!

Not for the terminals, I hope.

Dustydazzler · May 7, 2022

littlespark said:
Wait wait…. You said you were doing a CU… with an impact?!?!

Not for the terminals, I hope.

No , but I once did try using my impact when doing a temp board ( I have seen dozens of youtuber sparks do boards with their impacts ) but I just couldn't get the feel for it and I mashed up about 3 terminals as the impact as was just to powerful.

I even borrowed my mates 12v dewalt impact as he uses one for his board changes but I still can't get the right feel when to stop hammering down on the terminals

I use a normal screwdriver , as this is how I was taught and just feels right to me

pirate · May 7, 2022

I have a DeWalt impact driver, not sure of the model number, but it has 3 power settings. The 1st, low power, is akin to a Bosch-go in that it drives slowly without any noticeable impact, and stops when it senses it needs more torque. The 2nd level does most driving tasks, the 3rd level drives almost anything you are likely to meet, including 200mm screws into timber and Multi-montis into concrete.
However, if you are on a makita platform and have numerous batteries, you might not want to make the change.

Pauls0212 · May 7, 2022

makita for me very controlable... but i do have the batteries

nicebutdim · May 7, 2022

What other power tools do you have? The sensible option might be to look at what is available for the same battery platform as other tools. Most big names offer a range of impact drivers from light to fairly heavy duty.

ferg · May 8, 2022

I use probably the same one as pirate.

DC887.

I usually use the 2Ah batteries with it purely for weight.

TBH if it's only for light occasional use I'd just get something that fits batteries you already have.

telectrix · May 8, 2022

find out what's up with the hitachi, if it's a motor, about £40 will get you a new motor. did that with my 15 year old AEG>it's like a new drill now.

buzzlightyear · May 8, 2022

Me I carry 12volt and 14.4v all makita
Reason 12volt dual impact light enough and spare drill
14 volt has a back up waight wise against a makita 18 volt one brick against two.

ipf · May 9, 2022

Dustydazzler said:
So after around 10 years my Hitachi 18v impact died doing a consumer unit change this week

Tightening up the terminals were you???

ferg · May 9, 2022

ipf said:
Tightening up the terminals were you???

He needs to be quick to justify his £250 p/h rate.

Dustydazzler · May 9, 2022

ferg said:
He needs to be quick to justify his £250 p/h rate.

I do boards 'on price'

telectrix · May 10, 2022

i just get MIL to look at the CU. the terminals then self tighten to the correct torque.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Its a sad sad day , my 18v impact died

Dustydazzler · May 10, 2022

Which begs another question

How long before someone puts lever connections in a Consumer unit

pirate · May 10, 2022

I think there's a long way-to-go before that happens...

pc1966 · May 10, 2022

Dustydazzler said:
How long before someone puts lever connections in a Consumer unit

The Crabtree style plug-in busbar and Wago style outgoing - nice idea

littlespark · May 10, 2022

I think I already uploaded this…on left, a Hagar MCB from a German built kit house. Outgoing connection is a spring gripping up to two cables….
Right is our normal MTN116 UK mcb

pc1966 · May 10, 2022

littlespark said:
I think I already uploaded this…on left, a Hagar MCB from a German built kit house. Outgoing connection is a spring gripping up to two cables….

The Riello UPS we got recently had push-in terminals for the incoming power, a bit like those MCB and some DIN rail terminals.

brianmoooore · May 10, 2022

I bought a Hager Vector IP55 consumer unit from a seller in Germany a couple of years ago. That had push in terminals on the neutral and earth bars.

Teddy Lop · May 14, 2022

Picked up the new 12v Milwaukee hydraulic impact driver (already have loads of 18v kit) as I had the cousin doing some chopping and he always had mine when I wanted it, and it's a lovely bit of kit - all the power you could want, much quieter and so small and light you don't notice it hanging off your belt