Impact Driver Vs MCB

[Petej999]

Every big build I have had the pleasure to work on the last 10+ years I would say 99% of the sparks use their 18v impact to do the consumer unit connections

Good practice as its fast and effective Or butchery and will lead to knackered switch gear

Bad Practice/butchery

 

[Intoelectrics]

Scrulox should be mandatory everywhere. As you say, even wholesalers only ever stock square head wood screws here.

I agree that this will help reduce the general public messing with items they shouldn't, but it won't stop the dodgy "tradesperson" from using an impact driver inappropriately, or any tool inappropriately for that matter.

Unfortunately with the on set of battery powered tools came the onset of faster job completion, and time means money. All great if the powered tools are used correctly but they are often used to cut corners.

like with all modern innovation, if it makes the job quicker and easier then some people will abuse it with no concern of the consequences.

 

[ElliotM]

Scrulox should be mandatory everywhere. As you say, even wholesalers only ever stock square head wood screws here.

Agree, this will help a lot

 

[nicebutdim]

You never get them in a multi pack of screwdriver bits.

Straight, Phillips, pozi, hex and torq… but never really seen the square Robertson or scrulox in packs like that

I believe those are what @Matthewd29 likes to call peasant packs

Scrulox bits are easy enough to get - even Screwfix sell them. Most sparks here tend to use overpriced 6" bits from wholesalers, that look as though they were machined in the local tech. I recently bought a pack of 5x 6" bits from Sabrecut a while back - under £10 delivered and very good quality.

 

[123]

I know I'm in the minority here, clearly, given the other responses from the others from Northern Ireland...But I prefer posidrive to scrulox.

If using hand drivers scrulox is far superior, there is no comparison between the two. But I use an impact driver pretty much always for screws (bar flat heads, and they are just the most hateful of things). For scrulox the 25mm bits in a holder are pants, spend half your time pulling the bit back out of the screw as it's stuck. And if unscrewing them if they have been put in tight tight before its screw stuck on bit quite often, needing a set of pliers to separate bit and screw. For installation I find very little difference between the 2 if I'm honest when using an impact driver.

 

[nicebutdim]

I know I'm in the minority here, clearly, given the other responses from the others from Northern Ireland...But I prefer posidrive to scrulox.

If using hand drivers scrulox is far superior, there is no comparison between the two. But I use an impact driver pretty much always for screws (bar flat heads, and they are just the most hateful of things). For scrulox the 25mm bits in a holder are pants, spend half your time pulling the bit back out of the screw as it's stuck. And if unscrewing them if they have been put in tight tight before its screw stuck on bit quite often, needing a set of pliers to separate bit and screw. For installation I find very little difference between the 2 if I'm honest when using an impact driver.

We need a shocked smiley

I get where you're coming from as they can grip tightly to a bit - those Sabrecut bits don't seem to be quite so bad as they have more of a taper than usual.

 

[pirate]

I have a couple of sets of "security bits" which have Robertson bits in them.
Getting back on topic, my 18V DeWalt impact driver has 3 settings, and the lowest doesn't really "impact" at all, it's just a slow, easy screw which stops when things get a bit tight. However, I would never, ever use it on delicate components. That's just silly and dare I say, negligent.
If saving 10 minutes on installing a CU is so important, you are in the wrong job/working for the wrong employer.

 

[Teddy Lop]

I have a couple of sets of "security bits" which have Robertson bits in them.
Getting back on topic, my 18V DeWalt impact driver has 3 settings, and the lowest doesn't really "impact" at all, it's just a slow, easy screw which stops when things get a bit tight. However, I would never, ever use it on delicate components. That's just silly and dare I say, negligent.
If saving 10 minutes on installing a CU is so important, you are in the wrong job/working for the wrong employer

what is it coming to, the guys I served my time with would have given me a slap for using a impact gun on a CU! If we'd had impact guns!

And I'd be thanking them for it too.

As for posi or square or slotted whatever, just make it one thing that a screwdriver will fit snugly not this combi multifit ---- that nothing fits correctly

 

[telectrix]

CU makers should use the same heads as Ikea and B&Q light fittings, no tool available will fit the heads of their fixing screws.