Overtightening Meter Terminals

[Darkwood]

I will also add here, regardless whether a torque tool or just judgement has been used, copper - especially stranded can suffer from creep, this is when you have tightened the terminal and over the next few hours or so the copper will naturally creep into any tiny gaps as it is under high pressure, this can lead to a tight terminal become loose on its own but terminal hole design and grub screw play a key role in eliminating this, this is why meter terminals are often circular and the grub is wider than the bore.

 

[Flipsy]

That is really scary, you guys are trained to fir electrical meters, the device that has the highest current passing through it and have not been given instruction on how tight the terminals should be? the detail should be in the Mi for the meter in question. and I would have thought that a preset torque driver used to tighten the terminals.

Oh I totally agree, especially considering one mans tight is another mans loose or one mans loose is over tight.

 

[Flipsy]

No torque tools then bunch of idiots, that would be my first option, know wonder there are fires etc.

We only do what we are told/trained to do. I’m not disagreeing I think the training isn’t good enough. You are given 12 weeks training. 16 meter installs as experience then set off on your own. And don’t get me started on gas

 

[Pete999]

Oh I totally agree, especially considering one mans tight is another mans loose or one mans loose is over tight.

Did you have to undertake any training or sit any tests/exams for this role.

 

[Flipsy]

Did you have to undertake any training or sit any tests/exams for this role.

Yes of course.

 

[Pete999]

Yes of course.

More details would be nice, don't want to pry, but was that an in house course run by the company you work for? if you are unsure of any aspects of your role then I would have expected some sort of employee advice centre you could call on, to be honest with you I do find it odd, regarding the sort of work you are employed to do, and yet not much information or engineering equipment provided, please don't think I'm being dismissive of your role, just seems an odd question seeing as you have had training etc, anyway ask for information on torque setting and tooling for the equipment you are installing, good luck.

 

[Andy78]

Out of interest are the tails you use 7 strand or 19 strand ?

 

[remedial]

Are you a smart meter installer? I always wondered whats the business plan once everyone has a smart meter?

 

[Dustydazzler]

Are you a smart meter installer? I always wondered whats the business plan once everyone has a smart meter?

Taking all the faulty ones out

 

[Andy78]

Are you a smart meter installer? I always wondered whats the business plan once everyone has a smart meter?

Go round replacing all the ones that burnt out due to bad terminations.

 

[Pete999]

No we do not get given torque screwdrivers for wiring meters. It’s done on feel alone. Hence why I tighten until I can’t tighten anymore. Just worried that could be damaging the copper strands.

Well then that is bad, don't know your experience in the electrical field, so where does you experience of "feel" comes from, I'm not practicing this trade any more as I'm retired but, it is odd that they expect this from you seeing as it is at the start of an electrical installation, what with the loads that will be expected.

 

[Pete999]

Out of interest are the tails you use 7 strand or 19 strand ?

Could be tri rated stuff you never know Andy.

 

[SparkyAndGeorge]

Out of interest do you have targets ie you have to do so many meters in a day?

 

[remedial]

Sometimes if you tighten it and then give it good wiggle you'll find it can be tightened a bit further because the strands have moved

 

[Dustydazzler]

Sometimes if you tighten it and then give it good wiggle you'll find it can be tightened a bit further because the strands have moved

I always do this on consumers unit main switch connections