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#3088 08/05/01 12:11 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,294
Member
How often should Aluminum terminations be retorqued?
I ran into some really nasty ones the other day.

#3089 08/05/01 02:49 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,392
S
Member
good Q.
it seems on initial installation that i can reef on a termination, and then gain somemore after a few hours.
usually, on a service call, i will give terminations a 'tweek' in a panel, along with sweeping out the dust bunnies, and working the breakers. [Linked Image]

#3090 08/05/01 05:34 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,044
Tom Offline
Member
Never.

If you have some reason to believe the connection is loose, remove the conductor, trim the end back to fresh material & re-install using a torque wrench set to the value listed on the device


Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.
#3091 08/07/01 02:41 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 27
S
Member
Are we talking wiring devices, lugs or bussing ?

#3092 08/07/01 05:01 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 29
S
sam Offline
Member
Does any of all use anti seize on your alum. connection? It seems to help get lug a little tighter in a panel box.

#3093 08/07/01 07:36 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,294
Member
I was wondering only how often you might suggest to your customers that they be checked?
Yes, I NoAlox it all. In the thread of the lugs stops the sqweeeeek [Linked Image]
Tom's right-never without reterminating the connection


[This message has been edited by electure (edited 08-07-2001).]

#3094 08/07/01 08:16 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,392
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Stu;
i think we're talkin' bigger stuff here, yet the same principals could apply to smaller.

i read some instructions, can't recall which, that asked no-lox be used as part of the listing ( it was refered to as something compound..)

today i busted off a meter lug, so a torque wrench is looking like a good idea. i was waaaaay out in the pukerbrush too, had to go 20+ miles to find the part.

as to the retorqueing;
what do other trades do, say mechanics. are different situations viewed differently? gasket vs. non-gasket? etc.... [Linked Image]

#3095 08/07/01 10:09 PM
A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Steel can mostly be retorqued as much as you wish provided that the parts are cool to the touch at the time.

When a gasket is involved, the procedure is usually to torque once and leave it. Torquing may actually be a long process requiring that the bolts be tightened incrementally in a certain sequence. Some engines may recommend retorquing after the first 20 hours of operation. There are engines with no head gasket too... I suppose they could be retorqued any time they were cool... but again this should not be necessary.

I see torquing a conductor more as a matter of how big a dimple does it need. Once it has that dimple, it has deformed and the pressure will be somewhat relieved over time as the conductor is squished out. Retorquing it will cause the dimple to enlarge. The difference here is that copper and aluminum are much softer than steel.

#3096 08/08/01 04:57 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,392
S
Member
agreed.
I was just wondering if other trades share our concerns here
[Linked Image]
After all, there are aluminum heads for cars.
Myself, i spent a decade putting together 6061 AL parts to specs of 1/10,000. The variables included all enviromental, as well as those introduced . The engineering aspects did not include any one-liner fits all explanations.
One item i do use is scotchcoat, which seems to isolate a termination well.

[This message has been edited by sparky (edited 08-08-2001).]

#3097 08/08/01 04:22 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,116
Likes: 4
Member
Sparky,

In your thread awhile back you were searching for a word instead of Noalox .. It had probably said "anti-oxidant compound"

Bill


Bill
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