Breaker Torque Specifications

[Tater]

I want to torque the screws to my breakers and 12 volt fuses. The label listing the torque specifications is covered by a factory label listing what the breakers go to. Does anyone know what those torque specifications are for 2019 FC 30' with 50 amp service. Breaker box is WFCO WFN8930-50. Thanks

Jim

[BayouBiker]

35 inch lbs.

[Tater]

Thanks.

[GCinSC2]

And for those curious about this maintenance item, Darren shows the short version of it here.

Gary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvJ2J2JvOJY

[BayouBiker]

By the way, I went back to the manual and note that 14 gauge and smaller are 25 inch pounds, 12 and 10 is 35 and 8 and 6 is 45.

[SailorSam205]

Just so folks know. Electrical connection are in INCH pounds, not foot pounds. Really cranking on a screw is almost certainly too tight. At a seminar given by Mike Sokol who let us use an inch pound driver, I was really surprised how little force 35 in/lb really is. Mike strongly recommended getting an inch pound screw driver for doing your electrical connection checking - he suggested checking them every year or so in an RV.
Converting the values BayouBiker gave:
Inch pounds = Foot pounds
45 = 3.74
35 = 2.92
25 = 2.08

[Tater]

Using the original information of 35 inch pounds, I torqued the screws today so some are overtightened and a few are under tightened. I'll go back tomorrow and adjust the 8 or 6 gauge to 45. My biggest surprise was the two 50 amp wires in the breaker box. They were nowhere near 35 inch pounds and were likely a big sparky waiting to happen. All of the neutrals needed torqued although I have over torqued the 14 gauge since I was using 35 inch pounds on everything. I just got the torque screwdriver yesterday so it has paid for itself already from a safety perspective. I'll go back and hit those 50 amp connectors again.

Any recommendations on what the 12 volt stranded wire should be torqued or is it just like the solid wire based on gauge.

Thanks BayouBiker for the clarification.

Jim

[BayouBiker]

I would not worry about being overtightened. It has to do with getting enough force to get enough surface contact by flattening the wires slightly. We would do everything in the oilfield to 45 even the 14's. You should go back and tighten the 8 and 6. The DC +'s should be set to 25 for the branch fuses and same guidance for the large wires according to the guide. The negatives follow the same guidance as the AC neutral and grounds. Sorry I steered you wrong at first.

My neutrals were all good except one. My large hots and and large DC's were all loose just as you described. Very much worth doing. Asking the question inspired me to check. I still need to check the main DC bus bars where the battery cables land.

[Tater]

I sure appreciate you providing the torques. This could have had a bad ending if they hadn't been tightened. Thanks again.

Jim