On Fri, 17 May 2013 10:43:23 -0400, "TomR" wrote:

In an earlier post of mine about adding a second neutral/ground bar to a
Siemens Main Load Center electrical panel, I posted the instructions for
doing that:

"Here is a link to the ECCNB16 Instruction Sheet which shows this neutral
bar
kit and how to install it:

http://www74.zippyshare.com/v/43794674/file.html ."

In Step 4, on the right hand side, it says to tighten the two screws using
40-45 lb-in of torque.

I don't have a torque wrench, and I would rather not buy one just for this
unless I need to.

My question is, about how tight if 40-45 lb-in when it comes to tightening
these screws?

I have to admit that in my mind I was thinking it said 40-45 FOOT-pounds at
first, which seemed like way too much. But, then I read it again, and I see
that it says lb-IN, not lb-FT.

I am guessing that 40-45 lb-in means tighten the screws so they are
definitely tight, but do not tighten so much that the threads strip. Does
that seem about right?

I would think so.

I'm still looking for my 1/2 to 3/8" adapter so tht I can tighten my
trailer hitch to the setting the instructions said. So far the thing
hasn't fallen off.

I think if you ever really need to get this right, you can take the 45
inch pounds, divide by 12 to get about 4 foot pounds, and then using a
string probably, attach a four-pound weight to the wrench 1 foot from
the screw head.

If the screw goes in vertically, you'll need a pulley for your string.
to make it vertical.


Or you could just lift four pounds with a string or rope, get a feel
for how hard that is to do, and apply that same effort to the wrench,
one foot from the screw head. This is the way I did it at the JPL.