Here’s a torque wrench thread with three recomendations for lighter torque wrenches:
Time for a new torque wrench!! What recommendations? The ones I get on Amazon and Autozone are not working out. Mostly, under-reading a value and stripping out bolts. For my solar installation, I'm looking at 1.5-12 NM (15-105 in/LBS). I would like a much broader range, but I'm sick of...
diysolarforum.com
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The torque hits a chord with me, so here’s my rant:
IMO you need a reliable torque wrench when working with things in inch pounds, like the studs on a lithium battery pack that could snap if torqued to hard. Those have no leeway. I have a couple of click torque wrenches that have 30 inch pounds for those batttery studs which I do not trust to torque with. The clicking is just not as pronounced at that low level as it is when torquing to a 150 foot LBS. I bought a snap on dial torque wrench used online and got A good deal, but was still two or three times the price of a ”click” torque wrench, but not ten times the new price. My wrench was in good condition.
On the other hand, there are well built busbars where you are torquing studs that have some leeway so if your torque wrench goes 30% over spec, the studs won’t snap. I will note, the type of torque I’m talking about, in excess of 15 ft LBS, I have used an inaccurate wrench in an aluminum block and stripped a hole. For my Blue Sea 100 amp, 250 amp, and 1000 amp busbars, I don’t hesitate to use the click torque wrench on those to torque to spec. Those have that leeway so if the wrench goes 30% over, the stud won’t snap.
Yes, you can calibrate a torque wrench, but short of a proffesional, on a job at a company, how do you do this? I don’t think any of us do, unless there is a way to zero a dial. Someone suggested putting the wrench in a vice and tying and hanging weights off the end until it clicks. That just doesn’t sound right