My screw terminals were never tight enough for 6 years

So I installed a DSC system at a house in Brighton last week and the owner called me back saying zone 2 kept faulting. I went back, checked everything, and realized my screw terminals on the keypad were barely snug. I always thought finger tight was fine since I was afraid of stripping them. Now I use a small flathead to give each one a quarter turn more and havent had a callback since. Anyone else realize they were undertorquing connections forever?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_alex7d ago

I read somewhere that a lot of alarm installers actually use a torque screwdriver for terminals now, but I never bothered with one. A quarter turn extra after finger tight does the trick for me too, just like you said. Better to be snug than sorry, especially when you are chasing ghost faults later.

maxpalmer4d ago

Whoa, wait - torque screwdrivers for alarm terminals? That's wild. I mean, I get it for like engine work or something but on a little screw terminal? That feels a bit overkill to me, haha.