Testing & TroubleshootingQuestion 493 of 521
The 2023 NEC added a requirement on how terminations must be tightened when the manufacturer provides a torque value. What does it require?
a.Tighten firmly by hand until the conductor cannot be pulled out
b.Use any screwdriver and tighten an extra quarter-turn past snug
c.Torque is only required on conductors 4 AWG and larger
d.Tighten to the manufacturer's specified torque using a calibrated torque tool
Explanation
Where a manufacturer provides a torque value, the connection must be made with a calibrated torque tool (torque screwdriver/wrench) to that value, since both under- and over-torquing cause failures and heating. Hand-tight or 'quarter-turn' methods (a, b) are not the code rule, and the requirement is not limited to large conductors (c).
Law Reference: 2023 NEC §110.14(D)Practice all 521 questions free — no signup required.
Related questions on this topic
- A conductor run carries 10 A and the total round-trip resistance of the wire is 0.5 ohms. What is the voltage drop along the conductors?
- Three resistors of 10 ohms, 20 ohms, and 30 ohms are wired in series. What is the total resistance the ohmmeter should read across the string?
- Two 20 ohm resistors are connected in parallel. What total resistance will an ohmmeter read?
- A terminal on a device is marked 'CU' only. What does this mean for terminations?
- A newly connected three-phase motor runs backward. What is the standard corrective action?
- A receptacle reads 120 V hot-to-neutral but 0 V hot-to-ground. Neutral-to-ground also reads 0 V and the ground pin has no continuity to the panel. What is the fault?
Last reviewed: · editorial process
PrepPass Editorial Team · Verified against California CSLB C-10 Electrical Trade Examination · How we review