A little overheating!

[mattysupra]

what does HMO stand for as stated in the first post?

Also i agree with crap terminals, with the little bits i have done like changing the odd socket etc i have always thought to myself that the connections are rubbish. They just seem many years behind.

Who still uses flat blade screws to put up a shelf or build a stud wall etc ?

The star/hex drive screws are best. You can get massive tightening power behind them without slipping etc. Surely these type of screws would be better in cu's/ sockets etc?

Plus the normal diy person wont have the tools to mess with them so will need to call in a pro to do the work a pro should be doing anyway!

 

[RF Lighting]

HMO is a House of Multi Occupancy, something like a student flat for example.

 

[mattysupra]

HMO is a House of Multi Occupancy, something like a student flat for example.

Thanks.

 

[securespark]

why don't manufacturers take heed of these problems, and bring back PROPER terminals with large twin clamping screws??? (as per the traditional Wylex boxes), and this problem will hopefully be greatly reduced!

I remember back in 1986 fitting a 10.5kW shower for my Ma, the MK 45A switch (2 gang size) had twin screws for each terminal. Top notch!

That's the trouble with modern consumer units, the terminals are very hard to tighten properly, that single pinch screw will work loose with time,

You can buy screwdrivers specially designed for the dual-head screw. Can't remember the name. Anybody?

 

[RF Lighting]

2 gang MK 45A switches still have two screws on each terminal IIRC.

Them screwdrivers are called "modulo"

 

[ColJack]

you get more torque out of a flat than a pozi..

it turns the very outsides of the screwhead, whereas the pozi turns a smaller radius inside the screwhead..

if tightening with a pozi, I can always get another quarter - half turn with the right sized flat..

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Plus the normal diy person wont have the tools to mess with them so will need to call in a pro to do the work a pro should be doing anyway!

No - I can guarantee they'll try to jam in any old tool which looks like it might work.

you get more torque out of a flat than a pozi..

it turns the very outsides of the screwhead, whereas the pozi turns a smaller radius inside the screwhead..

if tightening with a pozi, I can always get another quarter - half turn with the right sized flat..

Torque isn't the issue, since even with a Pozi you can apply enough to shear a steel screw, let alone strip the thread off a brass one.

What is important is that the necessary torque can be applied without damaging the screw because the tool slips due to misalignment or insufficient friction because of too small an area of contact. And for that Pozi (or hex or Torx®) wins every time.

And because there are no standard sizes and shapes for slots in screw heads, mismatches between slot and tool are common, whereas with Pozi, hex, Torx etc there are specific sizes, and provided you take note of that you get the right match.