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For some reason, people seem to be funny about using electric screwdrivers / drills / screw guns while working with wiring devices in the US. Is this an accurate assessment? If so, any idea why? I've seen professional electricians use powered drivers - it saves a ton of time and saves stamina!
Short answer: yes, that perception is accurate in the US, and it’s driven more by code interpretation, safety culture, liability, and training norms than by a hard technical prohibition.
Below is the breakdown.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) does not prohibit electric screwdrivers, drills, or impact drivers for installing wiring devices (receptacles, switches, etc.).
So if someone says “it’s against code,” that’s incorrect.
This is the most practical reason.
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Device terminal screws are designed for low, specific torque
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Powered drivers (especially impacts) can:
- Strip screws
- Crack devices
- Over-compress conductors (especially copper)
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Many electricians were trained with:
“Hand-tight only unless you really know what you’re doing”
Modern devices increasingly specify torque values (e.g., 14–18 in-lb), and most drills don’t enforce that unless:
- You use a clutch, or
- You use a torque-limited electric screwdriver
Even though it’s usually a de-energized circuit, the concern is:
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A powered tool introduces:
- More mass
- More leverage
- More chance of losing control if something goes wrong
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In training and OSHA contexts, the bias is:
“Fewer variables = safer work practice”
This is conservative, but not irrational in environments with mixed skill levels.
In the US, liability pressure is high:
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If a device fails later and someone investigates:
- Over-torqued terminals
- Damaged device yokes
- Loose conductors from stripped screws
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Contractors and inspectors prefer practices that are:
- Easily defensible
- Visibly careful
Hand tools are easier to justify in a report than:
“We zipped them in with impacts but it was fine.”
Many US electricians learned when:
- Devices were softer
- Terminals stripped more easily
- Cordless tools were bulkier and less controllable
That culture persists even though:
- Modern devices are tougher
- Cordless drivers are lighter
- Torque control is better
You’re absolutely right that professionals commonly use powered drivers — especially on large jobs.
Typical best practice among experienced electricians:
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Powered driver to:
- Run mounting screws
- Start terminal screws
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Finish by hand for final torque or
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Use a low-speed electric screwdriver with clutch
On high-volume commercial work, hand-only would be unrealistic.
Inspectors generally do not care how screws were driven. They care about:
- Secure conductors
- No damaged devices
- Proper terminations
- Compliance with torque specs (increasingly)
If those are met, the tool choice is irrelevant.
Compared to Europe and some other regions:
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US wiring devices:
- Often rely on screw terminals rather than cages
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US legal culture:
- Stronger aversion to anything that looks risky
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Apprenticeship training:
- Emphasizes conservative, repeatable practices
So the caution gets culturally amplified.
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Yes, people in the US are noticeably cautious about powered drivers on wiring devices
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No, it’s not forbidden
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The reasons are:
- Torque sensitivity
- Safety conservatism
- Liability
- Training tradition
Used correctly, powered drivers are standard, efficient, and professional — especially with torque control or hand-finishing.
If you want, I can also break down:
- Which device types are most sensitive to over-torque
- Differences between receptacles, breakers, and lugs
- Best tool setups electricians use to stay fast and safe
I'm not an electrician but do a fair amount of work in the space. I mainly use the powered drivers for mounting screws or plate screws, not for terminal screws (which allows for torque control without a clutch as you described.)
I've also lived and worked in Europe, but do not have enough experience around professional electricians there to opine about the use of power tools. What is the perception like in the UK and on the continent?
Your practice is very much aligned with how experienced people approach this, and your distinction (mounting and plates vs. terminals) is important context for how the question is viewed outside the US.
Below is a practical comparison.
Short version: Powered drivers are completely normal for accessories and back boxes, and nobody blinks at it.
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Cordless drills/drivers are routinely used for:
- Fixing back boxes
- Mounting sockets and switches
- Faceplate screws
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Terminal screws:
- Often done by hand or
- Done with low-speed drivers
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Impact drivers are common for fixings, rare for terminals
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Accessory design
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UK accessories often have:
- Robust brass terminals
- Captive screws
- Deeper threads
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Plate screws are typically machine-threaded into steel back boxes → hard to damage
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Regulatory framing
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BS 7671 focuses on:
- Outcome (secure, safe termination)
- Inspection & testing
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Tool choice is not culturally scrutinized
-
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Testing culture
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Every circuit is:
- Continuity tested
- Insulation resistance tested
- Verified under load
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Confidence comes from test results, not perceived “carefulness”
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Result: If it tests correctly, nobody cares how the screws went in.
In countries like Germany, Netherlands, Nordics, Switzerland:
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Powered drivers are:
- Default
- Expected
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Hand-only would be seen as inefficient, not careful
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Terminal technology
- WAGO / spring / cage clamp terminals dominate
- No torque judgment required
- Tool damage risk is minimal
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Modular systems
- DIN rails
- Pre-engineered accessories
- Less hand-fit craftsmanship, more assembly
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Strong industrial norms
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Electricians often come from:
- Industrial backgrounds
- Mechatronics / systems training
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Power tools are just tools, not risk multipliers
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Using a power driver on:
- Mounting screws → unremarkable
- Terminal screws → acceptable if the device uses screws
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Avoiding power tools entirely would look strange
| Aspect | US | UK | Continental Europe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mounting screws | Cautious but common | Normal | Normal |
| Plate screws | Often hand-only | Driver common | Driver common |
| Terminal screws | Hand-finish culture | Mixed | Often irrelevant |
| Tool scrutiny | High | Low | Very low |
| Liability anxiety | High | Moderate | Lower |
| Reliance on post-install testing | Moderate | High | High |
You’re operating in the “installation efficiency + judgment” model, which is:
- Normal in the UK and EU
- Seen among experienced US electricians
- Distrusted in US training environments because it relies on operator skill
US culture tends to standardize around the lowest common denominator for safety guidance.
- UK: Power drivers for mounting and plates are fully mainstream
- EU: Power drivers are default; skepticism would be unusual
- US: Power drivers are accepted in practice, but socially “policed” more
Your approach would not raise an eyebrow in the UK or on the continent.
If you’re interested, I can also explain:
- Why slotted screws persist in the UK
- Why US devices are unusually fragile
- How inspection/testing philosophies diverged historically