"new: tool for electrical work

[Mstrfxit12]

So I discovered this screwdriver a few weeks ago. I thought maybe I had just missed it before but I've asked six electricians and they had never seen it before either. It is a combo tip screwdriver, made by Klein. it is for use on the combo (square Phillips flat) fasteners that are becoming more and more common on electrical devices such as breakers, switches and receptacles. I'll tell you, I've been using it for a few weeks now and it really is a great tool. With those types of fasteners nothing really seemed to work well. This works extremely well. If you do any amount of electrical work I would definitely recommend picking it up. I got this set at Home Depot. It came with a number 1 and 2. It was a Klein part number 32378 for the set and was about 20 bucks.

Chris

 

[kngelv]

I have a Wiha set of these. Work great.

James

 

[txdude87]

Looks useful for 4 square boxes. May have to invest in one. If you haven't used one already, check out the Klein katapult wire strippers. Used one for the first time yesterday and it might be time to invest in one me thinks!

 

[vhol5]

Milwaukee has had the screwdrivers and bits for a while, sold at HD

 

[Moose364]

Milwaukee has had the screwdrivers and bits for a while, sold at HD

that is where I got mine, came in a set of 3 with a reg and Phillips and it, not even sure what it is called,

 

[aspireguy95]

Masterforce also had them. They were on clearance when all the gearwrench stuff was on clearance. Got 2 for 1.20

 

[unslow1]

that is where I got mine, came in a set of 3 with a reg and Phillips and it, not even sure what it is called,

I bought mine when they put them on clearance about a year ago.

 

[Cope]

I'm heading to Home Depot to get a set. I cannot understand why anyone makes these bi-****** fasteners. If someone doesn't have both Phillips and slotted screwdrivers, he/she doesn't need to work on anything.

Another thing I have noticed is Roberson (square) heads on breakers and breaker box screws.
ETA, looks like these are for the slotted/Roberson combo fasteners.

 

[dutchgray]

I hate those combination screws to, screwdrivers are cheap and its not like you need hundreds of different ones to cover yourself for electrical.
I believe Robertson works best in those combo screws though.

 

[Mstrfxit12]

The problem with these combo fasteners is the flat and Phillips screwdrivers don't "really" work in them. The only thing that is decent is the Robertsons but with the fastener opened up for the flat blade they aren't even ideal for that. I really was impressed with how well these combo tips have been working.

 

[Kracin]

Is any company making these tips in 1/4" hex bits?

my shockwave set came with a couple of them. i should start using them more, i tend to juts reach for my pocket flathead wera

 

[hackwelder]

I also bought a Milwaukee screwdriver recently that has that bit, they call it a ECXbit...

 

[articsilber323]

anyone have a link where i can buy a 1/4 hex bit with this tip

 

[hackwelder]

anyone have a link where i can buy a 1/4 hex bit with this tip

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005AN6GTQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

FWIW two sizes are sold, #1 and #2

 

[Spudland_Dave]

The problem with these combo fasteners is the flat and Phillips screwdrivers don't "really" work in them. The only thing that is decent is the Robertsons but with the fastener opened up for the flat blade they aren't even ideal for that. I really was impressed with how well these combo tips have been working.

Milwaukee calls this tip the ECX...available as a screwdriver, bit insert, etc..

Just another point to make...there is also another version such as on the Whia which is called "Terminal Tip":

They are NOT interchangeable... Depends on the fastener in question, I've got both, and in my wiring of my garage, I found I used the Whia Terminal tip the most...every recep/switch/etc.. had the terminal tip style, while all the connections in my Square D panel used the ECX type. Just fixed some extension cords with new Woodhead ends and sure enough Terminal Tip.

 

[skruft]

I have found that the square drive works, and I have many of those.

 

[txdude87]

Do any German companies sell them in a screwdriver?

 

[ishiboo]

I have the Milwaukees and the Masterforce (Pratt-Reads), they are definitely the best option for electrical receptacles, Square D breaker screws, etc. Personally I wish everything was torx, but since this is existing stuff with those, the ECX-style is the best option.

 

[ishiboo]

Do any German companies sell them in a screwdriver?

The Wiha Terminal Tips are just about the same thing. I'm not so sure about them being "not interchangeable"... all of the receptacles, Square D breakers, etc. I have purchased work fine with the ECX bits, Pratt-Read "combo drive", etc.

 

[jeremy v]

I like using the cheap and easy to find DeckMate bits from Home Depot. They work great for conduit coupling set screws that use a #2 phillips/#2 square/flat combination head. The hex bits are usually easy to find because they are a bright blue color.

For things that use a flat/square drive combination head without Phillips (like panel covers) I use a square bit. They are usually very low torque items anyways.

For the larger conduit couplings that use #3 square/Phillips/Flat I use a #3 square bit.

I also have one of each size of the Wiha terminal block screwdrivers for working on electronics, relay screw terminals, etc. that use a Phillips/flat combination head. I also have a couple of their hex power bits with the same head (part#'s 71452 and 71453). For European electronics that use a Pozi/flat combination head I have the Wera version of the same screwdriver, but Wiha also makes those too.

http://www.wihatools.com/300seri/307serie.htm

 

[Beemer533]

Is any company making these tips in 1/4" hex bits?

Milwaukee does..

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005AN6GTQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[SlowAl]

+1 on the Wiha terminal driver. It's perfect for outlet screws.

 

[383 240z]

Thanks. Now I have to go buy another tool. However I WANT to buy this one. Hate those hermaphroditic fasteners. This solves my problems. Keith

 

[Spudland_Dave]

The Wiha Terminal Tips are just about the same thing. I'm not so sure about them being "not interchangeable"... all of the receptacles, Square D breakers, etc. I have purchased work fine with the ECX bits, Pratt-Read "combo drive", etc.

Quick Pics....as you can see the terminal tip fits fine (Woodhead Plug) but the ECX does not at all. (both are #2...even the #1 ECX Doesn't fit) and I find that most if not all "end devices" use terminal screws like this.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Pic of a couple common electrical terminal screws...

 

[Spudland_Dave]

The key here is for ECX to work it has to be the Combo Square/Slotted. NOT the combo Phillips/Slotted.
AND that being said, I don't understand the purpose of ECX...even having the bits in hand, I still just use my #2 Robertson/Square tips when dealing with panel screws and such.

 

[ishiboo]

The key here is for ECX to work it has to be the Combo Square/Slotted. NOT the combo Phillips/Slotted.
AND that being said, I don't understand the purpose of ECX...even having the bits in hand, I still just use my #2 Robertson/Square tips when dealing with panel screws and such.

Absolutely it needs to have the combo square/slotted/philips for ECX to work.

Every modern light switch, 15 and 20A receptacle, and breaker I installed was compatible with ECX, as well as the last few L5-30s I installed, and the L14-30s. So I am surprised to see your stuff has all philips/slotted combos.

The receptacles I installed, including the 30A's, all had #1 square screws. The 30A's in particular were quite bad to torque down with soft screws. These were pretty top-of-the-line receptacles as well. So the ECX was a far better option than the square drive. I initially used my Klein 11-in-1 to do the square stuff, and switched to the ECX and was much happier. So now, as long as the device accepts it, that's what I use.

 

[hydro182]

I wonder if klein makes that in a swivel(speedy) screwdriver

 

[RVDan]

Hmmm. Robertsons fit perfectly.

 

[Kracin]

i wish the bastards would just standardize every single fastener to roberston already and get over the whole phillips ****.... robertson+flat and leave it at that

reminds me of king of queens when arthur decides to corner the market on the "arthur screws"... screwdriver with an A that goes into screws with an A...


video reference for the laughs
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/fp14jarnTP0?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp14jarnTP0

 

[txdude87]

Bought the 2 pack Klein last week. They were already proven extremely useful when I started using them. Then I came across a 4 square box where either one would not fit the screw...

 

[shampoop]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005AN6GTQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

FWIW two sizes are sold, #1 and #2

Do you know if they correspond with the screws that fit robertson #1 and #2?

 

[Zeke]

I have found that the square drive works, and I have many of those.

Yeah, I use a square drive but I'm gonna get one of these.

 

[onarant]

I have a Wiha set of these. Work great.

James

+1 great set, I use them often

 

[shampoop]

Did some more research and found that klein now sells an 11 in 1 screwdriver that already comes with this new style bit, it replaces the #1 and #2 robertson (square) drive with the new style bit.

http://www.kleintools.com/catalog/combo-tip/11-1-combo-screw-tips

I already have an 11 in 1 though and would rather keep my square drive bit and ditch the torx bit. So i'm going to buy the bit seperately.

http://www.kleintools.com/catalog/power-drivers-bits/double-sided-combo-replacement-bit

This is the best option I've found for buying just the 11 in 1 bits.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-To...t-Bit-2-Pack-32752/205666982?N=5yc1vZc248Z3xg

 

[cheechi]

Do you know if they correspond with the screws that fit robertson #1 and #2?

They are supposed to but I think in the real world they are not exact. My experience is some fit better than others, but I have had these ECX bits for a long time so I haven't needed to care for a long time.

The Wiha terminal tip is supposed to correspond to P1 & P2 also. I don't have any of the P1 size to confirm but the P2 was snug on the one I have encountered since I realized what they were.

 

[shampoop]

Ended up buying the klein combo tip screwdrivers. Haven't used the larger one yet, but this one -

http://www.kleintools.com/catalog/combo-tip/4-102-mm-fixed-blade-1-combo-tip-driver

Is AWESOME! Works excellent on those "multi" screws used on electrical receptacles and switches! No more slippage and stripped fasteners. However, like has been said about the interchangability with "terminal tips" used for electrical panels like the ground and neutral bars is true. It does not work for those. Those are designed to work with only robertson (square) or flathead drivers. They only work for the TRI ****** fastners designed to work with phillips, flat head, and robertson (square) screws. On these fasteners, phillips and flat head screwdrivers are a joke, and robertson R1 drivers work okay, barely acceptable. But these "combo" bit drivers work great.

The pack i bought also came with the larger tool
http://www.kleintools.com/catalog/combo-tip/4-102-mm-fixed-blade-2-combo-tip-driver
Which also didn't fit the electrical panel style screws. Haven't got a chance to use it yet.