Tools for tightening sensor cables - opinions?

We've recently started using more of the ruggedized type of I/O modules that can mount outside of a panel and accept 4/8/16 sensor connections of the threaded M8 or M12 style. I quickly discovered that screwing in a cable can be difficult for someone with big fingers if the adjacent spots are already used.

I see that there are tools available for this. Some engage the hex on the connector, which of course requires that you be careful what brand of cables you buy, and others seem to grab on the outer body of the connector and work kind of like a pipe wrench. Ratcheting and torque limiting styles are also available. What seems to be common among all of them is the high price.

Does anyone have experience with these types of tools and can you vouch for their effectiveness? Are they worth the high price?

They do make life easier, and if you're plugging them into module that is IP67 rated or the like you are guaranteed that they are tightened to the proper torque that the rating relies on if using the torque limiting style.

We have one in the shop that everyone shares and IMHO the investment was worth it.

Please post the link where I can get some of them.

james

James Mcquade said:

Please post the link where I can get some of them.

james

Click to expand...

https://www.murrelektronik.com/products-p/detail/connection-technology/torque-wrench.html

Very German tools, extremely high quality but at a price. I believe they're around $250 each.

bjh said:

https://www.murrelektronik.com/products-p/detail/connection-technology/torque-wrench.html

Very German tools, extremely high quality but at a price. I believe they're around $250 each.

Click to expand...

We have these at our shop, they can be very handy, especially when connecting cables to the Murr system. The cables can be close together making it a little hard to get tight, this tool helps a lot. I think they were closer to $100.

I'm leaning towards the Weidmuller "Screwty." It grips the knurl of the connector instead of the hex. We have a variety of cables in our shop and I know that not all of them have the hex feature. Plus the price is decent, seems to be around $200 for a M8/M12 set (non torque version).

http://catalog.weidmueller.com/catalog/Start.do?localeId=en&ObjectID=group920947458596

You can make them yourself with a pipekey and saw one piece out,