From screwdrivers and wire strippers, to hacksaws and voltage testers, every tool used by an electrician has a specific purpose, and most electricians know that the work they produce isonly ever as good as the tools they use.
Below are some essential tools that help electricians carry out their work safely, effectively and with ease, and if you’re kitting yourself out as a budding or newly qualified electrician, try to buy the best brands where possible, and never compromise on quality:
Wire strippers
Similar to pliers, these tools help to remove insulating outer sheaths from cables, and they come in several forms: triple action, adjustable, automatic and manual.
Pliers
Used to bend or twist wires, pliers have a slender, elongated tip that can be invaluable for intricate tasks an electrician might need to carry out, and come in different styles, including: side-cutting, long-nose, reaming and needle nose.
These make easy work of screwing and unscrewing fasteners, and electricians typically carry screwdrivers that are insulated, and which have a magnetic or quick-release system fitted into the head.
Hammers
Similar to claw hammers, the type of hammer an electrician might use has an insulated handle made of fiberglass and with a rubber coating to keep the user safe.
Electrical tape
For wires that are used to conduct electricity, self-adhesive and pressure sensitive electrical or insulating tape is used that is abrasion, heat and liquid resistant, and designed to protect the core that conducts electricity within the wiring. It can be made from vinyl, PVC, copper and glass cloth and comes in a variety of colors, thicknesses, widths, temperature tolerances, adhesiveness and insulating capacities.
Saws with fine teeth that can cut through metal, the thin blade of a hacksaw can be adjusted in the frame, and when the blades break or become blunt, they can easily be replaced. Full-size hacksaws have blades that are 12-inches in length, while junior hacksaws have finer teeth for detailed work, and are a lot smaller.
With a steel blade to cut through wiring, cable cutters cable cutters help electricians quickly strip the insulation from wires for crimping and other tasks. A different cut is given according to the model, and you can buy straight ones designed for a range of purposes, ones for flush cutting, and models for diagonal slicing. Suitable for electrical equipment and high-voltage wiring, electricians can invest in a fully insulated pair of cable cutters for the ultimate in safety.
Voltage testers
Sometimes referred to as multimeters, these handheld devices can help an electrician detect whether a live current is present in a location, and are designed primarily for checking cables, switches and junction boxes etc.
Voltmeter
This device is used by electricians to read the level of volts transported through a circuit, and isn’t a device most DIYers would find a use for.
Setting yourself up as an electrician once qualified requires purchasing a range of tools and devices, and while this does require an initial investment, provided you choose the best brands and focus on quality, you shouldn’t need to replace them often, if at all, throughout your career.