As an electrician, it is important to have a well-equipped tool kit. While the right tools will depend on the job, some tools are extremely versatile and can be used in many different scenarios. These are all tools you will learn to use at an electrical school, but it’s great to also have them at home to practice on your own.
Tools such as wire strippers, needle nose pliers and lineman pliers should be part of any electrical professional’s toolkit. In addition to these three essential tools, every electrician should always carry a flashlight for inspecting dark spaces or looking behind things. Here are five more tools that every electrician should know how to use:
1) Multimeter
A multimeter is a very useful all-in-one device for electrical work. This tool can test voltage, resistance and current amperage. Some models also allow for testing temperature and diode tests. The multimeter is a must-have for any electrician because it allows them to test electrical components quickly and easily.
2) Voltage Detector
This basic tool can help protect an electrician from shocks by detecting if a circuit is live or not. While the voltage detector is most commonly used on live circuits, some models have features that allow them to be used on non-active circuits as well. When working with circuits that need to be shut off before work begins, this can avoid accidents caused by mistakenly turning an active circuit back on without knowing it was still hot after the breaker was flipped off.
3) Cable Cutter
A cable cutter is useful for cutting through many different types of wiring materials. These can be used to cut through insulated wires, non-insulated wire, or data cable. This tool is great for both large and small projects because it allows an electrician to quickly identify their work areas and cut the proper types of cables in one motion.
4) Needle Nose Pliers
Another must-have for any electrical professional, needle nose pliers are useful even when working with small components like circuit breakers or switches that need to be tightened into place. This versatile tool should always accompany every electrical professional as they go out on jobs because they might need them to connect a component together or remove a loose wire from a breaker panel during a project.
5) Wire Strippers
For someone new to wiring or just starting in an electrical trade school, the idea of learning how to strip wires might seem intimidating. It’s actually quite simple! Because most jobs will involve cutting stranded copper wire, learning some basic techniques for stripping insulation from individual strands is important. Many times you’ll need to strip several wires at once so it’s essential that you know how to do this quickly and efficiently.
A variety of types of wire strippers are available on the market but there are two main styles that are used by most electricians: side-cutting or end-cutting which are available either manual or automatic. How these tools work is pretty easy – requiring only a few steps!
With this starter electrician tool kit, you’ll be able to start practicing outside of the electrical school classroom. The more you practice, the more comfortable and confident you will feel. After a few months, it will become second nature using these tools!