Essential Tools for Electricians: A Beginner’s Guide

Electrical work, like any other home repair or improvement job, requires the use of specialized equipment. You will be using hand tools most of the time that you already have, including a tape measure, hammer, level, and screwdrivers for your household electrical works. However, specialized electrical tools may be needed now and then so it is also best to contact an experienced electrical contractor if you cannot find any of these special tools. They can be found in most hardware or electrical supply shops, and through the internet, to name a few places.

When working on a project at home, tools like fish tape, voltmeters, and flashlights may be pretty helpful. Like any other purchase, higher-quality items will have a longer life and provide outstanding performance than a cheaper piece of tool. Besides, better electrical tools and equipment, including wire cutters or linesman pliers, are designed with insulated handles to assist or protect the user from getting electrocuted.

There are specific tools that an electrician should have, and these may vary depending on the sort of work they do. However, it is safe to assume that every electrician will have some particular item that they cannot live without when it comes to their tools. Without the proper equipment, it is impossible to do electrical work safely and successfully. For that, we have assembled what we think to be a brief list of the “must-have equipment” that every electrician should carry in their toolbox.

Pliers

Pliers, often known as cutting pliers (also referred to as lineman pliers), are essential tooling for electricians and electrical contractors. They are primarily used to cut and grab, twisting, bending, and straightening wires. In their toolbox or vehicle, every efficient electrician has an assortment of pliers on hand. These include side-cutting pliers, needle nose pliers, and reaming pliers, which tighten lock nuts, fittings, and caps.

Screwdrivers

Electricians utilize a range of screwdrivers, which are another essential toolbox item, to loosen and tighten different pieces of hardware throughout their work. The versatility and adaptability of screwdrivers having interchangeable bits have enabled many professionals to ensure that they are never without the correct instrument on their person.

Tape Measure

While dealing with wiring, it is critical to have accurate measurements for cutting and stripping the wire. Even though an essential retractable tape measure will work, there are varieties available with magnetic tips, multi-step locking, and other features to make the procedure more convenient.

Electrical Tape

This pressure-sensitive adhesive substance, which may be made of vinyl, plastic, or fiberglass fabric, is vital for insulating wires or even other materials that transmit electricity since it is pressure-sensitive. Using electrical tape helps prevent electrical current from mistakenly flowing through other cables and causing electrocution if it comes in contact with live wires.

Cable Ties

These low-cost fasteners, often known as zip ties, are excellent for tying electrical wires together in various applications. With cable ties, you can keep your electrical area looking nice and orderly.

Drill

Electricians are often called upon to replace old lighting fixtures or remove existing ones to access wiring and other electrical components. A portable electric drill equipped with various bits speeds up the completion of these operations. In addition, it enables the technician to attach specialty bits (such as the reaming bit) for specific industrial applications.

Level

Finding the perfect areas for the placement of light fixtures is critical when it comes to lighting installation. A standard level is an essential item on any electrical gear list. It allows electricians to guarantee that fixtures, screws, or other installations are positioned precisely where they should be.

Lugs

Wire and cable lugs are similar to the characteristics found on jumper cables and automobile batteries. They allow wires to be connected to appliances, cables, or other devices that need electricity.

Connector

Connections between cables and devices are made possible by coax connectors, safeguarding the cable from being shredded. There are many connections available, and having a range on hand ensures that you can always fulfill the demands of your consumers.

Wire Strippers

Professional electricians often remove the plastic covering off wires to expose the copper below and create bespoke connections with many other cabling or equipment. This vital electrical repair equipment is available in different versions and configurations.

Fish Tape

The fish tape is one of the standards and available electrician equipment. This tape is enclosed in a retractable coil and may be fed into a conduit pipe that has already been installed. This pipeline system is used to connect gang boxes by running wires through them. Once the end of a fish tape is visible on the other side of the conduit, wiring may be attached to the tape, or the tape may be retracted, which will draw the wire along the length of the conduit.

Terminal Block

When connecting many wires, these modular, insulated components may be of great use to electricians. For example, they connect the wire to a grounding point or connect electronic devices (switches to be exact) and outlets to the mains electricity supply line.

A Voltage Tester

Before doing electrical repairs on a property, it is necessary to turn off the electricity in critical areas of the structure.  Electricians may use a portable voltage tester to check outlets for power, allowing them to determine whether it is safe to operate on them again. In addition, electricians use this device to certify that power has been reestablished.

Conclusion

It’s all well and good to have all the necessary tools, but if you don’t take care of them, they’ll wind up costing hundreds, if not thousands of dollars to replace. Additionally, tools in good condition are safer, and a safe working environment is critical. Only some pointers and techniques are provided in this article. When it comes to the equipment you’ll need, a lot will depend on the type of work you’re doing. Taking care of your equipment and having the correct instruments for the task is critical in this trade.