What tools does an electrician need? If you are a professional in the field, you have probably already found yourself in this doubt.
Electrician’s tools are a fundamental part of a job well done, safe and reliable and are therefore indispensable. Find out what these tools are (in addition to other important things) by following the post with us.
Why is it important to invest in the right tools?
1. Security
Everything that involves electricity requires security. This is because the risk of shock is very high. Therefore, the use of the proper tools is essential for safe work not only for the electrician, but also for the property, as you avoid risks such as short circuits and possible losses of appliances and electronics and even fires.
2. Trust and credibility for the customer
A well-organized and complete tool kit for electricians makes the customer see the professional’s commitment to the work and, thus, start to trust and believe in the service that will be delivered.
3. Agility and practicality at work
In addition to safety and credibility, the electrician’s tool kit also ensures agility and practicality in delivering the work.
Every professional, regardless of their area of expertise, knows that the right tools make all the difference in carrying out activities, making them faster and simpler.
It is also worth mentioning that the work of an electrician does not allow for workarounds. This is dangerous for the professional and for the client’s property. So, once again, invest in appropriate, quality tools.
How to choose electrician tools?
The first step before buying electrician tools is to understand the type of work that you, the professional, do.
Home electricians who are exposed to low- and medium-voltage voltages have different needs for equipment and tools than those professionals who provide services in industries or other places where the electrical voltage is higher.
Therefore, make an analysis of the type of service you perform so that you can assess which tools are best suited for your work.
Another important point is the quality of the tools. At first glance it may seem, for example, that screwdrivers are all the same. Turns out they aren’t. An electrician’s screwdriver has an insulated cable, making the job more secure.
Because of this, it is essential that the electrician look for specific tools for working with electrical equipment instead of buying standard tools.
Before purchasing the tools, it is also important to research the brands on the market and the specifications of each one of them. A good tip is to subscribe to Facebook’s professional groups and seek opinions from those who already use the tool you intend to buy.
List of Electrician’s Tools
Check out the essential tools for a good job as an electrician:
security items
Gloves – Gloves are essential for any type of electrical work. Choose rubber ones with high voltage protection.
Helmet – For work in high places, the use of a helmet is essential to ensure the professional’s safety.
Protective goggles – Have two models of goggles in your tool kit: the transparent and the dark.
Hearing protection – The electrician also needs a hearing protector for high decibel environments. This ensures the health of your ears.
Safety shoes and clothing – To avoid shocks, every electrician needs safety shoes and clothing, as recommended by the NR10 standard.
Skydiver belt – As with a helmet, working in high places requires the use of a seatbelt. This type of equipment can be found on the market by the name of parachute belt or lanyard belt.
Hand tools
Pliers
Every electrician also needs a pliers kit with insulating cables and tips made of steel. The list must include universal pliers, a model that allows them to be used on different surfaces and materials, in addition to facilitating the cutting of wires, wires and the press of terminals.
Another pliers that should be in your briefcase is the half-cane, also known as a fine point or duckbill. This pliers is extremely useful in the work of an electrician, as it is possible to bend, pinch and pull wires, as well as holding parts of components.
The wire stripper pliers or electrician’s pliers is another essential item in the electrical tool kit. With it, the professional strips wires easily, but it can also be used to cut wires and clamp terminals.
Screwdriver
Screwdrivers are also essential, but for electrical use it is important that the tools have an insulating cable.
Have at least two, a small one for fastening smaller screws and a larger one for fastening switch screws, for example.
Philips key
The Phillips screwdriver, unlike the screwdriver, has an x-shaped tip and is used for fixing specific screws. It is interesting that you have at least two or three in varying sizes to suit the different sizes of screws that exist in the equipment.
wire stripper
In addition to the pliers, there is also the wire stripper, a specific tool for stripping the wiring. This tool is made up of two blades that hold and remove the wire’s protective cover.
penknife or knife
Keep in your tool bag, as a precaution, a pocketknife, knife or any other sharp cutting instrument. This tool can be very useful for various functions such as removing component parts.
measuring tape
The measuring tape is not a specific tool for an electrician’s work, but it can be very useful in determining, for example, how many meters of wire will be needed for an environment. It’s worth having the tool in the bag.
Hammer
The hammer is another one of those multipurpose tools that do a lot of things and can break a branch if you need to loosen parts from somewhere or remove nails, for example.
passing tape
Passing tape is an old acquaintance of electricians and, in general, it basically serves to help the passage of wires through conduits.
Insulating tape
Insulating tape is very important to insulate the electrical current of the equipment used. Therefore, you need to have at least one roll of electrical tape in your tool kit.
Head lamp
To ensure good visibility in the workplace, the electrician must also have a flashlight. The most recommended is the one worn on the head, this way you keep your hands free to perform the service.
Test instruments
Polo search
Pole search is a pen-like tool that turns on when touched to a live pole and turns off when touched to a neutral field.
multimeter
The multimeter is an indispensable tool for the electrician. She is the one who will guide the work, pointing out the voltage and resistance of electrical equipment. The multimeter still performs several tests, from the simplest to the most complex.
test lamp
The test lamp, as you can imagine, is nothing more than a lamp connected to a socket with two ends. It serves to measure the voltage of the electrical installation (110 or 220W), since the more intense the brightness emitted by the lamp, the more electrical current passes through the place.
Continuity Test
Continuity testing helps the electrician to check the continuity of electrical circuits, especially in the case of switches.
ammeter pen
The ammeter pen is an inseparable companion to the multimeter. Together, these two tools make the electrician’s job easier and better. But, in the case of the ammeter pen, the reading of the electric current is done dynamically, without the need to break the circuit to carry out the test.
Important care with electrician tools
Just as important as having the proper tools is knowing how to take care of them correctly so that they work as expected and, of course, have a long life. So, take note of the following tips:
- Have a suitable place to store your tools while they are not in use. It can be a briefcase, a box or a wall panel so that they hang. The important thing is that they are not left lying around or stored with other tools that could damage them.
- Clean your tools when you’re done using them.
- Make it a habit to examine your tools, making sure they have no oxidized, broken or needing parts. After all, you can’t be on hand when you need one of them.
- Never expose your tools to the sun or moisture. These are risk factors for the conservation of equipment. Keep them protected in a place away from direct sunlight and free from moisture.
Did you write down all the tips? Now just go to the store you trust and start assembling the electrician’s tool kit.
