Tools Required For An Electrician
We have had a couple of requests sent in asking us to do an article on the most required tools for an electrician. This list could be dozens of tools long but we have decided to cut it down to our top six tools. We have purposely focused this article on hand tools and not power tools as we feel there could be a whole separate article for that, and the list would simply be too long.
Combination Pliers. Combination pliers are essential for cutting, stripping, crimping and twisting wires and cables. One of the best brands you can get is Knipex, although they are expensive they will last you for ever and they will be a tool that you use every single day, so they are well worth the investment.
Utility knife. This may not be a tool that immediately comes to mind when you think of electricians tools, but they come in very handy when you are stripping the insulation from the outer of cables. Be sure to invest in one that has automatic spring back for extra safety.
Insulated Screwdriver Set. This is another lot of tools that we you will use, every single day. At the minimum you will need to different sizes of flat heads, as well as two different sizes of Philips heads. An insulated set will ensure extra safety when working with live circuits.
Digital Multimeter. Multimeters can literally be a lifesaver. There's not a day that goes by that I don't use a multimeter to simply check if the circuit is live before working on it. The price can vary greatly on these, but you will want one that costs at least $90.
Side cutter pliers. You may not think you need another set of pliers if you already have the combination pliers, however, having a set of side cutter pliers will allow you to get cleaner, more accurate cuts – this is especially handy when you need specific lengths of cable.
Channel Lock Pliers. To avoid having to carry around a lot of different sizes of spanners, invest in a good pair of channel lock pliers. These are excellent for quickly adjusting to the size of conduit nuts, yet also useful for undoing various nuts and bolts you come across in your day.
We hope this guide helps you out when it comes time to start buying your tools for your new toolbox.
