What Tools Does An Electrician Need?

What Tools Does An Electrician Need?

If you’re working as an electrician then you’ll know that it can be a pretty dangerous job without the right tools. But when you’re just getting started, it can feel a little overwhelming trying to put your tool kit together for the first time. 

From drills to pliers and multimeters to screwdrivers, every electrician needs to make sure that their tool kit is properly equipped. 

That said, it very much depends on the type of electrical work that you do as to which tools will be most suitable. Generally speaking, though, there are some tools that every sparky must have and in this guide we will be looking at the most important. Let’s start by looking at some electrician specific tools.

Multimeter

A multimeter is sometimes called a multifunctional tester or a volt-ohm-milliammeter but they’re all names for the same thing. What’s important to remember is that this will be one of the most essential tools in your toolbox.

The multimeter is, as the name suggests, a device that is capable of measuring multiple things. At the most basic level, your multimeter will be able to read AC and DA currents as well as featuring an ohmmeter and an ammeter. These features mean that you can measure the resistance, current and voltage of any electrical circuit. 

The meter features a display that shows you the readings in a clear and easy to understand manner. The reason that this is so important is that, by law, you are required to have your electrical installation meet IET requirements. The use of these meters will ensure that all standards are met. 

Voltage Tester

A voltage tester is a tool that you can use to check if a circuit is live. You could be forgiven for thinking that your multimeter could do this but it measures the voltages whereas a voltage tester simply tells you whether there is one or not. 

This is an incredibly important tool for all electricians as it will ensure that you can work safely. If you attempt to work on a circuit that is carrying a voltage, this is a huge safety hazard so you should always check first. While you might be confident that you killed the circuit, many people forget to do this and the results can be fatal.

You’ll notice that voltage testers come in different types and many electricians will have a selection of them in their toolkits. This allows you to test various different circuits. As standard, a voltage tester will have two prongs, you’ll touch one to a ground connection and the other to the outlet. If the light flashes, this tells you there is a voltage.

You might also opt to have a non-contact tester which doesn’t require you to touch it to anything and instead can pick up the voltage just by being near to the cable. These are considered to be much safer as you don’t have to make contact with something that is potentially live. 

Wall Chaser

Electricians will need to install cables into walls and for this, they’ll need a viable way of cutting into the wall without causing a whole host of damage. That’s where your wall chaser comes into action. These tools are designed to cut a groove or channel into the wall that is just the right size to fit the conduit or cable. 

In days gone by, an electrician may have done this using a chisel and hammer and there may still be times that you have to work this way. But for the most part, a wall chaser will make the job much easier even on tough surfaces like stone and brick. 

Wire Strippers

If you’re working as an electrician then you will almost certainly need wire strippers; they’re considered to be one of the most essential tools of the trade. Without them, you would find it difficult to perform even minor repairs, never mind a complete rewiring job. 

Wire strippers are used to remove the insulation from a wire and this allows you to connect it to another wire, a connector or a terminal. As you might imagine, there are several different types of wire strippers but they are all designed to do the same job. 

Standard wire strippers have one notch into which you insert the wire. You then squeeze the handles and rotate them which makes a cut in the insulation and the section can simply be slid off. However, there are some more advanced strippers that come with a variety of holes, each in a different size to accommodate different wires. This is great in ensuring that you get an exact cut and prevents you from damaging the wire. 

Wire Crimpers

You wouldn’t usually find wire crimpers in the average DIY kit as they’re something that are almost exclusively used by an electrician. These tools are used as a way of connecting a wire to a lug or terminal and they create a very reliable joint quickly and efficiently. They’re also very versatile as they can be used with a number of different types of connectors. 

The wire crimper works by squeezing the connector and the wire together and this creates a very secure but tiny weld between the two. You’ll find that wire crimpers come in a range of sizes so be sure to choose the right one as this will give the tightest bond. 

Fish Tape

You may sometimes hear fish tape being referred to as electrician’s snake or draw wire, but once again, these are all just different names for the same thing. Fish tape is used when you need to run new wiring through a wall or conduit. 

The tape is narrow and typically made from nylon, fibreglass or steel and comes on a reel ; it looks similar to a tape measure. You’ll use fish tape as a guide and it works very well thanks to its curved, rigid design, sliding easily through wall cavities.

Most commonly, fish tape is used when improving wiring or extending a circuit but you will also use it when installing a completely new circuit. 

What Tools Does An Apprentice Electrician Need?

When working as an apprentice, you may find that your employer provides you with all the tools you need, especially those that are electrician specific. Of course, it can be helpful to have a selection of your own basic tools as these will come in just as handy as some of the more specialised pieces of equipment. 

Cordless Drill

We say a cordless drill because these are so much more convenient than a corded drill and are portable and don’t require a mains connection. This is ideal for an electrician as the power will often be turned off. 

You’ll use your drill for making holes in various materials such as walls and wood as well as fixing screws. There are many different types of drills and which you use will depend on what job you are doing. If you need a powerful drill for making holes, you’ll likely opt for one with hammer action whereas for screwing, a simple, low voltage drill will be sufficient. 

Measuring Tape

While it may be one of the most simple tools out there, no electrician worth their salt would be seen without one. You could go for a traditional tape measure but it’s not uncommon for modern electricians to use a laser measuring tool which offers a super fast and accurate way of taking a measurement. You’ll also benefit from these tools as they can store measurements allowing you to make calculations. 

Labeller

It is incredibly important to clearly label your worksite when working with electricity as this will ensure safety and efficiency. A good quality labeller is one of the simplest but most important tools that any electrician can have. 

Insulated Screwdrivers

Screwdrivers are a staple part of the toolboxes of all different types of tradespeople and electricians are no exception. You will need a selection of different sizes and shapes so we would suggest investing in a high quality and versatile screwdriver set. 

These are tools that you will use every day but it is important to choose those that are insulation as this gives you greater protection. Generally speaking, an electrician’s screwdrivers should be able to withstand up to 1000v. 

Pliers

As an electrician, you will need to have a wide range of different types of pliers. Each of these will help you in different situations so it’s important to ensure you have all of the correct types.

• Regular pliers may seem like a simple tool but they’re extremely important. But since they come in a range of sizes, it’s worth getting several different sizes so you can easily do a lot of different jobs. 
• Side cutting pliers are an important part of an electrician’s toolkit as they are ideal for cutting wires to the desired length. They can also be used for crimping where wire crimpers are not available and will come in handy when removing staples and other things. 
• You’ll also need a good pair of tongue and groove pliers when working with conduits and pipes. Moreover, it’s important to keep in mind that just one set of these pliers won’t be enough as some tasks will require at least a pair if you are working without an assistant. 

Electrical Tape

Electrical tape is massively important for sparkies and it is used to insulate wires, hence why it is often known as insulation tape. It’s very durable and is designed to resist heat, liquids and abrasion as this offers the greatest protection to the conductive material it is covering.

This tape comes in a variety of forms including copper foil, glass cloth, PVC and vinyl as well as various colours and thicknesses. You’ll also notice that there are choices in terms of width and temperate tolerance so it is a good idea to buy a selection for various applications.

FAQ

Do Electricians Use Hammers?

When you think about the things that an electrician needs to use, you might not immediately think of a hammer. Many would associate these with things like woodworking and while they are not a specialised electrical tool, electricians do need them in their arsenal. 

A manual tool, the hammer is a versatile piece of equipment that allows the electrician to perform tasks such as removing nails or setting boards. Being such a multipurpose item, it makes sense to include it in your tool kit, however, you may not use the same type of hammer as other tradesmen and women. 

As an electrician, you will opt for an electrician hammer. This appears to be similar to many other types of claw hammer but features a fibreglass handle and the hold is covered in elastic making it safe for electrical jobs. 

You’ll also notice that this type of hammer has a long striking face compared to other hammers and this is ideal when you are working in a confined space, which you will do frequently in this job. The features of this type of hammer make it far more accurate and easy to use. 

What Is An Electrician Knife?

As an electrician, you will need to invest in a good quality electrician’s knife. These tools are made for things like peeling wire ends, cutting wooden tenons and table gaps. These are sharp tools that should be used with care. Peeling wire casing away from you is the safest method. 

What Is The Purpose Of Using An Electrician Knife Instead Of Electrician Pliers?

An electrician’s knife is designed specifically for the purpose of peeling wire end whereas pliers are not made for this kind of job, despite often being used for it. This means that using an electrician’s knife will be safer and much more efficient.

Conclusion

Electricians need a variety of tools in order to do their job safely and efficiently. There are many electrical jobs that cannot be completed without some of the more specialised pieces of equipment so when setting up your tool kit for work, it’s imperative that you have these available to you. 

As well as specialist tools, a good electrician will also need an array of basic tools such as hammers, pliers, screwdrivers and more. It’s a good idea to invest in tools that are good quality and that will stand the test of time because as they say, a workman is only as good as his tools.