If you’re an electrician scouring the internet for a list of must-have tools then look no further. Below you will find 20 of the most useful tools that when combined, will cover any situation you could face as an electrician. Let’s begin!
1. Cordless Power Drill
Gaining access to electrical wiring and installing new light fittings and fixtures is a common occurrence for an electrician. These jobs can be sped up with a good cordless power drill. Along with your drill, you should have a good selection of drill bit types and sizes. One unique bit that can prove especially handy for electricians is a reaming bit, more on this below!
2. Electricians Hammer
There are all sorts of hammers available, but the handle of an electrician’s hammer is made from fiberglass which offers greater strength and shock absorption over a standard wooden handle. The claw is angled and the hammerhead is constructed from steel and tempered for even greater impact force.
3. Insulated Screwdriver Set
You won’t get far without a set of screwdrivers. Make sure you have both Philips and flat head types in several sizes. For your safety, make sure all your screwdrivers feature insulated handles.
4. Allen Wrench Set
Certain appliances and light fittings feature hex screws that will require an Allen wrench to remove. Again, for added safety and peace of mind, try and find a set with insulated handles.
5. Utility Knife
I don’t think there is an instance in which a utility knife won’t prove useful in one way or another. Having one on your tool belt or bag with an insulated grip can help you out in many sticky situations!
6. Pliers
Linesman’s – There is a reason why electricians favor a pair of lineman’s pliers. This one tool can bend, cut, twist and straighten your wires with forceful accuracy.
Needle-Nose pliers – Used in tight spaces you couldn’t otherwise reach into with your hand. They are great for holding onto wires, bending them at a distance and trimming them if needed.
7. Wire Strippers
Stripping wires to expose the copper wiring underneath is a very common task for electricians. A good quality pair of wire strippers should give you clean finish each time and allow you to cut a variety of wire sizes with their varying sized cutting teeth.
8. Wire Crimpers
Circuit issues can often be caused due to a poor connection somewhere along the line. Wire crimpers are the ideal tool to repair these faulty connections by crimping together the area in question, securely interlocking back together.
9. Fish Tape
Fish tape helps you push and pull wire through conduit. As you can imagine, without one this job becomes damn near impossible. However, any old fish tape won’t do! Poor quality fish tape will be tricky to pull in and out and make your job harder than it needs to be. Also look out for options with a good quality case that can stand up to drops, and a handle for ease of use.
10. Multi-Meter
Are you really an electrician if you don’t own one of these? Multi-meters measure several electrical properties including voltage, resistance, current, continuity, frequency and capacitance. Both analog and digital options are available, with the more up to date digital versions featuring some extra abilities such as thermal imaging and Bluetooth.
11. Non-Contact Voltage Tester
Knowing whether a wire is live or not when working on electrical circuits is crucial. Trying your luck just isn’t worth the risk, especially when you could be dealing with high levels of electricity. A non-contact voltage tester is a small tool that is easy to pull out and use to determine if a wire is live or not, you don’t even have to make contact! They are fully insulated as well so you don’t have any safety worries and can focus completely on the work at hand.
12. Conduit Bender
When wiring a house, for example, you’ll need to work with the architecture of the building. This will most likely involve wiring around corners. This is where you will use a conduit bender to allow you to wire around corners as unobtrusively as possible.
13. Reaming Bit
As mentioned in the cordless power drill section above, one attachment that is incredibly effective for electricians is a reaming bit. This bit allows the user to widen the opening of the piping involved when installing new conduits and replacing old ones.
14. Torpedo Level
Nobody wants uneven switches, power outlets or light fittings around their home and I’m sure you wouldn’t either! It might be easy to think you can get by without one and save a little money, but trust me, it isn’t worth it! A torpedo level is a smaller version of a standard spirit level that is easier to use in smaller spaces. You can view top rated models here.
15. Tape Measure
As an electrician, you’ll need to regularly measure the lengths of wiring to make sure you are cutting and stripping them to the correct length. Go for a retractable tape measure, preferably not made from metal!
16. Electrical Tape
Used to insulate wires and other materials that conduct electricity. It’s stretching properties make it great for grouping and color-coding wires.
17. Flash / Work light
Working in the dark is not fun, especially when there is electricity involved! Invest in a sturdy flashlight that can stand up to knocks and drops to illuminate your working environment and ensure no mistakes are made. Portable LED work lights have become a popular option more recently as they provide bright white light in large areas.
18. Insulated Gloves
Every electrician who values their safety should own a pair of insulated safety gloves, truly a no brainer.
19. Rescue Rods
Rescue rods are used to remove an individual or large item from an unsafe area. There is always the chance that current is still flowing through the person or item which makes it unsafe to remove by hand. The rods will remove the person or object from danger while protecting the user from getting electrocuted themselves. We hope you never have to use one of these but if the situation does arise they truly are a lifesaving tool.
20. Electricians Tool Bag
You’ll need a tool bag to store and transport your tools in. Go with a tool bag that features many compartments to give you better organization over your tools. Also, check the build quality to get a feel for its carrying capacity. The last thing you want is your tool bag ripping on a job!
Is there anything else we should add to this list? Let us know in the comments below…
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