March 28, 2023

Power up Your Electrical Projects 15 Tools for Every Electricians Needs

An electrician’s job is not easy and requires careful planning, experience, and of course, the best tools. Regardless of the experience and experience of an electrician or the type of project, they always have a toolbox with them. The toolbox may feature different insulated and machine tools that electricians may use during the project. Do you want to know what these tools are? If that sounds yes, this post is for you, which would introduce you to different types of must-haves in an electrician’s arsenal.

15 Must-have Tools in an Electrician’s Arsenal

The following are some must-have tools in an electrician’s arsenal :

1. Pliers :These are the most essential tools in any electrician’s arsenal. They use pliers for cutting, twisting, gripping, bending, and straightening a wire. These tools are available in various designs to meet the requirements of different electrical applications.

Long nose pliers, reaming pliers, and lineman’s pliers are some popular variants. Among these, the reaming pliers are used to tighten caps, fittings, and locknuts. Long nose pliers are used for gripping small objects and accessing wires in hard-to-reach places, while lineman’s pliers are used to splice, grip or cut wires and strip insulations.

2. Screwdrivers : As the name suggests, these insulated tools allow an electrician to screw and unscrew hardware pieces. A screwdriver features a metal rod with a distinguishable flat end that can easily fit onto the screw top.



Nowadays, electricians carry screwdrivers with interchangeable bits. They prefer carrying screwdrivers that are ergonomically designed for comfortable holding. Ergonomic designs combined with interchangeable bits assure a firm and comfortable grip during various electrical projects.

3. Tape Measures :


These may come across as simple tools in any electrician's arsenal, but they are essential for any electrical project. An electrician needs exact measurements while stripping and cutting a wire. Although retractable tape can serve the purpose, nowadays, the models feature multi-step locks as well as magnetic tips.

4. Electrical Tape :

It is made from pressure-sensitive and self-adhesive materials that are used during electrical projects to insulate wires or other conductors. The tape is usually made from copper foil, vinyl, PVC, and glass cloth. Electrical tapes are designed to resist heat, abrasion, and liquids to protect the conductor in the wiring. Available in different colors, thicknesses, widths, adhesive strengths, temperature tolerance, and insulation capabilities, these electrical tapes are used for a wide range of electrical projects. In most cases, electricians choose the tape based on their color codes. For instance, red tape is used to mark AC wires of low voltage; blue tape is used to keep neutral wires of low voltage; and black tape is used for general insulation and to indicate the neutral point of low voltage in any circuit.

5. Cable Ties : As the name suggests, these fasteners are used for organizing cables or wires in commercial, industrial, and residential applications. They are available in various types and designs to manage cables and wires.

The following are some popular ones among them :

a. Standard nylon cable ties
b. Mounting nylon cable ties
c. Identification nylon cable ties
d. Releasable cable ties
e. Air-handling cable ties
f. Colored cable ties and fluorescent cable ties
g. Polyethylene cord ties
h. Beaded nylon cable ties

6.Electrical Drills :



These drills feature an electric motor fitted with a replaceable drill bit and is used to create holes in metals, wood, plastic, and walls. Generally, electrical drills or power drills are used by electricians during maintenance or installation projects. Nowadays, cordless drills are also gaining popularity and electricians use them in case of a power cut.

7. Levels : Making precise points on walls for installations is important for an electrician. They use levels to ensure the appropriate placement of screws, fixtures, and installations during the electrical project.

8. Wire Strippers :



Electricians use wire strippers to strip the plastic sheaths on wires and expose copper, which is a conductor. This conductor is used to create customized connections with other components or wires. Wire strippers come in various types and models.

9. Electrical Testers : These are devices used to test the presence of electricity in equipment. Electrical testers are of many types, including AmWatt appliance load testers, battery testers, circuit testers, non-contact current detectors, etc.



These electrician tools are easy to identify and are generally named after the application. For instance, battery testers are designed to test the remaining charge in a battery; circuit testers to check current flow, continuity, and electrical voltage; and receptacle testers to ensure all wires are directly connected to the power outlet.

10. Splicing Connectors : These tools allow electricians connect telephone wires, device wires, and electrical cables. Splicing connectors are also used to split an existing cable into two separate entities. These connectors are available in different colors and so you can choose the right one for your application.

11. Terminal Blocks : Electricians use terminal blocks to group and secure multiple wires together. Terminal blocks possess modular and insulated designs, and are classified based on their termination and characteristics. Screw-in terminal blocks, barrier terminal blocks, spring-cage terminal blocks, push-fit terminal blocks, and IDC terminal blocks are some popular types of blocks used by electricians. They primarily use them to connect electrical switches to the mains or wiring to the ground.

12. Reaming Bits : A wiring route is created between electrical components by installing new conduits or replacing the old ones. These installations or replacements are conducted using electric drills. These drills feature reaming bits on their end, which helps enlarge the pipe opening to connect it with other sections for producing a consistent conduit. These reaming bits can be used to create holes of different sizes.

13. Conduit Benders : In many projects, electrical wires may run through the hidden corners of the wall. In such cases, electricians are seen using conduit benders to create bends in conduits to accommodate the wires.

14. Flashlights :

Electricians work in the dark, which can be more challenging if there are no effective light sources. Flashlights make a good secondary light source. Nowadays, electricians can find LED flashlights, which are known to have a better shelf life than traditional flashlights.

15. Voltmeters or Multimeters :

Voltmeters, also known as voltage meters, are used to read voltages on circuits. These devices are used to measure the potential difference between different points in alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) circuits. Many devices are also designed to measure resistance, amperage, and DC voltage, etc. The devices with such function are known as multimeters.

If you are an electrician looking to expand your tool set with these must-have and good-to-have tools, you must source them from trusted manufacturers. After all, the outcomes of your project will depend on the quality of the tools you use. Electrical Basics provides a wide range of electrical tools, including electrical tapes, testers, cable ties, and more. All these tools are important for wire and cable management. You can contact the experts at the company to choose the right tools for your projects.

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