As an electrician, carrying the right tools for the day’s work is crucial. Hauling all the tools you need at all times is almost impossible. For an electrician, the tools in his toolbox are critical. Going through the day’s scheduled jobs and making sure you have the right tools can reduce your time of searching for what you need once on site. With the right tools on hand, a job can be completed efficiently and professionally.
In the meantime, review this article when it is time to restock and re-evaluate your inventory. Having your vehicle stocked with an appropriate set of tools will help you complete work on time.
List of essential tools for electricians
Proper electrical tools help electricians ensure proper installations and avoid potential hazards. But with so many different types of tools available, it can be hard to know which ones are essential for an electrician’s toolkit. Here’s a list of indispensable electrical tools every electrician should have in their toolkit.
Hand tools for electricians
As an electrician, having the proper hand tools is essential. Proper hand tools can enable electricians to safely and efficiently work on electrical projects. Without the right tools, they could end up causing damage to the equipment or themselves. So if you’re an electrician, make sure you have the right hand tools for the job. Listed below are some vital hand tools that must be present in your toolkit.
Pliers
Pliers known as cutting pliers or lineman pliers are handy electrician tools that can accomplish everyday tasks like stripping, crimping, cutting, and snipping. Electricians can work on thin, delicate wires with pliers to thicker multi-core cables. These can be conveniently locked on an electrician’s tool belt until needed.
Screwdrivers
No electrician’s kit is complete without a screwdriver. They help in securing lighting fixtures and hardware in place. Screwdrivers have become compact and flexible, with interchangeable bits, and can carry a variety of driver’s heads without much trouble.
Hammer
A good hammer is your best option for completing any work with nails. A hammer designed for this purpose is far superior to having to improvise something at the moment. Any work having to do with framing it is honestly your best choice. A good hammer should be a ubiquitous tool found in any toolbox, not just an electrician’s.
Tape measures
Meticulous measurements are frequently required to complete work as an electrician. Carrying a tape measure in your kit will allow you to make accurate assessments on-site and determine the proper course of action before beginning. It may be wise to bring more than one tape measure along. Various tape measures offer a variety of functions, including magnetic tips and multi-step locking, and some even have a digital display!
Level
Precision is key to making anything look good. A box that fits together awkwardly will never seem quite right—something about it will always be off. By using a level, you can check to ensure that your work is, in fact, level and make any corrections necessary to ensure the accuracy of your project.
Drill
Electricians may have to use drills for an array of purposes. It can be anything from drilling holes for outlets or light fixtures to drilling walls to run wiring. Whether an electrician is drilling a hole to install a conduit and utility lines or performing a core drilling process for AC installation, a power drill is a must-have tool in every toolkit.
Flashlight
No toolkit is complete without a working flashlight. There are many options out there for flashlights. Headlamps and lights with tactile grips are both popular options. Try to find something small and space-efficient. You will still want a bright light to illuminate wiring in dark recesses such as a wall or cramped workspace. If the light is rechargeable, remember to check charge levels before leaving for the job site. If the light is not rechargeable, remember to take extra batteries with you. Even better—take a spare light just in case the first one fails.
Utility knife
A utility knife is a versatile tool for opening boxes, cutting electrical tape, removing insulation, and scraping and trimming. The opportunities to use a utility knife are unlimited, and its need can arise at any moment. Ensure you have this tool in your kit when visiting a job site.
Wiring tools for electricians
As an electrician, you will likely work with electrical wiring in a variety of settings. This can include office buildings, houses, warehouses, and more. Each type of place has its own unique wiring system that you will be expected to work with. To perform electrical wiring tasks to the best of your ability you need to have proper wiring tools in your toolkit. Listed below are some of the must-have wiring tools every electrician must have in their toolkit.
Wire strippers
Wire strippers are used to remove insulation from wires and expose the copper core. They are helpful in any toolbox, but especially for professional electricians, enabling them to work with bare wire.
Fish tape
A fish tape should be standard equipment in every electrician’s toolbox. When having to retrieve cables and wiring from a conduit, using fish tape is your best choice. Various options regarding length and feature set are available, but no matter what you choose, try to make sure you have a fish tape with you when visiting a site.
Multimeter
A multimeter is a must-have for anyone doing electrical work. This handy gadget accurately measures voltage, resistance, and current. With a multimeter, you can determine the continuity of a circuit and help isolate where a problem might be. When you need more information than a non-contact voltage detector will provide you, reach for a multimeter. Including a multimeter in your field kit is a decision you will not regret.
Hole hawg
Consistently drilling through studs and joints with a power drill, even a good one, is a big task. Consider getting yourself something a little more purpose-built. A hole hawg is designed for large hole drilling in tight spaces, helping to make that heavy workload much less of a hassle.
Fuse puller
Removal of electrical fuses can be made more accessible with a fuse puller. Removing a fuse is a tedious task with some risk involved; a fuse puller makes the job easier for an electrician. Invest in a good fuse puller; it is a tool likely to stay in your toolkit for many years to come.
Wire connectors
Wire connectors are used mainly for connecting a group of wires; having these in your toolbox will make your job easier by not having to improvise or jury-rig a solution to an otherwise simple problem—don’t reinvent the wheel! Imagine working on a home system that requires wiring together multiple connections—wire connectors come in handy. You can plug in the links without multiple wires overlapping each other. Various wire connectors are available in the market; check your job schedule for the day to know which ones you will need, then add those to your toolkit.
Power tools for electricians
As an electrician, you must invest in quality power tools. This is not a negotiable expense; it is a necessary investment in your career. Good tools will make your work easier and more efficient, and they will last longer too.
Voltage meters
Voltage meters provide electricians with one critical function; they will indicate the current flow through a completed circuit or piece of wiring on which you are working. It is a handheld tool that precisely measures both voltage and frequency. Always have a voltage meter with you on a worksite.
Testers
Voltage testers are a simple tool to show an electrician if it is safe to work on a circuit or if power is present on the line. One model looks like a small insulated screwdriver; when the metal head contacts an energized circuit, the voltage tester lights up.
Safety gear
Electricians must always put safety first. That’s why they need to gear up with the best safety gear before starting any job. But what exactly makes for good safety gear? Let’s find out.
Gloves
For the job you perform, getting the right pair of gloves is important. Having a pair of gloves to help give you a good grip will go a long way in allowing you to work safely and efficiently. Insulated gloves can help protect you from electrical shorts when working on-site; you should always have at least one pair in your toolkit.
Hard hat
Not all hard hats are created equal. Look for a hard hat designed specifically for electricians; these can help protect against electrical shock and falling debris. A blow to the head can be unpleasant, so play it safe and make sure you have a hard hat.
Eyewear
Having eye protection on hand will help to minimize your chance of injury. Debris falling into your eyes is a realistic possibility. And if you are working on-site where welding is happening, then your eyes could be at risk from the intense light of electrical arcs or sparks—even if you are not the one doing the welding. Please do yourself a favor and invest in eye protection; you are worth it.
Conclusion
Timely completion of your work will gain you many customers. Performing your job well and on time leads to developing a reputation as a quality choice for those looking to hire an electrician. As word of your work and professionalism spreads, you will have the opportunity to work with more customers. As your schedule becomes increasingly busy, it is necessary to stay on top of all the job details; your hard-won reputation is at stake. A simple oversight could result in an unhappy customer, and unhappy customers complain.
‍Zuper can help you. We can create a timesheet for all of your jobs, making it easier to stay on schedule. You can recheck your plan for the day and save yourself the trouble of carrying all the electrical tools; only take what you need. Try Zuper and find out if it is the right fit for you.
