The only way to conduct a successful electrical repair is by having the right tools. 

Every electrician knows how important it is to keep the right gear in your toolbox. But if you’re an apprentice electrician, you might not know which tool you need the most. 

So whether you’re new to electrical work or want to update your toolbox, here are the five tools every electrician needs in their toolbox. 

Why Do You Need The Right Tools For Electrical Work?

When it comes to electrical work, a job isn’t done right unless you do it efficiently and safely. 

While you can learn enough knowledge to carry out the repairs safely, it won’t protect you from any electrical hazards. For this, you need the correct tools. 

Having the right tools for electrical work can help you repair faster while staying comfortable and making fewer mistakes. These tools also create a protective layer between you and the electrical system. 

If you’re just starting out, having the correct tools will also make you look more professional. In short, high-quality electrical tools are a great investment for your career and safety. 

Five Tools Every Electrician Needs In Their Toolbox

Let’s take a look at the five most important tools every electrical must have. 

Wire Strippers

The first tool you should invest in is wire strippers. Instead of potentially ruining your cabling with a regular plier, opt for proper wire strippers. 

These devices look like pliers and remove the insulation sheath from cables. On this tool, you will see small holes along the length of its claw. You must match the hole to the wire size you’ll be stripping. 

Wire strippers allow you to attach the cables to connectors and terminals with the central core without damaging the outer sheathing. 

With this device, you can either solder or crimp the cable. But some strippers let electricians cut right through the conduit or copper in a cable or wire. 

Different Types Of Wire Strippers

When choosing the correct wire strippers, there are several designs and models to browse from. These include:

• Triple Action Wire Strippers: These devices are designed for thicker cables with a tough insulation layer. They have a special spiral cutting method for manoeuvring these wires. 
• Adjustable Wire Strippers: Apart from stripping, these devices allow crimping and snipping abilities.
• Sheath Strippers: If you want a neat wire cut use this tool. Sheath strippers use a rotary action for clean cuts.
• Pistol Wire Strippers: with a self-adjusting blade, these devices provide a firm grip with compound stripping.
• Wire Stripper Pliers: This tool has a V-shaped claw design to cut thicker cables with multiple cores.
• Manual Wire Strippers: These are standard stripping devices with a safety lock and spring loaded handle. 
• Automatic Wire Strippers: with a single application of pressure, these tools quickly cut the wire and insulation. 

Voltage Testers

Before you start working on a circuit, you need to make sure that it’s not live. If you fail to do this, you could get injured or electrocuted. 

Voltage testers or multimeters are handheld tools that test whether there is live current in a specific location. You can use them in areas such as circuits, switches, junction boxes, etc.

It’s worth remembering that if the area you’re testing has faulty wiring or is damaged, you could get a false negative result. So assess this problem before you use a voltage tester. 

If this device detects voltage, a small bulb on the tool will light up. When this happens, you should shut off the current before starting your work. 

This is a must-have tool, and it’s required by many health and safety guidelines. Apart from testing circuits, these devices protect against electrical surges and work with redundant circuits. 

Insulated Screwdrivers

Even though you can complete the task with just one insulated screwdriver, having a complete set can really help. These highly versatile tools can work with anything. 

From mounting junction boxes and installing wall plates to repairing light fixtures, you can’t go wrong with a set of insulated screwdrivers. 

No electrician’s toolbox is complete without a screwdriver. Commonly you would use them for accessing electrical boxes with sealed screws. But newer models offer more functionality.  

A set of insulated screwdrivers is far more useful than just one, as you can choose between various sizes and shapes. This will allow you to work on any electrical system. 

Insulated screwdrivers give you better protection if your tool slips and accidentally touches an energised component or circuit. The insulated handle and dielectric blade coating create a buffer between you and direct electrical contact. 

These screwdrivers can offer protection up to 1000V; you might feel a slight jolt, but you wouldn’t get electrocuted. 

Always check for VDE approval before purchasing insulated screwdrivers. If you don’t want to get a full set of insulated screwdrivers, here are a few important ones to keep in your toolbox.

• Small Straight Blade: Great for small set screws and cover plates
• Medium Straight Blade and Phillips Screwdriver: Works well for general use. 
• Large Straight Blade: Good for larger electrical components and systems. 

Insulated Pliers

Pliers are another tool that many electricians commonly use. Electricians can use these highly versatile devices to complete a variety of tasks. 

Usually, you would use this in jobs where bare hands alone wouldn’t be enough. These days you can find insulated pliers made from steel to provide extra strength to the device’s grip. 

As with other tools, there are several models of pliers to choose from. These include: 

• Side Cutting Pliers: If there’s one plier every electrician needs in their tool kit, it’s this one. This tool is easy to handle and can help with multiple repair jobs. The sleek blades quickly snip through cables and wires while providing excellent grip for safe handling. 
• Long Nose Pliers: These pliers have a long tapered blade making them best for handling small objects. 
• Water Pump Pliers: You might also see them called slip joint pliers or adjustable pliers. This tool has a movable jaw on the lower half, which lets you adjust its grip. You should ideally use them with bolts, nuts and fasteners. 
• Locking Pliers/Mole Grips: If you’re working with metal during your electrical job, use these pliers. These make it easy to grip tougher materials, unlike other pliers. 

Utility or Safety Knife

Another handy tool that all electricians must have is a utility or safety knife. This highly versatile tool can be used for multiple jobs while doing your electrical work. 

Since the knife is a shield when not in use, you don’t have to worry about the blade getting damaged or becoming blunt. This also reduces the risk of possible injuries. 

Like all electrical tools, utility knives come in various sizes and shapes to work in different situations. The standard size is good enough for almost any job, so make sure to go with this one. 

Professional utility knives for electricians generally use steel, plastic or aluminium handles. The blade is often carbon, stainless or tool steel for better cutting power. 

If the knife breaks or the blade becomes blunt, you can easily switch the blade to a newer one. 

Factors To Consider When Buying Electrical Tools

Even with a list of all the essential electrical tools, you’ll be overwhelmed by the choices available. 

To make your purchase stress-free, here are some factors to consider when buying electrical tools. 

Set Up A Plan

You’ll probably hear this tip a lot, but that's because it’s so effective. 

Planning before shopping for professional electrical supplies is crucial. This makes the process much quicker and more organised. 

When planning, think of all the necessary factors in getting electrical supplies. These include their purpose and how you will use them. Just use our list of 5 important electrical tools as the starting point and add more gear if needed. 

A carefully built plan will ensure that you only buy the product you need in the right quantity. A plan will also help you remove any extra electrical items you may have no use for. In this way, planning becomes almost cost-effective. 

When purchasing electrical supplies, you might juggle several factors, including your budget, the number of items needed, how long it will take to get them, etc. 

Your plan doesn’t have to be too detailed, so you can get by with a checklist. But make sure to jot down any important information to help you make the right decision. 

Create A Budget

The next step to choosing the right electrical tools includes creating a budget. It’s best to start with a reasonable budget if you're an apprentice. 

While you might be tempered to splurge on some items, you must stick to a set amount. When thinking of the budget, always keep quality in mind. 

If you don’t want a strict budget, leaving some room for any price adjustment is always a good idea. When you’re purchasing your electrical equipment, you will notice that the price of one product might vary according to the manufacturer. 

For example, Pliers and screwdrivers from manufacturer A might be more expensive than those from manufacturer B. In this situation, do some research on the supplier to ensure you are paying for the best product possible. 

In short, your budget should always consider the product's quality and safety. Some low-quality electrical products can cause serious danger to you and the electrical systems. 

There are several great electrical tools at an affordable price range, so you won’t have to break your budget to get them. 

Consider Their Environmental Impact

Whenever you purchase electrical tools and equipment, make sure to look for sustainably created ones. 

Unsustainable products made from harmful materials can significantly increase your carbon footprint, so make sure to invest in green tools if you can. 

Research Reviews

The best way to know if a product works or not is by checking with other people who have used them. Make sure to research reviews and user experiences before purchasing an electrical tool. 

You can also ask your colleague and friends for recommendations. This will help you choose the most reliable product without wasting your money. 

Look For Brand New Electrical Supplies

Make sure you don’t compromise on the quality of electrical tools and supplies by choosing second-hand products. 

While these items can help you save on upfront costs, they don’t always guarantee your safety. In most situations, the electrical equipment’s safety level has already deteriorated, and it wouldn’t offer the same quality of service as a newer one. 

Additionally, these products could have a shorter lifespan than newer ones. You don’t want to go through the hassle of frequently replacing these products. 

Still, if you want to purchase used supplies, thoroughly check if it's in good condition and works properly. Getting them from a reputable brand or manufacturer is also best if you want to buy used electrical supplies. 

These companies will offer better warranties and support for their supplies, including second-hand ones. 

What Is Electrical Safety?

Having the correct tools is only one part of successfully completing a repair job. You also need to follow safety rules. 

Electrical safety is the general practice of safely handling electrical wiring and equipment. Electricians or other professionals in this field often use these guidelines, but it’s also important for everyone to be aware of these hazards. 

In today’s modern world, we are always dealing with one electronic or another, so it’s important to keep safe and cautious at all times. If your job deals with electrical systems, you must pay special attention to your health and safety. 

Electrical safety guidelines are important because they tell you exactly what to do in a hazardous situation. If you don’t follow these rules, you can seriously injure yourself or, worse, deal with a potentially fatal accident. 

Always Keep In Mind

Most electricians who regularly deal with these situations are often equipped to handle electrical hazards. 

They can correctly identify potential hazards and take measures to de-escalate the situation. But, lack of experience, inadequate training and inability to recognise potential risks could lead to electrocution or death. 

If you work in a warehouse or operate one, it is important to familiarise yourself and your employees with electrical safety standards. 

Common Electrical Hazards And How To Avoid Them

In the world of electrical repairs, accidents can happen easily. To avoid them, here are some common electrical hazards to look out for. 

Faulty Or Damaged Wiring

Damaged or faulty wiring leads to serious electrical safety risks. These wires are capable of causing both electrocution and electrical fires. 

In more dangerous situations, they can even cause a fatal accident. Always check your electrical wiring and extension cords for any signs of fraying and cracking. 

Most wiring lasts 50 years in an ideal condition, but this lifespan can significantly reduce over time. Also, remember never to staple your wiring to make it look organised, as this can damage the insulation sheathing. 

For this same reason, you should never run wiring under the carpet either. If your cables become damaged after use, repair or replace them immediately. 

Using Electrical Equipment With Incorrect Voltage

Using an electrical device with the wrong voltage can cause not only you harm but also your device. 

If the device has a higher voltage but the right amount of current, it will probably shut off when it detects a high voltage. If it doesn’t shut off, it will become hot to touch during operation. 

This can easily reduce your device's lifespan or lead to immediate danger. Always check the voltage requirement of the outlet before plugging in a device.

Not Using The Right Gear

If you’re going to handle electrical equipment, practice safety first. Make sure you have all the necessary safety gear when working with or around an electrical device or system. 

Some important safety items include insulated gloves, a face shield, goggles, a hard hat etc. In some cases, you might need specialised gear depending on what you’re working on. 

Find The Best Electrical Supplies At Meteor

Not sure where to find the best electrical tools and equipment? Visit Meteor Electrical. 

At Meteor, you can browse through high-quality tools that will prepare you for any situation. With our industry-backed knowledge, we provide electricians with only the most excellent gear available. So visit Meteor today to create your ideal toolbox.