ELECTRICAL TOOLS

Circuit Testers
The important thing is to ensure that it is
working so you can verify that you have the
power off on any circuit you may be working
with.
used to check both AC and DC voltage,

continuity, circuit problems,

amperage,shortenedand open circuit
problems, and to make sure the voltages
are correct at the electrical panel.
Continuity Testers
for checking wire runs for a complete
circuit.
You may also find short circuits in wiring

with this tester, say two wires have melted

together inside the outer jacket of NM
sheathed cable.
By touching one probe to the white and the

other to the black wire, if the light lights and

the buzz sounds, the wires are identified as
shorted together.
be sure the power is off before doing any

testing.
Inductance Tetsers
better known asnon-contact testers, are
probably one of the safest testers around.
provide valuable information about an

electrical circuit without touching any live

parts.
The device is like a mini wand with a small tip

on the end that senses current flow in such

things as electrical wiring, outlets, circuit
breakers, lamp cords, lamp sockets, and
switches, sometimes without even removing
the cover.
Solenoid Voltage Testers
Solenoid voltage testers, frequently called wiggies,
are multi-function testers.
They are capable of testing both voltage and polarity.
Electricians use them frequently because they can
test bot AC voltage and Dc voltage in a range from
100 to 600 volts.
Solenoid testers have two wires, each with a probe,
extending out of the bottom of the tester.
One is red and the other is black in color.
Solenoid testers do not use batteries to power them
so they are always ready to check voltage accurately.
Neon Voltage Testers
The neon light on the end of the tester
should light if there is power.
the other way to use it is to press one lead

into one of the straight slots in an outlet

and the other lead into the other straight
slot of the outlet, much like plugging in a
cord.
the light should light on the tester if the

circuit is on.
Plug-in Circuit Analyzers
these testers are designed to test outlets,
but only ones that have three holes,
meaning ones that have a hot, neutral and
a ground.
Polarized outlets cannot be tested with the

testers, because no ground wire is

connected to these outlets.
Plug-in circuit analyzers have a chart sticker

right on one side of the tester that tells you

what the lighted light pattern means on the
three neon light on the end of the tester.
Multimeters
the most complex electrical testers
because, like their name says they perform
various functions of testing.
With this tester you can have precise

readings of resistance, AC and DC voltage,

continuity, capacitance, and frequency, if
you get the high-dollar tester.
PLIERS
Pliers are made in various shapes and sizes
and for many uses.
Some are used for gripping something

round like a pipe or rod, some are used for

twisting wires, and others are designed to
be used for a combination of tasks including
cutting wire.
There are also tools that are used just for

cutting wires (as opposed to wire cable and

rope). Use the correct pliers or wire cutters
for the job.
Side cutting (linemans) pliers
Proper use of side cutting (lineman's) pliers:
Many applications including electrical,

communications and construction work

Use to grip, splice or cut wires, and strip

insulation.
Long nose pliers
Proper use of long nose pliers:
Use to grip small objects, reach awkward

places, holding wires, bend loops, and

attach wires
Work involving smaller gauge wire.
Utility pliers
Proper use of utility pliers:
Use to grip round square, flat and

hexagonal objects.
Can apply limited torque (twisting force)

without damaging the work.

Diagonal cutting pliers
Proper use of diagonal cuttingpliers:
For work involving cutting and skinning

wires, cutting and removing pins, nails and

other fasteners.
Flat nose pliers
Proper use of flat nose pliers:
Common pliers, used in many applications

and assembly work.

Use to grip, turn and bend wires.
Slip joint pliers
Proper use of slip joint pliers:
Used to adjust nuts or bolts.
End cutting pliers
Proper use of end cuttingpliers
Use for cutting wires, nails, rivets close to

work.
Screwdrivers
atool, manual or powered, for turning
(driving or removing)screws.
A typical simple screwdriver has a handle

and a shaft, and a tip that the user inserts

into the screw head to turn it.
Flat head screwdriver
Also called as slotted or straight head
A simple diagonal slot on the screw head

holds the tool blade which is inserted into

the slot.
With this screwdriver type the force is

applied to the diagonally opposite outer

edges of the slot.
Philips screwdriver
A Phillips-head screwdriver has a four star point
at the end that fits into the corresponding screws
shallow, cross-shaped depression.
This design allows a user to apply more torque
than is possible with a flathead screwdriver.
The depression forces the blades of the Phillips
screwdriver to slip out before any damaging over-
torquing can occur.
Pozidrive screwdriver
ThePozidrivescrew is an advanced version of the
Phillips screw but the key difference is that:
Phillips drivers have an intentional angle on the
flanks and rounded corners so they will cam out
of the slot before a power tool will twist off the
screw head.
ThePozidrive screws and drivers have straight
sided flanks.
Torx screwdriver
he Torx is designed to allow for higher
torque to be exerted on a screw when
compared to a similarly sized hex socket
head.
Torx heads were designed to prevent cam-

out, allowing them to over torque the screw.

Hex (allen) screwdriver
Hex screwdrivers are used for securing
Cover Screws and Healing Caps
(Gingivaformers) to implants, for
Impression Post transfers and for the
securing of most abutments.
The Hex screwdrivers most frequently used

are the short and long.

Robertson screwdriver
a tapered square-tipped screwdriver that fits into a
matching square recess (the "socket") in the screw
head.
This design makes a Robertson screwdriver less
susceptible to cam-out than a Phillips driver because
the driver bit inserts deeper into the screw head.
Like a Phillips screwdriver, the Robertson driver is self-
centering. This speeds up production and reduces
product damage since slip-out rarely occurs.
Electricians Knife
This is used by linemen to remove
insulation of wire and cables in low and high
voltage transmission lines.
Nut Drivers

A good set of nut drivers is not essential,

but come in very handy for certain jobs
where a wrench or a socket set isnt
practical.
Electrical tape
insulatingtape
a type of pressure-sensitivetape usedto

insulateelectricalwires and other materials

that conduct electricity.
It can be made of many plastics, but vinyl is

most popular, as it stretches well and gives

an effective and long lasting insulation.
PLUMBING TOOLS
Pipe wrenches
Used in pairs, one to grip the pipe and the other
to turn the fitting, pipe wrenches have
adjustable, toothed jaws designed for gripping
and turning threaded pipes and pipe fittings.
Lock a pipe wrench onto a pipe or fitting so that,
during turning, the force is applied against the
permanent jaw, not the adjustable one.
Adjustable wrench
This type of wrench will adjust in size to fit a
range of nuts, bolts, or fittings that have flat
sides.
When using an adjustable wrench, always

position it so that the force pushes against

the fixed jaw.
Rib-joint pliers
For gripping and turning pipes, nuts, and
fittings, rib-joint pliers are very handy.
With these, a pivot slides along a slot and

engages in channels at various positions to

adjust the size of the jaws so they will firmly
grip objects from small to large
Locking pliers
With a clamping action that locks onto an
object such as a bolt or a pipe, locking
pliers have a knurled screw mounted in one
handle that adjusts the size of the tools jaw
to fit the object.
Hacksaw
Able to cut nearly all types of pipe, from
steel to plastic, a hacksaw has a removable
10- or 12-inch-long, fine-toothed blade
thats held taut by an adjustable steel
frame.
For making cuts where the frame of a

conventional hacksaw wont allow access,

you can use a mini, or flush-cut, hacksaw;
its blade protrudes straight out from the
handle.
Screwdrivers
Needed for changing faucet washers to
disassembling plumbing-related appliances,
screwdrivers come in an assortment of sizes
and types.
Measuring tape
A few plumbing jobs, such as measuring
runs of pipe, call for a retractable steel tape
measure.
.
Pipe cutter
Two types of pipe cutters can be helpful for
do-it-yourself jobs.
First, a plastic tubing cutter, which looks

similar to a pair of pruning shears, can

make quick cuts through rigid and flexible
plastic tubing such as sprinkler pipe.
 Second, a pipe cutter with a sharp cutting
wheel and an adjustable jaw grips onto a
copper or steel pipe; you rotate it around
the pipe, repeatedly tightening it until it
cuts all the way through.
Drain-clearing tools
Toilet and sink plungers, snakes or drain
augers, toilet augers, and hydraulic blow
bags are helpful to have on hand in the
event of a clog.
 TOILET AUGER

HYDRAULIC BLOWBAGS