10 types of electrical tools

Non-Contact Voltage Tester

A voltage tester is used for a quick safety check to make sure there's no voltage in an electrical wire or
device before you start working on it. Non-contact voltage testers are the simplest and safest types of
testers because they can detect electricity just by being near an outlet slot or wire.

Tongue-and-Groove Pliers

Tongue-and-groove pliers are used to remove knockouts from metal electrical boxes, tighten cable
clamps, and adjust expansion-type ceiling fan boxes.

Wire Strippers

Wire strippers are used to cut and strip insulation from electrical wire. They have a variety of holes for
stripping different standard sizes of wire and include cutting teeth for trimming the wire ends.
 Utility Knife

A utility knife, or box cutter, is handy for cutting sheathing from non-metallic (Romex) cable, to cut off
electrical tape, and to open cardboard boxes.

Phillips Screwdrivers

Electricians keep screwdrivers with them at all times, for removing and installing cover plates, outlets,
switches, and many other devices. It's best to have a few different lengths of Phillips screwdrivers as
well as #1, #2, and #3 tip sizes.

Straight-Blade Screwdrivers

As with Phillips screwdrivers, you will likely need more than one size of straight-blade screwdrivers. If
you have to choose just one, pick a medium blade. It will suit most projects.

Voltmeter or Multimeter

A voltmeter is used to read voltage levels and verify that circuits are indeed “live.” or off. Multimeters
can read voltage levels as well as amperage (current), resistance, and DC voltage and amperage.
 Wire Crimpers

Wire crimpers are used to crimp lugs or terminals onto wires. Many can also be used to strip wire
insulation.

Fish Tape

A fish tape is used to pull stranded or solid wire through metal or PVC conduit. Cable lube is available
to assist you in pulling the wires through the pipe.

Side-Cutting Diagonal Pliers

Diagonal cutting pliers, sometimes called side snips or dikes, are used to cut wire. They are specially
designed with a cutting edge that goes down to the tip of the pliers, allowing you to get into tight areas
to trim wires. Some types can also detect live wires for safety.
 10 ELECTRICAL SYMBOLS

Ground or Earth

A ground symbol (IEC symbol 5017) identifies a ground terminal. It can be used for a zero potential
reference point from where current is measured. It is also for electrical shock protection. There are a
few different ground symbols. The one we're showing here is "Earth", but there's also a Chassis and
Digital/Common ground with slight variations to this symbol.

Resistor

A resistor reduces current flow. In a schematic, this is represented with a few zig zag squiggles.
We're showing the US/Japan version of this symbol (IEEE). The UK uses a simple box over a straight
line (IEC). There are also symbols for variable and adjustable resistors as well as thermal and preset
resistors.

Switch

Disconnects the current when open. We're showing a simple SPST (single-pole single-throw) toggle
switch, but there are variations for SPDT, pushbutton, dip, relay, and more.

Capacitor

A capacitor symbol shows two terminals running into plates. The curved plate indicates that the
capacitor is polarized. The curved side has lower voltage. A small plus sign can be added to the
straight side indicated the positive pin.

Fuse

A fuse protects electrical circuits by stopping the flow of current when the intensity of current exceed
a set value. It does this by melting a special wire.
 Antenna

Marks a device, rod, or wire designed to capture radio and electromagnetic waves into electrical
signals and vice versa.

Inductor

An inductor is also called a coil or reactor. The coils store energy in a magnetic field or flux. An
inductor symbol looks like a series of looped coils.

Transformer

A transformer is two or more coils coupled by magnetic induction. It helps keep the frequency and
reduce tension in an AC circuit.

Motor

A motor is a device that can transform electric energy into mechanical energy.

SOURCE

Represents the power source for your electronics. This symbol represents a direct current (DC). To
represent AC current, you'd replace the plus and minus sign with a wave.