A frequent part of installation and repair work throughout an electrician’s career involves cutting wire. At one point in time, these tasks had to be completed with a manual tool that, with repeated use, put significant strain on the user’s body and increased the likelihood of a repetitive use injury. Today, while manual tools are still available and a great choice in some cases, electricians now have the option of using battery-powered tools that are designed to reduce user fatigue and maximize job site safety.

As the frequency of cuts on a project increases, so does the benefit of using a battery-powered tool. Many include the latest in ergonomic design, allowing the user to maintain proper form longer, which reduces overall body strain. Also, these tools can usually complete more cuts in a day than a manual tool. This all adds up to reduced user fatigue in the moment and throughout the course of a career, which minimizes the likelihood of a repetitive use injury.

When selecting the best battery-powered cutting tool for a job, the type of cable and wire being installed or repaired needs to be matched with the correct type of tool that can handle the size and material. Tool design is also important. A well-designed, lightweight tool is easier to grip and will help keep the user's body in proper alignment, resulting in less fatigue while still making quality cuts.

In settings where you find yourself working on smaller wire, a battery-powered micro cutter will be your go-to tool. Along with being ideal for smaller diameter applications and spaces, micro cutters can also replace side cutters and are also the most easily transportable, making them a great addition to any tool kit.

Greenlee’s latest cutting solution, the ES50ML120 Micro Cutter, is a battery-powered cutting tool that delivers 1,250 pounds of cutting force with 76% less effort and is still small enough to go on a tool belt. It also provides 50% more force than manual options to prevent operator hand exhaustion and improve cut precision. This makes it an ideal tool for ACSR cutting, a cable that requires a lot of strength to cut and is very difficult to do manually. Its hardened blades are designed for #4 ACSR, #2 copper and wire rope safety seals up to 6 mm.

The tool can complete up to 200 cuts per charge and its interchangeable jaws allow for 50 different cutting and crimping die options, including lugs, ferrules and terminals. Equipped with PowerSense technology, the ES50ML120 offers a hybrid actuation of the trigger, allowing for ideal control of the tool when in use and with an overall length of 9 inches and weighing just over 2 pounds, the micro cutter fits perfectly in a tool belt.

To learn more about the ES50ML120 and other Greenlee micro cutting solutions, visit Greenlee.com.