There are numerous tools for cutting wire, cables and conductors, and these tools can be very job-specific. Selecting the right tool for each task affects work quality and efficiency. In training, apprentices are introduced...
Easily movable storage boxes or container systems on work sites provide secure, convenient places to store tools and material, enabling personnel to work faster and more efficiently. Simple metal or composite boxes are...
Manually pulling cable with a fish tape is something every electrician knows how to do, and for residential and small commercial jobs, that’s the best way to pull cable through conduit. However, when cable runs are long and...
When evaluating work trucks, owners and managers of electrical contracting firms consider load capacity, power available, durability, suitability for upfits and service. In addition, current models feature many safety and...
Certification testers confirm if a datacom network or cabling in a structured wiring system is installed correctly to meet industry standards. Test equipment evolves and new models are developed to be ready when standards...
Gadgets are innovative, time-saving products that fall outside the basic categories of tools electricians use. I am not being disrespectful calling these clever items “gadgets.” That said, the items featured here are...
A rotary hammer is one of the most powerful electric hand tools and is many electrician’s tool of choice for making holes in concrete blocks and brick. Rotary hammers help them install anchors for conduit clips, junction...
Whether its electric wire pulled through conduit or wall space or voice/data/video cable placed below subfloors or above a suspended ceiling, special tools simplify the work. Today’s fish tapes don’t look much different than...
Getting wire and cable from the warehouse to the job site and installed to a project’s specifications requires logistical planning, execution and a variety of equipment and tools. Wire can be transported by several methods...
The impact of brushless DC motors for battery-powered hand tools is often compared to the lithium-ion battery revolution. Together, these two technologies have changed cordless tools used by electricians and those in other...
Monitoring power quality becomes increasingly imperative as the modern power grid changes with the addition of green energy sources and as coal-fired generating plants continue to be taken out of service. “As loads increase...
Electricians mainly use reciprocating saws, band saws and circular saws with metal cutting blades. Cutting accessories play a critical role in saw efficiency (see sidebar). For years, hand power saws were corded. Battery...
To use a baseball analogy, the infrared (IR) thermometer is a true “utility player” for electricians, believes Richard Wexler, director of instrument marketing at Flir. IR thermometers are useful for identifying abnormal...
Clamp meters provide a convenient way to measure current without breaking the circuit, which is ideal for troubleshooting. The user simply clamps the meter around cables, wire or other conductors at any point in an electrical...
Many tools electricians use, such as rotary hammers, demo hammers, drills, saws, grinders and more, create dust, which is distracting and can be unhealthy. Occupational Safety and Health Administration now mandates control of...
A well-appointed work truck can save an electrician frustration and uncountable hours of wasted time looking for tools and material, and upfitters have done a good job keeping pace with changing truck designs with an...
Every construction company—no matter its size or specialty—depends on computers and the software installed on the machines. Computing manages office operations, finances, company assets, field operations—everything. If you...
Few would argue that lithium-ion batteries have not significantly changed the power hand tool market. Not only have lithium-ion cordless tools replaced nickel-cadmium (NiCad) batteries for professional users, but they also...
Remotely monitoring or controlling tools isn’t new, but with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technologies and special apps, they have become easier to implement. Tool manufacturers are finding more ways to use them to make their products...
Thermal imagers have become a basic tool for many electricians. These infrared cameras detect and document abnormal temperatures of electrical equipment such as motors, electrical cabinets and wiring, alerting technicians to...
