Low-voltage systems in buildings serve communications, data, internet connection, Wi-Fi, security and surveillance, and other devices. Low-voltage voice/data/video (VDV) systems may be built around copper or fiber optic...
Online learning gained enormous popularity when in-person training sessions stopped during the pandemic. Tool manufacturers and suppliers have increased online training for operating, maintaining and safely using tools and...
Electric motors convert electricity into useful energy that keeps much of the world working. From refrigerators in homes to motors operating large machines in manufacturing plants, electric motors provide necessary power. In...
A basic cordless drill is found in the tool bag of almost every electrician and workers in many other construction trades. Today, cordless drills are available in several sizes, and many are promoted to be as powerful, or...
In addition to basic hand tools, electricians also depend on single-purpose tools for specific applications. The knockout tool, or punch, is used to make clean, round, conduit-sized holes in metal electrical boxes and panels...
An electrical system must have well-maintained insulation to operate properly and safely. Because insulation deteriorates with age, accurately testing its condition is essential. The megohmmeter is the basic testing tool to...
Typically, tools evolve slowly, with improvements and new features added over time. Of course, occasionally there are breakthrough developments that dramatically change a tool or tool category. The introduction of the lithium...
Terminating a connection correctly requires training and experience, concentration, patience, the right connector for the application, the proper wire preparation and the right connection tools. It is critical to make...
Remember when the basic portable personal light for trade workers was a flashlight 8–12 inches long with a small incandescent bulb powered by two D batteries? More powerful models required three D batteries. The flashlight...
Saws are basic tools. Tool makers are actively promoting the latest models of cordless saws, but there is still a place for corded models, and it’s likely one or more manual saws will always be in electricians’ tool kits...
Widespread power outages, power failures in commercial and industrial facilities, construction in areas where electric service is unavailable, debris cleanup and essential service restoration following storms or human-caused...
Portable storage containers and work stations can help electricians and other employees work faster and more efficiently. Today’s tool bags, however innovative, can only hold so much, and floors or stacks of wallboard are not...
The laser—light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation—has been ranked by some, along with the transistor and computer, among the most important inventions of the 20th century. Narrow laser light beams are used for...
Ballpoint pens, key chains, notepads and other items imprinted with a company’s name have been an inexpensive marketing tool to sustain and bolster name and brand recognition for years. Over time, this simple concept has...
Innovations and advances of handheld power drills, saws and other tools that cut and make holes have proceeded at a rapid pace. Lithium-ion batteries, brushless motors, conveniences and ergonomic features enable electricians...
Many powered devices in a building’s systems today are not directly connected to a standard AC source because electricity is brought to them by the same wires that transmit data by power over ethernet (PoE). PoE systems...
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...
