Electrical Tool ID

Voltage Tester

Used for testing voltage on electrical outlets, fuse clips, and circuit breakers will test voltage from 120 to 600 volts.

Continuity Tester

A device used to the continuity of a circuit.

Multi- Tester or Volt-Ohm Meter

An analog or digital meter that commonly will measure AC volts, DC volts, Ohms, and milli-amps.

Wire Stripper

Used to strip plastic coating from solid electrical wires without damaging the wire .Can be adjusted to be used on various wire sizes.

Lineman's Pliers

They are used on both bare and insulated wire. Note: These tools are also used for fence work and tying concrete rebar.

NM Cable Cutter

A cutter for cutting Type NM cable.

Conduit Bender

This enables an electrician to make accurate 45 and 90 degree bends. Bender may be designated for EMT or rigid conduit.

Non- Metallic Cable Ripper

Made of a thin "U" shaped metal piece.

Long Nose Pliers

Also used for stripping wire, making eyes in wire and holding wire in place while inserting screws.

Wire Stripper And Crimping Tool

Used for stripping wire, cutting wire and crimping wire terminals on stripped wire ends.

Fuse Puller

Made of plastic to prevent electrician from being shocked while installing or removing fuses.

Knockout Punch

Sizes range from 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches. Used to create a hole in panel for connecting conduit.

Fish Tape

Fish tapes come in 25, 50 and 100 foot lengths.

Hickey

The Hickey or bender is used for short radius bends.

Electric Soldering Iron

It has a replaceable copper tip. Soldering irons are sized from very light duty for soldering fine wires to heavy duty for soldering sheet metal.

Soldering Gun

It is fitted with a replaceable tip and operates on 115-volt AC. Used primarily for soldering wires.

Armored Cable

This cable must run from box to box without splices.

Knife Fuse

The knife fuse is made in several sizes for service of 60 to 600 amps and is not interchangeable with cartridge fuses or knife fuses of different capacities.

Circuit Breaker

Used to protect the wire in a circuit. Rated in amps.

Wire Nut

Used to connect AC wires. Color coded to denote capacity.

Solderless Connector

Used where a permanent connection is desired. Connectors can be insulated or un-insulated. Commonly used for wiring on mobile equipment.

Ground Rod

It is connected to the electrical service box or meter can by a shielded ground wire and a ground clamp.

Friction Tape

Used over rubber insulating tape on wire Splices and is used to replace the outer braid.

Plastic Tape

It is used alone without friction tape.

Ground Rod Clamp

Connects a ground wire to a grounding rod, reinforcing bar, or metal water pipe. This provides for a good ground in the event of a power spike or lightning strike.

Electric Cord

A flexible cable used for extension cords and connecting power tools. May be plastic (e.g. Type xx) or rubber covered (e.g.. Type SJ)

Conduit Straps

Conduit is placed in the curved portion and strap is secured by nails or screws. Single foot and double foot styles. Sized for EMT and rigid/PVC conduit.

Cartridge Fuse

It is a cylinder shaped like a cartridge case and has metal ferrules at each end and a soft fusible element inside.

Insulated Staple

Commonly used for low voltage wire used in applications such as door bells or sprinkler controllers. It should not be used 120-volt lines.

Core Solder

It is available in spools. Rosin core is used to solder wires and acid core to solder sheet metal.

Conduit Drive Strap

Made of die cast zinc, it is driven into wood with a hammer with conduit resting in curved end.

Non- metallic Cable Straples

Staples used to secure type NM cable to wood.

Non- Metallic Clamp

The cable is secured by means of a bracket tightened with screws. Used to secure a NM cable to a box.

UF cable

A solid plastic covering is used on this cable making it suitable for direct burial of the cable. UF cable is sized like NM cable.

Single Conductor

A single conductor with thermal plastic insulation. Wire may be solid or stranded. Typical types are TW and THHN. Common sizes 14-0.

Non- Metallic Cable

A cable with a plastic cover used for residential indoor wiring. Commonly found with 3 and 4 conductor in sizes 14-6. For example "14-2 w/ ground" will have 3 14 gauge conductors, 1 black, one white, and one bare.

Rubber Tape

Used on high voltage connections. It is covered with friction tape or plastic tape.

Service Entrance Panel

Used to distribute power in a building. Contains a main disconnect and circuit breakers.

Flexible Conduit

It consists of a heavily zinc coated steel strip wound spiraling, with interlocked construction permitting greater flexibility.

Electrical Metallic Tubing

A thin walled conduit. Commonly abbreviated as EMT. It is coupled with special fittings and is smooth inside. Manufactured in 10 foot lengths. Common sizes 1/2"-2". Approved for indoor use.

EMT Sweep

The difference being, it is made of thin wall conduit and has no threads.

EMT Coupling

A compression fitting used to join EMT conduit.

EMT Connector

Used to connect EMT conduit to a box, panel, or other threaded fitting.

Ridged Coupling

Made of galvanized steel.

Ridged Entrance Ell

Has female thread on each end and has removable cap for access to wire for splicing or pulling.

Ridged Conduit

It is available in galvanized and enamel finishes.

Ridged Elbow or Sweep

Sizes range from 1/2 to 2 inch. Threaded on both ends.

Raintite Hub

Made of cast aluminum and has a flange with pre-drilled holes for mounting to panel, and threaded inlet for conduit.

Service Entrance Cap

Made of cast aluminum or PVC.

PVC Conduit

PVC conduit is used inside, outside or underground. Gray in color. Glued connections make it waterproof.

PVC Conduit Coupling

Used to connect PVC conduit, must be glued and once connected cannot be removed.

PVC Elbow or Sweep

It has a long radius and is connected by gluing couplings on elbow and pipe.

PVC Conduit Male Adaptor

Adapts PVC conduit to a threaded fitting for connecting to a box, panel , etc.

PVC Pull Elbow

Used to make 90 degree bends and has removable cap for splicing or pulling wire. Glues to PVC conduit. Types denote the location of the cover (e.g. LB, LR)

Cord Cap

It is some times called a male plug. Used on extension cords and power tool cords.

Cord Connectors

This connecting body is designed to accommodate the cord cap and is sometimes called a female plug.

Lampholder

A plastic or porcelain device that holds a lamp.

Duplex Receptacle

Receptacles may be installed in outlet boxes flush with the wall or in surface mounted boxes or junction boxes.

Switch Box

Comes with knockouts for non-metallic sheathed cable or electrical metallic tubing. Boxes must be covered either with a cover or a fixture.

Plastic Box

Commonly constructed of PVC plastic and used with NM cable. May be attached with nails (shown) or screws. Comes in 1 -4 gang sizes and varying depths.

Junction Box

Usually made of metal in square or octagon shaped boxes. Boxes must be covered either with a cover or a fixture.

Box Cover

Used to cover a device such as a switch or DR. May configurations are available.

Surface Cover

Used with 4" junction boxes to adapt the box to a specific device when the box is mounted on the surface of a wall. In this case a switch and DR, but they come in many configurations. Blank (flat) covers are also used when no device is mounted in the box.

Plaster Ring

Used with 4" junction boxes to adapt the box to a specific device where the box will be behind drywall or stucco. In this used for a switch or DR, but they come in many configurations and in different depths. Also called a mud ring

Toggle Switch

When the toggle switch is pushed up the service is on and off when pushed down.

Three-Way Toggle Switch

Traveler or go between wires connect to lighter colored brass screws; hot wire is connected to the darker colored brass screw.

4 way switch

A toggle switch that is used between three way switches. More than one 4 way switch may be used between 3 ways switches to control a load (lights) at multiple locations.