Four Tools of Trade for a Licensed Electrician

Every trade has its preferred set of tools. Like other professionals, electrical contractors, therefore, have a must-have tools arsenal that is crucial in their line of work. Electrical work cannot be done without the right tools and these tools are essential in the undertaking of these jobs safely, effectively and to the required standard. As a licensed electrician today, it is demanded that you are versatile in tackling a variety of jobs and to do this you'll need a collection of hand and power tools. With the wide variety of tools available, however, it's important to narrow down to the most important ones. Without any further ado here are four most used tools.

Pliers

A pair of pliers is the most recognized hand tool in the electrical space and is a must-have for a trainee or experienced electricians. As a rule of thumb, the pliers' handles should have a comfortable grip and have a smooth open and closing operation. Other than the conventional pliers that are used for crimping, bending and general cutting, the diagonal and needle-nose pliers aid in specific jobs as outlined:

1. Diagonal/ side cutting pliers: these are used as a gripping tool for pulling staples, nails and for small gauge wires.
2. Needle nose/ long needle pliers: these have a tapering nose for electrical work that requires nimble adjustments and also have an integrated cutter.

Aside from having the different types above, it's recommended that you keep a variety of sizes for different jobs.

Multimeter

A multimeter is a handheld digital and or analog piece of equipment that is at the top of most electricians' toolboxes. The device can assist you in troubleshooting electrical faults. The multimeter is used to measure multiple electrical properties including current, resistance and voltage, among other properties.

Screwdrivers

While they may not seem like trade-specific tools, electricians need screwdrivers for various types of applications. They will always come in handy whether you are removing switches, outlets or cover plates. While most households have a screwdriver, you should always have Phillip's screwdriver on your electrician belt. 

Wire Strippers

Wire strippers have unique blades that strip the outer cable jacket exposing the conductor wire inside. Albeit similar to pliers, wire strippers are ergonomic, they are more comfortable to hold and they have a variety of hole sizes for different wires.

While the tools above are very common, the tools you will require will largely depend on the job

For more information, contact an electrician.