Tools for electricians

What belongs in the basic equipment?

We give you an overview of the 8 most important tools for electricians and electrical installation tools for even more efficiency at work.

Tools for electricians - The basic equipment

Regardless of whether you are an electronics technician for energy and building technology, an electronics technician for devices and systems or another specialisation - the right equipment with high-quality tools is equally important for all professions in electronics. The following basic criteria therefore apply to the professional performance of electrical work:

Safety is paramount when working on live parts. You should therefore make sure that the tool is insulated and that it has been independently tested for safety in accordance with generally applicable standards. VDE tools set the tone here!
This goes hand in hand with the quality of the material. This should be able to withstand daily wear and tear and impress with its durability. Development in Germany is a clear sign of quality. The same applies to tools: Buy cheap, buy twice!
Furthermore, tools that have been specially developed for the typical activities of an electrician reduce the time required to expertly carry out daily challenges.
Finally, ergonomically designed tools protect your health by reducing the effort required, among other things. This prevents muscle tension in the arm, shoulder and spine area, for example.

In the following we give an overview of:

The 8 most important tools for electricians
Electrical installation tools for even greater efficiency
Tool sets for electricians

The 8 most important tools for electricians

Of course, every professional group requires special tool solutions in their area of application. However, everyday routine electrical work can be covered with the following 8 tools. Regardless of whether it is mainly electrical installations in houses, maintenance of industrial plants or work on switch cabinets.

Insulated screwdrivers

Whether working on terminal blocks, circuit breakers or during socket outlet installation - various screwdriving tasks are among the most common activities of an electrician. Very often this involves screwing on or near live parts. To protect themselves against the dangers of electric current during their daily work, insulated screwdrivers in different variations are part of an electrician's equipment. The continuous plastic coating on the blade serves as insulation and protects against electric shocks. With screwdrivers that are labelled with independent VDE and/or GS test seals, tradesmen can be sure that they have products in their hands that meet the highest safety requirements. Read more about VDE tools in the article below.

The right screwdriver handle for every screwdriving task

Depending on the application, screws need to be tightened with varying degrees of force. The size of the screwdriver handle is crucial in terms of power transmission, control and feel.

The different screwdriver handles

For delicate work where precision and control are paramount, long and narrow handles and a fast-turning zone are more suitable (e.g. in the electrical and precision mechanics sector, when working on circuit boards or housings).

Short and wider handles are suitable for coarser, powerful screw connections (e.g. in assembly).

Finally, for very powerful screwdriving work (over 5 Nm), there is the cross handle, with which a very high torque can be applied (e.g. for tightening/loosening hexagon socket screws).

Here you can find more information on different screwdriver handles.

The right screwdriver blade for every screwdriving task

Conventional blades often have too large a diameter to reach screw and spring elements that are located deeper or in narrow places. Especially if they are encased in plastic for stress protection. Screwdrivers with a narrower blade design or screwdrivers with replaceable blades or bits are therefore more suitable.

Different screw profiles - also known as output drives

When selecting screwdrivers or equipping toolboxes, cases or bags, however, it is not only the corresponding variety of handle sizes and blade lengths that is important. The right profile or drive is even more important. The profile of the screwdriver head determines which output the screwdriver blade must have in order to fit together perfectly. The following drive profiles are the most common:

Schlitz
Philips auch Kreuzschlitz genannt
Pozidriv
Torx®
Torx PLUS®

Many other common profiles and special profiles, such as the pentalobe profile (smartphone sector), can also be found on the market and are required for special screws and applications. Further information can be found in this guide: Screw profiles

All insulated screwdrivers at a glance

Insulated pliers

Other important tools for electricians are pliers. These are also often used in the vicinity of live parts, which is why they should be insulated and their safety confirmed with a test seal (VDE GS). Electricians usually need pliers:

for gripping
for holding
for cutting
for bending

Combination pliers or multifunctional tools that combine, for example, a gripping zone, a holding zone and a cutting zone in a single pair of pliers are practical here. The 8in1 multifunction pliers combine eight typical tasks that occur during cable processing activities in a single pair of pliers.

You can find all the information about the 8in1 pliers for electricians here.

If you prefer the single tool, you should definitely not do without the following pliers:

Round nose pliers (also known as telephone pliers) for precise and sensitive gripping and holding of wires in tight places. A cutting zone is often integrated into the joint, which is why they can also be used as side cutters.

Side cutters for cutting thicker wires or individual cores of a cable.

Water pump pliers for gripping pipes and angular profiles. They have an adjustable joint, which can also be fixed depending on the version.

Cable cutter for crush-free cutting of multi-part cables, for example when cutting to length.

Stripping pliers for shortening the insulation of an electrical conductor to the size required for the connection.

Stripping and skinning tools

Skinning and stripping is one of the most common tasks in electrical installation. They are always necessary when cables have to be shortened to a certain length. The sheathing of a cable must then be removed in such a way that the individual conductors underneath and their insulation are not damaged (= stripping). Once the sheathing has been removed, a stripping tool is used to remove the insulation from the conductors (= stripping).
You can find more information in our guide cable processing

The following professional electrician's tools are particularly suitable for these work steps:

Can remover: These are perfect for professionally stripping cables in places that are difficult to access, such as in flush-mounted sockets or in switch cabinets. Depending on the application, they are available in different versions, e.g. for coaxial cables or round cables.

Automatic stripping tool: This tool automatically adapts to the cross-section of the conductor using a scanning system. The risk of damaging a conductor is therefore minimised.

An overview of our stripping tools

Crimping tools

Electricians often have to make electrical connections between cables and plugs. This work step is carried out sustainably and efficiently with a crimping tool. The cable with the conductors is pressed together with the connecting part. This connection can only be released later using a special tool, which makes it very secure.

In addition to a high-quality design, the following points are particularly important when making a selection:

Profile range: A crimping tool that can crimp 0.08 - 16 mm² cables is very versatile.
Type of crimping: Do you mainly need to make square or hexagonal crimps?
Manual or automatic: Automatic crimping pliers are easier to handle because the pliers automatically adjust to the cross-section of the sleeves. With manual versions, the pressing jaws must be adjusted by the user.

to the Crimping tools

Voltage testers

Precise, high-quality and standardised measuring devices are indispensable. The latter especially in the commercial sector. In addition to the multimeter for measuring different units, a two-pole voltage tester is particularly important. Testing for the absence of voltage is one of the 5 safety rules for electricians. It must be determined with a suitable device before starting work on electrical systems. According to current standards, only a two-pole voltage tester is authorised for this purpose.

A single-pole voltage tester should also be part of every electrician's equipment. Non-contact devices are particularly suitable for finding initial indications of sources of interference when electrical devices and systems fail.

A distinction is made between voltage testers for the low voltage range:

Single-pole, simple voltage testers with a screwdriver design
Single-pole, non-contact voltage testers
Two-pole voltage testers (standardised)

Single-pole voltage testers

This commonly refers to the conventional phase tester, which is modelled on the mechanical design of a screwdriver. To detect a voltage, it must be held against the phase of a socket outlet. The user's body closes the circuit and acts as a conductor. It is not permitted to detect voltage in this way in accordance with the 5 safety rules. This voltage tester is suitable for quick troubleshooting when used correctly.

Single-pole, non-contact voltage testers

A further development of the conventional phase tester is the non-contact voltage tester, which uses a sensor to detect voltage. This voltage tester is ideal for detecting sources of interference in electrical systems, e.g. cable breaks, broken cables, defective fuses and similar. The non-contact voltage tester is also ideal for obtaining initial indications as to whether a socket is live or not, as the process is quick, convenient and reliable. However, even the non-contact voltage tester is not authorised to detect the absence of voltage (as defined by the 5 safety rules for electricians) in accordance with the applicable standard.

Non-contact voltage tester

Two-pole voltage tester

These devices are subject to the VDE standard. They are therefore approved for the safe determination of the absence of voltage. They are therefore the testers of choice, particularly in the professional sector. You can find all information about the two-pole voltage tester in our shop.

Voltage and continuity tester

Other measuring devices for electricians

Measuring devices such as the multimeter, the current clamp or specific measuring devices such as the socket tester are of course also part of an electrician's equipment.

You can find an overview in our shop under measuring and testing devices.

All measuring devices for electricians

Hammer

Another ‘must have’ in the electrician's tool kit is the hammer. It is considered one of the oldest tools in the history of mankind and is available in many different versions. The quality of a hammer is defined in particular by its impact resistance, a solid head/handle connection and the material itself. Conventional hammers are generally not perfectly suited to the work that an electrician typically carries out with a hammer. It is therefore advisable to use the electrician's version. Ideally, the most important characteristics of hammers specifically for electricians are

Flat claws on the hammer head with which nail clips and nails, for example, can be easily removed.
A U-shaped striking surface that enables precise and efficient hammering even in tight spaces and corners.
A flat, soft base at the end of the hammer handle for attaching or countersinking cables and plugs without damaging them, e.g. on walls.

To Electrician's hammer

Spirit level

The spirit level is also indispensable. It should be as light as possible because it is used almost exclusively for aligning drilling points and may need to be held stably in the hand for a longer period of time for this activity. Aluminium and plastic are therefore very suitable. You should also make sure that the spirit level can be optimally viewed from different working positions. Furthermore, well thought-out dimensions, i.e. the positioning of the scales, is a feature that should be taken into account. The Wiha spirit level is specially designed to meet the needs of electricians. For example, it also has distance markings for up to 4 flush-mounted sockets.

To Electrician's spirit level

Folding ruler

An electrician's basic equipment should also include a folding rule, also known simply as a folding rule or metre rule. Conventional metre rules are made of wood and can therefore break or be damaged easily. They are also more susceptible to damage from moisture or chemicals. A variant with plastic components such as fibreglass is therefore suitable for electrical applications. These folding rules are more flexible, water-resistant and robust. Additional functions such as a cable pulling aid, which can be used to pull cables through cavity walls, or application-specific distance markings, which are useful for attaching flush-mounted sockets, for example, are also practical.

To Electrician's folding ruler

Electrical installation tools for even greater efficiency. They make the difference!

Efficiency is a high priority on every construction site and during maintenance and assembly in the industrial sector. It is therefore worthwhile using tools that offer useful additional functions in addition to their own purpose. The following tools, for example, come into question here:

E-Screwdriver

In the day-to-day work of an electrician, in the field of industrial maintenance and assembly as well as in the DIY sector, there are often a number of time-consuming screwdriving operations. Traditionally, these are carried out with a hand-held, manual screwdriver. This takes a lot of time and puts a monotonous strain on muscles and joints. Due to the risk of damaging the material during sensitive screwdriving operations or for reasons of tension safety, classic cordless screwdrivers with corresponding power transmission are often not an alternative. By using an electric screwdriver for electricians for such repetitive screwdriving work, such work can be carried out more efficiently, with 100% voltage safety and less strain. Electric screwdrivers can be used in the same way as conventional screwdrivers, but have a rechargeable battery inside for the electric drive, which takes over the screwdriving process three times faster and in a controlled manner if required. A useful feature here is the material protection function, which switches off the drive as soon as a certain torque is reached.

To E-Screwdriver speedE® II electric

Multifunctional screwdriver

With a screwdriver whose bits or drives can be variably exchanged, you save weight and space in your toolbox. Such multifunctional screwdrivers are particularly space-saving if the bit magazine is located inside the screwdriver. A mechanism that allows the bit magazine to be pulled out at the touch of a button also makes it easier to remove the bits. The VDE test mark must also be observed for multifunctional screwdrivers if they are used in the vicinity of live parts.

To the multitool screwdriver LiftUp electric

Electrician's Flashlight

Electricians often work in poor lighting conditions, which is why a torch is very often useful. Conventional torches usually have to be held in place and are therefore quite inflexible and impractical. Torches with clips for attaching to clothing or belts and/or magnetic positioning options, which allow them to be attached to most switch cabinets, for example, can help here. If they also have a swivelling lamp head, the work area can be illuminated even more efficiently. It is also advisable to use lights with different adjustable light intensities to avoid shadows on the workpiece or working position. Additional functions such as activatable UV light or lasers can be helpful for other work situations for electricians.

To Electrician's Flashlight

Torque screwdriver

A torque screwdriver is always advisable when electricians need to complete a screwdriving process with a specified torque. The tool emits an audible and/or tactile click to indicate as soon as the screw has been tightened enough or the correct torque has been reached. A special tool of this type is particularly important in switch cabinet construction. Professional execution of the controlled tightening process using a torque screwdriver protects against material damage, reworking and warranty claims.

To Torque Screwdriver

Tool sets for electricians

Of course, an individually compiled basic kit is best suited to your own (professional) requirements. Nevertheless, it is worth considering a well thought-out set for electrical applications. You save money by purchasing a set:

Money when procuring tools, because the costs of individual tools are usually higher than those of a tool set.
Time when shopping, because only one purchase and decision-making process is necessary.
Space and storage space, as the tools and the organisation system are coordinated. There is usually additional storage space for customised extensions. With a tool set, you always have the right tool to hand, whether stationary or mobile.

All Tool sets for electricians

This could also be interesting for you

VDE insulated tools from Wiha

Because safety comes first

Ergonomical Tools by Wiha

Wiha is the only hand tool manufacturer in the world with an official recommendation from doctors and therapists.

Wiha Electricians Tools

Get an overview about all our electricians tools.

To our Electricians tools