Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
238 Engineering Fundamentals
Hand Tools in Electrical Engineering
Always choose the right tool of the correct size
for the job. Use tools for their intended purpose only.
Never use hand tools on electrical circuits and equip-
ment unless you are sure the power is off and you
have tested it. Keep your work area clean and your
tools properly stored and maintained. Always wear
safety glasses when using hand tools due to the pos-
sibility of flying objects and debris.
Wire cutters come in a variety of styles and sizes
and are used to cut wire to the desired length. See
Figure A.
Tools
Wire strippers are used to remove insulation from
wire so that the exposed ends can be used to make
connections. A wire is placed in a slot according to
gauge and the handles are squeezed, Figure C. This
cuts the insulation, but not the wire. The strippers are
then pulled toward the end of the wire and the insula-
tion slides off, exposing the desired length of bare wire.
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Figure A.
Pliers are used to hold small or hot objects and
keep items from moving. The pliers shown in Figure B
are called needle-nose pliers because the jaws are
very thin. This pair also includes a wire cutter.
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Figure B.
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Figure C.
A wire gage tool can be used to find the gage
of a wire, Figure D. Bare wires are inserted into the
openings. When the wire fits snugly in the opening,
the gauge has been found.
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Wire
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Figure D.