Electrical work requires some special tools. The first thing you should do when starting an electrical project is turn off the circuit for the wires you're working with. To make sure the current is off, you'll need a tester (figure A), which allows you to safely check the power before handling bare wires. The basic tester has two probes that you can use to check the holes in an electrical outlet, the terminals on a switch, or bare electrical wires. If current is present, a light will come on. A plug-in model (figure B) uses the same concept, with the addition of a series of lights to let you know whether the current is on and the outlet is wired properly. A voltage detector (figure C) can detect current when it's near a wire--it doesn't have to contact the bare metal. The detector hums or buzzes when it senses current. If you don't know which breaker switch controls which outlet, you need a circuit-breaker finder (figure D). Plug the transmitter into the outlet you want to work on, and pass the receiver over the switches in the electrical box. The receiver will beep or buzz when it gets close to the switch controlling the outlet. You'll need an assortment of screwdrivers (figure E), both Phillips- and flat-head. However, when you're doing electrical work, you need to make sure the handles are insulated. If you're doing a lot of electrical work, consider investing in a pair of lineman's pliers (figure F), which have built-in wire cutters. Needle-nose pliers (figure G) are essential for many electrical projects. They also include wire cutters. Wire cutters (figure H), also known as side cutters or diagonal cutters, are useful when you're just cutting wires. One of the most useful tools for electrical work is the combination wire stripper (figure I). It can strip the insulation from wires of various gauges and can also cut and crimp wires. Many combination strippers also have holes that can be used to cut bolts without messing up the threads. When stripping insulation, don't expose more wire than you need. Make sure you have plenty of good-quality electrical tape (figure J). Stretch the tape as you wrap it around the wires: the tape will shrink as you release it, creating a tighter seal. You can cut electrical tape, but it's easier to break it off. A soldering iron is also a basic electrical tool. Don't be afraid to use one. It can improve the quality of your electrical connections.
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