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SPECIAL FEATURE
TOOLS & WORKWEAR
The best pair of wire strippers
will come with a strong
gripping serrated nose.
THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE TECH
With more new technology entering the market, the home automation market continues to
evolve and as a result it is becoming a ‘must have’ solution for the homeowner. Malcolm
Duncan of Klein Tools looks at the tools needed to tackle the latest tech trends.
F
rom centralised control of
lighting to HVAC systems,
appliances, security locks
of gates and doors and
other systems, there is
technology available to
provide convenience,
comfort, energy efficiency
and security to homeowners at levels we
have never seen before. An App installed
on your smartphone or tablet for example
can control your heating, lighting and blinds
remotely in a matter of seconds.
But with the emergence of new
technology there comes a new challenge
for the installer who needs the right tools
for the job. Quick and efficient installation is
key and using quality tools which will stand
the test of time is imperative. This means
paying attention to materials and the design
features of tools to ensure that they have
been built to perform, and to last.
Strip it down
Home automation will inevitably mean the
installation of new cables and switches,
which will come in different shapes and
sizes. Wire strippers will therefore be an
essential piece of kit to get the work done.
The choice in the market for wire
strippers has now expanded from a
simple manual pair to ranges of automatic
and laser alternatives. The requirement
for home automation installations will
usually sit somewhere between manual
and automatic and will depend on the
installer’s preference. One of the benefits
for installers of sticking with manual is
the ‘feel’ they will retain for the wire
as they strip it back. If you are opting
for a manual set, there are some key
characteristics to look for to ensure the
best quality tool for the job.
The important factor to bear in mind is
to ensure you purchase a pair of strippers
with the correct millimetre length, or
to look for a universal set. In the case
of the latter, it is always preferable
to use a spring loaded pair for fast
opening. The best pairs will come with
a strong gripping serrated nose for easy
bending, shaping, and pulling of wire,
and precision ground stripping holes
that will fit the wire you are working with
perfectly. Ease of storage should also be
considered, so a reliable locking function
is a definite bonus.
A good pair of automatic strippers
offers a ‘grip and strip’ compound
function for higher speed stripping in a
single action squeezing motion and a
high quality automatic set will strip up
to 25mm of insulation in one fell swoop.
Ensure the pair you select has precision
holes that can easily remove the wire’s
insulation without damaging the wire itself
and when interrogating the specification,
make sure they feature a tension loaded
wire grip that will be able to gently hold
the cable while retaining its geometry, i.e.
not bending it.
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TOOLS & WORKWEAR
SPECIAL FEATURE
A sound installation
The insertion of a deep junction box
in locations around the home where
electronic control takes place will enable
installers to neatly slot new switches and
the general rule of thumb decrees that it is
better to overestimate than underestimate
the size which is required.
This approach will give you room for
wire splicing and hopefully avoid you
having to reinstall the boxes at a later date.
The choice of junction box is a simple one:
metal or plastic - both are non-conductive
and plastic tends to be the more common
option. However, regardless of the type
which you choose, any junction box
installation is going to require the use of
side cutting pliers.
From a longevity point of view, a pair that
won’t stiffen up is essential. It is therefore
worth making sure the pair you choose
has hot riveted joints will ensure smooth
action and no handle wobble. Induction
hardened cutting knives also make a major
contribution to a long life for your pliers
while a precision hardened plier head
will give you on-the-job toughness and
handles which are shaped to fit your hand
will help with speed and comfort while you
work. However, if you are looking at higher
specification products then it is worth
considering that some manufacturers will
have designed their products with the rivet
head closer to the cutting edge which gives
you vastly increased cutting and gripping
power and ultimately a better end result.
Get a decent screwdriver
It may not be up there with life’s great
imponderables, but the question of what
makes a good screwdriver is one that
should occupy at least some thinking time
for the conscientious electrical installer.
Home automation installers use these tools
for numerous jobs so having a robust and
comprehensive range is a good idea.
Strength of tip and quality of grip should
definitely be at the top of the list. A cushion
grip will go easy on your hands and is likely
When it comes to screwdrivers strength of tip and
quality of grip should definitely be at the top of the list.
“
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT
NOT ALL INSULATED HAND TOOLS ARE
CREATED EQUAL, SO CHECKING FOR
THE RELEVANT STANDARD MARKS IS
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.
to give you better purchase while a chrome
plated screwdriver will increase corrosion
resistance of the tip. If the manufacturer
has precision machined the tip, you will
also be able to rely on the fit which will save
endless amounts of time in the long term.
Your screwdriver set will also need a
varied range of head sizes and lengths.
Home automation installations may need
tools to work in limited spaces, so the
ability to manoeuvre the tools is crucial and
a range of lengths and sizes will make sure
you can work in a variety of scenarios.
A simple five piece set with two cabinet
tip, one Phillips tip, and two keystone tip
screwdrivers should be sufficient. For
ultimate flexibility and from a space saving
Insulated tools are a
key component of any
electrician’s toolbox.
perspective, interchangeable heads are
a more sophisticated option and if you
are going down this route a 32 bit set will
cover most requirements.
Electrical testing
A homeowner investing in technology to
drag their house into the digital age will
not thank an installer who does the job
but fails to ensure the flow of electricity
does not exceed the amount the circuit is
capable of transmitting. Blown fuses and
damaged components will put an installer
firmly on the fast track to a catalogue of
bad reviews, so a dependable voltmeter is
a worthwhile investment.
Digital voltmeters will offer better
accuracy than their analogue counterparts
and for home automation purposes, a
voltmeter should offer DC and AC current
and voltage measuring. Other things which
are worth looking out for are a backlit
display which will prove its importance when
you are crawling around in a dark cupboard
or loft space. In addition, a meter with a
rubberised outer shell will keep your blood
pressure in check when it falls to the floor
from heights – it is however worth noting
that although drop protection tests are fairly
standard practice some manufacturers
test above and beyond the requirements
of the UL/IEC Standard and therefore the
products will inevitably stand up to falls
better. And finally don’t forget about safety,
a CAT IV safety rating is the highest you
can get, so look out for it and beware of
manufacturers who say that you won’t need
it – you don’t want to suddenly discover the
hard way that you did need it after all.
Insulation is key
Insulated tools are a key component of
any electrician’s toolbox and to ensure
longevity and peace of mind you need
pliers, cutters and screwdrivers which are
made with the right level of insulation.
A set of pliers with three layer insulation,
for example, brings extra security because
when the mid-layer of such a tool becomes
exposed on the grip it can serve as a
warning to the user that the insulation of
the tool is compromised and therefore it’s
time to buy a new pair.
Ensuring the pliers and cutters you
use offer 1000V protection is also vital.
It is important to remember that not all
insulated hand tools are created equal,
so checking for the relevant standard
marks is absolutely essential. A set
carrying the International Electrotechnical
Commission’s IEC 60900 International
Standard is the key mark to look for as
the presence of this safety mark gives you
the confidence that the tools have been
subjected to rigorous testing protocols.
One such test, the dielectric test,
will see an insulated tool have 10,000V
passed through it to ensure that there
are no leaks in the insulation. Tools must
also pass tests for stress and flammability
before the safety mark is awarded so do
look out for this.
Ultimately, the only way to ensure that
your tools are of the highest quality is
to buy them from a brand that you can
trust and one which you know carries out
testing to the highest standards. If you go
down this route then you can guarantee a
long service life from your tools and all you
need to focus on is getting the job done
quickly and to a high standard.
Malcolm Duncan has over 30 years of
experience in the electrical industry and
has become a real advocate for high
quality tooling aimed at the professional
electrician. He originally set the bar with
the Super Rod range, and followed this
up with the Pro-Fit holesaws. Malcolm
is now heading up the introduction of
Klein Tools here in the UK.
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