Basic Electrical Tools | Tool Lab | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House master electrician Heath Eastman walks us through his favorite electrical hand tools that all DIYers should own.

Master electrician Heath Eastman explains the hand tools every homeowner should have in their DIY electrical kit. Heath shows us the voltage testers, special screwdrivers, pliers, and wire strippers that most homeowners should keep on hand, and even shows us how to use them on a basic home electrical repair.

Homeowners Need the Right Tools
Most homeowners don’t need a wide assortment of electrical tools because the jobs they handle are rather limited. However, there are some projects that DIYers are capable of handling, as long as they have the right tools. Projects like replacing a light fixture or changing out a receptacle require a simple yet complete set.

Before a homeowner or DIYer works on any electrical circuit, they need to ensure that the circuit is de-energized and safe. The tool for this job is a voltage tester, and they come in two main forms: plug-in and non-contact. Plug-in models are most useful when replacing devices on a circuit, but non-contact testers are universally helpful, as they can test for voltage in almost any device or wire.

Regardless of the device, they both work similarly. Once on and used to test a device, they will beep to indicate that the circuit is still energized.

The first type of screwdriver that a homeowner should own is a multi-bit screwdriver. These models have several bits all housed within the tool, allowing them to switch the tip for whatever screw they’re facing. They also have nut drivers built-in for fastening or loosening the most common nut sizes.

DIYers should also have some basic straight-shaft, standard screwdrivers. Phillips and straight blades are the most common types. They’ll use these for electrical cover plates and other harder-to-reach fasteners tucked away where a multi-bit driver won’t fit.

Homeowners should consider a torque screwdriver, as well. These models have adjustable settings that the user can dial to the proper amount of torque. Once the screwdriver feels the set amount of resistance on the fastener, it will “pop” to indicate that the user can stop tightening. This can be essential to avoiding stripping hardware or breaking devices.

DIY electricians should own a pair of wire strippers. These tools have cutting edges that not only cut the wire to length, but also slice through the jacket on a set of wires or the insulation on an individual conductor, exposing the copper wire underneath. They’re also helpful for bending hooks in the ends of pigtails (short pieces of wire connecting the device to the electrical wire) for secure connections.

Needle nose pliers are also a good addition to a tool kit. These pliers make bending hooks in the ends of pigtails a breeze, and they’re great for snugging the hooks up around the terminal screws. Also, they almost all have heavier-duty cutting teeth than a standard pair of strippers, so they’re able to cut through thicker materials.

Where to find it?
Heath explains what tools he uses and how he uses them when replacing an electrical receptacle. He shows the right way to use wire strippers to strip back the insulation jacket on wires. Then he uses needle-nose pliers to “hook” the end of the wire in order to wrap it around the terminal screw. Heath then uses a special torquing screwdriver to tighten the screw to the correct tension.

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Basic Electrical Tools | Tool Lab | Ask This Old House

[resxua]

Licensed in multiple states and that has been more valuable than a university degree. Please note that a Fluke multimeter is a great tool - got several at pawn shops at big savings! Nice video!

[Tiki_Tony]

14yr cable guy here. You can find the multi screwdriver from 5-in-1 to 10-in-1, always handy. I prefer a larger dual crimp stripper, it works on any size wire without having to know and choose which size it is. I did learn something, the bent tabs and in/lbs torque for electrical, as we tighten to 20. Would love an in depth in house networking tutorial, many new housing tracts come with pre-wired CAT-5 (or better) but not terminated or terminated to phone that no one uses.

If you're going to buy & install your own coax & connectors, use compression, it's just better.

[xoxooxox]

I use WAGO connectors which are code-compliant, and recommend Fluke for Meters, Klein for most Elec tools and Knipex for their insulated combo lineman-strippers. Also, white PVC elec tape and perm marker or reuse the trimmings from 12-2 romex as sleeve-labels. Lastly, get a small electrician-specific tool belt-pouch for just the electrical tools. Makes it easier when working around the old house and garage to have it all on you. Oh and never use the backstab feature of the receptacle-that is more for builders in a hurry and over time, those will pop out as I have had to do many homes for this problem.

[georgemsun]

Heath is a clear master. Great attention to detail.

[rosewd]

I noticed that when you used the plug in electrical tester you only tested the bottom of the outlet.
Some outlets are split and usually controlled by say a switch. In this case the metallic tab on the side of the outlet is broken off creating in effect 2 separate outlets.
You could have the bottom half off and the too half still live. I always test both plugs in the outlet just to be sure.

[aaavellone]

I like to cut my joints at 45 degrees so the metal threaded cone inside the wire nut has a similar shape to really work well together. That said, I've flush cut so many joints I've lost count. Mr. Eastman does a great job making this professional and easy for the DIYer

[kingssman]

Another DYI tool is a breaker finder. Plug into a live socket and trace back to the electrical box

[rzh]

I got used to using back wired outlets. So much easier to connect wires. Cost a little more but worth it. Saves time and aggravation.

[engineerncook]

Test both sockets with the plug in tester. They could be wired separately. Once open, use the non-contact tester too. You own them, use them. Rare to find a live wire if the breaker is off, but you never know what the previous guys did.

[sociopathmercenary]

I really like the outlets that allow you to back wire under the side terminal plates. No more hooks!

[Soxruleyanksdrool]

So with that plug in tester, he said if the light doesn't come on, the plug should be de-energized. SHOULD be? Maybe I'll just use the other tester and be absolutely sure.

[eduardosilva]

A question and forgive the ignorance. The original cantact had two hot and two neutral wires and you attached one and one. does that make a difference? will it still function the same as before? Thank you for your videos...always learn something from them.

[jimvest]

Can someone explain why they never use insulated tools especially screwdrivers in these electrical videos, isn't it that common in us? When I was electrician I always used 1000v rated screwdrivers.

[keithwalker]

? The original wiring had each white and black wires going yo a separate terminal you wired it to a single terminal, was that the correct thing to do in this case?

[Guardducks]

A wago lever nut would have saved so much room, and no need to twist wires together.

[jasonsgroovemachine]

Those wires were short? I wish the wires in my place were that short.

[valeriebassett]

I think you should have talked about the two wires with both white and black. Some people won't know if it goes on to another switch. I would have liked for you to show a replacement using all four wires instead of the two. Thanks for the video.

[saeedsobhani]

Where and how to get job with all these tools?

[ChickenPermissionOG]

you don't need to torque outlets. Just firmly tighten down.

[chadbaxter]

I noticed when he took it out of the wall he had two wires connected to each of the two screws but when he put them back in it was only one wire on one screw. Is this normal?