Every Insulated Tool Electricians Need!!!
Do electricians really need to use electrically insulated tools? A topic of debate depending on whom you talk to! In the latest episode of Electrician U, Dustin explores the subject and shows some of the electrically insulated tools from one of the top tool manufacturers Klein Tools.
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To establish a baseline for the question, lets explore some scenarios first. Should we be working on live circuits at all? That is really the whole debate! For most of the time, we can AND should shut the power off before working on something. It is safer and we can generally perform the work much faster and more efficiently with it off as we don’t have to tip toe around energized components. So, if someone wants to add a can light or a receptacle in their house, we can shut the circuit off and turn it back on once the work is complete. Same could be said for replacing the service/panel at a residence. BUT, if we are attempting to troubleshoot a particular system to see why something isn’t operating properly, we may actually NEED the power to be on for us to test and diagnose the problem. Or if us turning off the circuitry could result in a more dangerous condition (say, in a hospital where patients are relying on certain equipment to be healthy) we may need to work on said circuitry energized. And it’s the last couple of scenarios that lead to manufacturers designing and producing PPE and tools for electricians to use in these conditions.
Klein Tools is one of the best manufacturers of electrical tools in the industry. Almost all of us in the industry know who Klein is and use their tools. In addition to making tools for everyday usage, they also make quite an extensive line of electrically insulated tools. While most electrical tools (even if they have some type of insulation on the handles) are not rated for any protection while working on live circuits and will have markings on the tools stating such. Tools designed for work on energized circuits will have a rating on the tool of its voltage capacity and is usually distinguishable by a bright orange (or other bright color) coating on the normally exposed metallic surface. These types of tools should be carried by electricians who may be required to work on energized circuits and should NOT be used unless its in an exposed workspace. The tools should be kept separate from our normal tools, in a separate case and be really taken care of as our lives depend on those tools performing as intended!
Kleins line of insulated tools can be found in almost all the flavors we normally see. From screwdrivers, to nut drivers and most of the plier type tools, they produce every tool we would need to do our job safely in an energized environment. Klein even produces multi screwdrivers that allow you to change between flat head, Phillips, square tips, etc. to save some space in your kit! You can purchase the tools individually or various sets are available as well. The line of insulated tools is quite extensive ranging from standard to slim drive screwdriver tips to help in fitting in small holes like breakers. Definitely something that an experienced electrician should add to their kits if they may be required to work on energized circuits (and are trained to do so!).
We hope this shed some light on the topic of when we should be using tools rated for energized circuits and some of the tools available. Remember, these tools are designed to keep us safe so should be taken care of. Better than our normal everyday tools! This includes hot work PPE (gloves, suits, etc.) as well as our meters! Keep them clean, dry and in separate bags/cases from our standard tools. Is there a topic you would like to see discussed? Leave your comments in the comment section below and let us know! Please continue to follow Dustin and Electrician U as we are constantly updating our content to provide the best electrical education to our followers to help them in their careers!
#electrician #electrical #electricity #sparky tools #insulated tools #skilled trades
There is absolutely no way to avoid working on live circuits. If you do any kind of service work or troubleshooting, they have to be energized. You need to be able to check for voltage or current while they while equipment is in use. It shouldn’t even be a debate. It’s just a risk we understand & accept in our line of work.
My HVAC textbook literally stated that to properly diagnose a malfunction a technician needs to be comfortable working on live circuits safely
Facts
Testing and trouble shooting is separate from working on something. As soon as you reach for something other then a measuring tool you are working.
Still don’t need insulated tools
@@jetthardin4927 shut up go use some duct tape or something
I’ll say this once… train anyone to work it as if it was live at all times EVEN when the power is off.. develop this habit as a trainer it’s very smart to pass it down the exact same way and there’s never an accident
This is what i teach to kids in the trade!
Yeah literally I hate the "You SHOULD never be working when it's hot" okay but what happens when you have to or someone doesn't know for some reason? It's a stupid thing to be stubborn about and costs nothing to use a little more precaution.
Save desiccant packs, keep them in your box with your insulated tools.
Agreed, the majority of the time there isn't a need to work on energized circuits. But when it is needed it's best to have the proper PPE and proper electrically rated tool.
In a way I disagree when you say the majority of time there isn't need to work on energized circus ,it really depends on the line of work that you are doing for instance I do a lot of troubleshooting and let me just say that working live it's a must on the everyday that I serviced trouble calls. I must work live to take measurements and to find and locate the shorted or grounded wires of course when you find the problem it is much faster to open the circuit so that you can make the repair but for my line of work working live is over 90% every day
Regarding asking the customer to shut down to allow you to power off a circuit or an entire panel... My father worked in the chemical industry. Many of their chemical manufacturing processes take time (days, weeks, or months depending on the process) to safely shut things down without causing damage. Conversely it may take days, weeks, or months to then restart their process from a safely shut down production line. No way would they say "yeah, we'll shut down for you to install an outlet (or change out a panel)"... While this type of work (emergency electrical work) is a corner case in all the jobs an electrician will do, they still exist.
What you are describing is terrible electrical distribution. This means if you artery MCB failed when there is a fault in a receptacle, the whole panel will trip leading to millions of dollar of damage because you were too cheap to have 2 separate panels.
Hey Dustin post some of your service calls again those are good to watch while drinking coffee in the morning
Totally agree
I do 98% work on live 200a PPC (Power Protection Cabinet) circuits on Cell Tower sites. Love your channel. Ive learned sone stuff from you. Thanks
Anything that helps increase safety (without impacting ability) is a positive in my books. I never work on live circuits, but you never know what may or may not be energized due to mistakes made by others. I always use them when working in and around panels where there are live portions present. I own and use insulated screwdrivers/drivers, cutters and pliers and they are in my main kit... my favorite being the Wiha 38051 as an every day carry in my bag at all times.
I baby these.. I grinned and nearly chuckled We all remember tools/toys we treated that nicely. And we remember why.
Coming from a UK electrician, it seems baffling why you wouldn’t use VDE rated tools, literally every spark here uses insulated tools, it’s even taught in colleges that you should only use insulated tools on the off chance something might be live (especially when working in boards)
The reason is 1776 lol
Thanks for this video/reminder/instruction. Utility companies/suppliers work on energized circuits all the time - with the proper PPE and safety steps in place. It doesn't take a commercial setting to have the "need" to work on an energized circuit or distribution/breaker panel. This condition could occur in a private home if you are replacing a single breaker in an energized box, especially if there is some type of medical or computer equipment that needs to stay operating while repairing a circuit that is not directly connected to said equipment. Not to mention the DIYers who work on energized stuff because they "can" or don't know better - knowing about insulated tools is helpful to them, also.
I see the VDE as an insurance, where if it so happens that the circuit IS live, you don't get shocked... Or if you're working on something that might have some live parts or you can short circuit something... that insulation will save you and the equipment. Sure, you want to make sure the circuit is never live when working on it, but stuff happens. Excceptions obviously the times when the circuit has to be live... :)
(Once again) Awesome editing-- can't stop myself from chuckling. Especially on the zoom-ins 😄
Strongly recommend a few quality insulated screwdrivers, linesmen pliers & cutters. 40;years ago installed half a dozen klien maroon colored handle grips. Not rated for voltage but have used them hundreds of times on hot 277 & 480 volt circuits without any problems. Always worked in large plants that often ran 24/7 so it was very difficult to secure & LOTO power. Years ago would use two pairs of fuse pullers & quickly remove two 600 volt fuses at the same time due to not wanting to single phase one of the few motors on them. Would not do it today. You must have rubber & canvas gloves tested every 6 months.
I was working with wire strippers as you mentioned your spring removal tip. I popped it right off and now I’ll no longer struggle to put them back in my tool bag. What an awesome little tip that had nothing to do with the video
They really should have just put the locking latch they have on their non-insulated one. I guess it was too difficult to insulate the nub or just make it plastic; kind of a bummer though.
Fantastic. Best take-away, in my opinion -- take care of your gear so it can take care of you. I've seen so many examples of folks not respecting their gear and even some example of where people got bit by that. Well done.
Used mine today,changed out a 30 amp double pole screw in while hot,take care of them there handy.
I’m just getting into electrical in my country even though there is a difference in 110/220 these videos have helped me a lot into getting started on what to buy and help me understand how things work.. I didn’t go to school for it or anything it’s just more of you learn on the job
Youll be alright bro that's how I got started I also have no schooling been doing this so far for 5 years and am ready to be a journeyman I have a uncle who is a master electrician and he just gave me an opportunity 5 years ago and I have stuck with it ever since I was lucky enough to come across another master electrician on my journey in this field who taught me how to use and navigate the code book I am forever grateful if someone is willing to teach you code and calculations and just how to be a better electrician soak as much of it as you can because it's very rare and most dot want to see you succeed
My company pretty much only buys insulated tools for us, which is pretty nice. The main problem I've had working with like insulated nut drivers is the insulation can be too thick to fit inside certain places like to de-term MCC bucket. I need to get one of those insulated 10-in-1's.
Completely understandable about pressures of working live in limited cases but even in those cases as NFPA70E suggests PPE is the last thing to consider. If you go through the NFPA podcasts there are some remarkable stories from electricians having to work live and when accidents happened how much that increased costs for the companies including compensation insurance and greater OSHA scrutiny. That’s aside from the mental and physical scars from the arc flash incidents. In industrial settings when the demand for working live is highest with high voltage, 3-phase power incident energies are much higher. The risks are much greater in those settings and PPE itself and on its own won’t cut the mustard. Other factors have to be accounted for to reduce risks.
Your channel has been an immense help for me. I started my apprenticeship this week, and I'm pretty green to this kinda stuff. I was hesitant to even start, I didn't know the first thing about working as an electrician. And while I still don't know a lot, you gave me a confidence to start learning.
Ayo same here, loving these videos, looking forward to what the trade has to offer.
The very best of luck in your career, seems like poverty forever but the apprenticeship does end. Keep your chin up , your ears open to danger and knowledge, and for the love of smooth sailing…your mouth closed. Thirty -five years in, I’ll retire in December….it’s a bigger life and it goes by so fast. Try to enjoy.
I like to do my own DIY electric work. I've watched many videos about doing electrical work that does not cover electrical safety clothes. How about making a video to show us what we need to buy to protect us from getting shocked?
I definitely have been taught the safe way and seen my journeyman and non union guys use regular old screw drives in panels and basically said you gotta know what is what
Yes until you drop that screwdriver across two incoming legs that’s fed from an 800 amp main. That’s the biggest reason I use them
@@gregpartain4307 nope he is a god amongst men who could never make a mistake like that. Everything he does every day is 100% perfect
Excellent advice and A must when working on Live OR neutered (dead) circuits. Even with meters you could encounter A back feed that could end your career!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge
Semiconductor manufacturing here, work on live circuits quite a bit, we have grounding mats and insulated tools for it when we have to do hot work.
When working in the parkade, we have to work on live sometimes because you can’t just flip the breakers since other trades also working at the same time needing lighting or power.
Great videos! Could you make a video of how to safely work when the circuit still needs to be energized?
Part of having the proper PPE is knowing when and where it is to be used, furthermore it doesn't mean you're invincible, I mean you still have to use it correctly and in the right instance. :)
Larger established clients may have safety & EHS requirements that require LOTO. Asking an electrical contractor to work on live circuits would open them to a massive lawsuit if something went wrong. I'm sure the low-level line managers don't want to shut down, but the higher-ups are very lawsuit-aware. Good practice when you arrive on site is to ask their safety officer what the procedures are. Be safe, don't risk your future livelihood! Certainly if hot work is allowed then these these tools would be a necessity. (In this case, the client issues a "hot work permit". Be suspicious if they don't give you one, it establishes responsibility & liability.) Really great content as usual Dustin!
'Hot work permit' in every plant I've been in means welding/ grinding or torches. I've really never seen a 'live electrical work' permit. But, yes, there are definitely times especially on control circuits(120V) that you work on them live. And, yea, insulated tools are damned handy for that. Consider yourself the 'local' lineman and working on live circuits in that case. Not particularly dangerous if you're careful and aware.
@@nhzxboi I worked as PM tech in the semiconductor industry, and I had to take a "on the job" training class specifically named Hot Work. It was an in depth training class on live 220v to 1kv circuits. The equipment I worked on stayed energized 24/7. Most of it at 480v, with multiple power sources, along with various types of gases. We did have a LOTO protocol we also had to follow. We could isolate certain portions of the equipment we were preforming the PM on.
I'll go buy a set. I've been using a 6" mag 5/16 for taking off live breakers and while I feel safe doing it, it's just not smart. I do have the Klein insulated Philips/ flathead flip screwdriver and it's fantastic, super convenient.
There is a clip on the front of the strippers to hold it closed specifically because of the spring but my insulated don't have it so I agree with ripping the spring out.
I’m a huge fan of that last Klein insulated twist/swap screw driver. I’m actually using it today (I think it’s way better than a 10-in-1) as the bits stay in very well the only issue I have is having to carry the flat/Phillips or s1/s2 or whatever but you’re NOT using in the handle, in my pouch and it’s kinda awkward. So I mainly use that with the s1/s2 bit and have other screw drivers with flat/Phillips. I also have a full set of Wiha insulated tools past down from my father. It stays in a bag, in my truck for when the time comes to use them! (Hopefully never!) Great video man!
I thought I would like the Klein insulated twist/swap driver set too until the first time I used it. My finger tip was on the twist collar and as I tightened the terminal the collar turned as well and ejected the bit shaft into the panel. Of course, it had to fall down and land right behind the main lugs (bottom feed panel). It is still there. But every other Klein tool I totally love. Great performance and quality for hand tools.
I started using insulated tools when I would get shocked through the unrated plier insulation. Klein has insulated tools that are meant for everyday use. Yes, you must still inspect and treat them with care, but they’re tough. Thanks for videos man, keep things safe and simple guys 👍
thanks for saying exactly what he said in his video.
@@mrthiefy it must suck to be bothered so easily
The old style klein red grips are the best for durability..
Great information. Thank you.
👍👍 I am very pleased with this info. Godspeed.
Brother as an industrial electrician I can confidently tell you we work on energized circuits more often than not. Wiha is the brand to buy when you’re buying insulated.
Yes, If you do service or high voltage work it would be good to have.
I work on coax cable and these work good for set screws on amplifiers. Stops you from shorting out a device down the line when your messing with a power leg.
Yes. I worked DC Plant in Telco Central Office. Very hazardous voltages. I worked hot ckts a lot. Don't forget your rubber gloves. I had a set like that. Very expensive.
Hello my good sir, i just got accepted to IBEW Local 26 Apprenticeship class of 2027.. and your videos help out alot, i just started the trade brand new 3 months ago and im liking it so far, thank you for bringing informative and enjoyable videos to watch!
DMV represent
I love this video and I can see the tools now!
One of my journeymen just took his regular Klein screwdrivers and put some heat shrink over the metal shaft, he said that it's not technically rated for live work but he hasn't had any problems. I personally have the Klein insulated multibit set (exactly like the one you showed) and even though I haven't used it much yet, I absolutely love it.
Your journeyman might have an idea. Not osha. But i use it....hahaha.
I have the milwalkee insulated set. I only use the square number 2
All others i just use whatever.
No fucks given
I wld use a cple wraps of 3m tape to be sure but ya I've been wraping my uninsulated tools with tape in a pinch for 25 yrs+ (use wd-40 to remove adhesive and add some oil as well no corrosion or stickiness and squeak free too
The white layer is a warning layer that the tool has been damaged and needs to be replaced, even though it continues to provide some shock protection.
The pinkeye thing I love it I do the same thing
Those meters that are so expensive are so expensive not exactly because they're extremely accurate (that part can be done for relatively cheap with a $50 multimeter), the part that makes it cost a whole lot of money is the various safety features and certifications these meters have. Just look at the fuse used for the high-current amps range in your typical Fluke meter aimed at electricians. It's a physically large, explosion-resistant, silica sand filled thing, so if it actually goes across something dangerous (like a dead-short across a 240v circuit you caused by accident because you weren't paying full attention and set it on amps (with the leads also set up for amps) and not volts), then it won't hurt YOU by making the meter explode, instead the fuse will make a (frighteningly loud) noise but the meter itself (and you) should probably both come out of the experience relatively unscathed (of course you'll need a new fuse for the meter, and they're not exactly cheap, but you're still alive and unhurt). Compare that to the high current amps range fuse in that no-name $50 meter I was comparing it with. Chances are that the fuse in that meter is also "rated" for 240v, but if it's any upgrade over a standard glass tube fuse it will be only a ceramic tube fuse, with no silica sand filling, and no explosion resistance of note. So if you dead-short that thing it's gonna turn into a little firecracker and probably put pieces of the meter housing into your face (seen it happen in some testing videos, the test dummy took most of the impact in both hands and face). So to be perfectly honest, I'm saving up for that Fluke meter even tho I'm just an auto mechanic. Because I can count on it to withstand harsh conditions (aside from harsh chemicals like engine oil and coolant, and obviously gasoline but I'd be doing my best to avoid gasoline in the first place because outside of the cylinder of an engine or a fuel pump, gasoline and electricity don't mix), be accurate when I need it to be, and if I have to take it home to fix something on the house over a weekend I can count on it to have my back if I mess up.
Very essential insulated tools.
I do construction residential work and I've found all my tools have some insulative properties to them. I can't think of a situation where I would be touching 240v with a tool and so far all of my tools not rated for insulation haven't shocked me with 120v, including my impact gun. The only time a tool has shocked me was when I thought a circuit was off (2 circuits in 1 box at a staircase) I was still learning and out of habit I grabbed my demo screwdriver to tighten a terminal and touched the strike on the end with the palm of my hand. After that I immediately went and bought a 3 piece milwaukee insulated hand tool set.
In residential your not likely to get shocked by 240 since most residential applications only use 240v single phase. The 120 in the outlet is half of the leg and shocked you by shorting through you to ground. To actually get shocked by 240v if only 240v single phase is supplied you'd need to be working on the panel live, the HVAC system, electric dryer or oven, or some other power hungry appliance and youd have to touch both of the two hot leads at the same time. If you touch a single hot leg from one of those appliances it'll hurt more as they have higher current breakers and lower voltage drop thanks to larger conductors. Even with 208 and 240 three phase if you only touch one leg it's only 120v. You have to hop up a level to 480v for one leg to be 240v. Worked on an AC that was 480v for the first time a few days ago and reached my hands into the electrical area to check some things before verifying power supplied and took a bit of a step back when my meter read 497 at the terminal lugs. TLDR if you only do residential you probably won't get shocked by 240 stay safe out there
@@jetthardin4927 One leg of 480V is 277V, not 140V.
@@illestofdemall13 my bad only worked around 480 a couple times so Im not super familiar with it. My points still valid tho
@@jetthardin4927 No worries. It is 277V phase to neutral and 277 is often used for commercial/industrial lighting. You definitely need to beware while working on 277/480 if you want to live. Lol
Never felt the need for insulated tools on resi, but definitely will consider if I'm elbow deep inside a 480-600v switchboard
Not for Resi but I dont like to risk it on commercial jobs, 1st one I was on my boss got hung up on a energized T-bar ceiling and I had to kick the ladder out from underneath him. insulated tools would not have have helped the situation but it gave me a healthy respect for the voltage in that environment.
@@tomtom7955 I know the feeling I got hung up in a grid ceiling before was not fun. But was able to move legs so I kicked the latter out from under me. Let the body weight break me off the circuit. Was scraped up a bit a shookin up. Almost switched trades lol but still there brother
In europe, most sparks use insulated 100% of the time even when working on non-live circuits. My cable cutter is the only tool that's just dipped, and it does perfectly fine cutting live 400v wires.
Dustin, 98% blanketed is really high as an estimation. It depends mainly on what area of the industry you might be in. Like industrial and commercial electricians work on live circuits/equipment every day. Residential sparkies, probably not so much. The key I believe is to have the right tools and equipment for the sphere of work/job you're in or might find yourself in. As electricians, "proper tools are more than half the job."
Something that I spotted as a bad habit that you were (probably unintentionally) demonstrating. When you were handling the plier-type tools, you kept putting your index finger over the bump on the handle. Those are supposed to be finger guards to keep your fingers from getting too close to the exposed metal. By putting your index finger over them (on the bare metal side of them) you are violating the air-gap and creepage distance that the bump is supposed to help enforce.
I keep BOTH sets of my insulated hand tools in the large, canvas pouches KLEIN sells - one stays in my toolbox at home in the garage till I NEED to work on something live and the other stays inside of a Milwaukee Packout XL box with my test instruments on my work van. Keeps them CLEAN, DRY and ready to use when it MATTERS. Drives me up the wall when I see co-workers (who are otherwise very intelligent) using something like that double-sided insulated screwdriver to pry and see that they've damaged the insulating jacket of the tool. For HVAC work, especially tightening lugs on contactors, breakers, and other live circuits during maintenances - that double-sided P2/Slotted driver is my go-to. Great for getting to screw on boards while the equipment is running to reduce the risk of causing a short - because basically every RTU or system that we 'inherit' from 'that other company' has been turned into a rat-nest by the time we get called to get it going.
Definitely need for lineman who work live secondary in tight spaces. These situations are not protected by breakers. Would be straight fault current from the tub.
I absolutely love my insulated tools.
Most of the time, I find I need to use insulated tools because of a mistake on someone else's part. As an example, because of a mistake made 30 years earlier, someone attached a temporary new install to the hot side of a service breaker, so when it needed to be disconnected and attached to the proper power service, there was no way to de-energize it.
One time I was in a rush to wire up a recepticle live and was using only my Leatherman, all went well until I had to tighten the hot terminal screws and safety finally prevailed over lasiness
Wear insulated rubber gloves, I have worked on a few circuits live using rubber or leather gloves.
In ireland all we use is insulated tools. Like I've never seen an electrician without insulated screw drivers. And we mostly work on dead circuits too. Pliers snips the lot. The UK is the same I'm sure too
I've always held that working on live circuits should never be "Plan A", but it is the only option some times.
The locking mechanism on that Philips/flathead screwdriver can get kinda loose over time Still an awesome tool - light and versatile
You should check out Matt Risinger of the Build Show Network. He is also in Austin. You guys would make a great match to appear on each other's channels. Keep up the great work!
Cool Video Dustin, The one thing OSHA cant understand, is you can not fault find electrical problems on a dead circuit. But i would never work live. I do not own any klein tools, For my CA electrician apprenticeship, I really invested my money in Fluke 87V meter and Knipex tools, rated at 1KV. The First time I bought professional tools to last.
Irish here, insulated cutters, needle nose and screwdrivers are a basics, most use them as their daily tools. Easy to prove dead in industrial and new builds, but rewire, fault finding, minor works, you can never be sure there is no back feed, alternate supplies, ect.
I was under the impression electrician in the UK and Europe and Australia were required to use insulated tools.
OSHPD work is usually live for maintenance and troubleshooting. Life safety so you cant shut power off. You can isolate your circuit but not completely shut the breaker off.
I think where the bigger argument is is for insulated vs VDE rated insulated. A lot of older electrical tools will have an insulated handle of some degree, but without the VDE rating, generally this means it won't carry the finger guards/flared handle, will only be tested to 1000v AC vs 10000v. For me, as a control panel spark who works live 80% of the time, I carry insulated linemans & diagonal cutters, as I very rarely, if ever, chuck these into an energised circuit, however my needlenoses & my screwdriver it's VDE rated all the way, both of these tools get used in place I don't want to put my fingers, so VDE rating is serious piece of mind.
The old style electricians of fifty or more years ago never used insulated tools. When they had to work something hot they first taped up all the tools they needed so they trusted the insulation that they had freshly put on their tools.
I won’t lie. My Klein journeyman 2000. I use on live ccts . I just check the handles . I tape up the shaft of my drivers and check the handles. I wonder if wire nuts have the same insulation as the Klein 2000s ? Probably same poly
Well I didn’t really have the luxury when I first got started in this trade with affordability with 1000 volt insulated tools to do hot work. All we did was use some heat shrink or double wrap it with super 33.
❤ thanks you
Good vid. Most of my tools are vde as i do fault finding on machines and the are usualy live. Better to be safe than sorry. The price differance is not that much.
For the most part i use non insulated tools but doing demo or service at the minimum insulated screwdrivers are used
Pittsburgh 1000 volt insulated screwdriver set at HarborFreight. $17. The best bang for your buck set. I’m a 24 year electrician and I’ve owned Klein and Greenlee and the Pittsburgh are better at a fraction of the price. Plus , they don’t walk off like Klein and greenlee. Oh and they are magnetized as well.
Can you do a similar vid about ESD tools? Do you ever find a need to use them?
My Klein 2000 series linemans, needle, dykes, etc are all insulated and we work hot often. Turning off power is not an option in many commercial settings.
No matter what you do....safty is #1. I used dipi it on all my electronics tools mini cutters etc... however on big electronics and home electrical equipment and etc I am in the process of purchasing the specialized equipment ppe.
I work with industrial controls. I always try to shut down the cabinet. One thing I can say I haven’t seen anyone mention is the risk of capacitance. Even de-energized, it’s imperative to treat it like it’s live. Shit happens, have your reasonable PPE and be careful.
I knew an old timer in the 80s who used to lick his thumb and index finger and use them as a tester. Getting a good buzz meant something totally different to him.
I have all insulated hand tools but I'm having a hard time finding a tool belt with pouches that accommodate the extra size of these tools, any tool belt recommendations that will fit them?
Your sign language is pretty good. 2.35
I've been an electrician for 30 years (residential only) and never needed insulated tools, other than pliers and large wire cutters when I need to work on an energized service drop from the POCO. I also have a screwdriver that I've wrapped the shaft in electrical tape.
You may want to check workplace safety regs. Canada and the US require use of rated, insulated tools when working on or near live electrical equipment.
I find this such a bizarre idea to not use them, being in the eu market (ROI+UK) we use VDE tools almost exclusively from snips(diagonal cutters) to screwdrivers, it's rare to see someone using non VDE even on tested dead or pre-commission circuits. Personaly wouldn't touch a board without VDE even knowing it's dead. But then again it's all 230v or 400v
I know a guy who touched the main bussing with his bare elbow and survived!! don't mess around with your lives boys. you're heroes risking your lives every day❤️
I always work on live circuits even
In Germany you have to usw insulated Tools while working on electric systems. It does Not matter If there ist no living circle. Our Rules for the work are demanding this.
Very nice tools bro
I only clicked on this video because I have all the Klein drivers/pliers/side cutters in the thumbnail. I’m a mechanical/combustion engineer working in an industrial background, and take my safety very serious. My toolkit is almost exclusively Klein ( which I purchased out of my own money ), if I’m going to work live I want the best kit My screwdrivers ( I have a set like the ones on the left of the screen ) cost me £230 for 5 about 7/8 years ago, 2 x Posi and 3 x flat heads and came with a lifetime guarantee, of which I’ve had 2 replaced - no questions asked. I work with electricians who’s tools I wouldn’t touch with a bargepole, I’ve worked with electricians who work really dangerously, I’ve work with electricians who I’m surprised they haven’t killed anybody. My old supervisor from 15 years ago, a lovely guy but one who was a bugger to cut corners, killed himself in an accident replacing his parents boiler in their house. His elderly dad found his sprawled across the boiler dead. Where I work now, before I joined 5 years ago a guy working on street lighting was killed when there was a mix up cutting power to a streetlight, he was up in a bucket and got a shock and was ‘stuck’ on a live 230v current for 30 minutes with his team of another 3 people stuck on the ground watching. Both these guys left behind young daughters - tragic. I used to work in a factory maintenance team, there was 11000v incoming ( 11 thousand volts ) If I removed anything ( usually our kit was 415v ) I’d isolate locally and lock off, I’d go to the panel and switch off the circuit, and pull the fuses. I’d remove the pump/fan/motor and tape off the connections. Some of my colleagues would just turn off a 415 supply at the local isolator, no locking the isolator off, no taping the ends they’d leave it like that, it would be like that for days, sometimes weeks whilst parts were sourced - frightening. Never leave your safety to chance, never leave your safety to others, check and double check, it may be your last time if you don’t.
When it comes to mag/demag tools, I have not found anything that works as effectively as the Klein mag/demag tool. I’ve tried others, and they do work, they just don’t magnetize/demagnetize as effectively. And the Klein isn’t much more expensive, so don’t waste time with the others, just get the Klein.
Wish and harbor frieght sale insulated toils. I was electronic tech for 44 years. Had to work on gear. Had to work energized even though 120 VAC or low as 5VDc. When I was in Navy they taught that an electrical shock of 30 volts for 1 second has killed people.
Double layer electric tape, and layer some hockey tape to prevent holes /rips/better grip, boom goes the dynamite 😊
YES
There’s no reason not to buy them over non-insulated tools especially if you only can have one set. The cost difference is low(considering the value of your life), You’re set to go if you ever need to work live but regardless, you’ve got that safety buffer in case somehow something is or gets re-energized. When I bought all of my apprentice tools starting out, I got all insulated Klein and Knipex gear. The bonus is that the larger handle grips are extremely comfortable
can you wire a gfi if you have a 3 wire circuit?
Had pair of Klein’s 1000v lineman’s ended up getting a small crack in insulation couldn’t even tell - was hot day sweating my ass off in electric room and workin on 277v - Got shit knocked out of me and linemen’s wound up flying out back door into dumpster
OUCH!!! I got hung up on 277 once years ago. I couldn’t let go. It almost killed me. Luckily most of the current went through my left hand. I had 3 fingers and my thumb wrapped around the spiraled armor of some MC and my pinky contacted the hot terminal of a switch as an apprentice made it hot in the ceiling outside the office I was working in. I was also leaning against a metal modular wall on my right side so some of the current passed through my heart. It’s pretty painful and it feels like it’s happening in slow motion. Like I could almost count the sine waves passing through me
Thought I was the only electrician that pulled the springs out of my wire strippers.
And little ol' Hrbor Freight has one with springs and a lockclose.
Thanks, gef
Good idea too. Side cutters and needle nose .. wire cutters. Cut a hot while touching metal together. The short circuit will vaporize the metal of your pliers at the point of cut. rms..no resistance causes this, blue fireball, metal melts and vaporizes, thousands of amps.
Do those insulated Klein nut drivers have a torque indicator on them? Sure would be handy if they did... Any Kline reps reading this? Sure would be cool if you passed that on to the R&D department.
I cut a 240v (live line not attached to anything, side of house i was on was dead except this line, was removing it) 10-gauge line with my regular kline journey side cutters. I didnt get shocked at all, but i do have a hole the size of a wire on my snips now. Was a little deaf and blinded though. Always wondered why that was, not like im trying to replicate it to find out. Do some tools offer some form of insulation even though they're not rated to do so?
Actually you just shorted the circuit through your cutters, no current went to the part of your cutters where it has insulation. For that to happen you would have to be cutting only one line and short the circuit through your body.
Hey Electrian U does THHN Wire need to be in conduint why and why not?
4:41 He said "Shaft" 🤣