⚡️LIVE WORKING⚡️ - DO ELECTRICIAN'S NEED TO USE INSULATED TOOLS?
Almost every electrician's tool is available as an insulated version from screwdrivers and side cutters to hacksaws and socket sets.
Do you really need them? - Joe Robinson takes a look at the Electricity at Work Act and insulated tools.
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What I tell my apprentices: "We use insulated tools exclusively for the same reason we confirm isolation after locking off. Because 'I thought it wasn't live' makes for a crappy tombstone."
I personally never trust anything to be dead just because I’m paranoid, so I just use insulated tools. Saves carrying 2 sets of tools as well. Some are for special occasions though, like my insulated spanners that only gets used on battery banks etc, since all my other spanner-work is almost always non-electrical, or just bonding for example.
Wise words 👍
I tend to always use the insulated tools because then I'm familiar with the feel and handling of them, plus there's less temptation to pick up the wrong tool when working live.
Fair point. 👍
Look at it like a seat belt... for the vast majority of the time you'll be fine driving about not wearing one but that one time you do need it you'll be bloody glad you put it on!
Great metaphor thanks. 😊
I can never trust a terminal is dead, I should get some insulated Allan keys as I hate sticking the bare metal ones in to mccb breakers even when I've checked and double checked it's dead.
I would say if you have them you might as well use them not only are they good quality tools built to a high standard it also looks more professional from the clients perspective. Above all that I enjoy and take pride in using the best quality tools that are available for me to use 😁
Electricians should use insulated tools all the time. Apart from 1st fix work. We all make mistakes and having insulated screwdrivers and cutters keeps us alive.
I use mine on 1st fix just use to taking them if they become damaged buy new ones
I always use insulated tools but my biggest bug bear is when someone think the insulated screwdriver is a chisel 😡
Or paint 🎨 stirrer
Yep my family know not to use any red/yellow tools with great care do not use them for any task not designed on pain of death
I was working with a sparky last week (on a disconnected DB) who broke a large flat blade insulated Wiha on a 415v breaker. He then asked me for my non insulated full tang stanley. So yeah horses for courses.
I worked live quite a few times. , These have been in factories, commercial premises, hospitals and care homes, or in domistic properties were there is a person that has medical equipment ,. A car factory such as Fords .is not going to let you shut down productions as a cost of several million of pounds per hour because you need to connect a new 3 phase board in a live busbar panel . I've had to install sockets into a computer room working live , as major builders merchant need there computers to have 24 hours contact with all there outlets . I have changed lights in hospital wards working live , so yes there many places were you have to work live . Your not just working with insulated tools but there PPE such as flash guards , insulated gauntlets. Also the DNO guys in the streets work live. I was privilege a few months ago where DNO sparkies allowed me to watch them change a transformer live , and no one in the area knew the transformer was changed , they did by connecting a temporary transformer in parallel with the old transformers. It's one of the joys of being a sparks is working live
Thanks for the comprehensive comment.
I have started building lifepo4 batteries. Using insulated tool is a life saver because dc batteries never die :D. It is not because it is to save me, but more along the lines to save the expensive equipment that goes around setting up a battery box. Don't want to accidentally short out the bms, shunt, inverter because I was too lazy to put the tool 20 cm further away.
I find that good quality insulated tools just feel better in the hand and, should there ever be an issue there is that added protection. I still have a lovely set of Britool insulated spanners originally issued by one of the electricity distribution companies. They are a treat to use.
Sounds like good quality stuff. 👍
Like you said Joe mistakes happen and I would rather have that extra protection in my hand than not. It's your life or having to pay £30 on a new pair of cutters. Just makes sense to have VDE tool at all times.
£30 cutters - treating yourself 😂
@@efixx or insulation tape on my nans scissors. What ever I can afford at the time 😄
Insulated tools are in themselves more expensive, I personally agree that they are used when the occasion warrants it
"YOU CAN'T TURN IT OFF!" I have had this said to me many many times, and I always say " yes you can, watch." as I turn off the isolator and put a lock on it. Then a caution is issued, something like " Touch that switch while I am working and you will leave here in a pine box". said in a brusk manner, you get the picture
😆😂🤣
You raise an interesting point about not using insulated tools during first fix as you want them to be kept 'working' for when the electrics are more likely to be live. This suggests that VDE tools could fail to insulate if damaged - so the question is whether there is any recommended 'regular' testing of VDE tools required (or even possible)?
Always use insulated, been in too many places where the wiring is a mess and there’s never a guarantee something isn’t live somewhere (following lockoffs and testing for lives, I still use insulated as it’s just another level of safety). Also does an insulated Wera set really cost that much more than a non-insulated one?
Your work is beautiful and useful
Why carry 2 sets of tools about? Yeah if you wear out the insulated one quicker you have to buy another but this is no different than having to buy two in the first place.
Use rubber gloves or heat shrink your standard tool shafts.
It really depends on the electrician. While I do agree that absolutely every electrician should have at least a couple of screwdrivers, one or two pliers and cutters, the vast majority of the electricians rarely works on live wires. Some people are saying - ''yeah but what if someone accidentally turns the power on'', well in that case, it's still a huge gamble, because you still wouldn't know that and you still can touch something with a bare hand. The best way to be 100% sure that nothing will go wrong is to first make sure that what you is completely off by first turning the power off and then use your multimeter/clamp meter to confirm that. The second thing is to either lock the electric box with a padlock or insist that someone from your team should stay near the electric box and warn others not to touch it. I've talked to many master electricians and none of them ever had an issue by following these procedures. I also use both insulated and regular tools, because not not every electrician tool can be insulated and I find some of them practically useless. I also find them way more fragile and prone to damage than regular tools and they are also way more expensive. So, if I go to a building that doesn't even have cables on it, I most certainly don't need any of my insulated tools, but for any maintenance, repair or whatever, I will always bring the ones I need and use the most, but it really depends on the situation and the task at hand.
my question to you is will adding electrical tape when possible to my electrician screw driver if possible add addtional protection? thoughts please thank you.
I use the Costco assembly gloves for my working day.Have worked live only when absolutely necessary and not had a problem.only take them off to put DB stickers on😊
Good to know!
Tbh I always use insulated 1. I don't want to absent mindedly use non insulated on live stuff 2. A good non insulated driver cost about the same as insulated. 3. I'm a creature of habit, if I like a tool. I would always use that one, even if I had 100 others.
All good points. 😊
I would suggest There is a valid reason to work live during testing to check the tightness of the tails that are sealed by the cut out during that part of the test that asks are all connections in the consumer unit secure/tight . Otherwise only specialty trained persons with all relevant equipment
Had to work live so meany times were power could not go off. As was doing a out side light I asked them to switch off all 6A MCBs but no they left one on. The hall light was still on so put leader on wood pallet used my insulated tools all OK no bangs no shocks only shock was were my envelope of cash was to be. It was not there.
Good video i always use vde stuff just feels wrong not too
Yes, as a trained and qualified electrician not every time in every case can you just isolate and work away. I always use insulated VDE tools, do you need to? Not always but I'm used to it and I believe most sparks do apart from our USA Brothers and sisters
Hank & Chuck don’t seem to ever use insulated tools. - 120 VAC ???
@@efixx ever, they say when I've asked, they're too expensive
@@9plusinstalaciones Which is true, there they are much more expensive than they're here in Europe. And they're usually much bulkier than their European counterparts. That's the reason Klein introduced their EINS series tools: kzhead.info/sun/lc6Rkr6DnH6uinA/bejne.html The insulation test in the water basin is standard, every single tool must go through this according to the IEC 60900 (or their localized regulation like the DIN or BS EN 60900). For the other tests (impact, fire test, pull off handle), which are destructive, a few examples from every batch must be tested that way.
Excellent video Joe , That explains and answers a question I have asked many times, why American sparks don’t use insulated screwdrivers? Brilliant video as always Joe 👍👍👍👍👍👍❤️⚡️
Well they are yanks after all 🤣🤣🤣
There hard as nails 🤣
120v is but a mere tickle, that's why
Not true many are switching over to insulated tools here in the USA as well.
I thought UK electricians used VDE tools all the time for insurance purposes. In the US rarely will you see electricians using VDE tools on 240V or less but more of us are carrying them around.
It's an occupational hazard working live, something we all have to do, only time I use non insulated tools is when I am too lazy to get a chisel and use a screwdriver instead😂
It is a good habit when working on any circuit as it is live (do not touch bare wires ad use always insulated tools). If the tool is damaged or wore out just replace it is not a brainer 🙄. If your life depends on it who would be cheap on it.
Yeah I think you get in to the way of buying insulated tools like others have said you get used to the feel of how the tools feel in your hand till its feels second nature to work with them some like small snips I've always used the 200mm ck red line pliers/snips then if something dose go wrong you have pice of mind it should lesson any potential risk
That's a good point actually. 👍
You hands gets use to use certain tools and in this case it’s insulated tools. Even two similar. Cordless or screw drivers with your close eyes you can feel which it your
Just the other day i had to replace a live fire alarm panel because noone marked the breaker in a commercial mall space. Told my apprentice to find an insulated slotted crewdriver small enough for the terminals. A couple years ago electricity made it through my screwdriver, into me, and out through the weatherproof metal enclosure. Hurt. Wont do it again
I have mistakenly worked live before on a circuit that I thought was off, my tool said nothing coming through and touched it got a shock then went to turn off the entire box as didn’t know which circuit was coming through… training is fun.. insulated tool saved me
Glad it did matey! 😊
Learning how to test for dead is far more valuable 🙄
I always use my VDE no matter what, I've cut a live wire onces ny mistake by god it did make me jump 😳
It would definitely do that!
Work on batteries. And large chain batteries like 220VDC. Try and isolate that
An insulated tool is not a substitute for brains, but I would rather work with insulated tools any time there is a risk of live conductors.
I just use mine every time. Interesting though
I always use my wera kraftform insulated screwdrivers, and rubber insulated gloves if in a CU or anything that could potentially become live. You only have one life... Don't blow it on a crappy screw driver eh? 😉👍
👍
#nice
Hands up who uses bahco 180mm pianos 😄
Do you need to? No. Is it a good idea? Absolutely. The bare minimum PPE is not the level of PPE that you should actually be using, assuming you enjoy not being in hospital!
insulated. Always insulated.
Had to work live many occasions ,use appropriate tools for the occasion, if possible place a barrier between you and exposed parts .
And don’t let people sneak up behind you an drop things on the floor!
@@efixx I've got my lucky brown trousers on for these occasions!
Working live ( and me being aware of it ) on single phase i use normal tools no problem as long as I have my shoes on.. I’ll even grab the phase wire bare copper like that.. three phase is more serious, always insulated tools or dead circuit..
Would you consider covering cable spiking in a video
Do. Not work live, as even if you did and meet the requirements, if someone gets shocked and dies the court and prosecutor will pull out another reg in that blue book to put you in jail.
A lot of people tend to blindly say that you should never work live; in reality that ideal world scenario isn't always possible. Battery power is becoming ever more common (UPS systems, EV/Hybrid vehicles for example) - batteries are never not live... 433.3.3 permits some safety-critical systems to be used without overload protection where nuisance / inadvertent tripping could result in some other risks (fire / gas detection and magnetic lifting are covered under this) - which would imply these are likely to be live. There's quite a lot that comes into play when working live (including safe work practices), and not just tools (anyone else taught to test with one hand in their pocket?) Fluke used to publish some handy Application Notes on their website covering different things.
Great advice and the fluke application notes sound really useful 👍
Be Safe . Sensible . Use them you paid enough lol 🤣 But be Safe . Lock off CU if on site etc . Great channel Joe and g&g .
Thanks very much!
I'll never not use insulated drivers. It's all I have and all I'll use.
Good policy. 👍
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And left the fuse behind ⚡️