The Tools Needed for the Electrical Wiring of a House

Multi-Meter

• Use a multi-meter to test circuits and wiring for the presence of a current before performing any work. Never work on a live circuit. After installing all wiring and outlets, use the multi-meter to check the voltage at each outlet. Lower than nominal voltage indicates a bad connection that requires immediate attention.

Drill

• Most residential electrical wiring is installed inside the house's walls. The simplest way to route wiring through wall studs is to use a drill with a bit large enough to accommodate the wire or conduit. A drill with a driver bit also speeds up the process of attaching utility boxes and conduit support straps.

Pliers

• Several types of pliers are commonly used in electrical work. Use needle-nose pliers to form hooks on the ends of conducting wires to ease attachment to outlets and light fixtures. Cut wire to the desired length with diagonal or side-cutting pliers. Channel pliers secure larger conduit locking nuts to utility boxes.

Stripping Wires

• A utility knife with replaceable blades removes the wire's outer insulating jacket. Wire strippers with pre-set openings for common wire gauges give clean, straight cuts when removing insulation from individual conductors.

Screwdrivers

• Both Phillips and flathead screwdrivers are necessary to secure terminal connections. Flathead screwdrivers also work as a makeshift pry-bar to make small adjustments in the position of utility boxes.

Conduit Tools

• A hacksaw is necessary to cut conduit sections to the proper length. Use a pipe bender to shape smooth curves in conduit. Bending by hand often causes kinks or narrowing on the conduit's interior, making it difficult to pull wire through the pipe.

Fishing Tape

• In addition to pulling wire through conduit, a fishing tape helps you guide wire through finished walls, ceilings and other structural members that are otherwise inaccessible.

Tape Measure

• A steel tape measure is an indispensable tool for a wiring job. Use it to determine the length of a wire run, position of a utility box and length of conduit sections. Accurate measurements reduce wasted time and materials on any wiring job.

Hammer

• A hammer is required for many tasks associated with wiring. From attaching utility boxes to wall studs to driving staples that secure wiring to inside walls and ceilings, a hammer has a number of uses on a wiring project.