Hand Tools Detect AC Voltage in a Snap

Tag : Hand Tool Screwdriver

“Because safety and productivity are key issues in theindustry, it made sense to combine some of our professional-gradeelectricians' tools with a voltage tester,” says DerekErickson, Gardner Bender product manager, hand tools. “Thetools are designed with the user in mind, making electrical workquicker, easier, and safer because users can perform multiple taskswith one tool.”
Constructed of ArmorEdge stainless steel, nick-resistant blades,the wire strippers allow users to strip and loop 10 AWG through 18AWG solid or stranded cable, crimp terminals, and cut and rethreadbolts. Additional features include a knurled plier's nose, loopingstations, and dual-grip positions.
Highlights of the pliers, which are available in linesmen,long-nose, and side-cutter styles, include a built-in hammer headsurface, terminal crimping station, cross-knurled jaws, diagonalcutting head, and forged steel construction. Featuring anover-molded comfort grip, the pliers can cut wire and cable, crimpterminals, and hammer staples.
“The new work lights include a tripod base and a rotatinghang hook to provide illumination in any direction,” saysPatrick Radle, new product development leader at Gardner Bender.
Available in 3-in-1, 6-in-1, and 10-in-1 models, the product line'sscrewdrivers also include an over-molded comfort grip as well asthe ability to drive both screws and Hex-Lok connectors.
“The ability to separate the screwdriver's circuit testercombined with the number of tip options, like Phillips, flat andsquare drive, is really convenient,” says Danny Shaw, ownerof Theater and Lighting powered by Shaw, a systems integrationcompany located in Clark, N.J.
According to Gardner Bender, the electrician's knife is the onlyproduct currently available to also offer wire stripping and cableripping.
“Customers have been impressed with the NM cable ripper onthe electrician's knife,” confirms Radle. “The knifeincludes a new way to handle Romex cable preparation by ripping thejacket, cutting off the jacket tail, and stripping the individualconnectors.”
An upgrade to an earlier generation of Circuit Alert toolsintroduced in 2005, Radle says one of the challenges faced infabricating these products was incorporating the tester into somany different tools while meeting the needs and requests fromusers, such as a momentary button, a compact design, and consistentdetection sensitivity.
“We met that challenge by designing the voltage tester as adetachable module that would fit into a wide variety of toolshapes,” he says.
In addition, the company says the voltage tester filters outunwanted alerts from nearby equipment such as fluorescent lightingand TV screens. It also has a brighter visible alert, and theaudible alert is louder.
For Shaw, the tools are all about efficiency and speed. “I'vefound that when it comes to service calls, the Circuit Alertscrewdriver allows me to carry fewer tools, and the attachedvoltage tester provides improved safety,” he says.“These tools are capable of performing seven or eightadditional tasks that a regular tool just can't do.”
Prices for the Circuit Alert line of hand tools range from $11.99to $23.99.