Basic Electrical Tools

To carry out work to domestic electrical circuits and appliances, these are the basic tools required to perform the majority of tasks.

• Click on product description below to purchase the item from screwfix.com, who deliver in 24 hours - hover over the picture for a full description.

Cartridge fuses

To replace blown fuses in square-pinned plugs. Be sure to use the correct fuse for the appliance: 3amp up to 700W, 3amp up to 1200W, 13amp up to 3000W.

3 square-pinned plug

For connecting appliances (other than cookers and electric showers) to a socket.

Wire strippers

For safely removing insulation from cables, flexes and core wires.

Insulated screwdrivers

Specially made to resist electric shocks.

Socket tester

Checks if a mains socket is wired correctly.

Voltage tester

For testing for live circuits, especially useful for lighting circuits.

3 Core flex

For connecting appliances to plugs or fused connection units. Be sure to use the right size flex for the appliance in question. Use 2 core flex only on double insulated appliances, armoured cable for exterior applications and heat resistant cable for installing emersions heaters and such like.

• Electrical cables & flexes

Single core earth cable

For use when earth bonding.

3-core-and-earth cable

For connecting two-way light switches.

2-core-and-earth or twin-and-earth cable

Be sure to use the right size cable when adding spurs to lighting and power circuits.

• Electrical cables & flexes

Further information and useful links

• More tools & materials
• Electrical topics