Electrical Tools
Multimeters, voltage testers, wire strippers, crimping tools, and cable detectors - the electrical safety and testing tools you need when managing first and second fix electrical work.
Cable Detectors: What They Find, What They Miss, and How to Use One Before Drilling
The UK guide to cable detectors. Why wall scanners miss dead circuits and plastic pipes, which walls defeat them, and what to buy from £20 to £120.
Crimping Tools: Why You Need One, What to Buy, and How to Crimp Properly
The UK guide to crimping tools for domestic electrical work. Ratchet vs basic, bootlace ferrule sizes, and what to buy from £6-12.
Inspection Torch: What to Buy for Snagging, Voids and Site Use
Why your phone torch is not enough, what lumens you actually need for a snagging walk, and the honest position on raking-light technique versus NHBC standards.
MCB Lockout Devices: How to Stop a Family Member Switching the Power Back On
The complete UK guide to MCB lockout devices. Why insulating tape fails, how to choose the right device for your consumer unit, and kits from £10 – £15.
Multimeters: What to Buy, How to Use One Safely, and Why CAT Ratings Matter
The UK homeowner's guide to digital multimeters. How to test sockets, check continuity, and avoid unsafe meters. Budget models from £13-30.
Proving Units: The Tester That Tests the Tester (And Why GS38 Doesn't Quite Mandate One)
The complete UK guide to proving units. Models from £84 – £117, GS38 4th Edition rules, and what to expect when your sparky proves a circuit dead.
Safe Isolation and Proving Dead: The Procedure That Stops People Getting Killed
The complete UK guide to safe isolation. Prove-test-prove sequence, MCB lockout devices from £10 – £15, and what your electrician should be doing.
Socket Testers: A Homeowner's Screening Tool, Not a Certification Instrument
The UK guide to plug-in socket testers. What 3-LED testers catch, the N-E reversal they can't, and why a Kewcheck 103 (£18-24) is the right pick for snagging.
Two-Pole Voltage Testers: The Only Tool That Proves a Circuit Dead
The UK guide to GS38-compliant two-pole voltage testers. Models from £49 – £55, the prove-test-prove sequence, and CAT ratings explained.
Voltage Testers: NCV Pens, Two-Pole Testers, and Socket Testers Explained
The complete UK guide to voltage testing tools. NCV pens from £8-13, two-pole testers, socket testers, and why you need more than one.
Wire Strippers: Types, Techniques, and What to Buy for UK Domestic Wiring
The complete UK guide to wire strippers for domestic electrical work. Which type handles your cable size, how to strip without nicking conductors, and what to buy from £6-11.