ITI Electrician Trade: Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Tools

ITI Electrician Trade

Beginner's Guide to Tools & Equipment

Welcome Future Electricians! Understanding your tools is the first step in your career. This guide covers the names, uses, and safety features of the essential equipment you will use daily in your training.

1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Safety is the first rule. Never work on live circuits without proper protection.

Safety Gloves (Insulated)

• Use: Protects hands from electric shock and burns.
• Key Feature: Must be tested for specific voltage ratings (e.g., 1000V).

Safety Shoes

• Use: Provides ground insulation to prevent shock passing through the body.
• Key Feature: Non-conductive, oil-resistant soles.

2. Essential Hand Tools

Tools you will carry in your belt every day.

Combination Pliers

• Size: 150mm - 200mm
• Use: Gripping, twisting, and cutting soft wires.

⚠ Warning: Check handle insulation before use on live wires.

Side Cutting Pliers

• Size: 150mm
• Use: Cutting copper and aluminium wires close to terminals.

⚠ Don't cut steel wires/nails!

Nose Plier- Long/Needle Nose

• Size: 100mm - 150mm
• Use:Reaching into narrow spaces (like inside switchboards), holding small screws, and shaping wire loops for terminals.

⚠ Don't cut steel wires/nails!

Screwdrivers (Insulated)

• Use: Tightening/loosening terminal screws.
• Key Feature: Insulated shaft prevents accidental shorts.

Hacksaw frame

• Size: 300mm
• Use: Cutting metal objects such as conduit pipes, cable trays, and thick cables. .

Crimping Tool

• Use: Pressing metal lugs onto wires for secure connections.
• Importance: Essential for control panels.

Electrician's Knife

• Use: Skinning large cables and scraping oxidized wires.

Ball Peen Hammer

• Use: General striking, chiseling, and riveting.

3. Measuring & Testing

Precision instruments to see what's happening inside the circuit.

Neon Tester

• Range: Up to 500V AC
• Use: Checks if a "Live" supply is present.

⚠ Do not use as a heavy-duty screwdriver.

Digital Multimeter

• Use: Measures Voltage (V), Current (A), Resistance (Ω), and Continuity.
• Verdict: The most versatile tool.

Digital Clamp Meter

• Use: Measuring high current in running wires.
• How: Clamps around the wire without cutting it.

Non-Contact Voltage Detector

• Use: Detects voltage without touching bare metal.
• Benefit: Safer than a neon tester.

4. Power Tools

Portable Electric Drill

• Use: Drilling holes in walls, wood, or metal for fixing boards.

Angle Grinder

• Use: Cutting metal pipes and cutting channels in walls.

Usefull Resources & Guides:

• ITI Employability Skills Syllabus and Guide
• The Ultimate Guide ITI to Higher Education
• ITI to Indian Navy: Your Complete Guide
• ITI Robotics Trades: Your Gateway to Success
• AI in ITIs: Your Future Ready Skills

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the difference between a Neon Tester and a Multimeter?

A: A Neon Tester only tells you if electricity is present (Yes/No). A Multimeter tells you how much electricity is there (Voltage) and can also measure other things like Current and Resistance.

Q: Can I use regular pliers for electrical work?

A: No. Regular pliers often have thin or damaged handles. Electrician pliers have heavy-duty insulation (often tested to 1000V) to protect you from shock.

Q: What are the first 3 tools I should buy as a student?

A: Start with: 1. Combination Pliers, 2. Neon Tester, 3. Insulated Screwdriver set. These handle 90% of basic tasks.

Q: Why do I need safety shoes?

A: Standard shoes may conduct electricity. Electrical safety shoes have rubber soles that stop current from flowing from a live wire, through your body, and into the ground.