Insulated tools are super important for you to stay alive, but also to prevent that exploded professor haircut… Today we dive into the world of insulated tools. How do insulated tools work? Who needs them? What to look out for and more.
How do Insultated Tools Work?
There are two different sorts of protection offered for people that work with live electrical equipment with insulated hand tools. They first aid in shielding people from arcing and electrical shocks. They also aid in safeguarding the machinery that is undergoing inspection or maintenance. This is significant because, even when working on a piece of equipment that has been de-energized, electricians or other workers are almost certainly close to other powered equipment. If users mistakenly come into touch with an electrified component while utilizing uninsulated hand tools, live voltage may be transmitted via the tool and into the user. This will hurt..
Who needs Insulated Tools?
Of course, not all electricians and/or EV converting mechanics use insulated tools. Anyone who works with or near live equipment must use them.
As a result, you require them for a variety of tasks, including opening and shutting panels, making and breaking electrical contacts, cutting wire, battery maintenance, and installing.
Not forgetting troubleshooting circuit breakers in live electrical panels; and a host of other tasks.
Make sure insulated tools are identified as such and mention the voltage level of protection when choosing them. This can vary quite a bit, and a mistake is easily made.
On insulated sockets, either poly vinyl chloride (PVC) or nylon can be utilized as the plastic coating. The plastic covering frequently consists of two layers, one red and one yellow. As the color of the initial coating will show through if the outer coating is damaged, it serves as a visual cue to the user that the insulated cover may become damaged.
Where do I need to look for?
It’s important to realize that insulated tools aren’t simply standard tools with some extra rubber on the handles or a plain coating on the tool end. To protect workers from electrical shock up to 1000 V ac and 1500 V dc, they are built from end to end.
They offer this defense in a number of ways. The tools must fully comply with ASTM F1505’s requirement that they are di-electric up to 1000 V ac. This means that if the insulation of the instrument comes into touch with voltage up to that point, no part of it will conduct electricity.
The tool’s components must all be flame-resistant and operate between -20 C (-4 F) and 70 C (158 F), including the insulation. Tools like pliers and cutters should have a guard rail. This to order prevent a user’s hand from slipping down to the exposed metal component of the instrument.
How are Insulated Tools Tested?
Insulated sockets are tested for both an AC and DC electrical current to a safe live working current. They are suspended from a metal rail to perform this while partially submerged in a water bath. 10,000 volts are applied to the water in the bath for three minutes during testing to a safe working limit of 1,000 volts. The insulation will not pass the quality control inspection if any electrical current is allowed to reach the metal rail from which the socket is attached.
So, do take a look at the specifications and do not simply something that looks good and is nicely priced. Quality does come with a price here.