advanced search

Hand Tools Detect AC Voltage in a Snap

Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Stefanie Kure, Senior Associate Editor

We all realize electricity can be dangerous, but did you know that people have been killed by as little as 100VAC? To help keep electrical workers safe, Milwaukee-based Gardner Bender recently introduced a line of 13 professional-grade hand tools that enable users to detect AC voltage without contacting live wires.

Dubbed “Circuit Alert,” the product line includes three models of wire strippers, pliers, and screwdrivers, plus two work lights, an electrician's knife, and a standalone voltage sensor. Each tool also features an interchangeable snap-in sensor that the company says is ergonomically integrated into its design. For added safety, the sensors include an audible alarm as well as a visual alert.

“Because safety and productivity are key issues in the industry, it made sense to combine some of our professional-grade electricians' tools with a voltage tester,” says Derek Erickson, Gardner Bender product manager, hand tools. “The tools are designed with the user in mind, making electrical work quicker, easier, and safer because users can perform multiple tasks with one tool.”

Constructed of ArmorEdge stainless steel, nick-resistant blades, the wire strippers allow users to strip and loop 10 AWG through 18 AWG solid or stranded cable, crimp terminals, and cut and rethread bolts. Additional features include a knurled plier's nose, looping stations, and dual-grip positions.

Highlights of the pliers, which are available in linesmen, long-nose, and side-cutter styles, include a built-in hammer head surface, terminal crimping station, cross-knurled jaws, diagonal cutting head, and forged steel construction. Featuring an over-molded comfort grip, the pliers can cut wire and cable, crimp terminals, and hammer staples.

“The new work lights include a tripod base and a rotating hang hook to provide illumination in any direction,” says Patrick Radle, new product development leader at Gardner Bender.

Available in 3-in-1, 6-in-1, and 10-in-1 models, the product line's screwdrivers also include an over-molded comfort grip as well as the ability to drive both screws and Hex-Lok connectors.

“The ability to separate the screwdriver's circuit tester combined with the number of tip options, like Phillips, flat and square drive, is really convenient,” says Danny Shaw, owner of Theater and Lighting powered by Shaw, a systems integration company located in Clark, N.J.

According to Gardner Bender, the electrician's knife is the only product currently available to also offer wire stripping and cable ripping.

“Customers have been impressed with the NM cable ripper on the electrician's knife,” confirms Radle. “The knife includes a new way to handle Romex cable preparation by ripping the jacket, cutting off the jacket tail, and stripping the individual connectors.”

An upgrade to an earlier generation of Circuit Alert tools introduced in 2005, Radle says one of the challenges faced in fabricating these products was incorporating the tester into so many different tools while meeting the needs and requests from users, such as a momentary button, a compact design, and consistent detection sensitivity.

“We met that challenge by designing the voltage tester as a detachable module that would fit into a wide variety of tool shapes,” he says.

In addition, the company says the voltage tester filters out unwanted alerts from nearby equipment such as fluorescent lighting and TV screens. It also has a brighter visible alert, and the audible alert is louder.

For Shaw, the tools are all about efficiency and speed. “I've found that when it comes to service calls, the Circuit Alert screwdriver allows me to carry fewer tools, and the attached voltage tester provides improved safety,” he says. “These tools are capable of performing seven or eight additional tasks that a regular tool just can't do.”

Prices for the Circuit Alert line of hand tools range from $11.99 to $23.99.

For more information, visit www.circuitalert.com or www.gardnerbender.com.

Product Specs

Batteries:	CAM-10 Use 2 LR44 button cell batteries
Operating range:	50-600VAC, 50-60 Hz
Voltage indicators:	Audible and visual alert
Operating temperature:	32°F (0°C) to 122°F (50°C)
Storage temperature:	0°F (-18°C) to 156°F (70°C)
Altitude:	Up to 6,561 feet (2,000 meters)

Want to use this article? Click here for options!

© 2012 Penton Business Media, Inc.

---

Acceptable Use Policy blog comments powered by Disqus

Browse Back Issues Select an Issue EC&M Magazine | April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 1, 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 1, 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 1, 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 1, 2006 May 1, 2006 April 2006 March 1, 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 1, 2004 January 1, 2004 December 1, 2003 November 1, 2003 October 1, 2003 September 1, 2003 August 1, 2003 July 1, 2003 June 1, 2003 May 1, 2003 April 1, 2003 March 1, 2003 February 1, 2003 January 1, 2003 December 1, 2002 November 1, 2002 October 1, 2002 September 1, 2002 August 1, 2002 July 1, 2002 June 1, 2002 May 1, 2002 April 1, 2002 March 1, 2002 February 1, 2002 January 1, 2002 December 1, 2001 November 1, 2001 October 1, 2001 September 1, 2001 August 1, 2001 July 1, 2001 June 1, 2001 May 1, 2001 April 1, 2001 March 1, 2001 February 1, 2001 February 1, 1995 January 1, 2001 December 1, 2000 November 1, 2000 October 1, 2000 September 1, 2000 August 1, 2000 July 1, 2000 June 1, 2000 May 1, 2000 April 1, 2000 March 1, 2000 February 1, 2000 January 1, 2000 December 1, 1999 November 1, 1999 October 1, 1999 September 1, 1999 August 1, 1999 July 1, 1999 June 1, 1999 May 1, 1999 April 1, 1999 March 1, 1999 February 1, 1999 January 1, 1999 December 1, 1998 November 1, 1998 October 1, 1998 September 1, 1998 August 1, 1998 July 1, 1998 June 1, 1998 May 1, 1998 April 1, 1998 March 1, 1998 February 1, 1998 January 1, 1998 December 1, 1997 November 1, 1997 December 1, 1996 November 1, 1996 October 1, 1996 September 1, 1996 August 1, 1996 July 1, 1996 June 1, 1996 May 1, 1996 April 1, 1996 March 1, 1996 February 1, 1996 January 1, 1996 December 1, 1995 November 30, 1995 November 1, 1995 October 1, 1995 September 1, 1995 August 1, 1995 July 1, 1995 June 1, 1995 May 1, 1995 April 1, 1995 March 1, 1995

browse e-newsletters