I’ve recently been working on the installation of a solar system, and have found the Klein 1412 Dual NM Cable Stripper/Cutter to be very handy for the electrical work. To begin with, this tool has two stripping slots that quickly remove the outer sheath of 12/2 and 14/2 of Type NM-B (a.k.a. Romex) cable. Then it adds two stripping holes for removing the insulation of 12 and 14 AWG wires. 6-32 and 8-32 screw shearing holes, a thin serrated nose for gripping, bending, and pulling wire, shear-type blades for cutting solid copper wire, and holes for wire looping and bending. To top it off, there are cushion-grip handles, a closure lock, and spring loading so it’s self-opening.

All this can be yours for around $17.

Street Pricing [Google Products]
Klein 1412 Dual Non-Metal Cable Stripper Via Amazon [What’s This?]
Dual NM Cable Stripper/Cutter [Manufacturer's Site]

When I first saw one of the plastic bubble monstrosities required for “in use” receptacle covers, I thought the idea was sound, but the execution awful. Today there are a few more models to choose from and some are even more tasteful, but most of them still stick out of the side of a house like a sore thumb.

That’s where TayMac’s flat in use cover comes in. It’s made from heavy duty polycarbonate and expands from a flush 1″ to 3-1/2″ thanks to its synthetic neoprene rubber accordion-like structure. Supposedly the materials won’t dry rot, crack or deteriorate in sunlight and are paintable.

TayMac calls this box an “in use cover” and says it’s ETL listed, yet they specially don’t mention whether it’s weatherproof or meets the 406.8(B) NEC code; although Ace claims the box is 2008 NEC compliant. So here’s the question: can you actually use this box to meet code? Maybe somebody can straighten me out in the comments.

TayMac’s flat in use cover will run you somewhere around $9. Also, when I was researching this item I found a cool resource where you can download the various building codes by state. Use the last link in the post to visit the site.

Flat In Use Cover [TayMac]
Flat In Use Cover [Ace Hardware]
Public Codes

Chain pliers let you open and close links in chandelier chain without damaging them. Just why would you want to open and close chandelier chain links? To change the length of the chain, of course.

Westinghouse makes the pictured pliers from malleable iron and gives them spring-loaded handles. A pair will cost you anywhere from $10 to $20.

Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

If you’re like us, you’ve probably got three or four cheap-ass AC voltage testers laying around your toolbox(es) waiting for the day you need to change a switch or install an outlet. But think about this for a sec: When you’re going to bet your ass (or hand, as the case may be) on a tool, do you want the $0.50 special or a brand you recognize?

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If there was ever a product crying out to be in the Hot Or Not category, it has to be this one. Lee Valley has 25′ and 50′ versions of this reinforced PVC hose with embedded heating cables that will “keep water flowing in temperatures as low as -42° F (-41° C).” When the temperature drops below 45° F (7° C), a built-in thermostat turns on the heating cables. The hose has a 5-1/2′ grounded power cord at the faucet-connection end, is CUL/UL approved, and also approved by the FDA for use with potable water. The ends have heavy-duty brass couplings and bend restrictors to prevent kinking. The 25′ version, which draws 180W, costs $99, and the 50′ version, which draws 360W, costs $149.

Hmmm, water and electricity in one handy hose. But I suppose if you have to get out and water the snow when it’s below zero, this could be your solution. What do you think?

Heated Hose [Lee Valley]

A cable ripper is a simple tool with one function: removing the outer jacket on ROMEX and other electrical wires. One of Ideal’s versions, the Lil’ Ripper Stripper, incorporates some other commonly-used tools to let you rip, clip, strip, loop, and twist with one tool.

Besides ripping the outer jacket of ROMEX, the tool also clips it. It also can be used to strip insulation from wires, form loops in wires for screw terminals, and get a better grip on wire nuts with wings. The grip is injection molded elastomer and a measurement scale is molded into the side for measuring the correct amount of wire to strip.

You can pick up Ideal’s Lil Ripper Stripper for about $6.

Lil’ Ripper Stripper [Ideal]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Lil’ Ripper Stripper [Sears]

When I first saw this product I immediately thought about the stem lube scam on The Simpsons, but if you think about it, this product might not sound so silly. Have you ever broken a bulb because it was stuck in the socket? Next time you replace it, you could try a product like Bulb EZ to keep the bulb from sticking.

Copperwolf claims that Bulb EZ is non-toxic, non-corrosive, odorless, not silicone based (won’t dry out), and made in the USA. One ounce of Bulb EZ will run you about $4.

Bulb EZ [Corporate Site]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

Whether it’s labeled as Klutch (Northern Tool), Commercial Electric (Home Depot), or some other house brand, this electrician’s multi-tool has an aluminum handle with a non-slip grip and several stainless steel tools including:

• 10-20 gauge wire strippers
• Pliers
• Knife
• Wire hook
• Philips screwdriver
• Large slotted driver
• Small slotted driver
• Saw
• Cable splicing blade
• File

The multi-tool comes with the obvious disclaimer to not use the tool on live circuits because it’s not insulated — if you couldn’t figure that out for yourself, somebody should probably come take your tools away.

The Electrician’s Multi-Tool includes a belt pouch and runs $19 at Northern Tool. You might be able to find it for less at your local big box, though.

Electrical Multi-Tool [Northern Tool]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

A few months ago I was up in the attic using a trouble light to find my way around. I dropped the light, broke the bulb filament, and was left in the dark to feel my way back to the hatch. Next time I went up I brought a flashlight with me so when I dropped the trouble light for the second time I could actually see. After that experience, I asked for an LED trouble light for Christmas.

Of course, if I wasn’t such an idiot I would have been using a rough service bulb instead of a normal household bulb in the trouble light. A rough service light bulb has a shock-resistant filament so it doesn’t break when you drop it, and usually some sort of coating to contain the glass if it breaks.  Several manufacturers including Sylvania, GE, Feit, Philips, and Westinghouse make rough service bulbs that fit a medium screw base — think normal light socket — in a variety of wattages.

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When I first ran across Black & Decker’s SPT100 powered multi-tool I thought it was some sort of joke.  After Googling it I discovered multiple retailers sell it, yet Blac & Decker seems to disown it — there’s no reference to it on their website. Maybe they didn’t want Stanley to see it.

Designed as an “all-in-one” wiring tool, it strives to replace a powered screwdriver, LED flashlight, live-wire detector, needle-nose pliers, cable ripper, wire cutters, and wire stripper with one awkward tool.

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Wiha recently introduced their line of insulated Inomic Pliers and Cutters. The supposed ergonomic design resembles the pistol grip of the Grip-On ErgoGrip locking pliers we previously covered. The “optimal” 23° offset design supposedly reduces hand fatigue and injury risk because the pistol-style grip is a more “natural” alignment for your wrist.

The 23° offset confused me for a minute until I realized that for some reason they measured angle of the heads from a line perpendicular to the handle, rather than from where the heads should be — parallel to the handle.

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Buy.com has the Philips PowerSquid on sale for $6.99 with free shipping (as long as you remember to click that option during checkout). This five-outlet PowerSquid (model SPS1596WA/17) has five separate outlet cords (making it easy to plug in wall-warts), a 15A circuit breaker, a master on/off switch, and a power-indicator light. Note that it does NOT have surge protection. TM had a post on PowerSquids almost three years ago (TM 1/24/07 for more info).

Philips PowerSquid [Buy.com]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
SPS1596WA/17 [Manufacturer's Site]

Following up on RotoZip stuff (TM 11/30/09), I found a link to CUTzOUT installation templates, which work with all brands of spiral saws and rotary tools. The above picture shows uses for the CUTzOUT Universal Single Gang Template, which costs $12.99, or $21.98 in a package with the SAWzBASE that attaches to the guide foot on most spiral saws and rotary tools to provide more stability and control. Other available templates include Universal Double Gang, Universal 4″ Round Box, Universal 4″ Square Box, STRAITCUTz, CIRCLEz, and more. The templates are ¼” thick ABS, and you can use them for “all remodeling, renovation, retrofit, and new construction projects to cut holes in drywall, paneling, plywood, ceiling tiles, OSB, SIPs, and all kinds of other materials.” They also make an ADAPTA-BASE — and apparently the shift key is stuck on their product-naming computer — that works “as both a cutting base and as a router base.” It allows working with the same guide bushings used on full-sized routers.

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Surfing through Amazon I came upon their selection of outlet extenders, power strips, and surge protectors. Some of the designs caught my eye and left me wondering what other odd-shaped monstrosities there were out there.

This Westinghouse Portable Charging Station seems like a good idea, although we’re not sure why it has only one outlet and two USB ports? This Westinghouse 5-outlet strip seems like a solution in search of a problem — while it fits in a corner, we’re not sure if it’s a great improvement over a standard power strip. A lovely 3-outlet wall tap [What’s This?]looks like something from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation — perfect for overloading your circuits.

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Part of the fun of doing TM posts is the discovery of tools I’d never seen or used. The Ideal 9-in-1 Ratch-A-Nut Screwdriver is one such beast. It’s a ratcheting screwdriver with 1/4″ and 3/16″ slotted bits, #1 and #2 Phillips bits, 1/4″, 5/16″, and 7/16″ nutdrivers on one end, plus a ratcheting wire nut wrench on the back end that can handle a variety of wire connectors. The typical price runs around $19, but True Value has it for a bit over $9.

Ratch-A-Nut [Manufacturer's Site]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Ratch-A-Nut Via Amazon [What’s This?]

High-voltage gloves are normally reserved for linesmen, ballsy sons-of-guns who service powerful electrical systems. They’re designed to prevent all but the highest voltages from causing any trouble, usually insulating up to 10kV. With high-power electronics creeping closer every day (hybrid vehicles, anyone?), mechanics will likely find themselves faced with a dangerous system at some point. Salisbury (manufactured by Honeywell) is the gold standard, manufacturing gloves in many sizes for five different voltage levels.

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We previously covered Trend’s Routabout jig for cutting replaceable access hole covers, but recently they revealed a new system that looks much simpler to use because it utilizes a 1/2″ drill instead of a router. You simply drill a 102mm (4″) hole into 18mm (.0708″) or 22mm (7/8″) chipboard, plywood, OSB, or plasterboard and cover it with either a metal or mesh plate.

The Cavity Access System comes with a 102mm hole saw with a heavy duty arbor and pilot drill, a 120mm (4-3/4″) rebate cutter for cutting the cover plate recess, five steel covers, and a waste removal tool all packaged in a plastic case. The system will run you 65 pounds or about $105, not including shipping and taxes.

Cavity Access System [TRT]
Cavity Access System [Miles Tool & Machinery]