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Machines & equipment
Electrical Contractor Equipment
Cutting, crimping, pulling, bending and testing for electrical installation work.
Overview
What this covers
Installation
Cutting, crimping, pulling, bending.
Testing
Insulation, earth, current, continuity.
Ratings
Test instrument category ratings matter.
Equipment
Machines in this group
Marked by how we normally hold them. Availability is confirmed at quotation.
Cable cutting
Clean cuts in conductors.
Crimping
Terminating cable.
Cable pulling
Getting cable through conduit and trays.
Conduit work
Forming and cutting conduit.
Insulation testing
Testing insulation resistance.
Earth testing
Testing earth electrode resistance.
Current measurement
Measuring load without breaking the circuit.
General measurement
Voltage, continuity and resistance.
Applications
Typical work
- Terminating and crimping cable
- Pulling cable through conduit and trays
- Bending and cutting conduit
- Testing insulation resistance on new installations
- Measuring load current on live circuits
- Fault finding and verification
Who buys these
Trades and teams
Power
Power and drive options
Hand and hydraulic tools need no supply. Battery-powered crimpers exist for larger conductors and suit work where hydraulic hand pumping is impractical.
Test instruments carry safety category ratings for the environments they may be used in. Those ratings are the manufacturer’s and must be read from the datasheet for the specific model. We quote against published specifications and do not make performance claims of our own.
Comparison
How the options compare
| Manual crimper | Hydraulic crimper | |
|---|---|---|
| Conductor size | Smaller | Larger |
| Effort | Hand force | Hydraulic |
| Speed | Fine for occasional use | Faster on repeated large terminations |
| Dies | Size-specific | Size-specific |
| Portability | Very good | Good |
| Availability | Fast-moving | Supplier-confirmed availability |
Choosing
How to choose
- State the conductor sizes. Crimping tools and dies are size-specific. The largest conductor sets the tool.
- For test instruments, state what must be measured. Insulation, earth, current and continuity are different instruments.
- Read the safety category rating. From the manufacturer datasheet, for the environment the instrument will be used in.
- Ask about calibration. Test instruments drift. Whether and how a model can be calibrated affects long-term cost.
- Budget for dies. Crimping dies are bought per size and add up.
Accessories
What goes with it
Accessories
Consumables and wear parts
Safety equipment
Ownership
Maintenance, spares and service
Test instruments should be checked against a known reference periodically, and calibrated where the work requires certified results. An uncalibrated instrument gives confident readings that may be wrong.
Keep crimping dies clean and matched to the terminal. A crimp made with a mismatched die looks acceptable and fails under load.
Price
What affects the price
- Tool or instrument type
- Conductor or conduit size range
- Manual, hydraulic or battery
- Instrument functions and rating
- Brand
- Dies, leads and case included
- Calibration and warranty terms
- Quantity
Availability
What affects availability and lead time
- Cable cutters and hand tools move fastest
- Crimpers, meters and conduit tools available through the supplier network in limited quantity
- Insulation and earth testers are usually sourced on order
- Specific instrument models and ratings need supplier confirmation
Quotation
What to send with an enquiry
- Conductor sizes you terminate
- Conduit sizes you work with
- What the test instrument must measure
- Any standard or certification the work must meet
- Whether calibration is required
- Quantity and preferred brand
Avoid
Common mistakes
- Using a mismatched crimping die
- Buying a test instrument without checking its category rating
- Assuming an instrument is calibrated out of the box
- Ordering a crimper without the dies
Questions
Frequently asked
How do I choose an insulation tester?
Start with what the work requires — test voltages, functions and any standard the results must meet. Then read the manufacturer datasheet for the specific model.
We quote against published manufacturer specifications and do not make independent performance or compliance claims. Confirm the model suits your requirement before ordering.
Manual or hydraulic crimper?
Manual for smaller conductors and occasional work. Hydraulic where conductors are large or terminations are repeated, because hand force becomes the limit.