Insulated Tools

Insulated tools are hand tools built and individually proof tested at 10,000V so they can be rated for live working up to 1000V AC. That test, and the IEC 60900 marking that follows it, is the whole difference. A tool with a thick plastic handle and no marking is an ordinary tool with a grip on it.

Everything here is rated for the voltages found in an electric or hybrid vehicle traction system. Insulation is a last line of defence rather than a permission slip: isolate, prove dead, then work. Cable end shrouds and insulating shrouding sit in this category too, because they do the same job the handle on a tool does, which is to put rated insulation between a person and a conductor.

22 products

VDE Insulated Tool Kit 29 Piece, 1/2in Drive

Common questions

What does IEC 60900 mean?

It is the standard insulated hand tools are built and tested to. Each tool is proof tested at 10,000V so it can be rated for live working up to 1000V AC, and it carries the double triangle marking plus the 1000V rating.

Can I use insulated tools that have been dropped?

No. Inspect before every use and take anything with a nick, a split, a burn or exposed metal out of service. The insulation cannot be repaired and a damaged tool is worse than an uninsulated one because it invites confidence.

Do I need a full set or can I buy individual tools?

Buy for the jobs you do. A set is cheaper per tool and covers you for the unexpected, but a workshop that only ever isolates and disconnects needs far less than one doing pack work.