Electrical Tools

What are electrical tools?

Electrical tools are tools used to work on an electrical system. These can include a wide range of tools such as wire and cable cutters, wire strippers, coaxial compression tools, telephony tools, wire cutter/strippers, cable tie tools, accessories, and even more. You need the right tools for many types of crimp connectors. We all know that the right tool can make all the difference when it comes to completing a project. They make the difference between done and done right. The bottom line is, the better the tool, the better the outcome. We stock the best brand electrical tools in the industry at the best prices. This way you can get to work and get the job done correctly. The first step in determining the electrical tools you will need is to determine what task needs to be completed. Not every job will require specialty tools but using the right tool for the job will make all the difference. Take a look below to find out the basic types of electrical tools we carry and learn more about tools every electrician should have.

"Not every job will require specialty tools but using the right tool for the job will make all the difference."

Where are these products implemented?

Pacer carries all the tools you'll need

Electrical tools are implemented in just about every electrical application. They are used to perform a whole range of capabilities you could not achieve otherwise. Say you need to crimp various electrical connector types, then these tools are the perfect place to start. Available in multiple formats, electrical tools are ideal for new installations as well as when replacing or maintaining parts. Say you have chipped electrical tools or damaged wire strippers, then these are the perfect replacement tools. All you will need are the proper terminals, electrical parts, and wire. Now that we have covered where electrical tools are implemented, let us consider how to know which electrical tools you'll need.

How do I know what electrical tools I need?

Cut/Strip Tools

Crimp Tools

Specialty Tools

Tool Accessories

In order to know the tool required for a project, you first need to define the task to be completed. All our electrical tools can be divided into one of four categories based around the tasks they handle. These categories can then be broken down into further sub-categories but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. These are the tools every electrician should have. Cut/strip tools are designed to effectively and efficiently handle wire and cable. Some are designed just to cleanly cut the wire or cable without damaging the conductors. Others are made specifically to remove the outer insulation giving you access to the internal conductors. Others still are built to do both. We even carry Klein electrical tools designed for specific purposes. We will take a closer look at all these later on. Crimp tools are built to give the optimal crimp. When working with crimp connectors or other types of electrical wire connectors, use the proper tool. They are usually made with a specific terminal or set of terminals in mind. Each type of connector needs an exact amount of pressure to get the perfect crimp. Too much and you damage the terminal and conductor. Too little and the connection is too weak. That is why it is important to get the correct crimper for the job. Specialty tools are designed for highly specific tasks, these can include things like clamp meters, multimeters, circuit testers, fish tape, and other highly specified items. Basically, if it isn’t an easily defined tool and has a specific use, it’s a specialty tool. Accessories are things that enhance the functionality or life of a tool or product. These are things that will add to an existing tool giving it more abilities and in turn more usefulness. Accessories are something people tend to make the mistake of overlooking. Don’t make that mistake. If you can improve the quality of your electrical tools or their output, then you should.

What type of cutter or stripper do I want to use?

To determine the right kind of cutter or stripper you want to use, start by looking at the gauge of wire or cable you’re working with. Thicker wire and cable will require different electrical tools than smaller gauges will. If you’re wanting to cut wire or cable, use a cutter. If you want to strip them, use a stripper. If you need to do both, use a cutter/stripper. Seems straight forward, right? There’s a little more to it.

Wire and Cable Cutter

The first thing to decide is what size wire or cable are you working with. Many electrical tools are designed with twenty-two-gauge (22AWG) to eight-gauge (8AWG) wire whereas others are designed to work with one aught (1/0AWG) to four aught (4/0) cable. Some Klein electrical tools we carry are designed to handle copper paired telephone cable, however, that tool may not offer the same benefits as some of the others. Once you have a wire size in mind, you need to decide whether you want to use manual cutting force or ratcheting action. Obviously, ratcheting action takes the effort and strain out of cutting the cable, however, the trade off is that ratcheting tools tend to cost a little more than manual force tools.

Wire and Cable Stripper

Same as above, the first step is to determine the gauge you will be working with, but this category has a twist. You also need to be aware of the type of cable you’ll be stripping. Whereas cutting is straight forward, stripping may require certain electrical tools depending on whether the cable is flat or round. Round cable can be easily stripped using slit tools which cut down on the time and effort involved in the insulation removal. If you intend to strip coaxial cable, we offer unique tools designed to strip coaxial cable efficiently without damaging any of the internal conductors. Make sure to choose electrical tools that are designed for use with the cable you’re working with.

Wire Cutters/Strippers

This type of tool is designed for use with smaller gauge wires and often comes packed with extra uses. For example, all our cutter/stripper tools are manufactured in such a way so that the tip can be used as needle nose pliers. Cutter/strippers are built to work with twenty-four gauge (24AWG) to eight gauge (8AWG) wire and cable depending on the style you choose. One advantage of this type of tool is that they are small enough to fit comfortably into your pocket making them perfect tools every electrician should have. You can’t say that about a lot of tools. These cutter/strippers are built to cut the wire using sharp wear resistant blades, then strip that same wire using properly sized teeth. This way you get a clean cut and strip without any unnecessary damage to your conductors.

When choosing electrical tools, do I want a ratcheting cutter or standard cutter?

Whether you want a ratcheting cable cutter or a standard cable cutter most likely will boil down to the gauge of cable you plan to cut. If, for example, you are only going to be cutting 22-gauge marine wire to 6-gauge battery cable then the standard cable cutter is perfect for your needs. If, however, you plan, at any point, to cut cable larger than 1/0 aught, then we highly recommend using a ratcheting cable cutter. The ratcheting action reduces the required effort and makes cutting the cable much easier.

How do I know which crimper to choose?

Choosing the right crimper is something that tends to confuse even seasoned veterans. Basically, you only need to consider three things. The size of the terminal and wire, the type of insulation that it carries, and if the terminal is to be crimped requires a specialized tool. If you choose the wrong crimper, you will end up incorrectly crimping a terminal to a wire end which can inadvertently affect your entire electrical system. This is why we carry the best brand of electrical tools every electrician should have. Whether you need wire connectors or another type of electrical connectors, we have you covered. Take a look below and see how we cover some of the basic differences between types of crimpers.

Wire and Cable Crimpers

This type of tool comes in a range of sizes depending on the gauge of terminal and wire or cable you’re working with. Some are made for smaller gauge wires while others are made to work with large size lugs and cable. With heat shrink terminals offering the best protection, you’d be smart to invest in electrical tools that can handle them. We know how important getting the correct crimp on different types of insulation is which is why we carry crimpers with interchangeable die sets. This way you can get the crimp you need regardless of the size or style of terminal.

Deutsch Crimpers

Deutsch is known for its environmentally sealed connectors. In order to create the most efficient type of connector they could, they had to incorporate their own style of terminal. As such, they had to create specific electrical tools to work with these terminals. This is what I meant when I said certain crimps require specialized tools. You literally cannot work on Deutsch connectors properly without the right tool. It’s just not worth the risk it poses to your entire electrical system.

Delphi Crimpers

Delphi connectors and terminals are known primarily for their use in the automotive industry, but they can be found in use in a variety of environments. They are commonly used where harsh conditions such as high heat may be present. Just as with Deutsch, Delphi constructed their own connectors, terminals, and electrical tools. In order to use them effectively, one must use the proper tools that are built to work with their terminals and connectors. Again, using the wrong tool can lead to an unintentional weak point in an electrical system.

"Just as with Deutsch, Delphi constructed their own connectors, terminals, and tools."

What are specialty electrical tools?

Specialty tools are designed for a very specific purpose. Tools that are able to perform tasks that other tools cannot achieve. This includes things like heat tools and compression tools. Usually, people know what they’re looking for when it comes to specialty tools. You know if you’re going to need a heat tool or stainless-steel cable tie tension tool. When you have a task that other tools aren’t designed for, you turn to specialty tools.

Heat Tools
This type of tool is extremely versatile. They can be used on things like activating heat shrink, drying, curing, stripping paint, bending or forming plastics, and even soldering. These electrical tools are advantageous due to their wide range of uses. Often times, they are so useful, companies will purchase several from us so that they can handle multiple tasks at once.

Cable Tie Tools
Cable ties are an everyday product that are very common in our daily lives. While you can use some of them with your bare hands, to get the most out of cable ties, you need the proper tools. When you’re using screw-down mounts or a similar type of cable tie, getting the right amount of tension is crucial. Too little and it won’t hold securely, too much and it damages the contents or breaks altogether.

Telephony & Coaxial Tools
Category cable and coaxial cable both require specific connectors in order to properly connect to equipment. Often times, those connectors are not easy to install. This is why you want to use telephony and coaxial tools. You need to get the correct amount of pressure in order to ensure optimal connections and you won’t get that without the proper electrical tools.

Specialty Tools
These are the specified electrical tools that aren’t as easily categorized as the ones above. Here you’ll find clamp meters, multimeters, fish tape, circuit tester, and the like. These are electrical tools that offer an invaluable service and a unique function. Specialty tools are where you’ll find the tools you have trouble getting elsewhere.

What kinds of accessories do we offer?

As we said above, accessories add extra functionality or even extended life to other products. This is why they are tools every electrician should have. Remember we mentioned changing out die sets in order to be able to crimp as many connectors as possible? This is where you’ll find those die sets. Accessories are an added way to simply get more out of products you already own. Why settle for using your heat tool for only soldering when it can do so much more.

Crimper Accessories
These die sets allow you to get the most out of your crimper. You can crimp just about anything with the right combinations of die sets. This way you can find the one you want and add it to your tool. Now your electrical tools can offer that much more functionality. With even more die sets, eventually you’ll build an unstoppable crimper that can handle just about any task regardless of the crimps involved.

Ultratorch Accessories
Heat tools offer a range of uses, but only if you use them properly. In order to do that, you need the proper attachments. We offer a range of attachments designed to handle everything from soldering to activating heat shrink more effectively. With such a range of attachments, you’re sure to find the piece you need in order to complete the task at hand.

What size wire and cable are these tools good for?

Every tool is designed to handle a specific task. Although many electrical tools can handle a range of gauge sizes, very few can do more than a handful. Take a look at the tables below to find out what gauges our tools are designed to work with.

Wire & Cable Crimpers
Product Sku	Wire Gauge
VTK092SPGL	Eight Gauge - Four Aught (8AWG - 4/0AWG)
VT0280C	Eight Gauge - One Aught (8AWG - 1/0AWG)
VTK05-SYNCRO	Eight Gauge - One Aught (8AWG - 1/0AWG)
VT0280	Six Gauge - Four Aught (6AWG - 4/0AWG)
VT30-500	Twenty-Two Gauge - Ten Gauge (22AWG - 10AWG)
VT30-506	Variable
VTR-490	Twenty-Two Gauge - Ten Gauge (22AWG - 10AWG)
VTTR50	Twenty-Two Gauge - Eight Gauge (22AWG - 8AWG)
VT1007	Twenty-Two Gauge - Ten Gauge (22AWG - 10AWG)
VT3120CT	Twenty-Two Gauge - Ten Gauge (22AWG - 10AWG)
VTCL-4080	R/A, F, & RCA Connectors

Wire & Cable Cutters
Product Sku	Wire Gauge
VT1000	Twenty-Four Gauge - Eight Gauge (24AWG - 8AWG)
VT1010	Twenty-Two Gauge - Ten Gauge (22AWG - 10AWG)
VT63060	Variable
VT35-053	Variable
VT63055	Variable
VT63050	Twenty-Two Gauge - Two Aught (22AWG - 2/0AWG)

Wire Strippers
Product Sku	Wire Gauge
VT45-292	Twenty-Two Gauge - Ten Gauge (22AWG - 10AWG)
VT45-265	RG59, RG59U
VT45-262	RG6, RG6U
VT45-144	Variable
VT45-128	Variable
VT45-605	UTP, RG59, RG6

Wire Stripper/Cutters
Product Sku	Wire Gauge
VT45-121	Twenty-Six Gauge - Sixteen Gauge (26AWG - 16AWG)
VT45-124	Stranded = Twenty Gauge - Twelve Gauge (20AWG - 12AWG) Solid = Ten Gauge - Eight Gauge (10AWG - 8AWG)

Deutsch Tools
Product Sku	Wire Gauge
Contact Removal Tools	Twenty-Four Gauge - Four Gauge (24AWG - 4AWG)
VT-HDT-1561	Twenty-Four Gauge - Twelve Gauge (24AWG - 12AWG)
VT-HDT-48	Twenty-Four Gauge - Twelve Gauge (24AWG - 12AWG)
VT-DT/RT	N/A

Delphi Tools
Product Sku	Wire Gauge
VT12155975	Twenty Gauge - Fourteen Gauge (20AWG - 14AWG)
VT12014254	Twenty Gauge - Fourteen Gauge (20AWG - 14AWG)
VT12014012	Twenty-Two Gauge - Ten Gauge (22AWG - 10AWG)

Heat Tools
Product Sku	High Temp. Range
VHG-301A	300 - 500 °F, 150 - 260 °C
VPROHEAT	1000 °F /540 °C
VMICROTORCH	2500 °F/1300 °C
VMT-76	932 °F/500 °C
VMT-4F	1300 °F - 704 °C
VUT40SI	1202 °F - 650 °C
VUT100SI	1202 °F - 650 °C
VUT100SIK	1202 °F - 650 °C

Coaxial & Telephony Tools
Product Sku	Connector Type
VTCL-4080	R/A, F, and RCA
VT30-496	RJ11, RJ12, RJ14, and RJ45

Specialty Tools
Product Sku	Max Range
VT61-775	AC/DC 1000A
VT61-746	600 AAC
VT-8110	AC/DC 600V - 400A
VT61-484	AC/DC 1000V - 10A
VT61-051	125 VAC
VT61-063	40 - 600 VAC
VT31-066	-
VT31-067	-
VT-PZUS	-
VT-PZU35	-

What industries use Pacer’s electrical tools?

You can find Pacer’s electrical tools in a large number of industries all across the globe. Industries such as marine, aviation, industrial equipment, solar, database, power management, automotive, communications, the list goes on. Basically, you can find our tools in any industry that deals directly with electrical connections in any capacity. Pacer is a trusted source of high-quality electrical tools and provides electrical tools to marinas, repair shops, dealerships, and even private garages. These are the tools that many boaters chose to keep onboard their vessels in case of emergencies. That alone is a sign of how trustworthy our electrical tools are.

Why choose Pacer?

We have spent decades perfecting our products and processes in order to produce the most efficient products available. Some of the world’s largest boat builders turn to us in their time of need and for good reason. We have built a solid reputation as an industry leader and a name you can trust. All our electrical tools have undergone rigorous testing in order to ensure that they can handle repeated use in tough conditions. We don’t sell wimpy tools. We deal with tools as tough as the jobs they handle. We carry the best brand of electrical tools every electrician should have. That way, when you use our tools, you can feel confident knowing the tool is going to perform just as you need it to.

*This page was updated on 2/08/2023*

Electrical Wire, Components & Systems

Categories

Electrical Tools

What are electrical tools?

Wire & Cable Crimpers

Wire & Cable Cutters

Wire Strippers

Wire Stripper/Cutters

Deutsch Tools

Delphi Tools

Heat Guns and Torches

Cable Tie Tools

Telephony & Coax Cable Tools