Basic electrical tool kit — what do I need?

StreetCreeper

StreetCreeper

New member
So I've been doing some reading and whatnot on basic automotive electrical and have decided that I need to start messing with this stuff. I've spent too many years avoiding any type of electrical repairs because I had no idea what I was doing and I didn't want to take the time to learn about it.

Even with my 4Runner which has forced me to become mechanically inclined, I have avoided pretty much everything electrical (aside from wiring up the stereo or replacing bulbs ) unless forced to mess with it.

As such, I haven't added a lot of "doodads or gadgets" and feel it's just a matter of time before some electrical gremlin gets into my truck and wreaks havoc. So I need to educate myself and prepare a basic compliment of tools & supplies.

Currently my tools are pretty limited when it comes to electrical stuff. I picked up a Fluke multimeter the other day at the flea market for a buck, and I have a crappy Walmart wire crimper — that's about it...maybe some electrical tape in the truck somewhere. Ok basically I have nothing yet...

So, I need to pick up some basic tools and supplies that will help an electrical noob through the basics. I figured I would tap into the collected wisdom of the forum and ask what tools should I add to my list?

Electrical info resources, tools/brands, tips & tricks...etc, tell me what you think I might find useful?
 
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Crimper (I've got a cheap HF one), decent wire stripper, tweaker tools (little picks and stuff, good for taking the pins out of plugs. Also not sure what they're actually called, that's what my dad has always called them), good electrical tape, soldering iron (I prefer butane so it is cordless), solder (duh), heat shrink of all sizes, wire, fuses, ring terminals and what ever other connections you may need/want, and a good multimeter.

Other than that I can't think of anything right now that I've used to do electrical work on a vehicle.
 
Strippers..... Lots and lots of strippers. Like the amount of strippers that Entourage had and then multiply that by 5 that's how many strippers you need.
 
MN4runnerman said:
Strippers..... Lots and lots of strippers. Like the amount of strippers that Entourage had and then multiply that by 5 that's how many strippers you need.
Click to expand...

I just got back from the parts store. I went in and told them that MN4Runnerman said I need more than one automotive stripper.

They hooked me up with these...

​
 
StreetCreeper said:
I just got back from the parts store. I went in and told them that MN4Runnerman said I need more than one automotive stripper.

They hooked me up with these...

​
Click to expand...

Best pic on this site! This needs a sticky and probably needs to be the first thing you see when entering T4R.
 
MN4runnerman said:
Best pic on this site! This needs a sticky and probably needs to be the first thing you see when entering T4R.
Click to expand...


Heh. You should have seen T4R.com that was around a few years ago. (That stood for Trannies For Rent.) Never forget the .org part.
 
TheDurk said:
Tools have pretty much been covered, although no one mentioned the main one, a decent 12V test light--the bigger bulb the better.

Here are two websites that are good places to learn stuff:

Car Alarm, Car Stereo, Mobile Video, and Cruise Control Info for Installers
Basic Car Audio Electronics
Click to expand...

Already so much good info over at the12volt site!

LittleCaesar said:
A test light is invaluable. Test fuses, live circuits, ground, etc.

I have this one, it tests for polarity:
https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-24550-..._SR160,160_&psc=1&refRID=CMBBMRWCNBDANYC54QS1

Good wire cutters; can find the Klein cutters at Home Depot for less, they have the best non tool truck tips:

https://www.amazon.com/Klein-Tools-...&qid=1471232315&sr=8-1&keywords=klein+cutters
Click to expand...

Test light & wire cutters are now on the list. I carry in the truck a Klein multi-bit screwdriver that I really dig. So Klein is good in my book. :cool:

Ill be following all the links too.
 
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OK, there is only one thing that matters if you are going to do any wiring repairs. HIGH QUALITY crimpers. Klein style, although all three of mine are Snap-on PWC29. I still remember that number from when I sold them in the 90's. And I sold a lot of them because those piece of crap combination crimper/stripper/lawn mower pliers just don't work. Ask me how I really feel about those turds.

Something like this is what you need:

Klein Tools 1005-K Crimping and Cutting Tool for Non-Insulated and Insulated Connectors | ToolBarn.com
 
For automotive use I'd recommend the following:

Tools
- Good wirecutters (Klein, Channellock, etc)
- Good crimpers
- Multimeter
- Wire stripper
- Heat gun
- Soldering iron

Materials
- Heat shrink tubing. I really don't like using electrical tape anywhere on the truck since it can degrade when exposed to heat, dirt, water, etc. For high-amperage connections I use heat shrink with adhesive to make sure everything is well sealed.
- Zip ties and wire loom for organizing wires and making sure they don't rub on things.
- Crimp terminals.
- Fuses, relays, etc.


The above are focused on installing or modifying circuits. If you take your truck off road then it is good to make sure that each connection you work on is extremely secure and well insulated. You don't want an unsecured wire to flap around while driving and short out. It is also critical to fuse everything as close to the battery as possible.


If you are looking for suggestions on what to carry on trips for emergencies, then I'd say:
- tools from above (not the heat gun or soldering iron)
- spare fuses of common sizes
- spare crimp terminals
- zip ties
- electrical tape (for emergency use only)
- 10 feet of 12 gauge wire
- 10 feet of 16 gauge wire
- spare headlight bulb
 
slomatt said:
For automotive use I'd recommend the following:

Tools
- Good wirecutters (Klein, Channellock, etc)
- Good crimpers
- Multimeter
- Wire stripper
- Heat gun
- Soldering iron

Materials
- Heat shrink tubing. I really don't like using electrical tape anywhere on the truck since it can degrade when exposed to heat, dirt, water, etc. For high-amperage connections I use heat shrink with adhesive to make sure everything is well sealed.
- Zip ties and wire loom for organizing wires and making sure they don't rub on things.
- Crimp terminals.
- Fuses, relays, etc.


The above are focused on installing or modifying circuits. If you take your truck off road then it is good to make sure that each connection you work on is extremely secure and well insulated. You don't want an unsecured wire to flap around while driving and short out. It is also critical to fuse everything as close to the battery as possible.


If you are looking for suggestions on what to carry on trips for emergencies, then I'd say:
- tools from above (not the heat gun or soldering iron)
- spare fuses of common sizes
- spare crimp terminals
- zip ties
- electrical tape (for emergency use only)
- 10 feet of 12 gauge wire
- 10 feet of 16 gauge wire
- spare headlight bulb
Click to expand...

Great info, I'll be scrutinizing it soon. Quick question, any brand preferences or brand/type soldering iron that I should look for or stay away from? I'm not a tool snob by any stretch, but I do hate wasting money on junk. So I'd rather pay a little extra for a tool that I won't have to keep replacing.
 
If you want a cordless soldering iron they all bite the dust sooner than later.

Weller has been the standard soldering station for years:
https://www.amazon.com/Weller-WLC10...qid=1471265126&sr=8-7&keywords=soldering+iron

Nothing beats Kester IMHO:
https://www.amazon.com/Kester-83-40...&qid=1471265246&sr=8-7&keywords=kester+solder

This is a quick read for car electronics, should be helpful:
Voltage Drop Testing

If you don't want Klein tools, Irwin makes good stuff as well, found at Lowes:
https://www.amazon.com/VISE-GRIP-Mu...qid=1471265473&sr=8-2&keywords=Irwin+crimpers
 
By far the #1 tool that makes electrical work easier is this self adjusting stripper:

https://www.amazon.com/IRWIN-VISE-GRIP-Self-Adjusting-Stripper-2078300/dp/B000OQ21CA

That and a good **AUTO RANGING** meter, especially one with a ground tester that will give you a tone/noise when it detects good ground.

Additional test probes are definitely nice to have too. You need three basic ones- Normal straight probes, needle probes, and alligator clip probes.

And of course a soldering iron. Learn to use it. Can't tell you how many times I wasted time because I didn't tin the tip.

https://www.google.com/search?btnG=1&pws=0&q=how+to+solder+wire

81O3JFNQB-L._SL1500_.jpg
 
Last edited:
StreetCreeper said:
Great info, I'll be scrutinizing it soon. Quick question, any brand preferences or brand/type soldering iron that I should look for or stay away from? I'm not a tool snob by any stretch, but I do hate wasting money on junk. So I'd rather pay a little extra for a tool that I won't have to keep replacing.
Click to expand...

For electronic work, you can get fancy soldering stations. If I did a lot, I'd have one. I just have a no-name hardware store iron that works fine if I get inside a module.

For auto work outside modules, I mostly use my ancient Weller soldering gun. If they still make them the same way, they last forever.

https://www.amazon.com/Weller-WEL8200PK-120-Volt-Universal-Soldering/dp/B00002N7S0

I also recommend a battery load tester. The analog volt-meters built into those things beat a digital anyday. I use that before I get my digital. The scale is perfect and you can see a needle react--only thing better is one that can graph over time.

https://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-BT-100-Battery-Load-Tester/dp/B000AMBOI0

A must-have, in my book.

And yeah, a heat gun.
 
Last edited:
LittleCaesar said:
If you want a cordless soldering iron they all bite the dust sooner than later.

Weller has been the standard soldering station for years:
https://www.amazon.com/Weller-WLC10...qid=1471265126&sr=8-7&keywords=soldering+iron

Nothing beats Kester IMHO:
https://www.amazon.com/Kester-83-40...&qid=1471265246&sr=8-7&keywords=kester+solder

This is a quick read for car electronics, should be helpful:
Voltage Drop Testing

If you don't want Klein tools, Irwin makes good stuff as well, found at Lowes:
https://www.amazon.com/VISE-GRIP-Mu...qid=1471265473&sr=8-2&keywords=Irwin+crimpers
Click to expand...

Cool I was just looking at a Weller too!

BoomSticks said:
By far the #1 tool that makes electrical work easier is this self adjusting stripper:

https://www.amazon.com/IRWIN-VISE-GRIP-Self-Adjusting-Stripper-2078300/dp/B000OQ21CA

That and a good **AUTO RANGING** meter, especially one with a ground tester that will give you a tone/noise when it detects good ground.

Additional test probes are definitely nice to have too. You need three basic ones- Normal straight probes, needle probes, and alligator clip probes.

And of course a soldering iron. Learn to use it. Can't tell you how many times I wasted time because I didn't tin the tip.

https://www.google.com/search?btnG=1&pws=0&q=how+to+solder+wire
Click to expand...

I'm not sure about the meter I picked up. It's a used Fluke meter 23, I'm not sure if it's auto ranging or not or if it makes a tone when it detects good ground. I picked it up at a flea market along with a broken Simon game from the 70's. I promptly used the meter to figure out what was wrong with the Simon game. So it works but I don't how it compares to new models in terms of options or abilities.

TheDurk said:
For electronic work, you can get fancy soldering stations. If I did a lot, I'd have one. I just have a no-name hardware store iron that works fine if I get inside a module.

For auto work outside modules, I mostly use my ancient Weller soldering gun. If they still make them the same way, they last forever.

https://www.amazon.com/Weller-WEL8200PK-120-Volt-Universal-Soldering/dp/B00002N7S0

I also recommend a battery load tester. The analog volt-meters built into those things beat a digital anyday. I use that before I get my digital. The scale is perfect and you can see a needle react--only thing better is one that can graph over time.

https://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-BT-100-Battery-Load-Tester/dp/B000AMBOI0

A must-have, in my book.

And yeah, a heat gun.
Click to expand...

Great links guys, I'll be following each and every one of them! :cool:
 
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