Was thinking of getting a pair if all insulated pliers to use when poking about in consumer units.

Anyone has an opinion on them?

Pliers

Don't think I'd bother.

I'd rather turn it off than poke with plastic pliers as there is still a good chance that something could come loose and contact something else it shouldn't.


Stu

I'm sure nobody on this site does anything live or ever remove a cover without isolating it all first.

If you going to touch a cable in a JB or the like I'd rather poke an isulated item in than a conductive one!

slittle, I take you don't own any insulated screwdrivers then?

I do, but they have metal ends. I wouldn't go pulling things in a DB without turning it off and that's what pointed noses pliers are for in my tool box.

I agree if you want to poke,then an insulated screwdriver will do nicely. If you are getting into manipulating conductors than that is proper live working in my book and needs proper training and risk management not just a £20 pair of insulated pliers.

taking a cover off and exposing to test is a necessary risk but moving live bits about with pliers isn't as far as I'm concerned.



Stu

it can be better than Nov 5th with all those sparks flying around.

If you're mug enough to go poking around live terminals you deserve all you get and a plastic pair of pliers wont stop you getting burnt, I hope you wear the proper PPE for the job

Glad I'm not mug enough then either!

Happy Christmas too you all in this season of good will.

Get a grip chaps - for sure, you don't want to be working live if you don't have to, but I can see a benefit in these for those odd times when you just might have to reach in and manipulate small conductors in low fault level systems just to get a better look, or to pull out a neutral to ensure positive isolation etc etc

We've all been there

regards

OMS

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Failure is always an option

Where do I send you your xmas card OMS ?

Agreed OMS, also for giving suspected loose connections a waggle to look for arcing. Anyone that says he never removes a c/unit cover with the power on either has very little experience with fault finding or isn't in the real world (or is lying!)

Dave.

Tell you what - give two quid to the next poor ***** who looks like he needs it - talk to them for 30 seconds - look them in the eye when you do it - that'll do me.

OMS

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Failure is always an option

Well said that man!
- Andy.

Not a problem, its a much better use of the cost of a stamp.

DR2366, I would not necessarily use them for inside a fuse board. I like my existing pair of long nose bent jobbies. But, if the faces of the grips are insulated then I'd put a pair in my toolbox. I've been thinking of looking for some pliers which are cushioned against the grips for those times when we need to push a core backwards into a socket or something. So as not do damage the insulation if you see what I mean?

So, if you get some and if the faces of the grips are protected will you let us know?

Meanwhile, I saw a very sensible and highly knowledgable one of you get a bolt recently. All ok, but evidence that it happens to clever people, not just the stupid.

Zs

Zs All I know is that there made of fibre glass with a cushioned handle. I was hoping that someone on the forum might have a pair already and give an opinion as to there suitability and practical use. You can get a long nose and standard plier version.

Took delivery a couple of days ago a pair of each of the pliers, long nose and standard versions £31.95 delivered inc VAT for the two.

Quite impressed with the quality as you can squeeze the handles together hard and they flex about the same as a steel pair. They are both full size pliers. The material for the body and the gripping sections of the pliers is a hard fibre glass matt in finish and similar to the stuff red superrods are made (but you cant bend these). The gripping part is well formed but doesn't have the very crisp edges that steel versions do which can damage cable insulation. The long nose ones are only have serrations for about 12mm at the tip otherwise the rest of the inside faces are completly smooth.

Both pairs of pliers are identical from the pivot back and the yellow bits of the handle are rubberised which is nice and grippy. Both are much lighter than you expect.

Overall I'm glad I have them as I can see times when they would be put to use.

Hope this helps.

Now all you need are a set of insulating screwdrivers.

I'm hoping to get lucky and find another one of those little screwdrivers in a Christmas cracker this year.

You can but me a full set of Bacho or Wera insulated ones if you want for Christmas!

I wouldn't use insulated tools for live working, if I could help it.
Unfortunately as far as I'm aware, neither Bahco or Wera manufacture insulating tools.

I've had both! The Wera were carp, and the Bahco are the same as Irazola.

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Regard
Richard (Dick)

www.rllewellyn.co.uk

I doubt very much that you have Dick.
As far as I'm aware, there are very few manufacturers of insulating tools,Knipex and SnapOn being the only two that I'm aware of.
I would imagine that the tools you had were insulated.
Insulating tools do not have metal through the handles, whereas insulated tools do.
http://image.snapon.com/international/pdf/CNSGDX60.pdf
http://image.snapon.com/international/pdf/crb1824.pdf