Essential Electrical Tools

[Clinton Bolinger]

Here is a Great Video from the 2009 FIRST Championship Conference Presentations:

Electrical Design and Technique For Building A Competitive Robot by Al Skierkiewicz

@35:13 - He talks about Electrical Tools

Enjoy!

-Oris-

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Here is the list shown at the end of the presentation. Prices and part numbers are old so expect them to be lower than current pricing.

MCM Electronics
Description Part # Price
18 GA zip cord/100' 24-1870 $11.97
14 GA zip cord/100' 24-1900 $24.88
12 GA zip cord/100' 24-1915 $31.45
10 GA zip cord/100' 24-1930 $46.47
Solder 21-1845 $14.44
WP30 Soldering Iron 96-429 $47.95
Iron Tip, Large Flat 96-1565 $5.76
Iron Tip, Conical 96-320 $5.76
80 Watt Soldering Iron 21-4345 $8.23
Large Wire Cutters 96-1309 $24.17
General Purpose Cutter 96-235 $20.93
Flush cutters 96-1188 $17.21
T Stripper 28-2700 $15.50
Auto Stripper 10-22AWG 22-3045 $29.95
T&B Style Crimper 22-1780 $10.95
Ratchet Crimper 22-770 $25.95
Needle Nose Pliers 96-1330 $22.75
Retracting Utility Knife 22-825 $3.99
Color Wheel Tape Marker 108-035 $24.95
TERMINALS
Non insulated Female,12-10 108-275 2.99/25
Non insulated Female,14-16 108-270 3.89/50
Full Insulated Female, 12-10 108-290 7.49/25
Full Insulated Female, 14-16 108-285 10.75/50
1-800-543-4330 www.mcminone.com
fax:1-800-765-6960

[joeweber]

A good tool for newbe wiring is the auto stripper http://www.google.com/products/catal...658&sa=title#p
Some younger students do not have the hand stregnth to use standard strippers and thease auto strippers make it easy for everyone.
If you are using a Klien wire crimper to crimp loop conectors make sure the seem of the connector is opposit of the nub of the tool.
http://www.team1322.org/electrical.htm

[Rion Atkinson]

Originally Posted by Dillon Compton

I'd say the Leatherman Kick. Nice, simple multi-tool. Grip-edges are plastic lined, so you don't get metal biting into your hand. Screwdrivers are of the appropriate size for most FRC stuff. One knife blade. Pliers. Pliers have a cutting section with a divet to act as a wire stripper and you can (with a bit of practice) effectively crimp any connector using the pliers. I rarely use anything else when doing my electronics work. It's about $25 or $30 at Home Depot.

I wired my teams '09 bot with my Leatherman Wave. I love that thing. (Of course my cinder block seat got a little uncomfortable... )

Akash,

As for electrical needs I really would say you "need" more than a wire strippers, soldering iron, crimps, crimpers, electrical tape, zip ties, and two screwdrivers (philps and flat). You could easily wire the whole robot with that. Anything more will just be extra stuff in my opinion. Of course, some shrink wrap would go nicely with that. (I find a lighter can shrink it quiet well if you don't want to break out the heat gun. )