Question for electric engineers

[Topspinmo]

Ok, I put some heat shrink on my screw driver blades. I think this will offer some protection from electrical shock? Or and I farting in wind?

[indianahurricane]

Ok, I put some heat shrink on my screw driver blades. I think this will offer some protection from electrical shock? Or and I farting in wind?

It works, I wouldn't work on anything over 110v. But its the amps that will get ya.

[villagetinker]

IMHO, this provides some limited protection, if you have a serious concern, there are tools that are specifically insulated and tested for suitable insulation levels. On a side note, I have done similar using a liquid rubber type material that worked well for decades in most cases, it did not like solvents.

[ElDiabloJoe]

A pair of electrician's gloves from the big orange big box store would be helpful as well. Depending on Amps and Volts of course.

[Altavia]

Bet those tools have a long history ;-)

What are you doing such that you need to insulate screwdrivers?

[jimhoward]

If your fingers would otherwise be touching the metal screwdriver blade, then it will provide some insulation. It will also prevent the shank of the screwdriver blade from making a short if it hits a live wire.

I am sure you would not intentionally be putting a screwdriver into an appliance with the power on, so this is presumably belt and suspenders in case there is power in a circuit that you did not realize was present and missed in your testing.

[Topspinmo]

Bet those tools have a long history ;-)

What are you doing such that you need to insulate screwdrivers?

No reason

Had to use my air compressor that’s been setting for years and it was making awful noise, so I disassembled it. Found mud dabblers inside my hot dog air compressor. While had it apart cleaned up, lubricated piston, and fixed electric tape was falling off. So, I heat shrunk over wires instead of taping. While I was at it I heat shrunk wrapped some of my screwdrivers. I doubled coated them, but they will probably get nicked up eventually.

I almost threw the air compressor away, but I have time and means to see what was wrong with it. Works good again.

[Topspinmo]

IMHO, this provides some limited protection, if you have a serious concern, there are tools that are specifically insulated and tested for suitable insulation levels. On a side note, I have done similar using a liquid rubber type material that worked well for decades in most cases, it did not like solvents.


I got couple store brought coated screwdrivers that are coated looks like they did same thing? I didn’t measure thickness of the rubber though?

[Topspinmo]

If your fingers would otherwise be touching the metal screwdriver blade, then it will provide some insulation. It will also prevent the shank of the screwdriver blade from making a short if it hits a live wire.

I am sure you would not intentionally be putting a screwdriver into an appliance with the power on, so this is presumably belt and suspenders in case there is power in a circuit that you did not realize was present and missed in your testing.

When I can I make sure power off before I stick my fingers and tools in. I alway check it with multimeter for stray voltage. Just added safety precaution.

[Topspinmo]

A pair of electrician's gloves from the big orange big box store would be helpful as well. Depending on Amps and Volts of course.

I have some rubber coated gloves if I even do anything thing 220V or above. Which I hardly ever do?

[Berwin]

Me: Looking at the big 'bite' out of my favorite screwdriver from the time I hit the wrong breaker before working on my outside unit... Still using the screwdriver, though.

[dewilson58]

Hoping for strong wind out of the South.

[AnthonyJ]

Ok, I put some heat shrink on my screw driver blades. I think this will offer some protection from electrical shock? Or and I farting in wind?

Shrink tubing should work fine, especially if its teflon which has high dielectric (insulation) properties.

[HJBeck]

Probably not much more protection than the plastic handle provides in the first case, but isn’t going to hurt. Can’t imagine what work you’re doing to require this. Nothing is more important than your safety and the 60 seconds it would take to turn off the breaker, or even shut off the main breaker if your not sure which branch breaker to flip

[williep]

The insulation on the shaft is not to protect you. The handle will do that. But if you have to make an adjustment in a live circuit, it will prevent you from shorting out something in the circuit itself.

[gorillarick]

electrical engineer

First off, you shouldn't be messing with anything with the power on.

110v will kill you just as dead as 220v.
Anything above 60 volts is a lethal shock hazard, but even lower voltages can give a purdy-big spark. (SAE specifies anything above 60v in a car must be ORANGE)

electrician's joke: " I always keep one hand in my pocket when trouble-shooting circuits."

[Hape2Bhr]

electrical engineer

First off, you shouldn't be messing with anything with the power on.

110v will kill you just as dead as 220v.
Anything above 60 volts is a lethal shock hazard, but even lower voltages can give a purdy-big spark. (SAE specifies anything above 60v in a car must be ORANGE)

electrician's joke: " I always keep one hand in my pocket when trouble-shooting circuits."

Telephone landline wires would give you a tingle, if someone called while you were fiddling with the wires.

[Packer Fan]

I worked for a company that happens to make electrical tools as a small part of their huge tool line. If your trying to guess, you probably don't own any of their tools unless you were a professional Mechanic or racing buff, starts with an S and I am lucky to have a bunch of them, thanks to my employment there. :)
I was involved in several redesign projects on these tools (sourcing guy, but have a Metallurgical Engineering degree) and I understand how and why they are tested in a certain way. Bottom line, you would be SHOCKED (pun intended) at how far a fairly low voltage like 110V can jump across a gap. Yes, in most cases that acetate (the clear ones) or the Nylon ones (the others) will protect you, but not always, especially if you are well grounded. I have several screwdrivers rated for 1000 volts (they have woven composite shafts and are tested at 10,000 volts grounded in water) and I still call an electrician. I am sorry but my life is worth more than that.
Bonus fact for fun - the clear handles are made from Cellulose Acetate which is made from Wood Pulp.

[Topspinmo]

I worked for a company that happens to make electrical tools as a small part of their huge tool line. If your trying to guess, you probably don't own any of their tools unless you were a professional Mechanic or racing buff, starts with an S and I am lucky to have a bunch of them, thanks to my employment there. :)
I was involved in several redesign projects on these tools (sourcing guy, but have a Metallurgical Engineering degree) and I understand how and why they are tested in a certain way. Bottom line, you would be SHOCKED (pun intended) at how far a fairly low voltage like 110V can jump across a gap. Yes, in most cases that acetate (the clear ones) or the Nylon ones (the others) will protect you, but not always, especially if you are well grounded. I have several screwdrivers rated for 1000 volts (they have woven composite shafts and are tested at 10,000 volts grounded in water) and I still call an electrician. I am sorry but my life is worth more than that.
Bonus fact for fun - the clear handles are made from Cellulose Acetate which is made from Wood Pulp.

I used snap ons and several other brands tools for 41 years overhauling jet engines. They wear out just like others from repeated heavy daily use. IMO I find them over priced unless you worked for Stanley.


Did read post? i don’t work on any A/C with power on. Degree’s don’t mean have hands on replacement skills. It means you read books memorized and passed tests it don’t mean you can actually do job, let skilled professionals do that.

[Win1894]

Not trying to be picky but for many years the standard nominal voltage for homes in the US is 120 and 240 volts, not 110 and 220 volts.

[Topspinmo]

Not trying to be picky but for many years the standard nominal voltage for homes in the US is 120 and 240 volts, not 110 and 220 volts.

Same as Chevy or Chevrolet means same thing.

[daniel200]

If you are holding the handle, the heat shrink will do nothing for you. If you are poking around hot wires, you will be less likely to short something out because the shaft is insulated. In fact screwdrivers with insulated shafts are widely available and used in industry. You can buy them at Lowes and Home Depot.

[Topspinmo]

If you are holding the handle, the heat shrink will do nothing for you. If you are poking around hot wires, you will be less likely to short something out because the shaft is insulated. In fact screwdrivers with insulated shafts are widely available and used in industry. You can buy them at Lowes and Home Depot.

I’ve got couple cheapie’s from harbor freight… I hardly ever work on 120/240V house current, only when need to common little jobs, but when I do I remove power and verify no power.

OK now we can hear rant about cheap HF junk from other posters? :22yikes:

I had all this heat shrink so I put it to use even on my socket extensions. Somebody talked about 1000Vs who would be working around 1000V that’s not professional linesman’s? When I works at Rock Quarry in my teens and early 20s the plant operated on 880Vs from big diesel power unit, with Hugh wires feed crusher plant running several conveyor belts to load out different size crushed rock material. there was no way they let new or inexperienced employees work on that.

I once was shocked (tingling) from lime (finely crushed rock/dust let over from hammer mill going up rubber conveyor belt touching metal in bin holding lime filling my truck. I told the Forman I was getting it shocked from rock when I stuck my fingers in lime going up belt into truck. I hadn’t touch any metal from bin holding rock.

He laughed and said can’t cause of rubber belt. Well guess what? The next guy backed up to conveyor and his truck beds grounded against conveyor frame. When he grabbed tail gate handle he was getting lots of stray volts, enough he couldn’t break free of handle. The Forman seen this and Done side body block and knocked him off handle. The 440V electric motor running conveyor belt had short due to recent rain.