Read Ebook: Electricity for the 4-H Scientist by Wilson Eric B

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Basic Tools for Electrical Work

A good knife with a sharp blade is one of the most useful tools. A camper's or electrician's type knife is probably best because it has other useful parts besides the cutting blades--a screwdriver or punch, for instance. Of course, you'll never use the cutting blades as a screwdriver. This knife should be kept clean, dry, sharp, and free from rust. Put a little oil on the joints from time to time. Remember, "Never whittle toward you and you'll never cut yourself."

A pair of electrician's pliers should be part of your kit. Wrap the handles with plastic insulating tape. Even though you're not going to work on "hot" electric lines, it pays to play safe. Later on, as you learn more about electricity, you'll want a pair of needle-nose pliers for the fine work.

You'll want a screwdriver which has true corners. A 4 to 6 inch plastic handled screwdriver with a narrow blade is best. You'll probably need more than one size to fit the various size screws you'll be turning.

Screwdrivers are easily damaged if you try to use them as chisels and pry bars, or use them in screw slots which are too large for the blade.

You can be hurt by the screwdriver if you try to screw or unscrew things you are holding in your hand. Keep your free hand away from the end of the screwdriver. Place the work on a bench or where it can be handled easily.

A good 100 to 250-watt electric soldering iron will be useful. Later on you may want to buy a soldering gun, but unless you are doing a lot of soldering it won't be necessary. A supply of resin-core electrician's solder will be needed. Acid-core solder reacts with copper and in time causes a bad splice.

Once it was necessary to use two types of tape on splices--rubber tape with friction tape over it. Now there is a plastic tape on the market which takes the place of both and has good insulating quality. It is called electrical tape, or plastic tape, and resists water, oils , and acids. You'll need a lot of tape in your electrical work, so keep a roll on hand.

As you go along in electrical work, you'll be adding tools and other equipment, such as a trouble light and maybe an ammeter or voltmeter. Other tools you'll want to add will be a Phillips screwdriver, open end wrenches, a crescent wrench, small hack saw, hand drill and bits.

You'll also be using some regular carpenter's tools such as hammers, saws, and so on. Unless you use them frequently, you don't need to keep them in your electrical kit.

It's a good idea to start acquiring a supply of electrical parts--lengths of wire, fuses, switches, sockets, plugs, and other items that will come in handy. There are parts you can salvage from old lamps, motors, and other equipment. Such a collection can be a real treasure chest when you need a part in a hurry. But be sure to throw away all faulty parts.

WHAT TO DO: Build a Tool Chest

To keep your tools always ready for use, a tool chest will be very handy. It's the 4-H way to work. You'll be surprised how much easier it makes a job when you have your tools, various parts and repair equipment all in one place. You can make the chest with a saw, plane, screwdriver, pencil, ruler or carpenter's square, and hammer.

A piece of lumber 1" by 10" by 8 feet long.

Some No. 6 penny finishing nails or wood screws about the same length

Then, set up the two end pieces and nail to bottom section. Refer back to Figure 1 as you go along to see that box is shaping up as shown. Nail the front and back sections to the ends along the bottom. Wood screws can be used instead of nails.

Now you can invent your own improvements for your chest. You can paint it, put your name on it, and your club emblem and name if you wish. You can put a rack on the inside of the cover to hold your work sheets and other booklets and materials. You can install special slots or straps to hold each tool in its place along the sides of the box. Maybe you will want to put some partitions in the box to separate various electrical equipment such as wires, fuses, switches, and plugs.

An accessory which you may want to add to your tool chest is an apron or holster to wear when you are moving around on the job. An apron can be made of a size of cloth about 18 by 20 inches. It should be folded up from the bottom, and sewn to fit the number and size of tools you have. Figure 3 shows such an apron.

You can make a lineman's holster in the same way, using plastic or soft leather. Merely make belt loops by cutting on the dotted lines. A snap fastener will hold the flap over the tools so they won't fall out.

Demonstrations You Can Give

Show and tell others the proper handling, care and use of tools.

Show and tell how to build an electrician's tool kit.

For Further Information

Ask your power supplier or an electrician to tell the club about the various tools of the electrician's trade and demonstrate them. Ask your leader how to get exhibit material or information about electrical tools and their use and then tell the club about them.

LESSON NO. B-3

Credit Points 3

REWIRE A LAMP--BE A LAMP DETECTIVE

One of the duties of a law officer is to prevent crime. It's that way with the lamp detective. You can become one. In the average home there are lamps about to commit the crime of shocking people, starting fires, and stealing electricity. Some are refusing to do their job well and some are no-goods, sitting in closets or attics, doing nothing. You can put these lamps to working again safely and well. Become the lamp expert in your family.

What's In A Lamp?

A lamp gives light for comfortable and convenient use in the home. It consists normally of a stand, switch, cord, lampshade holder, and shade. Some lamps have diffusing bowls which reduce glare and shadows.

The most common fault found in an old lamp is in the cord, but sometimes the switch or the wiring in the lamp is bad. Look over all the lamps in your home and find the ones needing to be fixed.

WHAT TO DO--Rewire A Lamp

Somewhere around your house you can probably find a lamp that is no longer used or needs repairing. You can make it useful again and at the same time learn how to wire a lamp.

Tools: Pocket knife, small or medium screwdriver, and pliers .

How To Do It:

What Did You Learn?

Underline correct answers then discuss in the group.

SUGGESTED DEMONSTRATIONS

Show how to inspect a lamp and its cord. You might tie tags on the cord and lamp at points of danger or failure--at the plug, wear points next to lamp base, bad sockets.

Demonstrate the process of repairing a lamp cord, socket and plug.

Make a board display of the parts of the lamp socket showing cord attached.

Make a display of the types of lamp cords and plugs in common use.

Using two lamps, one with clean bulb and shade, the other dusty, show how the former gives more light.

For More Information

Lamps have an interesting history. Look it up in your local library. Ask someone from your power supplier or electric dealer to talk to the club about the different kinds of lamps. Your leader has or can get additional information on lamps, if you wish.

What Did You Exhibit

What Did You Demonstrate

LESSON NO. B-4

Credit Points 3

MAKE A TROUBLE LIGHT.

A handy piece of equipment in the home and on the farm is a heavy-duty extension cord with a shielded light and a side outlet on it. When you want to work on the car or tractor in the yard at night, the trouble light is better than a flashlight. You can use it both for light and as an extension cord. It is safer than matches or a lantern, especially around the garage or barn.

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