Hardware and Construction Guides Page 3: 93 technical guides for choosing Hardware and Construction products: selection criteria, standards, common mistakes and frequently asked questions.
What Is an Earth Resistance Tester (Earth Megger)? Types and Selection Criteria — An earth resistance tester (earth megger) is a test instrument that measures the resistance of an earthing system in ohms, using auxiliary stakes or a clamp jaw. What Is a Soldering Iron Tip? Types, Compatibility and Selection Criteria — A soldering iron tip is a replaceable metal part that carries the iron's heat to the solder joint; its fit to the iron model, shape and width decide soldering quality. What Is a Tool Bag? Types, Tool Sets and Selection Criteria — A tool bag is a bag with trays or compartments for carrying and storing hand tools in order; a tool set is sold together with the tools of a trade. What Is a Wire Stripper? Types and Selection Criteria — A wire stripper is a hand tool that cuts and strips core insulation to a set length without damaging the conductor strands; it is also called stripping pliers. What Is a Thermal Camera? Types and Selection Criteria — A thermal camera is a non-contact measuring device that detects infrared radiation and shows the surface temperature distribution as a heat image. What Is a Cable Cutter? Types and Selection Criteria — A cable cutter is a hand tool with curved blades that cuts copper and aluminum cables without crushing them or splaying the strands. What Is a Soldering Station? Types and Selection Criteria — A soldering station is a system of a control unit that holds the iron tip at the set temperature and the iron connected to it, sometimes with a hot air blower. What Is an Infrared Thermometer? Types and Selection Criteria — An infrared thermometer is a handheld instrument that measures surface temperature without contact by detecting the infrared radiation a surface emits. What Is a Wrench Set? Choosing Combination, Box-End and Open-End Wrenches — A wrench set is a hand tool set that brings together open-end, box-end or combination wrenches of different opening sizes for hexagon head bolts and nuts. What Is Soldering Paste (Flux Paste)? Types and Selection Criteria — Soldering paste is a paste-form flux without solder alloy that dissolves oxide on the metal surface so that molten solder can wet and spread over it. What Is a Hose Reel? Types and Selection Criteria — A hose reel is transfer equipment that keeps an air, water, oil, grease or gas hose wound on a spool and rewinds the hose, pulled out to length, after the job. What Are Side and End Cutters? Types and Selection Criteria — A side cutter is a wire-cutting plier with its cutting edges along the side of the jaw; on an end cutter the edges are at the tip of the jaw, at right angles to the handles. What Is an Oscilloscope? Types and Selection Criteria — An oscilloscope is a measuring instrument that shows how the voltage of an electrical signal changes over time as a waveform on its screen. What Are Measuring Instrument Accessories? Types and Selection Criteria — Measuring instrument accessories are probes, test leads, clips and adapters that connect multimeters, clamp meters and oscilloscopes to the test point or add functions. What Is a Laboratory Power Supply? Types and Selection Criteria — A laboratory power supply is a benchtop test instrument that powers a circuit with adjustable voltage and current limit; linear, switching, multi-channel and programmable types exist. What Is an Insulation Resistance Tester (Megohmmeter)? Types and Selection Criteria — An insulation resistance tester (megohmmeter) applies a DC test voltage to cable, motor and installation insulation and measures its resistance in megohms and gigohms. What Is Solder Wire? Types and Selection Criteria — Solder wire is a tin alloy wire wound on a reel that is melted with a soldering iron to join metal parts electrically and mechanically. What Is a Digital Multimeter? Handheld and Benchtop Types, Selection Criteria — A digital multimeter is a handheld or benchtop instrument that measures voltage, current, resistance, continuity and more in one device and shows the result on a numeric display. What Are Soldering Tools and Materials? Types and Selection Criteria — Soldering tools and materials are the irons and stations that melt solder, the solder wire and flux that form the joint, and accessories used for desoldering and tip care. What Is a Crimping Tool? Types and Selection Criteria — A crimping tool is a hand tool that presses a terminal, lug, ferrule or connector onto a conductor to make a permanent, solderless connection; its jaw suits the terminal type. What Is an Electrical Tester? Types and Selection Criteria — An electrical tester is an instrument that shows whether an installation, cable or device works safely by measuring voltage, continuity and insulation resistance. What Is a Temperature Measuring Instrument? Types and Selection Criteria — A temperature measuring instrument is a handheld device that measures the temperature of a surface, liquid or air by contact with a probe or by sensing infrared radiation. What Are Pliers and Cutters? Types and Selection Criteria — Pliers and cutters are hand tools whose two handles meet at a joint and use leverage to grip, bend or squeeze a part or cut wire. What Is an Environmental Measuring Instrument? Types and Selection Criteria — Environmental measuring instruments are handheld meters that measure site values such as air speed, sound level, illuminance, vibration, material moisture and refrigeration pressure.