ELECTRICAL TESTING TOOLS
There are four electrical testing tools that you should have in your electrical tool kit, toolbox or tool drawer whether you're young do-it-yourselfers or baby-boomers doing their own remodeling.
 A pocket voltage tester, or voltage detector, is the simplest tool. It looks like a fat ball point pen and they're made with and without an on/off switch. Those without switches are the easiest to use, as you just take it out of your pocket and touch a wire, a wall outlet or anything else electric.
Some are "non-contact" testers, as they only need to be close (really close) to electricity to sound off. If there's current flowing, the light comes on and it "chirps" or buzzes. With these you simply touch the plastic wall plate, the outside of an extension cord, etc. Some determine voltage strength. Get one that goes to 500 volts or higher.
 The most common electrical testing tool is a two wire voltage tester (right), also known as a "neon tester", because of its neon bulb that lights up when electricity is passed through it. Push the two probes in the hot and neutral slots of an outlet and if the light glows, its hot (live).
Touch the black probe to the white (neutral) wire and the red probe to the black (hot or live) wire on any electrical connection to see if there is power to that particular thing. Remember to touch known live wires first to make sure it works before trusting.
 A receptacle tester and a GFCI or ground fault circuit interrupter tester (left) can show if an outlet is wired properly as well as check to see if its live just by plugging it in. GFCI outlets are required by code to be used in kitchens, baths and outdoor outlets to eliminate electrocution risks when water sources are close. Your entire kitchen and bath should be protected by a GFCI outlet, which trips an internal breaker the nano-second it senses a short. Blow drying your hair while rinsing off your comb could be a very dangerous thing if not for this protection.
 Wire cutter/strippers (right) are not exactly one of the electrical testing tools, but are a valuable aid, an electrical repair tool and they eliminate the "whittling" some people do with their pocket knife to strip electric wires and the blade destroying, whacking some do to cut the metal wire. For any homeowner that plans to replace, remodel or repair anything electric as part of their remodeling, this is the tool. With it you'll be able to cut, strip, loop, twist, crimp and pinch wires to look like a professional did it!
 KNOW WHERE YOUR BREAKERS ARE AND WHERE THEY GO!The first thing—before starting any electrical repairs or projects—is knowing which circuit breaker goes where. You need to make sure that the circuit breaker supplying the area you'll be working in is flipped to off. Hopefully, all that pertinent information is written clearly on the sheet affixed to the panel door (that's code, too). If you don't know where your circuit box (called a "service panel" in the trade - left) is, put down the mouse and go find it. We'll wait. You really need to know where the service panel is before an emergency happens or a breaker flips because of an overload, a short or whatever.
And, know where to turn off the main circuit breaker, typically located at the top center of the service panel. There are electrical testing tools designed to show the exact breaker that feeds the outlet you'll be working on (called "circuit breaker locators or "circuit breaker finders"). These are typically two-part tools, with one part plugging into the outlet and the other hand held at the service panel. Peruse the big boxes or hardware stores and ask questions, or search online.
Otherwise, plug a light or lamp into the outlet you'll be working on and have someone stand where you can hear them and they can see the light. Start flipping off and then on—one at a time—the breakers. You won't have to do this very many times if your breaker listing sheet is accurate. When you flip the one off that services the light, your partner will yell "Its off!" Just don't flip it back on until you're finished working. Time-tested teamwork.
You can pick up all four of the electrical testing tools for less than twenty five dollars at any hardware store or big box. If you've ever touched a live wire in a cramped space, you'll appreciate the common sense expressed here.
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