Nonconductive Tool Company (NTC), founded by electrician Warren Tarbell, has developed a revolutionary new tool that is leading to safer, faster, and more productive work methods for electricians, maintenance professionals, and Do-It-Yourselfers. The company’s latest breakthrough fills a serious gap in the hand-tool industry. It is a simple-to-use, low-cost tool that is nonconductive to allow the safer management of 12- to 14-gauge electrical wiring within junction boxes, switch boxes, outlets, panels, or anywhere electrical wires are installed.
Immediately available with an MSRP of only $14.95 (USD), the new Voltclaw-12 is one of the most important new tools to reach the electrical market in a decade.
Until Voltclaw-12, electrical wires were typically manipulated by hand or with tools designed for other purposes, such as a screwdriver or wire stripper. These methods put the electrician in serious danger of electrical shock, especially when metal tools are used to move wires. Metal tools can also damage the insulation which protects the copper wire. Exposed bare copper wire greatly increases the chances of electrical malfunction or serious injury.
Even when circuits are turned off, the danger of electrical shock remains. In a commercial building, which may have hundreds of circuits, the possibility of a wrong circuit being left on is a very real danger. Also, circuits may be accidentally turned back on during a wiring project. Using a VoltClaw provides another level of protection.
Molded from rugged, impact-resistant nylon, the Voltclaw-12 has no metal parts and is nonconductive up to 1000V. Its smooth edges allow an electrician to safely bend and move wires without damaging insulation, unlike with standard metal tools that can nick and break insulation. Since ergonomics plays a role in the tool safety, the Voltclaw-12 was designed to encourage a confident grip with only minimal torque required to secure, bend and pull wires. The stress-reducing contoured grip feels natural and comfortably in a gloved hand.
Although Voltclaw-12 weighs just a few ounces and measures less than 9 inches it is a rugged tool. It is equipped with six unique functions that greatly contribute to its value. Using the Voltclaw, the electrician can:
Reach inside crowded junction boxes, service panels and other applications to tightly grab wires with either one of the tool’s two Pull Hooks;
Push, pull, or bend wires with the T-Groove by sliding the wire into the groove and twisting the tool;
Push wires back into outlets, switch boxes, GFCIs or other tight spaces with the tool’s V-groove. Push in ground wires first, white wires second and hot wires last;
Create a J-shaped loop on the end of a pre-stripped wire with the Loop Bender. Electricians need a J-shaped loop to attach wires securely to the screws on the side of a receptacle or a switch; and
Remove or tighten twist-on wire connectors with the built-in wrench. Simply slide the wire connector into the wrench and turn counterclockwise for loosening or clockwise for tightening.
The concept behind the Voltclaw emerged nearly a decade ago. While on a job site working on a junction box, NTC founder Warren Tarbell and an apprentice were confronted with a breaker that couldn’t be shut off.
Recalls Tarbell: “The apprentice said, ‘I wish I had a toothbrush to pull this wire out of the box,’ and that’s what sparked the Voltclaw idea. Electricians want a nonconductive tool that lets them reach into a deep junction box, outlet box, switch, or breaker panel and simply grab the wire. There was nothing like it on the market.”
It took Tarbell and his team more than eighty prototypes to arrive at the current design. “I had a lot of assistance along the way,” he notes. “There were a lot of long days and late nights but in the end we introduced a tool that does more than just move, push and pull wires. It does it safer.”
For complete information, visit www.voltclaw.com.
