EEI Tech Tools and Equipment Flashcards

What is the primary function of a megohmmeter (megger)?

Answer: Test the insulation resistance of cables and motor windings

A megohmmeter applies high voltage and measures resistance in megaohms, revealing degraded or compromised insulation before it causes equipment failure.

Which device is used during electrical maintenance to prevent accidental re-energization of equipment?

Answer: Lockout/tagout (LOTO) device

Lockout/tagout devices physically lock energy controls in the off position and attach warning tags, preventing accidental energization while maintenance is performed.

What does an oscilloscope primarily display?

Answer: The waveform of a voltage signal plotted against time

An oscilloscope plots voltage against time, allowing technicians to visualize signal shape, frequency, amplitude, and timing relationships.

A fish tape (wire puller) is primarily used to:

Answer: Pull electrical wire through conduit or wall cavities

Fish tape is a long, flexible steel or fiberglass tape fed through conduit or wall cavities to pull electrical wire from one location to another.

Which tool compresses a metal terminal or connector firmly onto a wire to create a secure connection?

Answer: Crimping tool

A crimping tool uses a shaped die to deform a connector around a wire, creating a gas-tight mechanical and electrical connection without solder.

What advantage does a clamp meter have over a standard multimeter when measuring current?

Answer: It measures AC current in a live conductor without disconnecting the circuit

A clamp meter's jaws sense current magnetically around an intact conductor, eliminating the need to break the circuit that an inline ammeter would require.

What is the purpose of a tone generator and probe (cable tracer kit)?

Answer: Identify and trace a specific cable within a bundle or wall

The tone generator injects a signal into a target cable, and the inductive probe detects that tone to identify and trace the specific cable among many.