• Marine electrical systems are similar to land electrical systems.boat image by apeschi from Fotolia.com
  
  Marine electrical systems at first may seem like a mystery. Investigating, however, reveals nothing too extraordinary. Marine electrical systems are very similar to car or industrial electrical systems. If you read the schematics, or electrical plans of a boat, you quickly discover that it is like any other schematic. Common tools used by all electricians are all that are needed, so you don't have to spend a fortune on special tools.
  
  

Multimeters

• Schools in the USA teach that voltmeters and ohmmeters are used by electricians. At the heart of every electrician's tool box is a multimeter, which combines a voltmeter and an ohmmeter into one enclosure or unit. Multimeters are used to measure volts, ohms and amps. Ohms are units of resistance. Amperes, or amps, are units of power. Seasoned electricians have two or three, never relying on just one. Before an electrician can work on a circuit, he must know if it is de-energized, or "dead." The only way to do this is with a multimeter, to test the circuit in question.
  
  

Screwdrivers

• Every electrician has a full set of screwdrivers. These include both regular and Phillips, in a variety of sizes. Many electricians also have a screwdriver with interchangeable tips, so one screwdriver can be carried in a tool pouch, instead of many.
  
  

Pliers

• Pliers are a necessity. These are used for pulling, cutting and attaching cable ties. A wide assortment is kept in the tool box, such as needle-nose, which have long thin jaws. Other pliers include slip joint pliers, which can adjust to different sizes, and wire-cutting pliers.
  
  

Terminal Crimps

• A terminal crimp is a special kind of pliers. Its jaws are specially designed to mash down on terminal ends. Terminal ends are small eyelets, made out of copper or brass. A wire is pushed in the hole on one side, and the end is crimped, or mashed down, on the wire securing it. A terminal crimp is the only tool that accomplishes this. Two or three sizes of terminal crimps are needed, to handle different size terminal ends.
  
  

Cheap Tools

• Seasoned marine electricians carry a full set of both good quality tools and cheap inferior quality tools. When working below deck, good quality tools are used. When working above deck, cheap tools are used. A wide difference in price exists between superior and inferior tools. Cheap tools are used above deck because of the possibility of accidentally dropping a tool in the water. A cheap tool is inexpensive, so the electrician is not going to worry about it.