The July edition of the Professional Builder podcast showcases the Bosch range of VDE hand tools and its Electrical Testers. Here, the company’s Power Tools trainer, Daniel Parks provides us with some insight into what’s discussed.
It would be fair to say that Bosch would not be a name you would immediately associate with hand tools. As part of its blue professional range, however, the German manufacturer has in actual fact been supplying solutions to this market for the past three years.
The voltage protecting VDE products, for example, come together as an extensive portfolio. The inquisitive amongst you might already be wondering what the initials actually stand for. The name comes from Verband der Elektrotechnik and this is the official German governing body that sets the standard for electrical hand tools. Undertaking rigorous testing, VDE classed products must reach their standards and Bosch has raised the bar on its VDE range.
“Thanks to its construction, and insulation in the handle, the Bosch VDE range is effective up to 1,000 volts,” explains Bosch UK Power Tools Trainer, Daniel Parks. “What that offers is a vital additional level of protection should you come into contact with a live cable, and in many applications that makes them an essential piece of kit.”
“They really come into their own in situations where a building has been rewired multiple times, and you’re not 100% sure whether the circuits that you’re going to be working on or near to are completely switched off or isolated. Even if you’ve isolated the circuit – and you’ve completed all the relevant checks – when it comes to health and safety measures, a VDE hand tool is your last but vital line of defence. It’s designed specifically to prevent the energy from a circuit passing through your body and causing injury.”
In screwdrivers the VDE range covers pretty much every application with Slotted, Phillips, Pozi, Torx, and Socket driver examples available – and with more to be added in the future. That’s just part of the VDE collection, as Daniel reveals: “When it comes to pliers you name it, we’ve got it. Whether it’s cable crimpers, multiple cable cutters – both long and short – combination pliers, long nose pliers, and wire strippers, whatever job you have on we’ve got a pair of pliers for the occasion.”
A comprehensive range
The comprehensive theme continues with a dismantling and stripping knife, whilst the spanners currently come in the most common sizes of 8mm, 10mm, 13mm, and 17mm sizes.
For Daniel, the guiding principle for each of these tools should be ergonomics, and it’s a feature that Bosch has prioritised in its VDE hand tools: “I always emphasis in our training that one of the most important things about a tool is how it feels in the hand, and that you’re completely comfortable when using it.
That’s why all our VDE tools are equipped with a soft grip, and in the case of our plier range wider handles. “That means, if you’re applying pressure, it’s going to strain on your hands, even in extended use. There are shoulders at the end of the handle to stop your hand sliding forward, and potentially coming into contact with the metal, and the pivot point has been deliberately moved forward to provide more leverage and reduce fatigue. Although these are details in the design, they are ultimately very important because they can mitigate against debilitating conditions, such as white finger, and other nerve-related issues.”
Bosch aims to be a one-stop shop for the trades, and that’s why its VDE hand tools are complemented by a range of electrical testers. Again, it’s an offering that should span most applications. “We supply a Non-Contact Voltage Detector GVD 1000-17, that has different ways of
providing feedback,” Daniel enthuses. “There’s a standard audible sound if you’re near a live cable. A visual alert through changing lights and haptic feedback (vibration).
“Whether it’s the display, mounting or their overall user friendliness, Bosch has thought about just how these machines are used and what can be improved upon. “When it comes to the Digital Multimeter GDM 600-15 – along with the Fork Meter GFM 1000-15 and Clamp Meter GMC 600-15 – the inverted LCD display has a black screen with white writing. That makes it so much easier to see, especially in darker situations. Nor will it pick up as much glare in sunnier conditions.”
Safety first
Daniel outlines a typical application with the Bosch Non-contact Voltage Tester GVD 1000-17. “If something’s not working in a system, and you have to chase through to find the issue, then our Non contact Voltage Tester is what you’d reach for. It will check if there’s any voltage actually getting to the appliance or the circuit that you’re looking at. When it comes to tracing it back to the fuse board, you can again use the Non-contact Voltage Tester. If, for instance, a fuse has gone then the Digital Multimeter is your go to solution, whilst for overloaded circuits, a Clamp Meter or Fork Meter will do the job.
Durability has not been neglected either. All Bosch electrical meters feature a robust rubberised housing that’s been drop tested to two meters. They are IP rated against dust and water splashes, and are provided in separate, sturdy cases. Some of our electrical testers have magnetic hangers that complement the rubber feet. If you’re working with metal doors or metal casing, you can mount the tools on these and carry out the testing more comfortably.”
“We’ve given a great deal of consideration to how these tools will be used on site with multiple features that will improve the end user experience.”
If you would like to find out more about the Bosch range of VDE hand tools visit: Insulated hand tools Hand tools.
For more on the Bosch Electrical Testers go to: Electrical testers Measuring technology.
Listen to the latest episode of the Professional Builder Podcast below:
