Top electrician gadgets from handy stocking fillers to must have tools

Electricians love gadgets. Always have, probably always will. Whether it’s the latest multifunction tester, a tool kit upgrade, or even something practical enough to count as a stocking filler, s parks are constantly looking for kit that makes life easier on site. The tools themselves evolve, but the principle stays the same: work faster, work safer, get home earlier. 

Here’s what’s actually worth your money in 2025, backed by what electricians are using right now. 

Apps Every UK Electrician Should Know About 

Mobile apps are as common as multimeters now. Back when smartphones first took off, electrician toolbox apps became essential reference points. Cable calculations, BS 7671 spacing checks, fault-finding tips. All on your phone. That hasn’t changed, but the apps themselves have improved massively. 

iCertifi 

The most popular certification app in the UK right now. Generates professional BS 7671 certificates directly on your phone or tablet. EICRs, PAT tests, Minor Works certificates, all offline. No signal? Not a problem. The app stores everything locally and syncs when you’re back online. 

For anyone working towards NVQ Level 3, iCertifi directly supports portfolio evidence gathering because the certificates are properly formatted, date-stamped, and compliant. 

EasyCert Mobile and CS Certs 

Alternatives to iCertifi that do the same job with slight variations in interface. EasyCert lets you customise templates. CS Certs works seamlessly across phones and tablets. Pick whichever interface you prefer, but have one of these three on your phone. 

Megger Cable Calculator+ 

Free app from Megger. Includes cable selection and volt-drop calculators. Works for installations up to 25kW / 100A. User-friendly interface ideal for quick checks on site. It doesn’t replace proper design c alculations (you still need to do the work), but for sparks balancing speed and accuracy on domestic jobs, it’s genuinely useful. 

QuickBooks 

Not strictly an electrician app, but if you’re self-employed or planning to be, QuickBooks handles invoicing, expenses, and tax returns without needing an accountant for every transaction. Integrates with bank accounts, tracks mileage, and generates reports for HMRC. For those setting up after training, it’s like having a virtual accountant in your pocket. 

ElectroDroid 

Originally Android-only, now available on iOS too. Free version includes specs, formulas, and calculators. Pro version adds advanced features like voltage drop calculators and LM317 regulator specs. Popular among both learners and seasoned electricians because it’s fast and doesn’t require constant internet access. 

PAT Testing: What’s Actually Worth Buying in 2025 

Portable appliance testing has moved on significantly. The Seaward Apollo series used to be the gold standard (colour display, risk assessment tools, huge data storage), and honestly, it still is. The Apollo 600+ is 5th Edition compliant, integrates PAT testing with a risk assessment calculator, has an inbuilt camera to document testing and visual inspections, and stores thousands of records. 

Price? Around £1,268 ex VAT. That’s not cheap, but for professional PAT testing organisations or electricians doing high-volume testing, it pays for itself through saved time and reduced errors. 

Budget Options 

If you’re a small firm or just starting out, the Megger PAT350 (around £1,070 ex VAT) offers dual voltage testing with flash test, earth bond at 200mA/10A/25A, insulation, touch, differential, and substitute leakage testing, plus RCD testing. Designed for desktop use with dedicated test buttons for easy access. 

The Kewtech PAT series offers cost-effective options that are remotely operable using the Kewtech PAT App. Print barcodes and QR codes to speed up testing. Prices start around £500-£600 for basic models. 

The Real Question: Is Premium Worth It? 

For small firms doing PAT testing occasionally, basic models (£300-£400) are adequate. But if you’re doing audits regularly or testing hundreds of appliances, premium testers like the Megger PAT410 (£1,178 ex VAT) or Seaward Apollo series save hours through data storage, wireless connectivity, and automated report generation. 

The IET’s Code of Practice is non-negotiable. Every PAT tester we’ve mentioned meets those standards. The price difference is about speed, storage, and reporting. 

Multifunction Testers: The Big Investment 

If you’re moving into inspection and testing roles (or already there), multifunction testers are where the s erious money goes. These aren’t gadgets. They’re essential kit. 

The Big Four Brands 

Megger: Known for robustness and extensive support for RCD types including Type B (pure DC). The MFT1741+ offers advanced testing capabilities suitable for complex systems. High-end, but built to last. 

Kewtech: Excellent value. The KT66DL includes high current loop testing and support for EVSE charging point tests, making it versatile for modern installations including EV chargers. Popular choice for sparks doing a mix of domestic and commercial work. 

Metrel: Similar feature set to Kewtech, often slightly cheaper. Good warranty support. 

Fluke: The gold standard for durability and precision. Fluke’s reputation means you’re paying for reliability and comprehensive functionality. More expensive than Kewtech or Metrel, but you’re buying a tool that’ll outlast your apprenticeship, your first van, and possibly your first marriage. 

For EV charging installations (which are booming), you need a tester that supports EVSE tests. Kewtech KT66DL and several Megger models do this. Standard multifunction testers don’t. 

Tool Theft: Still a Problem, Better Solutions 

Tool theft hasn’t gone away. If anything, it’s worse because quality tools are worth more. The ESP CanCam was an early rapid-deployment camera that gave electricians a way to monitor vans and sites. Motion detection, night recording, battery operation. 

Camera technology’s improved massively since then. Now you’ve got: 

• SmartWater tool marking: UV-coded liquid that permanently marks your tools. Theft recovery rates jump significantly when tools are SmartWater-marked. 

• GPS trackers: Hidden in tool bags or individual high-value items. Some vans now come with factory-fitted tracking. 

• Van vaults and deadlocks: Physical security still matters. A vault bolted to the van floor takes time to break into, and thieves want speed. 

• Remove tools overnight: Obvious, but it works. If your tools aren’t in the van, they can’t be nicked. 

Insurance helps after the fact, but prevention’s cheaper. 

Professional Tool Kits: The Ready-To-Go Option 

Brands like CK and Klein Tools produce kits tailored for electricians. VDE-rated screwdrivers, pliers, cutters, wire strippers, measuring tools, all in one case. Instead of buying tools piecemeal over months, these kits offer a ready-to-go setup. 

Klein Tools 80141 Hand Tools Kit (41-piece with bag) is popular in the UK. Includes screwdrivers, nut drivers, pliers, wire strippers, crimpers, coax cutters, non-contact voltage tester, outlet tester, and a proper tool bag. Price? Around £200-£300 depending on the supplier. 

For apprentices or career changers just starting the C&G 2365 Level 3 Diploma, a professional kit means you’re ready to put theory into practice without scrambling to buy individual tools every week. 

Total cost for a fully kitted electrician (multimeter, voltage tester, insulated screwdrivers/pliers, wire strippers, cable cutters, tape measure, torch, proper bag) ranges from £1,000 to £2,800 depending on brand quality. 

Budget-Friendly Gadgets for Apprentices 

Not everything needs to cost hundreds of pounds. Some of the most useful gadgets are cheap: 

Telescopic magnetic pick-up tool: £10-£15. Retrieves screws or dropped fittings from awkward places. Saves minutes every time you drop something down a cavity wall or behind a consumer unit. 

LED torch (proper one, not your phone): £15-£30. Hands-free headlamp versions are even better. When the power’s off and you’re working in a loft, your phone torch isn’t cutting it. 

Voltage tester (non-contact): £20-£50. Klein Tools and Fluke both make reliable versions. Essential for quick checks before you touch anything. 

Wire strippers (decent ones): £10-£20. Cheap wire strippers nick conductors. Proper ones don’t. Worth the tenner. 

Multimeter (entry-level): £30-£60. AstroAI, Klein Tools, and Milwaukee all make affordable models that measure voltage, current, and resistance accurately. 

Fibreglass Ladders: Worth the Extra Cost? 

Yes. Aluminium ladders are lighter and cheaper, but if you touch a live conductor whilst on an aluminium ladder, you’re completing a circuit to ground. Fibreglass ladders are non-conductive (essential for electrical safety up to 1,000V) and stronger. 

Price difference? Aluminium stepladders cost £50-£100. Fibreglass versions cost £100-£200. The extra £50-£100 might save your life. Not hyperbole. Actual electrical safety. 

Modern Testers: Data Storage and Sharing 

Multifunction testers like the Megger MFT1700 store 10,000 results internally and share via Bluetooth to apps or PCs for EICR reports. The Fluke 1587 combines insulation testing with a True RMS multimeter, stores thousands of readings, and downloads to PC for archiving. 

This matters for portfolio evidence (NVQ Level 3 requires documented proof of testing), for client records (professional reports win repeat business), and for your own protection (if a job goes wrong, you’ve got timestamped proof of what you tested and when). 

Can Apps Replace Physical Regulation Books? 

Not for exams. Apps like IET Wiring Regulations and Ugly’s Electrical References provide digital BS 7671 access, which is brilliant for on-site checks. But exams are open-book, and most exam centres require physical books, not phones or tablets. 

For day-to-day work? Apps are faster. For 18th Edition exams? Bring the physical book. 

What Actually Matters 

Gadgets improve efficiency, protect safety, and make jobs smoother. In many cases, they’re investments. The right multifunction tester, PAT tester, or professional tool kit pays for itself through saved time and improved accuracy. 

But gadgets don’t make you an electrician. Training does. Qualifications do. Time on site does. The kit just makes it easier once you know what you’re doing. 

At Elec Training, we support electricians from their first steps into the trade through advanced NVQs and specialist courses. We cover not only regulations and wiring principles but also the safe and smart use of modern tools. Pairing solid training with the right kit is the quickest way to build both skill and confidence. 

Call us on 0330 822 5337. We’ll walk you through the training routes (Level 2, Level 3, NVQ, AM2), recommend which tools you actually need at each stage (not just what manufacturers want to sell you), and connect you with our in-house recruitment team placing students with 120+ partner contractors across the West Midlands. No hype. Just practical guidance that prepares you for real work.