Tackling An Electrical Problem On Your Own? These Top-Rated Harbor Freight Finds Can Help

If you're tackling an electricity problem on your own, then it's important to do things properly. Making adjustments to these systems is dangerous work, which is why many DIYers choose not to attempt certain pro-level electrical projects. That's not to say that you shouldn't do them, per se. But at the same time, you shouldn't take on any tasks that you're not confident you can complete safely. Nor should you attempt to perform electrical work without first arming yourself with the right equipment.

There are tools every homeowner should have, like a drill, a tape measure, some screwdrivers, and perhaps a bag of spare fuses for mending blown plugs. But do you have the electrical meters needed to tell if your home's power has been safely switched off? Do you have the correct splicing equipment to remove coating from cables without damaging the copper?

If your answer to any of these questions is "no," then this guide is for you. Here, we'll explore some of the best products at Harbor Freight for DIY electricians. Each is rated at least 4.3 stars, and each has been reviewed by at least 50 real users. We'll cover our methodology in more detail at the end. These tools have been chosen to help you complete your home electrical project without forking out on the cost of a contractor.

Whether you're joining wires or connecting them to a terminal, a crimping tool is an essential electrical tool. This 9 ½-inch Wire Crimping Tool from Doyle is designed to make the job of forming connections easier. Per the product description, its high-leverage design helps to exert intense pressure where it matters, without hurting your hands. It's also designed with a clearly-marked 2-in-1 die, which allows you to handle both insulated and non-insulated terminals. Induction-hardened cutting edges are designed to stay sharper. And when you add this to the product's 4.9-star rating, it's likely that this tool will prove to be a reliable choice.

That rating is the result of more than 750 user reviews, including 88% who awarded the tool 5 stars. Several users compared the tool to higher-end options, despite a significantly lower price. They noted the high-leverage design and how it makes crimping easier, even for those with arthritis, and they praised the tool's sturdiness when in use. "I've never been disappointed with any of the Doyle brand products," said one user. "These crimping pliers are no exception. These are the best electrical connector crimpers I've ever owned."

There are various crimping tools available through Harbor Freight, many of which cost less than their premium brand-name counterparts. Doyle's Heavy Duty Ratcheting Crimper is a good example. At $24.99, it's around $10 less than the equivalent crimper from Klein, which currently retails for around $35 at Home Depot. It's also backed by a lifetime warranty, which is reassuring. It features a non-slip grip that helps when applying pressure, and it benefits from a quick-release lever, which frees the jaw once your crimp has been set. Perhaps its most important feature, however, is its ratcheting function, which takes the strain off your hands, especially on large, repetitive crimping jobs.

Looking at the reviews, customers to date seem impressed. The product is rated 4.6 stars overall as a result of about 650 user reviews. Of those, over 500 have given the crimper top marks. They've praised it for delivering consistent, long-lasting crimps, and it receives such feedback from DIYers and professionals alike. Many also commented favorably on the price tag versus that of similar, box-box brands. As one buyer said, "I compared these to my buddies' Klein crimpers, and they are identical. Plus, the Harbor Freight ones were half the price. I made 20 crimps on 12 AVG, and these worked flawlessly. Buy a pair you won't be sorry."

This Cable Splicing Kit from Doyle is designed for precision cuts when splicing cables in your home. It could be an Ethernet cable extension for running broadband around your house. Or you may simply need a trusty pair of scissors for peeling insulation away from your home's wires and cables. The set comes in a belt-mounting pouch, allowing you to keep it handy during DIY jobs. What's more, according to those who've tried and tested it, the blades are razor sharp.

Overall, it's rated 4.7 out of 5 stars. More than 50 users to date have reviewed the set, and of those, 40 (76%) have awarded it top marks. Many agreed that it's a must-have piece of equipment, even if many of them also said that they don't have much use for the knife. The quality of the leather sheath has received high praise, as have the scissors, which many said are incredibly sharp. One user explained that they used it to prep Ethernet cables in their home, while several other professionals said that they keep the scissors on hand whenever they're on site. As one user, an electrician, said, "I use the shears daily and peel cable all the time. This works perfectly fine, why would I drop serious money when HF has the same quality tools at an amazing price!"

Multimeters are essential for electrical work. They can help with everything from verifying that a circuit is truly broken and therefore safe to work on, to troubleshooting a mysterious loss of power. Cen-Tech's 9-Function Digital Multimeter is no different. It's designed to serve as an electrician's "eyes," shedding light on what your electricity is doing without risking a dangerous shock. A backlit display makes it useful even in dark spaces, while a kickstand allows you to stand it up if you need your hands free. A data-hold function lets you review information later, too. This means that you can set it down and take measurements in tight spaces, then review the data. It's also capable of measuring capacitance, essential when diagnosing electrical failures.

To date, over 775 users have rated the product, and of those, over 600 have awarded it 5 stars. It's rated 4.7 out of 5 overall, and as for why, reasons vary. The backlight, kickstand, and audible continuity tester all receive praise. There are also plenty who appreciate its ability to check capacitance, including some who say that the feature has helped save a significant amount of money in repair bills. As one buyer, who used it to check their air conditioning capacitor and fix it without professional help, said, "This tool saved me $800-$1000 or more."

A circuit tester helps you identify whether a fuse has blown and whether a given circuit is capable of carrying the electrical current you need it to carry. That's precisely the job that Cen-Tech's 6/12V Circuit Tester is designed to do. It doesn't do much else, but for less than $5, you probably wouldn't expect it to. What you do get, however, is a pocket-friendly device that, according to users, is essential for anyone carrying out home or auto-electrical work.

To date, over 3,000 users have rated the product, and out of those, 80% have given it top marks. The tester is appreciated for its simplicity and the long, five-foot lead, which makes grounding the cable easier. It's also frequently rated as an excellent tool for finding electrical gremlins and hot wires in cars, tractors, and lawn mowers. "Great tool for isolating electrical problems in lawn tractors or cars," said one user. "Nice long cable allows easy access to all components in the vehicle's engine compartment."

If you're embarking on an electrical project, then your supply list should include a voltage tester. These tools are designed to help you check for voltage in outlets, fixtures, and circuit breakers. Crucially, they're designed to help you do it safely. Ames Instruments' Noncontact Voltage Tester is a good example. Its size and shape (like a pen) make it pocket-friendly, which is useful if you're laden down with other tools. It has an LED and an audible detector to double-check your findings, and it comes ready with an AAA battery.

As for ratings, most users agree that it's worth having for electrical work. Over 3,900 buyers have reviewed it, and of those, over 3,000 (77%) have awarded it top marks, lending to an overall 4.6-star rating. It earns praise for offering peace of mind and for clearly notifying users of a live circuit. Its compact shape earns compliments, too, for not weighing users down as they work their way through their DIY duties. As one user put it, the tester is "Compact, lightweight, and durable. Makes electrical work MUCH safer by finding live wires. I would not do electrical work without it."

If you're conducting electrical work away from your circuit breaker box, you'll want to identify the appropriate breaker switch as quickly as possible. Depending on how many switches are in your box, you could end up making countless trips across the house or up and down the stairs. Hi Tech's Circuit Breaker Detective is designed to eliminate the guesswork. Just plug the transmitter into the circuit you want to identify, then head to the breaker box, where the receiver will help identify the appropriate switch.

It's a handy piece of equipment, and to date, it's been given top marks by over 900 (64%) of more than 1,400 reviewers. It's rated 4.3 stars overall, and as for why, most agree that it's a real time saver, especially for those working by themselves. "Saved a lot of walking," said one user, who added, "This really saved me a lot of guessing what was what." Another, who said it "Did just what I needed," added that it "saved a lot of time running up and down the stairs to see if the power had been cut off."

Whether you're generally curious about your energy usage or need to see which household appliance uses the most energy in your home, an electric monitor is the ideal tool. P3 International's Kill A Watt Electric Monitor is designed to help you monitor your daily energy use, breaking it down by the year, month, week, day, and hour. It's useful for reducing your energy bills, as well as for testing whether certain appliances or devices are especially power hungry. It's also helpful for identifying those that draw too much power and therefore risk tripping your circuit breaker. And if you're struggling to determine which-sized generator your household needs, it can help you work that out, too.

It's rated 4.7 stars overall. Over 600 have reviewed the monitor, and out of those, over 500 (83%) have given it 5 stars. Customers have praised it for helping them reduce home energy costs, which it does by identifying what one user described as "energy pig" appliances. "You don't realize how much you need one of these till you get one," said one user. Another, who used it to find leaky circuits, said, "I was able to use this WATT meter to find equipment that was costing me money, even though they were switched off."

When stripping insulation from wire, it's important not to nick the metal underneath. Doing so can lead to various future issues, including breakages, intermittent connections, and even fires. With that in mind, a dedicated wire stripper and cutter is an essential tool for any DIY electrician. Doyle's Heavy Duty Wire Stripper and Cutter helps to minimize the risk of nicking the wire. It features guide holes for 8 to 20 AWG solid wire and 10 to 22 AWG stranded wire. These effectively remove the guesswork when stripping away insulation, allowing you to remove it without compromising the copper beneath.

Out of more than 470 users who've bought the tool so far, over 400 have given it 5 stars. It's rated 4.8 stars overall and earns praise for how easy it is to use compared to regular pliers. Unlike manual strippers, users like that its "squeeze and strip" action makes things both quicker and more precise. Many users said how easy the tool is to use, which is likely to be reassuring to potential buyers who have big jobs to complete or who struggle with arthritis. "I got these to wire up a house," said one buyer. "They make the job so much easier. Saved me hours of labor stripping wire. Wish I got them a long time ago."

There are various multi-tools at Harbor Freight that can help with an array of home projects, but one you may not have heard of is Doyle's Electrician's Multipurpose Pliers. They're designed to assist with a range of electrical jobs, and are a useful purchase if you'd prefer to avoid splurging on a bunch of individual tools. As for what they can do, they can strip 8 to 18 AWG solid and 10 to 20 AWG stranded wire. They can also crimp connectors, lugs, and terminals, and they can cut wires. A long nose allows for extended reach, and since they're likely to be used constantly, Doyle has designed them with dual handle materials to help improve both comfort and durability.

The tool is rated 4.8 out of 5 stars overall, which is impressive. Over 650 users have reviewed it so far, and of those, over 85% have given it top marks. Most agree that it's a great, go-to tool for various electrical jobs. It's appreciated for the curved cutting blade, which makes it great for thicker wires, as well as the long-nose tip, which makes looping wire around terminal screws easier. It's also praised for the simple fact that it fits conveniently into a pocket. One user, who said that it's their most-used tool when doing electrical DIY, said, "I have used this tool several times now for cutting, crimping, and bending wire. It's nearly flawless, and compared to those cheaper, flat stripping tools, this thing cuts and pulls insulation off like butter!"

These 11-inch Long-Reach Diagonal Cutters are an excellent example of Harbour Freight's Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Pro tools. Per the name (and the product description), these cutters are made to snip out-of-the-way wires. They're also useful for small fasteners and ties, and feature evenly-mated jaws that allow you to achieve clean cuts.

To date, over 390 users have reviewed the cutters, and out of those, over 300 have awarded them 5 stars. They achieve an overall score of 4.6 out of 5, largely because they do what the product description says they should. Most agreed that they are excellent for cutting various items, and several said the length of the handles provides the leverage needed to exert maximum force with minimal effort. "Never had a better pair of snips in my life," said one. "Being an automotive technician, there is not a day that goes by without me finding something to use them for."

In order to help you make an informed purchase decision on electrical tools from Harbor Freight, we focused this article on products that have achieved an overall rating of at least 4.3 out of 5 stars. To ensure that these ratings represent a fair appraisal of each product, we focused on tools that have been reviewed by at least 50 real Harbor Freight customers.