Abstract: Apparatus for high voltage power line maintenance and repair. In some embodiments, a power tool has a housing which encloses an electrical load and a control electronics circuit using a first shield as a layer of conductive material which is open at a battery pack receiving slot of the housing configured to receive a removable battery pack. A removable boot surrounds the removeable battery pack and has a second shield as a layer of conductive material which combines with the first shield to form a combined shield that nominally encloses the power tool and the boot. An insulative hot stick supports the power tool at a distal end and a user interface at a proximal end. The user interface includes a communication circuit that communicates with the control electronics circuit via a non-conductive communication link that extends along the hot stick to selectively activate the electrical load.

Abstract: Apparatus configured for high voltage power line maintenance and repair. In some embodiments, a power tool has a housing that encloses an electrical load and a control electronics module, the housing having a first shield layer of conductive material and being open at one end to receive a removable battery pack. A conductive boot removably attaches to the housing to surround the battery pack, the boot having a second shield layer of conductive material which, when installed onto the boot, combines with the first shield layer to form a combined shield that nominally encloses the power tool and the boot. A locking feature interlocks the boot to the housing. In further embodiments, the power tool is supported at a distal end of an insulated hot stick. A user interface is supplied at a proximal end of the hot stick to selectively activate the power tool.