1
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the
Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of Cooper Industries,
Inc. for the registration of $300,000,000 of debt securities and to the
incorporation by reference therein of our report dated January 23, 1995, with
respect to the consolidated financial statements of Cooper Industries, Inc.,
included as Appendix A to the Cooper Industries, Inc. Proxy Statement for the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 25, 1995 and incorporated by
reference in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1994,
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
                                          /s/  ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 
Houston, Texas
January 8, 1996