live electric
- Thread starter rabu
- Start date
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BS3036 is right. It only takes a slight mistake and risking your life is not a healthy option. Safely isolate and then work on the circuit.
Remember electric can and does kill!
Remember electric can and does kill!
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No, there are very few occasions that warrant live working.
I am sure most electricians can show you at least one blown up 1000 volt tool.
The tool may prevent you getting a shock, but the flash and molten metal is just as dangerous.
The reason I have 1000 volt tools is for the occasional times when things do go wrong through other unforeseen reasons.
Not for the purpose of live works.
I am sure most electricians can show you at least one blown up 1000 volt tool.
The tool may prevent you getting a shock, but the flash and molten metal is just as dangerous.
The reason I have 1000 volt tools is for the occasional times when things do go wrong through other unforeseen reasons.
Not for the purpose of live works.
J
joinerjohn
I remember years ago, my dad had a security light fitted to his house. JB in the attic and wires through the wall to the outside. After about 5 yrs the light stopped working. He asked me to help replace the light so, I go up the attic armed with the tester screwdriver he gave me. Undid the top of the JB, he shouts up that he'd pulled the fuse on the circuit he thought the light was wired into. I placed the tester screwdriver against the terminals in the JB, no light on the screwdriver so tells him, yep thats the one. Starts undoing the wires with a bigger screwdriver and BANG!!! I ended up about 3 ft away from the JB, arm tingling, smoke from me hair etc etc 
Turns out, he had 2 tester screwdrivers, one of them didn't work... Guess which one he'd gave me?? Needless to say I broke it in two and put it straight in his bin
Turns out, he had 2 tester screwdrivers, one of them didn't work... Guess which one he'd gave me?? Needless to say I broke it in two and put it straight in his bin
J
Johnmelad502
Why would you want to work live, what is the reason?
The mistake was not using the wrong screwdriver, but trusting them in the first place.
reason: Swapping a plug socket over, its cracked so need replacing and is a "spur" so only 3 wires, 1 Cable. also my mate who is also a sparky normally replaces switches, sockets... Live using insulated tools. id ask him to do it but he wont do anything for free.
Hang on, why would it be such a hardship to turn off the circuit?Your mate sounds like a liability.
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Yup. Just isolate the circuit safely, change the socket and get on with your life.
And don't go working with your mate.
And don't go working with your mate.
Some sockets have the earth bar going across the hole where the live terminal is, so there is a high risk of the screwdriver end shorting out.
there is no excuse for changing a socket live. there is no need, whether or not your electrician friend does it regularly is another matter, what he chooses to do is dangerous and unnecessary. you could probably get away with changing X amount of components in a live system without any mistakes or belts, but it only takes one to cause serious injury. You hear of poeple getting 240 belts all the time and live to tell the tale of " nahh it was nothing, it only hurt a bit, nothing to worry about" but in the end it only takes a small amount of current to travel through the heart in order to cause fibrillation.
find out what fuse or MCB the circuit is on, isolate and then test the terminals at the socket with a suitable tester i.e a voltage indicator to make sure there is no power there. then use your 1000v tool to change the socket.
find out what fuse or MCB the circuit is on, isolate and then test the terminals at the socket with a suitable tester i.e a voltage indicator to make sure there is no power there. then use your 1000v tool to change the socket.
Are you sure your friend is an electrician?
I wonder how much of what he was taught he chooses to forget if he is one?
I would not work live for anyone.
Don't be foolish, switch off the power. Test that it is switched of using an approved lamp / tester and make sure no one can switch it back on while you are working. Also with electrical work it is wise not work alone. That is if it is possible someone can be there with you then you going to be much safer.
I am not being funny, but your mate doesn't value his life highly enough. Do you?
Martin
I wonder how much of what he was taught he chooses to forget if he is one?
I would not work live for anyone.
Don't be foolish, switch off the power. Test that it is switched of using an approved lamp / tester and make sure no one can switch it back on while you are working. Also with electrical work it is wise not work alone. That is if it is possible someone can be there with you then you going to be much safer.
I am not being funny, but your mate doesn't value his life highly enough. Do you?
Martin
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