Lighting

[mezza95]

Changing a bulb in an outside security light and getting a shock when the bulb explodes because i was handed a 110v bulb instead of 250v bulb.
all you saw was a big blue flash and glass all over the place!!

Worse part was walking back down ladder shaking like a leaf.

 

[xr4x4]

?

Why didn't you turn off the power?

 

[mezza95]

To be honest i never used to turn the power off for such a simple job but now i always do.

I learnt my lesson the hard way though!

 

[wingcoax]

You were lucky you were able to climb down the ladder.

 

[mezza95]

My father said its a good job i had one hand still on the ladder so i didnt fall back!

 

[RedHerring2]

I've had a light bulb break as I was removing it, a long time ago, 'when I were a lad'. Fortunately power was off.

No real damage, just the gasps from the typists, as I was walking back through the typing pool with blood running down my arm and dripping off my elbow.

 

[mezza95]

red H

what sort of light bulb was it ??

 

[xr4x4]

I have put in standard household bulbs before while live, but I would never do it with a flood light bulb!

 

[mezza95]

Ive changed 4 or 5 floodlight bulbs with no problems normally just as it was wrong voltage.

 

[RedHerring2]

red H

what sort of light bulb was it ??

Just an ordinary 240V BC lamp. I can't remember the wattage now, it was a long time ago and I never bothered looking at the manufacturer's name.
It wasn't uppermost in my mind at the time!

 

[mezza95]

Red H

Okay thanks for your reply.

 

[Stoday]

It's a bit basic — switch off before removing the plug or replacing a bulb. And for 2-way lights, make sure that the lights go off when both switches are off.