Made a big mistake!!!

[bixby88]

So i was hanging a small white board in my room above a light switch. I saw that there were already holes that have been painted over, so I decided to use those (its a small white board). (I'm doing all this with the lights off, just using natural light) I put the nail in the first hole which was near the door trim and it only went in a little bit, so I gave it another good whack with the hammer, then my bedroom light just turns on and will not turn off!! I don't really know what to do at this point. I know what I did was pretty dumb so we can get around that one haha.

 

[Cigaro]

Sounds like you have nailed through the cable to the light switch, thereby joining live and switched live together. The first thing you should do is turn off that circuit at the consumer unit (fusebox) - anyone that touches that nail could get a nasty shock!

I'm sure someone else will be along soon to advise on repairing the cable.

 

[AndyPRK]

OP IS IN AMERICA

 

[viewer]

Cigaro is right about the likely cause, but please turn off all power. Once ALL the power is off you can cut away a little of the plasterboard and see what damage has been done. Be careful as there may be another cable in there (which is why all power off not just the lighting circuit). With any luck the wires will be OK and just the insulation damaged so you could separate the wires and repair the insulation. Any doubts get an electrician.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

delete

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

I don't really know what to do at this point. I know what I did was pretty dumb so we can get around that one haha.

Turn off/isolate the lighting circuit and call a local electrician. You have nailed through the line and switch live making the circuit, this means that not only is the light permanently on, but the nail is now live! The cable will now need either repairing or removing for new.

 

[rjm2k]

time to call out a local sparky

 

[ekmdgrf]

OP IS IN AMERICA

I've never been to the US but I'm pretty sure that current flows the same way there as it does here.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Yes, but it's bigger.

 

[AndyPRK]

lol

Just pointing out to people that the rules and regulations maybe different.

 

[mattylad]

Perhaps also advise DO NOT touch the nail until the power is off

 

[Cabbyfan]

Not exactly related but in my brothers old flat years ago there was two way lighting with one switch at the top of the entrance stairs and the other switch bring just inside the front door. Everyone complained about a funny tingling sometimes when switching on the lights but not every time.

When I investigated turns out the guy who wired it had used 1mm T&E and used the earth as one of the strap wires. That's bad in itself but hadn't even sleeved it and it was touching the metal backbox so that plus a cold wet damp night equals tingling..... I'm amazed to this day no one got a proper belt off it.