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Electrical hazard!

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Texasmame:

--- Quote from: hypernova on March 03, 2007, 07:38:46 pm ---Just had a guy come in.  (Someone my mom knew who services all kinds of things at the condo association she lives in.)

The problem?  2 bad breakers.  Glad to know I was right all along, and now the other breaker will be fixed, so we'll have a fully functional house!

Watched him dislodge the switch.  Just took a flathead to the inside portion of the switch, and beat it outwards, and it popped loose.  He's doing all this without even cutting the power.  Playing with cords and the tightening screws and such.  I ain't doing that.

Hell, he even touched the incoming wires that come from the outside with his bare hands.  I don't care what I saw, I will never ever ever do that.

--- End quote ---

Either you're mistaken or he's a complete moron.

 :laugh2:

I'll rewire a light switch, discharge a monitor, etc. but I won't WON'T mess with the breakers at all.  That's where the "dearly departed" voltages and amps live.   :scared

danny_galaga:

--- Quote from: USSEnterprise on March 02, 2007, 07:52:23 pm ---IIRC, there are two big ass wires usually coming into the box that will not shut off when you throw the main breaker, both of which carry 120v at an ungodly amperage. Other than that, everything should be safe. Basically, anything before the big breaker will still be hot.

I am not responsible for any damage to yourself or the universe because of you following my advice

--- End quote ---

amps is amps guys. your body will draw a certain amount directly in proportion to its resistance. the wires coming out of your switch can handle as much amperage as is needed to kill you. if you touch a wire thats rated much higher, youll still draw the same amperage. doesnt matter if its a light cord, or a cable 12" thick. if it has 120v (240 in civilised countries  ;)) then thats all you need to tell you its dangerous. of course if its 3 phase then the voltage is higher and thus the amperage will be higher. BUT THE LOWEST VOLTAGE IN YOUR HOUSE IN THE SMALLEST WIRE can still kill you.dont ever make the mistake of thinking that this wire is safer than that.

anyway, glad you took the safest option hyper (",)

Ed_McCarron:

--- Quote from: Texasmame on March 03, 2007, 09:49:59 pm ---Either you're mistaken or he's a complete moron.

--- End quote ---

No, I'm sure he saw it.  Work with electricity enough, and you get complacent.  I can't count the number of times I've redone a (switch/outlet) while live.  As long as you don't touch anything else, and your shoes are decent insulators, you can safely touch the hot wire.  I do it all the time.  Your body is at potential 120v, and as long as you don't ground out, no worries.

I don't recommend it to amateurs, tho.  And definitely don't let anyone break your concentration.

How do you think the guys that fix the HV distribution lines do it?  The boom on their bucket is fiberglass - they shunt themselves to the live wire to work on it - no differential, no danger.

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