DIY ELECTRICIANS.. PLEASE NOTE

[BHD]

just because someone has a licence does not mean they know there trade,
and just because someone doesn't hold a licence means there clueless,

 

[GLyford]

 

[widefat]

You may think you know about electricity, and even realize there's thing you don't know (so they get ignored if everything works). But I guarantee there are aspects you don't even know that you don't know. And you know it.

Like Rumsfeld said:
"there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know"

True to a degree - but electricity as discussed in this thread is not humint or some mystical quark theory, it is an established science and practice. The knowledge is available to anyone willing to study and learn, and the practice is available through the NEC, books, even youtube.
Especially residential wiring - learn the code, follow the code, proper safety, permitted and inspected.
Stupid will always be stupid; electricty can be learned and practiced by just about anyone.

 

[mbohuntr]

One of the first things you are taught is not to become part of the circuit.
KILL THE PANEL!
Use one hand whenever possible inside hot panels, where it isn't feasible to kill the panel.
Assume it is hot until you prove otherwise..
Lock it out if there is any chance someone else can touch it..
If that fella was pulling wire in a hot panel, and he got careless...120V CAN KILL.

 

[mbohuntr]

View attachment 572566

^This!

 

[Fuddy1952]

Lots of great advice here from knowledgeable people. I just wanted to add one thing I do, after throwing breaker, after verifying no power with meter or other tester is using an insulated screwdriver is short wires together! That way you can be sure circuit is dead.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I work on most stuff live. It's just the way we used to do it. Not talking 600, although my step dad worked in a steel mill power house and worked on 600 live ALL THE TIME! Even got the odd shock!

Not that I suggest others think this way.

I think we are just tired of the Government telling us yet again what we can and can't do. The Ontario Government is coming down heavy on electrical offenders. Has LITTLE to do with SAFETY and just more levels of Government and TAXATION!



That about sums up the intelligence of a government authority. I wonder if they rifle the pockets of the corpse for payment?

 

[newbury]

Not dropping names, not the point, and that wasn't the poster.. The poster did not understand the basic purpose of a starter circuit, and when it was suggested to seek out a qualified electrician, they were rather indignant and said they can learn by doing, and people shouldn't be afraid to learn things themselves.. this is coming from memory, and not exactly quoted.
Either way, it is a good recipe for smoke and sparks. Maybe you get it right, maybe you die.. maybe you burn down your home with your family in it...
I have seen scorch marks where someone was standing before they died, another friends home burn down, and personally smoked circuitry because I didn't understand what I was touching.. this stuff is serious and not a "Hold my beer" hobby..

And it is not much like driving. With 3 phase it goes from 0 to 240V FAST. Most people learn driving starting at slow speeds where a small accident won't kill them.

just because someone has a licence does not mean they know there trade,
and just because someone doesn't hold a licence means there clueless,

But because someone has a licence that means either some authority has approved them or they have faked their license.

True to a degree - but electricity as discussed in this thread is not humint or some mystical quark theory, it is an established science and practice. The knowledge is available to anyone willing to study and learn, and the practice is available through the NEC, books, even youtube.
Especially residential wiring - learn the code, follow the code, proper safety, permitted and inspected.
Stupid will always be stupid; electricty can be learned and practiced by just about anyone.

And keep up to date on the code. I don't know how often it is updated but it is updated. For example on work I had done a few years ago I found I needed GFCI outlets in many existing fixtures that when built passed inspection with out GFCI based on code when originally installed.

 

[widefat]

I work on most stuff live. It's just the way we used to do it.

Yes, been there. In my younger days - you simply did not kill the main power feeding a couple of hundred racks in the network control center.
You learned to be methodical, patient, and thoughtful. And, where to hide if you did let the screwdriver slip and trip a few breakers.

 

[ctrider]

The NEC is a continuous cycle. Proposals are constantly being submitted, then are reviewed by different panels and approved every 3 years. Each state can then adopt or reject all or part of the new code. Some states have license requirements and others don’t, so you need to know what is required in your area