DIY ELECTRICIANS.. PLEASE NOTE

[mbohuntr]

As much as I detest Government intervention. I do think that when a person buys a house or whatever, it's nice to know that things, not just electrical, were done to some code. Working as an electrician, I got more than one shock from someone having livened up the neutral. Kind of pisses a guy off.

As for the wind storm, I wish! The power didn't as much as flicker, despite our rather long, old, getting increasingly overgrown (again) , rickety line that feeds our place. I had the genset all warmed up too.

I am still curious and never heard how that guy electrocuted himself during the last tropical storm (news cycle long over, can't remember the name) with his generator.

I would guess the gen had a double male whip, and he started it before plugging it in.

Mine did, and I always told my wife to turn off main, turn off outlet, plug in generator, start generator, flip outlet breaker..

 

[Industrial Toys]

When I was about twelve, I built a radio and had no proper recessed male for the back, so I ended up with a double cord. I once pressed the prongs together with my fingers to make them tighter. I think I got rid of that system after that.

Anyway, not sure how a double cord would have killed him. Maybe some people just have a weak heart. I know a deceased friend who was working on some 600 volt shop equipment (in his 70s) . He got stuck there, conscious, and saw his grandson come near, hoping he would not touch him. I don't remember how he escaped but I think he had some short term issues and fully recovered. So I don't know why some people perish with far less.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Two true electrical funnys for you.
(If anyone thinks they are)

At the homeplace there's a barn, actually a workshop built in 1942. There are tall metal poles going to it from Grandparents home to it...about 300ft away. Next to granddads bed is a single fusebox, cloth covered copper wire there on insulators on poles maybe 15 ft in air. One hot wire! Below that is another one wire with four 30volt 60watt bulbs in series. The barn has a driven ground for neutral.
As a kid drilling something using those old metal cased drills if you got zapped you knew you had to reverse the plug.

Other at house here in a room added in 1985 are two ceiling fans. I ran wire and two 2 way switches for them, one by entry door, one going to rest of house. The contractor stippled ceiling, I wired fans then realized I screwed up...3 wires instead of 4.
Next day I showed contractor it worked...not with 4 but 1 wire! He said "I never want to know how you did it".
Actually it works fine...it's certainly not up to code! Each switch flips either hot or neutral. The problem is (and we never do it) is if both switches are up, both fans & lights get power, so they're off.
Floor is tile...but theoretically if someone worked on that circuit live it's actually hot to ground, although it appears to be off.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have fudged stuff like that for ceiling fans. Used the ground as a current carrying conductor. BAD! Of course you MARK the neutral.

There are a few appliances around here that I swear I will grind the one prong smaller, like the coffee grinder, because I always try and plug it in wrong, half asleep and half blind in the morning.

 

[newbury]

I view electricity and gas lines as much more dangerous than HVAC or plumbing. I don't know the numbers but I bet more houses are QUICKLY destroyed by bad electrical wiring than by bad plumbing.

You might be surprised to hear otherwise then. Had an insurance agent tell me and my friend one time that plumbing/water causes way more damage than electrical problems overall. Now an electrical problem may cause loss of the entire house, but plumbing incidents are so much more common and can cause so much damage dollar wise that they add up to much more overall than electrical issues. Obviously that is POV of insurance folks, but was surprising to hear, IMO.

As for the topic, I am with many posters: Home wiring is not rocket science but electricity does deserve significant respect. But outright fear is not productive. Ask. Learn. Do. And be careful.

No I wouldn't be surprised at all that plumbing (and termites) cause more damage. That is why I capitalized quickly.

 

[stingray1]

Good advice, be careful...electricity and all sorts of mechanical things as well. Most accidents people in a hurry. Take your time.
Never, ever work on a live circuit! Throw the main breaker. There are inexpensive polarity testers. Never assume power is off but be sure it is.
An extra minute can save injury or life.
I use six extra jackstands before getting under a car. People think I'm crazy!

Good advise

 

[Industrial Toys]

I hope those six jackstands are the "good" ones from HF.

It's like extension ladders. I tie them off at the bottom or park something in front of them if the pegs aren't in soft ground..