Electrical Puzzle!

[Gerry Pallotta]

Actually there are panels out there that do bend outward but for some reason they haven't gained in popularity.

Gerry

[tneyedli1]

Originally Posted by rwand1

I have had some minor mishaps with electrical panels.

1. Putting screw back into panel cover the screw hit a live wire. (Pointed screw)
2. Putting screw back on panel and receiving shock from panel.
3. Client in bare feet leans on basement refrigerator and gets zapped.
4. Putting panel cover back on and hitting something live and causing sparks, no shock.

This is over a sixteen year span.

More often than not that pointed screw (just by accident) gets dropped between the wall and the ouside of the service panel when I am putting the dead front cover back into place.
Alpha Home Inspections Ltd.
www.alphahomeinspections.ca

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Look....chances are you bonded yourself to the panel and while probing your right hand touched a conductor that has it's insulation worn down or missing and well you formed a good bond....keep in mind that since a panel is usually enameled...it would have been MUCH better if you just reached out and grabed a good ole' bonded waterpipe or something...

All jokes aside.....use the back pocket rule...never rest one hand on a panel while you probe or mess with the panel with the other hand....or if you are going to venture around...keep one hand in your back pocket to eliminate the risk of coming in contact and making a GOOD circuit.

[kbroad]

Good idea! Thanks!

[Douglas Cossar]

What Paul said!!!

That was the FIRST thing my electrical instructor taught us in High School!

Cheers

[Richard L. Bennett]

Remember that the same electrical killer is in every electrical device in your home and you do not think twice about it.

You could have gotten the same shock from a bad lamp cord. State side we base most everything on 120 volts -- Many countries use 240 volts as the standard and that will make your hair stand up right now.

What you probably felt was a little shock caused by some contamination on the insulation. If you had not had a complete circuit with the other hand or wet feet you would never have known about it.

I would have checked further to have found the real problem and put it in my report.

Don't want one of our clients to get hurt on something that we might have missed.

If everything was as you stated you should not have been shocked. You did sin by not wearing the proper gloves and using both hands

BTW Do not count on the "HOT stick testers" they will miss lead you --- I tested my screen door the other day and it said that it was electricity hot - same with some wallpaper with metal threads in it. Understand the limits of and use test equipment properly

Just my thoughts

rlb

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Electricity 40 Volts (and some times less will kill you) just as dead as 240 volts.
So many people become so blase about electricity .
I am dumbfounded with some of the things I hear about some Home Inspectors .
Please be carefull it is deadly .
The person who knows nothing is better off then some who have a bit of Knowledge .
Been there seen much
.
Roy Cooke

[Richard L. Bennett]

Roy

Did not want to sound blase about electricity. Understand - have respect - get some experience - but DO NOT get over tight and let your good background keep you from doing a good job - first for your self and then your client.

A dead HI can't write a good report and should have someone give the fee back

Not good.

Good post about the shocking subject -- it started some thinking on the subject

rlb

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by rbennett

Roy

Did not want to sound blase about electricity. Understand - have respect - get some experience - but DO NOT get over tight and let your good background keep you from doing a good job - first for your self and then your client.

A dead HI can't write a good report and should have someone give the fee back

Not good.

Good post about the shocking subject -- it started some thinking on the subject

rlb

Sorry if it came across bad, I was not talking about you I was trying to talk to every body .
Electricians themselves can and do become blase .
As I said been there done that fortunately I was lucky.
Roy Cooke

[Mario A. Kyriacou, CHI]

Originally Posted by rcooke

Excuse me I have to answer the phone ,17 times today and they always hang up when I answer.
I know I am a sicky tooooo
Roy Cooke

It wasn't me Roy Honest!!!