Want to learn more about wiring

[mrbigstuff]

But if you 'HAVE' to (really you don't), only touch things with one hand. Keep the other hand in your pocket. A shock from one hand to the other has a higher chance of killing you than a shock from one hand to a leg. Yes, I've worked on live circuits a few times because I HAD to (Mains breaker would not shut off and calling the power company would have been agonizing and I didn't have the time). And I've been shocked a number of times in my life.

one thing i was told by someone who designed and installed high voltage power systems is to never touch any wire that you suspect may be hot with an open fist; just touch the back of your hand to it, that way your muscles don't contract around the wire when hit by the current, thereby making you a crispy meat snack.

[TLB]

cbelt3 wrote:
Suggestion #1- Get a non-contact voltage sensor. Keep it in your pocket. Test EVERYTHING before you try to work on it.

Valuable tool! It goes without saying but make sure the batteries are good and test it for function before you start your work.

[macphanatic]

mattkime wrote:
[quote=testcase]
"and upgrade a number of outlets to three prong"

Be VERY CAREFUL that you or even an elecrtician does not do a "Bootleg Ground". The life you save may be your's (or a family member).


https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Bootleg+groubd&ia=web

I think I need to repeat what I just read to make sure I understand it -

A bootleg ground is when the ground on a receptacle is wired to the work box.
No. A bootleg ground is when the ground connection on a receptacle is connected to the neutral wire. A ground is supposed to be separate from the neutral connection.

All grounds are supposed to go back to the ground bus bar in the main panel. Metal junction boxes may be grounded as is the case when using EMT or BX cable.

[bazookaman]

mrbigstuff wrote:
one thing i was told by someone who designed and installed high voltage power systems is to never touch any wire that you suspect may be hot with an open fist; just touch the back of your hand to it, that way your muscles don't contract around the wire when hit by the current, thereby making you a crispy meat snack.

I've heard this too.

[bazookaman]

cbelt3 wrote:
B'man...
It's a great idea. I would definitely start with a book of some sort. I had the Time Life book as a youth, learned a lot, then got the HOme Despot book 25 years ago and learned more from that.

Suggestion #1- Get a non-contact voltage sensor. Keep it in your pocket. Test EVERYTHING before you try to work on it.
Suggestion #2- Label the breakers as you research your lines.
Suggestion #3- Label outlets and switches with the box and breaker. You can put the label inside the switch / outlet plate if you don't want people to see it. Pulling a plate is easy and won't shock you.
Suggestion #4 - a nice multimeter is very helpful when you're figuring out what's what.
Suggestion #5- Black is hot, white is not. DO NOT DEVIATE FROM THIS.
Suggestion #6- Never work on live circuits.
[spoiler=But if you get cocky...]
But if you 'HAVE' to (really you don't), only touch things with one hand. Keep the other hand in your pocket. A shock from one hand to the other has a higher chance of killing you than a shock from one hand to a leg. Yes, I've worked on live circuits a few times because I HAD to (Mains breaker would not shut off and calling the power company would have been agonizing and I didn't have the time). And I've been shocked a number of times in my life.
[/spoiler]

I've got all those covered. Labeling the outlets and switches is a good idea. I hadn't thought of that. I do maintain an updated drawing of my panel that lists what each circuit controls. So that's something. It's ever-evolving.

When I was replacing all the outlets in my daughter's room, I shut the power off at the panel and tested an outlet and the switch. All dead. I zipped around the room and replaced all the outlets and the switch. When I went to remove the last outlet, I got a nice little buzz. It was then that I discovered the "front wall" breaker. Such that all the outlets on the front wall of my house, regardless of the room they're in, are on that one breaker.

I'll admit I have worked on a live circuit before. When I was trying to figure out the mess that was my kitchen three-way switch. I gave up running out to the panel and turning the breaker off, running in and changing a wire, running back to the panel to turn the breaker on, and running back in to find that no, that didn't work either. So I left it on and switched the wires hot. I was very careful and only touched the wires with my insulated pliers. Stupid I know. But I was fed up after futzing with it for hours. I ended up putting it back the way it was btw.