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free advice for the beginning do-it-yourself repairman

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BrntToast:
ALWAYS turn off the breaker or pull the house fuse to change a broken bulb or a light fixture

just because the light switch is off does not mean the wires are not live

a light switch only breaks contact on one of the 2 wires to a light fixture, if the switch breaks contact on the white return wire then you still have a live 120 volt wire right up to the fixture even when the switch is off and the light is not on

learnt this as a teenager changing a fixture for mom while standing on a metal ladder, years later i know know the theroy as to how i got my first flying lesson

RegUS_PatOff:
Also, that ceiling light fixture (or any other box) can have a completely different (breaker) circuit traveling through it.

All of the wires might not be powered by the same circuit breaker.

jayman73:
I always use my voltage light and check for hot wires. never know what someone has done seen one house that washer was  getting 240  a little hard  on the motor

RegUS_PatOff:
... and after using my light stick,
I use my screwdriver to make sure there's no voltage.
(I lost a few screwdrivers)

jayman73:

--- Quote from: RegUS_PatOff on February 07, 2009, 06:22:12 PM ---... and after using my light stick,
I use my screwdriver to make sure there's no voltage.
(I lost a few screwdrivers)

--- End quote ---
better the screwdriver than yourself

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