Can I tighten neutral circuit breaker wires without turning off power?

[GVCCRLM]

I have some lights flickering in the house. I was told tightening the circuit breaker wires in the electrical boxes might help eliminate the flickering. Is it possible to tighten the wires without having to turn off power to the house.

Thanks

 

[Markyd]

NO!.....DO NOT REMOVE COVER of consumer unit without turning power off and carrying out a safe isolation procedure

 

[freddo]

What is the reason for not wanting to turn the power off?

 

[7029 dave]

No excuses shut down the power, and follow safe isolation procedure.

 

[brianmoooore]

Another good reason is that with a split phase system, if you momentarily disturb and disconnect the neutral while attempting to tighten it, there is the possibility of some equipment receiving twice the voltage it was designed for.

 

[GVCCRLM]

What is the reason for not wanting to turn the power off?

I do not want reset all electronics, internet, modems, routers, clocks, timers, etc.

Power off requires a complete reset of the house.

 

[freddo]

I do not want reset all electronics, internet, modems, routers, clocks, timers, etc.

Power off requires a complete reset of the house.

Good time to test your RCDs.

 

[JBW175]

I do not want reset all electronics, internet, modems, routers, clocks, timers, etc.

Power off requires a complete reset of the house.

Well, you’ve got a choice here….

1. Risk killing your self

Or

2. Spend 15 minutes resetting clocks & routers etc… on completion of the job

Not really a hard decision in my eyes.

 

[timhoward]

Good time to test your RCDs.

or GFCI's (he's other side of the pond)

 

[Intoelectrics]

I do not want reset all electronics, internet, modems, routers, clocks, timers, etc.

Power off requires a complete reset of the house.

You would have to do this if you had a power cut anyway, so what's the issue?

 

[Lucien Nunes]

or GFCI's (he's other side of the pond)

Which is why he can't technically

...REMOVE COVER of consumer unit without turning power off....

because it's not a consumer unit (an odd 1950s British term) but a panel.

It would be interesting to compare the officially-recommended isolation procedure in different locations. Although BS7671 is less formulaic than some others, I think we might have the most specifically scripted procedure, not least because it specifies a certain type of instrument. I expect that in some jurisdictions, 'follow safe isolation procedure' sounds just like 'switch off and test for dead' or perhaps just 'switch off' or even 'tark the biffle with a roop-grubbler.'

 

[pc1966]

because it's not a consumer unit (an odd 1950s British term) but a panel.

Someone pointed out that a CU in our regs is specifically a type-tested combination for domestic use, where as DB/panel would be for anything else that is not to that specification.

It would be interesting to compare the officially-recommended isolation procedure in different locations. Although BS7671 is less formulaic than some others, I think we might have the most specifically scripted procedure, not least because it specifies a certain type of instrument. I expect that in some jurisdictions, 'follow safe isolation procedure' sounds just like 'switch off and test for dead' or perhaps just 'switch off' or even 'tark the biffle with a roop-grubbler.'

I was hoping that @Megawatt would be along to comment as he knows far more about USA practice than I do. I think they are now required to have some sort of isolator before their panel that houses the breakers, but I don't know the details & history of it. They don't seem to have cur-out fuses for that sort of job and while removing the meter is a means of isolation, I think that is illegal for anyone other than their DNO equivalent.

 

[Moley]

' tark the biffle with a roop-grubbler.'

Last time I tried that I broke the swange grumple. Couldn't get a replacement for weeks.

 

[pc1966]

Last time I tried that I broke the swange grumple. Couldn't get a replacement for weeks.

I hate it when that happens!

 

[nicebutdim]

Someone pointed out that a CU in our regs is specifically a type-tested combination for domestic use, where as DB/panel would be for anything else that is not to that specification.

It's a terrible term.

Most homeowners consider it a 'fuseboard' and, regardless of how that may be inaccurate, it's often best to speak to people in terms they understand.

In reality it's a distribution board (albeit of a specific type) and I don't know why we have a specific term for domestic DBs, when homeowners are more likely to understand the meaning of 'distribution board, than 'consumer unit'.