Ouch !!!

[GStueyXR]

Got the worst belt of my life today!

Okay, so i installed a new lighting circuit, took power to a 24 way grid switch and radiated out from there. Over 100 downlights controlled in banks of 6 by electronic dimmers.

1 faulty transformer, so i just turned off it's dimmer and proceeded to change the tranny.

Removes the tranny and drops the live terminal screw after I had backed it off too much. And so as you do, I inserted the screw with my index finger and thumb. After 3 or four half turns I finds myself on my backside at the foot of the ladder gasping for breath!

Now I checked the circuit was dead, there was no-one at the grid switch, so how can I have had such a nasty belt?

Any way, the spark I am working with comes over and checks the circuit.... DEAD. But then as he is inserting the live side of the tranny, lovely blue arcing appears! WTF..

Anyway, I re-learned a valueable lesson! ISOLATE THE CIRCUIT PROPERLY!

 

[GStueyXR]

RCD protected... But as rocker said, I think I had the neutral terminal in my thumb and finger...

My arms are still sore!

 

[Deleted member 19807]

ok i took this from the OP "Okay, so i installed a new lighting circuit, took power to a 24 way grid switch and radiated out from there. Over 100 downlights controlled in banks of 6 by electronic dimmers." I took thisto mean that an rcd would be required in this instance, for the line/neutral to not trip the rcd, he would have had to grab both at exactly the same time as any minor imbalence should have tripped it. The first thing i would do now is test the RCD.

 

[brucelee]

I did it mate when i was young my brother had disconnected the flex from one of them old wardrobes with light in
but still left it plugged in and along comes me whats this brown and blue bang
next thing i know its slammed me into wall and hurt a lot mate
had my fair share of them over the years mate getting more cautious as i get older

hope your feeling better mate

 

[rocker]

I see what you're saying, but he probably already had hold of the neutral 1st ready for the current to travel down. Even if he grabbed the line first (apart from ignoring the unpleasant buzzing sensation) if he wasn't earthed, he would just be acting as a 'switch' that is open, and when he grabbed the neutral, the circuit would be complete. No earth leakage, no outgoing current that doesn't return.

Still would test the RCD though, though he probably has done that as part of the install.

 

[Deleted member 19807]

yes thats probably it, neutral first then line, another worrying bit of the OP is "
Now I checked the circuit was dead, there was no-one at the grid switch, so how can I have had such a nasty belt?"

what test methode was used?

 

[GStueyXR]

The circuit was dead! That is the what is worrying. There was a feed to the grid switch, but the circuit was Isolated from the dimmer on. Bad practise I know, dangerous I know, but still, dont we all sometimes need a reminder of why we practise safe isolation?

Maybe I never made myself clear sry. The push button Dimmer was pulsing voltages down the line for a split second every few seconds. I had been screwing the terminal screw in with finger and thumb for 3 or 4 seconds before it put me on my arse!

Strange or what?

 

[rocker]

Well weird!

 

[chris_topher]

I got to agree with everything here.
Test test test is a good saying.
I always say "it always pays to double check"
And I too love voltage sticks, if I use a multimeter sometimes I can't be bothered becasue I have to pick it up, untangle it, turn the switch round, balance it whilst holding the probes, untying the messy probe leads. yet a voltage stick whips strainght out of my pocket quick n easy so it gets used all the time. I am actually going to order a load and hand them out to the workforce 'cos I love 'em that much - thats voltage sticks I love not the work force!