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'.

 

[Megawatt]

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

Who ever told you that you can tighten up your screws in a panel while it is still under power is an idiot and sounds like he’s trying to kill you or it could blow up in your face. Even veteran electricians shouldn’t work in a live panel and with you being a DIY is more dangerous. If you have lights flickering I doubt that it’s in your panel. I’ve seen lights flickering in my house and Usually it’s the bulbs itself fixing to burn out. HIRE AN ELECTRICIAN and saying you have to reset your clocks is a very small price to pay for your safety.

 

[Risteard]

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'.

Personally I just use the term distribution board, which incidentally is not incorrect for a "consumer unit" as this is defined as a particular type of type-tested single phase distribution board. But usually with customers I will reference the fuse board so that they know what I'm talking about, or if written generally "distribution board (fuse box)" or something similar.

 

[7029 dave]

Its just general slang, I am guilty still call vacuuming hoovering. Have not owned a Hoover for many years.

 

[Ray Pooley]

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

I wouldn't recommend going anywhere near live breakers. It's never necessary anyway.
FIY DIYers are not allowed to go near the CU by the way. Building Regs Part P. I think you will find it describes any work on the CU as notifiable and requiring the services of a registered electrician.

 

[brianmoooore]

Building Regs Part P. I think you will find it describes any work on the CU as notifiable and requiring the services of a registered electrician.

There are plenty of US citizens that seem to think their domestic law applies the world over, but I doubt if there are any who think domestic UK law applies in the US.

 

[westward10]

I wouldn't recommend going anywhere near live breakers. It's never necessary anyway.
FIY DIYers are not allowed to go near the CU by the way. Building Regs Part P. I think you will find it describes any work on the CU as notifiable and requiring the services of a registered electrician.

That is a lot of misinformation.

 

[Ray Pooley]

That is a lot of misinformation.

Which part?
In the meantime...

https://electrical.----------/bs-76...england-and-wales/frequently-asked-questions/

 

[nicebutdim]

Which part?
In the meantime...

https://electrical.------.org/bs-76...england-and-wales/frequently-asked-questions/

View attachment 99525

Where in the above does it state that a 'DIYer can't go near a DB' or that 'any work on a DB is notifiable'?

 

[Ray Pooley]

Where in the above does it state that a 'DIYer can't go near a DB' or that 'any work on a DB is notifiable'?

It's implied. The work needs to be covered by an EIC. A DIYer can't self certificate.

 

[nicebutdim]

It's implied. The work needs to be covered by an EIC. A DIYer can't self certificate.

You'd issue an EIC if asked to check a neutral bar?

 

[westward10]

It's implied. The work needs to be covered by an EIC. A DIYer can't self certificate.

Read your 'notifiable works' and see it applies to the OP ignoring the fact he/she is based in the US.

 

[Megawatt]

There are plenty of US citizens that seem to think their domestic law applies the world over, but I doubt if there are any who think domestic UK law applies in the US.

I don’t know what your referring to but I don’t think that our law applies the world over. We have obviously different voltages but I highly respect the work and testing that y’all have to go through to complete your project. We just have a lot of so called cowboy electrical that don’t know there butt from the ground and do and say stupid s—y.

 

[Rockingit]

I don’t know what your referring to but I don’t think that our law applies the world over. We have obviously different voltages but I highly respect the work and testing that y’all have to go through to complete your project. We just have a lot of so called cowboy electrical that don’t know there butt from the ground and do and say stupid s—y.

I'm hearing you. I'm currently working with a predominantly US crew, with a mix of US / Europe kit, spread across pretty much every connector type that's ever been invented..... in Germany. Yesterday I had someone (technical but not electrical) ask me why his gear was measuring current on the Neutral in Europe when it didn't in America - and so I (amazingly had the time...) to give a toolbox talk on 3ph theory, neutral currents etc and by the time I'd finished I must have had an audience of at least a dozen, from a variety of countries. And I constantly remind my no.2 on this gig that he's not in the UK anymore and different countries have different standards - even though the physics stays the same.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

I've had similar 'globalised' electrical scenarios when working with US film crews in Europe with partly UK gear etc. But perhaps the most interesting cross-territory electrical experiences have been on design projects for cruise ships. Consider a US-owned and operated ship being built in an Italian yard to a Scandinavian design using UK engineering for the entertainment systems. Customer specifies all NEMA outlets, straight blade, twist lock and stage pin, yard specifies all European cables, I'm designing custom panels to be made here in the UK. As well as the local regs we're working to meet Lloyds register requirements for ships, in a theatre with dimmed, non-dim and hard power at three different voltages, single, split and 3-phase delta (some equipment had to be made specially for delta.)

One day I've got a pile of engineering samples of receptacles on my desk that the Hubbell rep has left me, and I'm toying with something like an L14-30R looking at the terminals W, X, Y and G and trying to get into the frame of mind: 'OK, If I was an Italian spark, what would I expect to see on the termination schedule for this?'