I got a shock today...

[Skint Eastwood]

...when I was poking around in the spaghetti of my mate's CU. My little finger happened to brush across the two screws holding the incoming cables above the main switch (see photo).

Just wondering why this happened. Shouldn't there be some sort of protection against accidentally touching live parts like that, even in a CU?

I imagine its unlikely there would be much difference between the voltage of the incoming cables, therefore not much danger. But what if there was a more significant imbalance? Couldn't that be lethal?

Surprises me that its so easy to do something like that. Maybe I should just be more careful.

 

[mogga]

there would probably have been a cover at somepoint but it has become lost/thrownaway in the passing of time but why "poke about" when by the picture it is clearly visable ??

BTW id get that cu changed asap by a qualified bod

 

[acat]

Be more careful or get your brother Clint to have a shoot out

Chris

 

[rocker]

Maybe I should just be more careful.

THIS!

Nowadays you'd get some kind of plastic covering over those screws, but depending on who installed it, it's not always going to be there. There are also plenty of places inside a consumer unit which can shock you. Under the right conditions (which can be achieved very easily) a shock from this will be fatal. as little as 30mA across your heart can kill you, that is a tiny amount, about 10 times less than a mobile phone charger. If you don't know what you're doing, do not attempt this sort of thing. If you do know what you're doing, take a lot more care!

 

[Des 56]

There is a cover that was supposed to be over the terminals
They are not onsidered dangerous because you need the use of a tool to get to them(the consumer unit cover)
However they are very dangerous to touch
It is lucky you didn't touch earth at he same time

Be a lot more careful when dealing with a live installation
Isolate where possible and test that it is dead before touching or getting hands inside
You seem to have been lucky on this occasion
Best to be sure of things before investigating

 

[Skint Eastwood]

Well I wasn't 'poking about' just for fun. I think I was trying to move the incomers out of the way a bit so I could identify and remove the ring cables. I'm not the most experienced, but I've soon learned that lesson, to stay away from those screws!

Its a pretty crap CU I know, but my mate won't be interested in changing it. Its way low down in a tiny space at the bottom of a cupboard too, nightmare to work on.

 

[Spa Key]

Well I wasn't 'poking about' just for fun. I think I was trying to move the incomers out of the way a bit so I could identify and remove the ring cables. I'm not the most experienced, but I've soon learned that lesson, to stay away from those screws!

Its a pretty crap CU I know, but my mate won't be interested in changing it. Its way low down in a tiny space at the bottom of a cupboard too, nightmare to work on.

If you're fiddling about in a live installation don't use your fingers. Shift things about with insulated tools, that's what they're designed for.

 

[davelerave]

the first 'barrier' to 'direct contact' is the cover - the modern breakers are IP2X i think

so you can poke about safely


old electrical stuff is brutal for 'direct contact' protection

 

[johnboy6083]

if your not qualified, then dont work on anything live at all! even qualified electricians can only work live where it is not reasonably practical to isolate the installation. this is not one of these instances

 

[Skint Eastwood]

...If you don't know what you're doing, do not attempt this sort of thing. If you do know what you're doing, take a lot more care!

Well I know what I was doing, I'm just not too sure of what NOT to do sometimes. I guess working on any kind of electrical installation you can't EXPECT everything to be sound and safe as per regs. You have to err on the side of caution, and assume that there IS something dangerous lurking there. Like driving, you should expect some idiot to pull out in front of you at any time.

I am aware that a very small current can be lethal. Its early days for me as a budding sparky, maybe I'm lucky it didn't come to a very sudden end!