this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2022
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The craziest thing I've done this year: Literal sparks flying, fuses blowing, landlord punk'd (lemmy.ml)
submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by sascuach@lemmy.ml to c/chat@beehaw.org
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Was trying to fix a damaged outlet in my rental unit, as per usual landlord didn't want to fix it.

I don't have a breaker /fuse box in my room.

So, tired of the outlet, I decided to change the outlet entirely with the breaker turned ON. I considered putting a friend on speaker in case I died, but in my fever pitch I decided against it.

So here I am wearing 2 pairs of rubber gloves per hand, with random unrubered wire wrapped around my body in a way so that if I got shocked, the electricity would have a path to travel to not blast my heart / chest / head.

I do the outlet swap a roo. Ancient super boomer outlet, it's wired differently. Wires charred to hell. One of the wires is brittle and snaps. Half way through random arc, a loud pop, my screw driver goes flying the live wire hit something.

My entire unit lost power.

Panic slightly before realizing that it's not so bad, now I won't die. I finish the swaparoo.

I call up the landlord, with some bs excuse ready.

He doesn't ask and just goes and flicks the fuse back on.

My fuse works. My actual face: XD

Ps:

The outlet doesn't put out enough to kill a person iirc

Get wrecked landlord, guess who just increased the value of your unit!!

I have another damaged outlet to fix, but part 2 will have to wait!

(Also, wtf one 15a circuit for the whole unit?)

I still don't know where the screw driver flew)

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[–] roastpotatothief@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

If working with live wires, do the whole thing standing on a wooden stool. You must have a thick insulator between you and ground. You will probably touch a live wire at some point, and the size of shock you get depends on how well insulated you are from the ground, walls, and other objects around you.

Don't bother wrapping wires around you.

If you connect the live to the earth wire, you will blow the fuse, and probably destroy the wires too. Then you'll have to rip out the plaster to lay new wires.

This is not difficult if you are careful, not tired, and have good common sense.

Wrap the live in electrical tape first. Only unwrap it for the few seconds where you are putting it into its connector. That's the only step you need to do carefully.

[–] sascuach@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago

Thanks!

[–] hamborgr@feddit.de 1 points 2 years ago

you're an absolute madman

[–] Slatlun@lemmy.ml 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Sounds like the plan for the next one is to blow the fuse then do the swap quick. Right?

...and those definitely have enough power to kill you. Conditions have to line up, but be careful anyway.

[–] sascuach@lemmy.ml 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I'm not sure if I do the other one. The fact that the wire broke with the other one concerns me. Like I don't know how to repair wires. If you know how to repair wires, is it easy to learn? It looks like cooper

[–] Slatlun@lemmy.ml 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

All you would be able to do without pulling a new continuous wire from the panel would be to add a tiny new section of wire. Splicing that in would take a solid 5 mins to learn how to do. You'll want to have the right type/gauge of wire ready though. There are a couple of different connection types - wire nuts, push in connectors, and maybe more that I don't know about. But obviously it is way safer if you are able to turn off the power. I am sure there are people who would strip live wires, but I am not one of them. Since your whole place is on 1 15 amp circuit you should be able to blow it with a couple of high demand appliances.

[–] sascuach@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I'll investigate, thanks for the lead!

Is it unsafe to just blow it by short circuiting the outlet? While wearing those 2 rubber gloves per hand.

I have some rough plan that I might do the outlet swaparoo when the power goes out due to a thunderstorm. But I'm not sure if that's more unsafe?

[–] Slatlun@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 years ago

I would do it when I have the most control over the system possible. During a thunderstorm your landlord might also get their power cut and go flip switches without you asking. My guess is that triggering your own randomly gives you a little more predictability for when it will turn back on.

Is it unsafe to just blow it by short circuiting the outlet? While wearing those 2 rubber gloves per hand.

None of this is safe. Having a friend on speaker was a good thought. If you are going to short it just use one insulated hand and wear rubber soles. That means you won't be creating a possible path for the current to travel through your body (vital organs) from hand to hand or from hand to foot.