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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 267
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I was about 5 years old, decided to see what that little plug was on my Dad's lawnmower while it set there idling!

Arc Flash PPE Clothing, LOTO & Insulated Tools
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,691
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My first was when I was around 4 years old and in Germany and I stuck a random piece (paper clip or hair pin) of wire into a receptacle in the hallway, getting jolted in the process with 220 volts, of course.

My then-nine year old cousin asked me what happened and between sobs I pointed at the socket on the wall with the little paper clip sticking out of it. Fool goes to grab it and pull it out and soon starts...feeling my pain. [Linked Image]

The most recent one was two summers ago when I was replacing worn-out/cracked wall sockets at my mom's apartment.

I had gotten to the point of replacing the dedicated 20-amp/110-volt air conditioner socket.

I didn't test for voltage before prying off the painted-on wallplate (which came off with the receptacle face ADHERED to it from al the paint).

Didn't realize I had pulled the wrong 20-amp breaker (incorrectly labelled too) before sticking my slightly sweaty hand in the surface-mount raceway box and grabbing for the remainders of that damned socket with such gusto!!! [Linked Image]

I let out a loud curse and my arm vibrated for a bit after I yanked it out. My grandmother (in the kitchen at the time) was like "so, it bit you?" "Uh-huh," sez I.

Sho-nuff...when I went over to the breaker box, I found out I had pulled the adjacent 20-amp breaker that powered a dedicated Nema 5-20 outlet in the kitchen instead!!!

For that project I had been replacing outlets branch by circuit and testing each one individually after it was installed and powered on, instead of knocking the whole house out while I worked and thereby cutting power off to an icebox full of perishables.

Always use the voltage tester (TWICE) before sticking your hand in the damned box!!!!

It's the stupid things like that that can kill you... [Linked Image]

Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 267
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First time for me in the field was when I was 17. Up on top of a 32" ladder leaning against steal gurder.The licensed electrician at ground level told me to go ahead and rip out the old wiring, I asked twice if it was dead, with arogance and attitude he replied hes damn it! Just do what I tell you. I grabed hold of the wiring while holding onto the steal with my other hand for support. THUG! I got belted and couldn't let go for a few seconds. He looks up at me and says " r u getting zapped?" The electricity of 277v ran through my whole upper body including which felt like my head. I said in so many words, you said this was dead! He replys, "oh I forgot about the emergency line" Thanx a lot yah jerk. I couldn't function properly for a couple of hours with him telling me to get back to work. I was head down on a table half asleep. At the time I wanted out, but I definately learned a valuable lesson. I don't care how experienced you are, I'm never gonna just trust anyone again before I check it myself. I wanted revenge on that guy, turned out several years later he was involved in a severe accident and is now a parapalegic. Wouldn't wish this on anyone, starnge how it ended up though.

Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 210
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If the shock does not hurt, often the reaction to shock does.

Joined: Oct 2000
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Wirenuttt,
remember the woolen mills, manlift, washing the fluor. fixtures?

Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 45
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my worst was from a megger in the Navy. Nothing like waking up to that.

Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 267
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sparky;
wasn't that a Dibo job?

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,392
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yeah, Dibo,.... wash down 'live' lights, remeber where you stuck that sponge?

Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 267
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That musta been one of those if you remember it you really weren't there scenes. [Linked Image]

[This message has been edited by Wirenuttt (edited 12-08-2002).]

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,392
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Ange,
ya stuck the %$& sponge in a 277 tube end!
[Linked Image]

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