On 9 May 2006 05:38:43 -0700, "RayV" wrote:

CB asked:
What am I risking by "shorting" out the outlet and having it trip the
breaker so I can find it?

Ray replied:
Burned fingers
Electrocution
Fire
Melted insulation that will short later
Damage to other appliances on that circuit
Damaged breaker

Probably none of these things will happen but if you really insist on
doing this it would probably be *slightly* safer to strip the ends of
an old plug and touch them together briefly while holding the ends with
rubber handled pliers. If you plug in something hard-wired to short
and the breaker doesn't trip, now you have to pull it out before the
fire starts.


How about using a momentary contact pushbutton switch?

CB also said:
...can't shut off the breakers until I find it since there is other
equipment that I don't want to shut down.

Ray asked:
What happens when the power goes out? You have about a 50/50 chance of
shutting off the outlet before the 'other equipment'. I'd take those
odds over intentionaly shorting an outlet...
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what
to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb
contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin