Mike Dobony wrote:
On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 17:22:31 -0700, Frank wrote:


Someone mentioned that I should use a special screwdriver. Where can
I find something like this and what does it look like?

So as long as I don't touch two of the same wires at the same time,
I'll be OK? How can I not ground myself? If I'm on a ladder wearing
rubber-soled sneakers, would that take care of it?

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Looks like you have to do this anyway so here are some advice.

1 Work with a buddy so he/she could call 911 and get help.

2 Use non conducting ladder. Ware electrical insulating gloves and shoes.

3 Don't need special screwdriver, wrap conducting part with electrical
tape.

4 Work with one hand only, put the other hand in your back pocket.


Remember it doesn't take much, as little as 6 milliamps, to go into
ventricular fibrillation or cardiac arrest.



The key is to not let the current go across the heart. I just did some
wiring and forgot the outlet next to the switch was live and on another
circuit. I touched it and held for about a second before I realized what
was happening. Work with 120 enough and it barely fazes you. I don't
worry too much about 120 and occasionally work with live wires. You bigger
concerns are compatibility with the existing system, likely interwired so
that when one goes off they all go off, and also with not destroying the
rest of the system. I seriously doubt it is connected to the lighting
system as the smoke alarms are supposed to be on their own breaker.

I've heard it both ways; makes more sense to me to go ahead and put it
on the lighting circuit, reason being that the homeowner will notice if
the lights aren't working but if the breaker dedicated to a run of
detectors trips he may not notice that and be unprotected.

Of course, the local AHJ has the final word on what's cool and what isn't.

nate

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