On Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:18:47 -0500, micky
wrote:

On Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:11:21 -0600, The Daring Dufas
wrote:


I never stick a shorting wire into an outlet because the arc can damage
the internal contact surfaces inside the outlet leading to a bad
connection. Real electricians know this. o_O

That's right. They use their fingers, which won't melt.

TDD
Any electrican worth his salt carries a voltage detector in his shirt
pocket. An NE2 bulb in a little plastic case with 2 leads on it. Stick
the leeds into a plug, or touch a wire, and touch the other lead with
your pinkie. If it lights, it's live. If it doesn't, it's dead..
And set up a shotgun aimed at the panel to get any stupid bugger that
turns a breaker back on (if you don't have a physical lock-out)