"Evan" wrote in message
...
On Jan 16, 10:26 pm, "Ralph Mowery"
wrote:
wrote in message

...

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

An electrician friend pulled a power meter to a church. While working on
the wiring, he was shocked very bad. Went out side and someone had put the
meter back in the meter base.

Sounds like your electrician friend was too trusting...

The guy who put it back in probably thought some pranksters had removed it.
But electricians and elevator mechanics eventually learn to put up big, "OUT
OF SERVICE" signs if they still want to buy liability insurance at
affordable (or ANY) rates. Business insurers have been very active at
either removing or "rating" customers that have a history of safety issues.

Should have locked the meter in his truck while working on the power OR
stationed someone at the meter base to prevent someone from re-energizing
the circuit while the work was being performed...

If he lived, he'll probably never do it again.

Probably was a bad idea to leave the meter socket uncovered as part of it
remains energized at all times unless the service drop is disconnected and
whomever was dumb enough to put the meter back in the base could have
touched the live parts inside and gotten hurt on your friend's dime as he
left energized electrical equipment open where anyone could have wandered
over to touch it, but then again this is why contractors are required to
have liability insurance coverage...

Insurance, but not smarts. There were a number of serious violations that
happened in this case which produced a very bad outcome.

--
Bobby G.