DIYbanter - View Single Post - Today's electrical SNAFU

newshound

On 11/06/2021 19:01, wrote:
On 11/06/2021 17:44, newshound wrote:
On 11/06/2021 14:24, wrote:
In the process of removing an over-sink light and shaver outlet I
switched off the ceiling switch (I presume there used to be a light
fitted that did not have an integral switch), the light went off so I
was about to get to work but something made me check first. Long
story short: inside the ceiling switch the red wires were joined and
the blacks went to the switch (one of them had red sleeving on it)
resulting in neutral switching and a permanently live feed to the
light! I'm getting a bit blasé in my old age so this near miss is a
good reminder to check!
I've just stripped the paper underneath where the light was and
someone has written "live!" on the wall - presumably, 20 years ago
they got the surprise that I narrowly avoided today.

I'm a great believer in the volt stick!
Me too, and I always verify its performance before and after each use

Absolutely! Learned that one in the days of neon screwdrivers!