On 12 Oct 2004 (Steve Firth) wrote:

If the installer was Ms Tonge herself then the error may perhaps be
understandable. OTOH I can't see how someone managed to install the
rack without electrocuting themself.

Part of the problem is that modern drills are either double-insulated
or battery powered so are not earthed. Consequently if the drill bit
touches a live conductor and you're holding the drill only by it's
plastic case then you won't notice. You'd then put in a plastic wall
plug which would insulate the screw. But it's difficult to see how the
rack could have been dead when fitted and live some time later unless
something was disturbed or the wall became damp.

When I had my Bridges drill with an earthed, die-cast case it could be
guaranteed to blow the fuse if I touched a live wire with the drill bit.
I did once manage to chop through the cable with the hedge trimmer
attachment so cleanly that it didn't blow the fuse, but the resistance
of 100m of 5a cable could have had something to do with it.

--
Richard Porter
Mail to username ricp at domain minijem.plus.com
"You can't have Windows without pains."