"Christian McArdle" wrote in message
. net...
Well I must admit for a few seconds I really thought my light was going
to
go out !

Many people manage to touch 230V mains. Vanishingly few are seriously
injured by it. It's probably most likely to kill you if you are (a)
unlucky,
(b) old or infirm or (c) up a ladder.

RCD or no RCD there is no safety better than hearing the satisfying
clunk
when throwing the main circuit breaker.

Oh yes. I always do work with the main DP isolator off. I don't rely on an
SP MCB to do the job. Except once (never again), when I illadvisedly left
the power on so that my wife could complete some task. I then forgot about
it, and rewired a live light fitting up a ladder. Luckily, my standard
technique is to be so paranoid about shocks that I never touch the live
anyway, so it was only after I had finished and put the bulb in that I
realised that the power was still on!

Christian.



Please don't dismiss the dangers of a 230 V mains shock so lightly. A brief
touch or brushing contact is quite survivable in most cases. However the
event I described was far more serious. In the hot and sweaty environment of
an airing cupboard with moist hands, one holding tightly to an earthed
copper pipe and the other in an involuntary tightened grip round a live
thermostat is a different kettle of fish entirely. The effort of will to
gather the strength to let go was nearly overwhelming. Don't go there it is
not pleasant.

Richard.