With the light switch off, but the fuse box on, if I unscrew where a
metal outdoor spotlight base meets the soffit, and grasp and pull the
base, AND if part of the base touches a wire left bare behind it,
would I be electrocuted?
As for why I'm not turning off the fuse and why there might me a bare
wire behind the base, don't ask.

wrote in message
...
With the light switch off, but the fuse box on, if I unscrew where a
metal outdoor spotlight base meets the soffit, and grasp and pull the
base, AND if part of the base touches a wire left bare behind it,
would I be electrocuted?
As for why I'm not turning off the fuse and why there might me a bare
wire behind the base, don't ask.

Depends. If the switch was wired correctly, you should not be. But we
don't know that. We don't know what bare wire you are talking about either.
You won't get the OK from me.

wrote:
With the light switch off, but the fuse box on, if I unscrew where a
metal outdoor spotlight base meets the soffit, and grasp and pull the
base, AND if part of the base touches a wire left bare behind it,
would I be electrocuted?
As for why I'm not turning off the fuse and why there might me a bare
wire behind the base, don't ask.

Fiberglass ladder, tennis shoes, and rubber gloves, you should be okay.

On Fri, 7 Aug 2009 11:12:19 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote:

With the light switch off, but the fuse box on, if I unscrew where a
metal outdoor spotlight base meets the soffit, and grasp and pull the
base, AND if part of the base touches a wire left bare behind it,
would I be electrocuted?
As for why I'm not turning off the fuse and why there might me a bare
wire behind the base, don't ask.

You never know wihtout testing. If you knew how to test I
doubt if you would have asked the question. I suggest having a pro
come in.

No one can really tell you from the information you gave us
and likely even if you provided all the information available. There
are far too many ways someone before you may have screwed up the
wiring.

No way to know.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


wrote in message
...
With the light switch off, but the fuse box on, if I unscrew
where a
metal outdoor spotlight base meets the soffit, and grasp and
pull the
base, AND if part of the base touches a wire left bare
behind it,
would I be electrocuted?
As for why I'm not turning off the fuse and why there might
me a bare
wire behind the base, don't ask.

In article
,
" wrote:

With the light switch off, but the fuse box on, if I unscrew where a
metal outdoor spotlight base meets the soffit, and grasp and pull the
base, AND if part of the base touches a wire left bare behind it,
would I be electrocuted?
As for why I'm not turning off the fuse and why there might me a bare
wire behind the base, don't ask.

Electrocuted? Extraordinarily unlikely. Shocked? Theoretically possible.
Why not just kill the breaker or pull the fuse?

AAAAUUUGGGHHH!!!!!
(he said not to ask)

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Smitty Two" wrote in message
news In article
,
" wrote:

As for why I'm not turning off the fuse and why there
might me a bare
wire behind the base, don't ask.

Electrocuted? Extraordinarily unlikely. Shocked?
Theoretically possible.
Why not just kill the breaker or pull the fuse?

" writes:
With the light switch off, but the fuse box on, if I unscrew where a
metal outdoor spotlight base meets the soffit, and grasp and pull the
base, AND if part of the base touches a wire left bare behind it,
would I be electrocuted?
As for why I'm not turning off the fuse and why there might me a bare
wire behind the base, don't ask.

Always best to pull the fuse/breaker.
But if you can't, I would do the following:
- Wear rubber/latex gloves, rubber soles (tennis shoes), use
fiberglass ladder
- Check to make sure light really is off (even with photosensor coverd
etc.)
- Tape off the light switch and put note there saying not to change it
- Make sure someone is around watching you or able to call for help if
you are hurt
- Gently unscrew fixture making sure not to touch loose wires. Don't
touch anything with your other hand.
- Use a proximity voltage sensor to touch all the wires in the box to
make sure that there is no high voltage in the box
- Confirm that voltage is *really* not present by using a voltmeter or
test light by testing between all the wires and neutral and
ground (note the proximity sensors can be fooled).
- Proceed carefully. It is always good practice to get used to not
simultaneously touching hot wires and neutral/ground at the same
time.

Note shutting the breaker/fuse is always best but even if you do,
there is always a chance that something is mislabelled or miswired
leaving live circuits within the box so the above precautions should
*always* be followed.

Admission: I typically follow only a subset of the above but I usually
know what I'm doing and I wouldn't recommend disregarding any safety
measures.

If you are not comfortable with the above or don't understand it then
call in an electrician.