Lessons Learned The Hard Way
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
Lessons Learned The Hard Way
I'm sure everyone has learned a lesson or two the hard way, well I learned one today.
My job is better than most teenager's jobs, I work for my dad at his Maytag Appliance Center. I mainly do the deliveries and my dad does the repair work on the appliances. I delivered a washer and dryer today. The dryer that I was removing had the heavy duty cable going directly to his box. I asked the fellow "did you kick the breaker to the dryer?" He responded with "yes, the power's off to the dryer." Me being the trusting individual that I am, I start unhooking the cable when all of a sudden WHAM! Needless to say it put me down....yep 220 volts. I got up and asked him to see his breaker box, what a surprise the breaker was not kicked. Kicking the breaker was not the only thing I wanted to kick :mad . I can still taste the copper in my mouth :U .
The moral of the story is that when you are dealing with electricity...trust nobody but yourself. I plan on checking all of the breaker boxs myself from now on....and am also carrying a meter in my tool box too.
So let's hear about your lessons learned the hard way.
My job is better than most teenager's jobs, I work for my dad at his Maytag Appliance Center. I mainly do the deliveries and my dad does the repair work on the appliances. I delivered a washer and dryer today. The dryer that I was removing had the heavy duty cable going directly to his box. I asked the fellow "did you kick the breaker to the dryer?" He responded with "yes, the power's off to the dryer." Me being the trusting individual that I am, I start unhooking the cable when all of a sudden WHAM! Needless to say it put me down....yep 220 volts. I got up and asked him to see his breaker box, what a surprise the breaker was not kicked. Kicking the breaker was not the only thing I wanted to kick :mad . I can still taste the copper in my mouth :U .
The moral of the story is that when you are dealing with electricity...trust nobody but yourself. I plan on checking all of the breaker boxs myself from now on....and am also carrying a meter in my tool box too.
So let's hear about your lessons learned the hard way.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Lessons Learned The Hard Way (bence13_33)
Dude, you got lucky, once burnt, twice wary....keep that in mind....I been there and dun that...sorry to have to admit....
ALLWAYS pull your own circuit, tape the breaker/switch, and check it yourself with a voltmeter.....anything else is bullpoopie.....
GENE
ALLWAYS pull your own circuit, tape the breaker/switch, and check it yourself with a voltmeter.....anything else is bullpoopie.....
GENE
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 459
Likes: 0
Re: Lessons Learned The Hard Way (427_Roadster)
I've always got a great kick out of getting jolted. Used to stick knives in outlets and fingers in light sockets for fun. Anyway, sure does suck when you're not expecting it. Glad you're safe, 220 can kill. Probably the biggest lessons I've learned the hard ways are: A> Yes, you're too drunk to drive, and B> No, you can't support that transmission by yourself.
Jim
Jim
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
Re: Lessons Learned The Hard Way (427_Roadster)
He told me he was sorry and that he thought he had kicked the breaker. It was actually my fault I should have checked it myself. No need to drink coffe after that ordeal...I was wide awake the rest of the day.
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,009
Likes: 240
From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
Re: Lessons Learned The Hard Way (bence13_33)
:D Bence, I couldn't help but laugh when I read your post....I am an electrician, and I can just imagine the look on your face when you got bittin by the volt bug!! I know it is not funny, but I know exactly how you felt getting that poke!! You should try 347v through your head.....not fun!!
The moral of the story: ALWAYS check for yourself that the power is off, never,ever trust what someone else tells you. I tell all my apprentices that, and I advise them to invest in a good meter, even though our union says they shouldn't have one until thier 5th year. It would be a wise investment for you too!!! :D
The moral of the story: ALWAYS check for yourself that the power is off, never,ever trust what someone else tells you. I tell all my apprentices that, and I advise them to invest in a good meter, even though our union says they shouldn't have one until thier 5th year. It would be a wise investment for you too!!! :D
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 866
Likes: 1
From: Peabody,MA,USA
Re: Lessons Learned The Hard Way (paul79)
Even if the breaker is kicked you should allways short a couple of the wires together with two screw drivers or something. You never know what kind of crazy wiring has been done in the house. I wouldn't even trust a volt meter. A jumper wire to a water pipe is a good short. I used to work on 50000 volt radar systems.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: Lessons Learned The Hard Way (QuickVet)
Glad to hear your ok Bence :crazy: . Take it easy there, we want to see that BB going down the road w/ you behind the wheel ;) .
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 1
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada
Re: Lessons Learned The Hard Way (SmokedTires)
There is one thing for sure I can garantee you bence It'll never happen to you again those lessons stick for life.:) Thankful you can post about it.
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Jackson MS
Re: Lessons Learned The Hard Way (bence13_33)
I'm sure everyone has learned a lesson or two the hard way, well I learned one today.
My job is better than most teenager's jobs, I work for my dad at his Maytag Appliance Center. I mainly do the deliveries and my dad does the repair work on the appliances. I delivered a washer and dryer today. The dryer that I was removing had the heavy duty cable going directly to his box. I asked the fellow "did you kick the breaker to the dryer?" He responded with "yes, the power's off to the dryer." Me being the trusting individual that I am, I start unhooking the cable when all of a sudden WHAM! Needless to say it put me down....yep 220 volts. I got up and asked him to see his breaker box, what a surprise the breaker was not kicked. Kicking the breaker was not the only thing I wanted to kick :mad . I can still taste the copper in my mouth :U .
The moral of the story is that when you are dealing with electricity...trust nobody but yourself. I plan on checking all of the breaker boxs myself from now on....and am also carrying a meter in my tool box too.
So let's hear about your lessons learned the hard way.
My job is better than most teenager's jobs, I work for my dad at his Maytag Appliance Center. I mainly do the deliveries and my dad does the repair work on the appliances. I delivered a washer and dryer today. The dryer that I was removing had the heavy duty cable going directly to his box. I asked the fellow "did you kick the breaker to the dryer?" He responded with "yes, the power's off to the dryer." Me being the trusting individual that I am, I start unhooking the cable when all of a sudden WHAM! Needless to say it put me down....yep 220 volts. I got up and asked him to see his breaker box, what a surprise the breaker was not kicked. Kicking the breaker was not the only thing I wanted to kick :mad . I can still taste the copper in my mouth :U .
The moral of the story is that when you are dealing with electricity...trust nobody but yourself. I plan on checking all of the breaker boxs myself from now on....and am also carrying a meter in my tool box too.
So let's hear about your lessons learned the hard way.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Re: Lessons Learned The Hard Way (IWantAC3)
I went to replace the elements in the hot water heater a couple of years ago. Went to the box and turned off the breaker. Went down started to unscrew the leads and WHAM. I got jolted. The box was mislabeled. I went and relabeled all the circuits so I now know they are correct. There were 2 more mislabeled.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
Re: Lessons Learned The Hard Way (Gordonm)
Bence, so did the customer ask you; "By the way, what do you mean "Kick" the breaker???
Litl lectric shock therapy can cure all kinds of things!!
In my old house, was preparing to change a fixture, so I was turning off the breakers one by one to find the right one: click... nothing....click....nothing....
click! Every light in the house went off!!!! :eek: NOT the master switch either, Every light in the house was on one circuit!!! All the other ones were dummies!! We moved out and the next buyers inspector didnt notice either! MJ
Litl lectric shock therapy can cure all kinds of things!!
In my old house, was preparing to change a fixture, so I was turning off the breakers one by one to find the right one: click... nothing....click....nothing....
click! Every light in the house went off!!!! :eek: NOT the master switch either, Every light in the house was on one circuit!!! All the other ones were dummies!! We moved out and the next buyers inspector didnt notice either! MJ
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Timmins ON
Re: Lessons Learned The Hard Way (bence13_33)
Short reply... Don't trust anybody but you're partner when you're underground!
Long reply... My partner and I were going to survey (measure) a particular stope in the mine. We were making some observations and planning how to complete the job and standing about 80 feet from the face when it was blasted!!! (About 2hundred or so lbs of AN/FO and emultion explosives!!!)
I ran like I grew upo in Beirut!!!
Was scared BADLY!!! Got very very drunk that night!!!! I know of guys that were further from a blast and were killed!!!
But such is the life of a miner....
Long reply... My partner and I were going to survey (measure) a particular stope in the mine. We were making some observations and planning how to complete the job and standing about 80 feet from the face when it was blasted!!! (About 2hundred or so lbs of AN/FO and emultion explosives!!!)
I ran like I grew upo in Beirut!!!
Was scared BADLY!!! Got very very drunk that night!!!! I know of guys that were further from a blast and were killed!!!
But such is the life of a miner....
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,612
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix Arizona
Re: Lessons Learned The Hard Way (bence13_33)
Glad you are OK. I thought your were posting to tell us you bought a cracked block/heads and you just found out from the machine shop!!!!!! :eek:
Bob :cheers:
Bob :cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,119
Likes: 672
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Re: Lessons Learned The Hard Way (bence13_33)
Yeah, I've done the same thing with 220, WOW, it took a few hours to get the feeling back in my arm. Never trust anyone with electricity. I was lucky, there was 440 line right next to the one I nipped? :mad
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 0
From: Beautiful Grand Rapids MI
Re: Lessons Learned The Hard Way (bence13_33)
I got zapped with 220 from a coffee maker. The cord ran through the floor to the basement and it was "too much trouble" to go downstairs to unplug it. That was the last time I took a shortcut!! But I do like my afro now!! :troll
