Was trying to fix a damaged outlet in my rental unit, as per usual landlord didn’t want to fix it.
I don’t have a breaker /fuse box in my room.
So, tired of the outlet, I decided to change the outlet entirely with the breaker turned ON. I considered putting a friend on speaker in case I died, but in my fever pitch I decided against it.
So here I am wearing 2 pairs of rubber gloves per hand, with random unrubered wire wrapped around my body in a way so that if I got shocked, the electricity would have a path to travel to not blast my heart / chest / head.
I do the outlet swap a roo. Ancient super boomer outlet, it’s wired differently. Wires charred to hell. One of the wires is brittle and snaps. Half way through random arc, a loud pop, my screw driver goes flying the live wire hit something.
My entire unit lost power.
Panic slightly before realizing that it’s not so bad, now I won’t die. I finish the swaparoo.
I call up the landlord, with some bs excuse ready.
He doesn’t ask and just goes and flicks the fuse back on.
My fuse works. My actual face: XD
Ps:
The outlet doesn’t put out enough to kill a person iirc
Get wrecked landlord, guess who just increased the value of your unit!!
I have another damaged outlet to fix, but part 2 will have to wait!
(Also, wtf one 15a circuit for the whole unit?)
I still don’t know where the screw driver flew)
This section is for relaxed discussions, and articles that don’t fit anywhere else on the website.
I’ll investigate, thanks for the lead!
Is it unsafe to just blow it by short circuiting the outlet? While wearing those 2 rubber gloves per hand.
I have some rough plan that I might do the outlet swaparoo when the power goes out due to a thunderstorm. But I’m not sure if that’s more unsafe?
I would do it when I have the most control over the system possible. During a thunderstorm your landlord might also get their power cut and go flip switches without you asking. My guess is that triggering your own randomly gives you a little more predictability for when it will turn back on.
None of this is safe. Having a friend on speaker was a good thought. If you are going to short it just use one insulated hand and wear rubber soles. That means you won’t be creating a possible path for the current to travel through your body (vital organs) from hand to hand or from hand to foot.
deleted by creator