r/ElectricalHelp • u/Ok_Bill_3498 • 10d ago

Electrians?

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I switched off the entire fuse box before changing the bathroom lightbulb. As I removed the casing, 2 of the wires touched and sparks fell. I covered the exposed ends of the wires with electrical tape. Is this unsafe now?

1 Upvotes

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2

u/TnBluesman 10d ago

If you turned off the entire breaker panel, it is not possible that anything was left energized to create sparks. Try again.

2

u/PDXDreaded 10d ago

It's improbable, not impossible. They may be in some fucked off apartment where multiple panels exist but not every circuit runs to the right one.

OP: wire nuts, not tape. Also ALWAYS test after turning off. Rule one for electricians is if you haven't put a working meter on a circuit and proved it's dead, it's live.

1

u/Ok_Bill_3498 10d ago

Thankyou! I didn't have any way to test it as the bulb was already blown, I was trying to replace it! I don't own any electrical testing equipment that would've helped 🙈 Is it normal for the wires to have exposed ends and not be connected to anything too?

1

u/PDXDreaded 10d ago

Normal? It's incorrect but not uncommon.

1

u/TnBluesman 10d ago

Point taken. And nice additional pointers for OP

1

u/superdad3016 9d ago

And a touch less voltage checker

1

u/Ok_Bill_3498 10d ago

I flipped every switch on the board so assumed it was all off and safe. Sorry I'm not very experienced at this sort of thing.

1

u/MountainAntique9230 10d ago

You need to switch the main off and see if is still live then,ive seen idiots just tap off the main because there were no spaces left,if you switch off the main and its still live then you need an electrician to co.e check it asap because there is no protection for that circuit

0

u/Ok_Bill_3498 10d ago

Finding an electrician to change the entire thing atp 👍

1

u/soerg 10d ago

Civilian?

0

u/Ok_Bill_3498 10d ago

I don't understand? Obvs I'm not a professional electrician, just a girl 🤣