Electric shock experience

[StealthSpecter]

I got a bad electric shock at work today.. glad im okay! the treat outdoor metal lights as live until you check them. the customer's garden had GU10 spike lights. Some were broken and wet she turned them on and a few worked. She asked about replacements so i showed her a new one. She did not like the short spike so i grabbed a working light to show i could reuse its spike. It looked fine but when I touched it i got shocked. My hand stuck!! i couldnt move and it hurt a lot! i yelled and fell. After a bit the power stopped and i let go. i checked the breaker. It wasnt an RCD just a regular one that tripped. maybe it hit the ground when i fell. i was mad its not safer and felt dumb for not checking first. was I dumb or would you do the same??

 

[FlipFlopDude]

woow man, glad that you're okay. always remember safety first, it's super important

 

[Deleted member 119]

Unfortunately you are dumb

 

[PGB1]

It would be wise, StealthSpecter, to advise the client of the situation and lack of ground fault protective device on the circuit,
It may not only save someone from the pain you experienced- or death- but it may save you from a civil suit in the future. Civil Suit? It's possible. The client knows that you are aware of the danger. Someone could back-track to you.

If you don't mind another word of advice: Please lock out any power source that is out of your sight while working on any electrical system or connected device. Tagging is also a good idea. On the market are switch locks, breaker locks and ring locks... They're cheap insurance.

You are very important and we all want you safe!

Paul
PS: You're not dumb. Accidents happen.

Hint- If in doubt, make sure your head is not touching anything. Then, touch the item with the BACK of your RIGHT hand first. Alternating current makes muscles contract. That's why you could not let go. But, it is far, far wiser to ensure it is not energized before touching.

 

[Deleted member 119]

If in doubt do NOT touch at all

 

[Julien_01]

Wow — glad you're okay! That sounds terrifying. Honestly, you're not dumb at all — these kinds of accidents remind all of us how quickly things can go wrong when electricity is involved, especially outdoors with moisture and older setups.

Definitely second the advice about using lockout / tagout systems and always checking circuits with proper tools before touching anything. We've seen situations like this more than once, and it's scary how many properties still don't have proper RCD/GFCI protection in place.

If anyone reading this is dealing with old wiring, unsafe garden lights, or wants a proper electrical safety inspection, feel free to check out our team at PTX Expert Electric — we're fully licensed and based in BC. Safety and peace of mind should never be optional.
Stay safe out there — and thank you for sharing this reminder with the community. It could help save someone else from going through the same.

 

[PGB1]

Electricity makes an excellent servant, but a very bad master.