safe isolation for work on lighting

[Ric79]

My manager is telling me that I can safely change a light transformer by switching the lights off at the switch. I thought the light switch wasn't suitable for isolation. And also if the lights are on further on in the circuit can there not be a residual current in the neutral. What are your opinions? Thanks in advance.

 

[Flanders]

what do you think

 

[iamelectric]

aye sound good , bit of tape over the light switch , joke joke

 

[Andy78]

You should be isolating the whole circuit in such a way that it cannot be switched on whilst you are working on it. You should also have an approved voltage tester to prove the circuit dead.

read this http://www.esc.org.uk/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/industry/best_practice/BPG2_09.pdf

Then print it off and show it to your boss.

 

[trev]

Ric, there's a good chance that if you take this clown's advice you could die. There is no substitute for the proper safe isolation procedure.

 

[davethsparky]

The question is far too open ended! It depends on a number of factors but the answer to your question as it stands is yes/no/maybe

 

[Flanders]

Your write about the neutral any load on it and may bite you

 

[Sintra]

If you are the one carrying out the work then it is your responsibility to isolate it properly regardless of what any other numpty tells you.

 

[Flanders]

I have been working on a lighting circuit (safely locked off at the CU) when the customer has come in and tried to turn the light on at the switch "So that I could see what i was doing"
The moral of this this story is SAFE ISOLATION.

 

[Dizzy_Maskell]

Why would you consider not isolating the circuit properly???
To be competent at your job you need to know the basics safe isolation being one of then!!!!!

 

[shanky887614]

I have been working on a lighting circuit (safely locked off at the CU) when the customer has come in and tried to turn the light on at the switch "So that I could see what i was doing"
The moral of this this story is SAFE ISOLATION.

if the guys your working with say dont isolate it, oops i accidentally tripped the rcd by shorting l-e

 

[trev]

if the guys your working with say dont isolate it

Ask them if they like sex and travel.

 

[Dizzy_Maskell]

I have been working on a lighting circuit (safely locked off at the CU) when the customer has come in and tried to turn the light on at the switch "So that I could see what i was doing"
The moral of this this story is SAFE ISOLATION.

if the guys your working with say dont isolate it, oops i accidentally tripped the rcd by shorting l-e

Sounds like this has been done before

 

[Pete999]

Take Andy's advice test prove lock off as per ESC guidance

 

[Will Mcloughlin]

Why would you consider not isolating the circuit properly???
To be competent at your job you need to know the basics safe isolation being one of then!!!!!

I Agree!
if your unsure or not confident about isolating the circuit
then should you be undertaking electrical work.

 

[itselectric]

If you don't test then how will you know if the live feed is through the switch, it could be the neutral which is switched then you would be working on 230v live. Take advice already given.

 

[Guitarist]

My manager is telling me that I can safely change a light transformer by switching the lights off at the switch. I thought the light switch wasn't suitable for isolation. And also if the lights are on further on in the circuit can there not be a residual current in the neutral. What are your opinions? Thanks in advance.

If you are an apprentice, and your Manager tells you to do something, then usually you do it. It's easy for us (now that we're older and battle-hardened) to tell him to argue with his boss, but it's not always that simple.
As the others have said, it needs isolating properly, and it's a poor Manager who would tell you otherwise. As Andy78 says, print out the ESC guidance and show him. Good luck.

 

[skydog23]

T
I
T
S

Test
Isolate
Test
Secure

 

[telectrix]

and leading on from that excellent ---- post, you can't secure a bog standard light switch so your boss is an ARSE.

 

[telectrix]

he should be chucked down the stairs. hence the expression, arse over ---.

 

[rmc86uk]

I have been working on a lighting circuit (safely locked off at the CU) when the customer has come in and tried to turn the light on at the switch "So that I could see what i was doing"
The moral of this this story is SAFE ISOLATION.

I did something similar when I first started out. The Electrician was changing a light and just turned off at the switch. Part way through I asked if he wanted the light on to see!

 

[stranded]

The only person who dosent safely isolate the supply is GeordieSpark

 

[guest119]

A properly trained spark wouldnt have asked such a question.
It would be understandable from the likes of a mate.

Boydy

 

[robbalaar86]

If you know the safe isolation procedure (which any spark/mate/apprentice should) sod what he says and isolate the damn circuit and lock it off.

Managers will always push for you to get the job done. It's your life not his.

 

[Guitarist]

I have had MANY arguments with Managers over the years who want the job done faster. I've even been pulled into the office by my own supervisors for having a "bad attitude" when hassled by a production Manager, simply for standing my ground over safe isolation.
Glad I'm self-employed now...

 

[telectrix]

production managers are spawn of the devil.

 

[trev]

I was once asked to work live by a suit who didn't want the inconvenience of no computer access for ten minutes, I refused and told the suit I'd be happy to loan her the tools and stand behind her talking her through the job step by step. Needless to say she refused but did report the incident to her boss (a retired doctor) who demanded I carried out the work, he got the same response and also refused.

After various threats and cajoling I told him to shove his job where the sun don't shine. If there is a means of isolation if you don't use it you're foolish.

 

[Geordie Spark]

The only person who dosent safely isolate the supply is GeordieSpark

Why do you think that?

 

[shanky887614]

Why do you think that?

Personally i don't mind working live if its safe to do so.

E.g. i always use vde drivers anyway but ill be extra careful or use vde pliers and long nose as well.

Ill only do this on single phase though.

 

[trev]

Shanky we're supposed to be properly qualified people, sometimes there are occassions where working live is inevitable and we're supposed to know how to deal with that. When there's a means of isolation though mate.........