How to prevent shock if accidentaly cutting a live wire?

Question

what precautions can i take to prevent myself from getting shocked when cutting a live wire?

Answer 1

dont cut the live wire this is the only thing that will keep you from shock. Or have a buddy hold on to you this will send the current to him, if he doesnt want to be shocked have him get a buddy and so on. turn off main power at breaker box and cut it or pull the electrical meter at the house.

Answer 2

Well ,if you feel you must (please don't) stand on only a wooden ladder,wear rubber tennis shoes,wear rubber gloves,use only tools that have OSHA approved insulated rubber handles, Stand on wood,wear goggles, have a heart fibrillater machine in plain sight next to you, pre -Dial 911,Fire Department, Have a long handle wooden stick next to you so the live wire can be knocked away from you, have lots of ice handy for all the burns,a fire extinguisher to put the fire out that is burning all over you. That just about covers it. The moral to this is, Don't be Stupid my friend! Byee

Answer 3

Don't cut a live wire.

if you don't know the answer to this, you are not qualified to be mucking about with wire snips near live wires.

The precautions you need to take can be different for different levels of power flowing through the wire. Household 110 isn't the same as electronics. And just because it's something small doesn't mean it can't hurt you.

You'd be surprised how small a peice of electronics or how innoccuous a wire can deliver sufficient current to STOP YOUR HEART. That would mean that you DIE. If it's something small, the paramedics that find your corpse would probably laugh too.

A capacitor half the size of your mouse could do it. A smaller one probably could too.

If you are mucking about, you can use some of the following precautions:

Insulate the cutters. This doesn't mean electrical tape or that little rubber stuff around your pliers. This means getting the proper equipment.

Make sure there is no water.

If you are on a ladder, use an insulated ladder. Wooden or a proper alu-plastic ladder.

Isolate yourself from the ground. Sit on a plastic bucket if you need to.

Only touch one wire at a time. Even if you are grounded, if you touch another wire, you could close a circuit and kerblammo! Some cables/wires have more than one element in them and the act of cutting can cross the two wires.

Some of these wires are round and might look like they have only one wire running through them.

With a high enough voltage, none of this will be enough.

For more accurate information, ask again and include more details about specifically WHAT wire you are cutting. Include voltage and amperage if possible.

Answer 4

I am an electrician and I do not recommend you cutting into live wires...However, if you are still going to do this anyway then:

1.   ALWAYS CUT ONE WIRE AT A TIME AND BE SURE TO EITHER TAPE OFF OR WIRE NUT THE LIVE SECTION!!!

2.  Always use insulated tools like lineman's pliers.

3. If you want to feel safer, use insulated gloves.

4. If you are cutting more than one wire...Make sure you cut the HOT wires before you cut the Neutral wires.

5. Make sure you are not grounded to something and make sure you are not in moisture. If it is hot outside and you are sweating...BE CAREFUL!

6. If you are not sure of what I am talking about or feel tension doing this....Call an electrician...Do not take the chance.

7. GOOD LUCK

Answer 5

The best precaution you can take is to call an electrician. They don't cut live wires and for a very good reason.

Cut a live wire and risk death. Let's see, would a smart person do that? Hmm-m-m-m, not really!! : /