Blew a circuit during a basement remodel in Columbus last spring

I was running a new circuit for a workshop outlet in my basement. Had the wire stripped and ready, but I got lazy and didn't double check the breaker was off. Touched the hot wire to the neutral block and it arced and tripped the main. Lost power to half the house for an hour while I reset everything. Now I always pull the meter tags before touching anything live. Anyone else had a close call like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

clairebaker1d ago

My dad taught me a similar lesson when I dropped a screwdriver across two live bus bars in a panel (talk about seeing stars). Now I treat every wire like it's hot even when the breaker's off.

wren_jackson21h ago

Learned that myself, Clairebaker, when my drill bit slipped and nicked a live neutral in a box.