Common sense: Protecting yourself from getting shocked ............
Although you should always use care working with electricity, we want to let
you know some common situations to avoid that could turn your body into a
super conductor. You know you shouldn’t stick your finger into an electrical
outlet (we hope!), but you should also get into some other good habits. Read on.Rings are out
Metal is a dandy conductor. Wearing rings or other metal jewelry around
electricity is a lousy idea. For example, when the skin on your finger is sur-
rounded by a ring (a terrific contact point) and you touch a voltage source,
your body’s resistance can be very low. In that state, even a lower voltage jolt
could do you serious damage. Leave jewelry somewhere else. (Tell your
spouse or fiancée that we said it’s okay for you to take off your wedding ring
when working with electricity.)Another good reason to avoid jewelry is that it can snag on things. Imagine
working on a breadboard filled with wires and tiny components, only to have
your ring or necklace catch on something and yank it out. At the least, you
have to put the component back in place; at the worst, you could damage the
component and have to replace it.Beware of water!
Don’t work in a wet environment (say, outdoors on a rainy day, or while
standing on a damp garage floor). This prevention might seem obvious, but
consider that cup of coffee on your workbench. What would happen if you
knocked it over while working with electricity? You need to become super
careful about anythingwet or moist in or near your work area. This includes
you: If you just came in out of the rain or from a run, dry off before working
on electrical equipment.Respect electricity
Here’s one simple rule that you should memorize right now: Never touch a
component in a circuit that has power (an energized circuit). Turn off all power
sources or remove the source from the circuit entirely before touching it.One trick that electricians use is to keep their left hands in their pockets when
working with electrical equipment. If a zap occurs, it will flow from their right
hands to the ground — not from hand to hand, passing right through the heart.
You shouldn’t be working with live electricity — ever! — but this trick of trade
used by more advanced users shows how important it is to understand how
electricity works and respect its authority.20 Part I: Project Prep