Check even if they've told you the electricity is isolated

[RF Lighting]

Check, check, and check again! Not always possible.

Yes it is

If you can't prove for dead you don't work on it. It really is that simple.

 

[333rocky333]

There was a bang !

Likely what happened is that you cut from the side of the cable with the neutral conductor, so that the cutters shorted the neutral against the CPC and tripped the RCD. If you'd have done it from the other side, things might have been more eventful.

Quite possible. Certainly I do not plan to do it again to test the theory!

Its unlikely in the above case to get a bang,

You shorted L to E or L to N proberly so fast you may not have even felt it and possibly may have been more at risk from molten metal or the arc.

As others say your safety is your own responsibility so do your own Test always

 

[feynman]

Respect to Notagain for posting this, because anybody who works on a system they didn't install, and:

-doesn't isolate the circuit and tape over and label the breaker/switch themselves,
-doesn't double check with a meter or a current clamp that a circuit or wire is isolated before touching or cutting it does NOT deserve to call themselves a professional electrician.

There are reckless electricians and there are old electricians, but there are no old reckless electricians.

Tiredness doesn't cut it. If you're tired you should be THREE TIMES as careful.

Good lesson learnt.

 

[JohnD]

I have chopped a live cable once in our garage about 15 years ago and found it very uneventful.

survivor bias means that all the people who tell you about it are the ones that weren't killed. this should not be allowed to mislead you.

 

[mogget]

delete

 

[Jackrae]

There's plenty of good guidance out there if you look for it, but at the end of the day, if you work on electrical equipment it is your personal responsibility to ensure the circuit is safe and secure.

http://www.hseni.gov.uk/hsg85_electricity_at_work_-_safe_working_practices.pdf