Do you turn off the circuit when changing a lightbulb?

[blackcloud]

Hi all

Juat wondering should I turn of the circuit breaker for the lights when changing a lightbulb?

If so should I turn off just the breaker for the lights or shut down the whole fuse box?

 

[Koolpc]

I personally never have..

 

[Munroast]

I aslk the national grid to shut down for an hour either side... can't be too safe

seriouslly though I think there is benefits with it being live, esp with flourescent stuff, least you know when its connected

But a sensible person would switch off at the mains

 

[big-all]

Hi all

Juat wondering should I turn of the circuit breaker for the lights when changing a lightbulb?

If so should I turn off just the breaker for the lights or shut down the whole fuse box?

in general never for 2 reasons lack off light in the building when off and because leds are perhaps 4-15w off no great amp value at perhaps 0.03-0.20 amps on a 6 amp lighting circuit perhaps 1% the value 230x6=1380w

 

[JohnW2]

in general never for 2 reasons lack off light in the building when off ....

Fsit enough, but ....

... and because leds are perhaps 4-15w off no great amp value at perhaps 0.03-0.20 amps on a 6 amp lighting circuit perhaps 1% the value 230x6=1380w

The question surely relates to the safety of the person changing the bulb (i.e. the risk of them being exposed to a dangerous voltage) , and that has nothing to do with how much current the light (if working) would draw.

However, to answer the OP's question, I would say that extremely few people switch off the circuit when they change a lamp/bulb, and virtually none would switch off the entire installation.

 

[blup]

Turning off the switch effectively isolates the supply to the bulb

 

[Mottie]

I don’t even turn off the switch.

 

[Murdochcat]

If the bulb has gone, and the fitting is looking fragile, then the only way to ensure safety would be to isolate the circuit

 

[blup]

I don’t even turn off the switch.

You cant always tell e.g two way lighting but if the bulb lights I tend to turn the switch off.

 

[Jackrae]

To some extent responses will depend on the type of lamp holder ie E27 vs B22 and whether the socket is plastic or brass
With B22, both pins are fully recessed so the chances of making contact with either is slim, unless the bulb globe shatters
With E27, if wired incorrectly, the outer screwed section could be live and there is the possibility of making finger contact with a live system
With a brass socket, again if either not correctly earthed or due to faulty wiring there is again the possibility of making contact with a live system

 

[ericmark]

I would agree with @Jackrae with screw fitting bulbs, often the lamps are made for Europe, with both centre and outer the same colour, so it requires a meter of some sort to work out which is the centre pin, so there is a chance it has been connected the wrong way around, so with a screw bulb would always switch off at the light switch. Although mainly habit as one would burn ones hands with the old bulbs.

But would not isolate whole circuit as unlikely anyone would be daft enough to switch neutral rather than line, I suppose I could unplug the whole lamp mine will unplug, but actually I tend to remove all bulbs before I unplug chandelier so I don't break them.

 

[Jurassicspark]

If you're a complete novice then I'd recommend turning off the associated breaker as I have seen some people changing a light bulb with the circuit energized, what happens mostly is that they get a slight jump (from the new light turning on directly bright at their eyes) and have a chance of falling off a ladder or a table that they are standing on to change the fitting.

 

[JohnW2]

Turning off the switch effectively isolates the supply to the bulb

Whilst that is true (provided the switch is actually in the L!), there is, as has been mentioned, a potential complication with 2-way switching.

For a start, as has been said, one will not usually know whether the light is switched on or off just by looking at the switches. Probably worse, even if one does somehow know that it is 'switched off', it's theoretically possible that someone might operate the 'remote' 2-way switch whilst one is changing the bulb.

Having said said, as I've also said I very much doubt that a significant number of people ever isolate the whole circuit (let alone the whole installation) when changing a bulb/lamp.

 

[opps]

If the light fitting is so dodgy that you risk harm when replacing a bulb, you need an electrician to change those fittings.

I am not an electrician but over the years I have never flipped a MCB just to replace a bulb

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I always work live, but knowing things are live, I work very carefully, and I am well-used to live working.

On those rare occasions when I decide it really does need to be isolated, then I arranged all switches, up for off. Two ways, if both are up, it is off, and I will test and check it is off, before proceeding - I don't like surprises.

So the advice is - unless you are absolutely confident of your abilities, then isolate the circuit..