> (it was her lighting BTW !!).

> The reason ? - its switch was actually connected to the business
> next door's power,

Just not her power :-).

Wherever possible I short the "dead" wires together before adventuring 
with them. I also avert eyes when doing this as sometimes it does 
prove what you are testing to disprove. .

I have had many close calls over the years.

Phase on earth (!), phase on neutral, ring feed (illegal in NZ, common 
in UK), miswired socket and miswired plug so case is at phase only 
when two are used together, ... .

I've had quite a few mains shocks, a few RF burns, a few HV DC (up to 
about 1200 V) ..., various inductive kicks, 50v on backs of hands 
while running telephone mdf jumpers is annoying (trainee engineer 
days), ... . Haven't had a mains shock for years (decade(s)?). Still 
alive but many of the above could have killed me. (Some would say this 
list explains why I am as I am, but I assure you that such a simple 
explanation is inadequate :-) ).

So - ALWAYS assume it's live. Make sure it's not. Then assume it is. 
Then short it :-).


        RM


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