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locking the means to re-energise the circuit
I can see that being necessary in a big site where there are multiple people working but when I turn the CU off to replace a light switch or something there is zero chance my wife will turn it back on again. Do any domestic consumer units have lock off points anyway?
jellybaby-
Yes, they all do. They have a couple of holes on the breaker switch itself that you fit a lockable mech to. There are a few different designs of lock. They really are a deterrant against stupidity though not malice.
Why wouldn't you trust the wife at home but I've been in situations where people do switch them back on for all kinds of weird reasons. In my experience you could tell someone, 'make sure no one switches it back on' and they will hear 'switch that back on when I leave the room'.
When we're all encouraging people to have a go at electrics it seems like a good idea to arm them with some basic safety skills. If you say something like, I think we all know how to test if a circuit is dead then lots of people are thinking, yeah, magic wand, neon screwdriver, multifunction multimeter and they are all options we can agree can work but they all have significant safety issues that can result in death.
Specifically you should use a voltage tester which is a single job tool. You should test and confirm operation before you use it to test a circuit.
I see voltage testers failing or becoming unreliable over time or when you go from cold damp environments indoors or they are subject to vibration in transport. These are quality brands but these tools are fallible.
Especially if people don't recognise a 3 plate or understand the importance of earthing a metal fitting.
I should have modified my tone a bit there, it just helps to keep reinforcing the point. There are young electricians who've lost their lives because of failing to grasp this and they have family mounting campaigns to get people to take it more seriously.
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I can see that being necessary in a big site where there are multiple people working but when I turn the CU off to replace a light switch or something there is zero chance my wife will turn it back on again
Doesn't stop me from shouting 'don't fuck with the CU for next hour!'
Airhead
Howard
In my experience most consumers up to untrained professionals have no idea about the rules and recommendations surrounding even the most basic test meter. There's quite a lot of specific basic process that even the trained professionals are being doubly encouraged and reminded to follow.
I wouldn't make any assumptions that a consumer has a reliable voltage tester and is testing it properly before they test for dead or is locking the means to re-energise the circuit.