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I’m putting a WiFi router into a wall charger

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Re: I’m putting a WiFi router into a wall charger

#81
post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many electricians will do this if needed. My brother-in-law gets shocked with 110v on a regular basis, and doesn't really mind anymore. I don't think many would work on a hot 240v circuit, though.

confirm from experience: 240V is no joking matter, but it's not _that_ dangerous either (otherwise it would be higher)

As long as 110 doesn't go through your chest, it's probably fine. I've had 110 through my chest and I was fine. 240 through your chest is a lot scarier.

Re: I’m putting a WiFi router into a wall charger

#83
post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've heard of electricians who will change a live receptical. I even found this video exhibition https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WERqtFfgcyo

Many electricians will do this if needed. My brother-in-law gets shocked with 110v on a regular basis, and doesn't really mind anymore. I don't think many would work on a hot 240v circuit, though.

A residential voltage electric shock has a low probability of killing you, but each one has that probability, and some day you may be unlucky.

Knowing how to move around the wire will further reduce the probability, so you can indeed learn to improve your odds. But still, each shock carries that probability (and it's much higher than the things we consider common, like driving a car in a high-speed road). How many times are you ok with putting your life at risk?

One should better avoid working on live wires. If you can't avoid, there are gear and safety procedures that may save your life, uncomfortable as they are. There is no reason for getting shocked all the time.

Re: I’m putting a WiFi router into a wall charger

#84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even better (or worse?) hide it behind the faceplate, a little more work but certainly better hidden! Just turn up in a yellow jacket, official looking lanyard and tools...

or make it look like a blank wall faceplate on the consumer facing side, but on the other side it has a plug in to get power. Ideally, no tools are required to "install" it. To consumers, it should look like this: https://www.homedepot.ca/product/leviton-1-gang-midway-nylon...

There are nightlights that are normal switchplates on the front, with springy connectors on the back that get power from the screws on the side of the light switch.

https://www.amazon.com/Single-SnapPower-SwitchLight-Built-Am...

Re: I’m putting a WiFi router into a wall charger

#85

> Drop one of these in a Mcdonald's, and nobody’s going to expect a thing. You can leave it for days, while it collects data and marshals it back to your home network. brave assumptions. it's will be gone in 30 minutes.

Was thinking the same thing. Leaving stuff in public that resemble known consumer electronics will guarantee they perform disappearing acts ASAP. Ideally, you'd want something firmly attached to a wall, something that looks industrial/enterprisey, like it's an important part of the building alarm, water, power, HVAC or network system. Then people won't fuck with it. And when you're installing it, wear a brightly colo…

The police on my city arrested this week 3 people that stole ~4tons of cable, on daylight, in crowded streets.

They did exactly that. Got a very visible vest, with a company logo, closed part of the walkway, and dig the cables without anybody suspecting anything.

Re: I’m putting a WiFi router into a wall charger

#86
post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many electricians will do this if needed. My brother-in-law gets shocked with 110v on a regular basis, and doesn't really mind anymore. I don't think many would work on a hot 240v circuit, though.

UK (230V) here, I've observed electricians working on live circuits frequently. That's why tools like this exist, 'safe' for working up to 1000V: https://www.machinemart.co.uk/c/vde--insulated-tools/ Despite being warned not to over and over again, I have replaced multiple electrical outlets and light switches in my home without flipping the breakers

"Despite being told I was doing something stupid over and over again, I continued to do that stupid thing."

Re: I’m putting a WiFi router into a wall charger

#87
post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many electricians will do this if needed. My brother-in-law gets shocked with 110v on a regular basis, and doesn't really mind anymore. I don't think many would work on a hot 240v circuit, though.

UK (230V) here, I've observed electricians working on live circuits frequently. That's why tools like this exist, 'safe' for working up to 1000V: https://www.machinemart.co.uk/c/vde--insulated-tools/ Despite being warned not to over and over again, I have replaced multiple electrical outlets and light switches in my home without flipping the breakers

That's not 'why' they exist, (at least, that's not my understanding, or why I have a set) it's not easy to not touch anything with anything else, but it's a nice safeguard while poking about somewhere you think is made safe.

What I haven't seen (and don't know why?) is a VDE screwdriver in the neon/LED voltage detection style.

Personally I even isolate lighting circuits to change a bulb. It almost certainly wouldn't be a problem if I didn't, but it's so easy, why not.

Re: I’m putting a WiFi router into a wall charger

#88
post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

confirm from experience: 240V is no joking matter, but it's not _that_ dangerous either (otherwise it would be higher)

As long as 110 doesn't go through your chest, it's probably fine. I've had 110 through my chest and I was fine. 240 through your chest is a lot scarier.

Macbooks (since the 'unibody' aluminium design) infamously pass a little stray current through the chassis, even earthed in the UK. It's quite unpleasant if I rest my hand between laptop and desktop keyboard (laptop sometimes to the side) touching both, like a steadily warming burn.

Hardly compares to the shock (pun intended) I got when I happened to touch the long-'tingly' light switch at the same time as another well-earthed one through the door though.

Re: I’m putting a WiFi router into a wall charger

#89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting. I would be inclined to attach ground and neutral first, though. That seems to be the algorithm for all manner of connectors (UK plugs interfacing with outlets, USB, SATA, etc. -- they all make sure ground makes contact before power or data).

Devices connect ground first because if there's a fault when something else connects, they want to be able to send the power to ground. I think his plan was the opposite: to avoid having a path to ground, in the case his body was part of that path.

Isn't your body the best path to ground when the outlet isn't grounded?

I kind of see what he's up to, though. Basically, if you touch the hot wire, or one of the screws that it's attached to, you probably get shocked. That is unavoidable; turn off the power before starting work to minimize your risk. (The risk is, of course, never zero, so do be careful even if you're sure the power is off.)

If you connect neutral first and then hot, you still get shocked if you touch the hot wire... but you also short out if the hot wire that you're screwing to the terminal touches the neutral (or ground) wire. That will cause the circuit breaker to open (or failing that, a fire), defeating the purpose of working on an energized system. So I guess this procedure is optimized for uptime, at an increased risk of death.

Re: I’m putting a WiFi router into a wall charger

#90
post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many electricians will do this if needed. My brother-in-law gets shocked with 110v on a regular basis, and doesn't really mind anymore. I don't think many would work on a hot 240v circuit, though.

A residential voltage electric shock has a low probability of killing you, but each one has that probability, and some day you may be unlucky. Knowing how to move around the wire will further reduce the probability, so you can indeed learn to improve your odds. But still, each shock carries that probability (and it's much higher than the things we consider common, like driving a car in a high-speed road). How many ti…

> How many times are you ok with putting your life at risk?

That's not the right question to ask. If it was that black and white then you'd never get in a car.

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