which wire do you cut

rdtcmtt · 03-25-2008, 10:59 PM

if you have a hot wire and a neutral and a ground wire , and it is hot and you have to cut power quickly.

and you cannot get to the box.

which wire do you cut first, hot or neutral.

thanks .........................Robert

jerryh3 · 03-26-2008, 07:41 AM

Can you give the back story on this question first?

rdtcmtt · 03-26-2008, 07:46 AM

well it was on a test for a job , and im wanting to know as for safety which wire would you cut, if it was live.

neutrul or the hot one first to break the cuircut.

to me you would cut the hot side but i could be wrong.

Robert

Bondo · 03-26-2008, 09:04 AM

Ayuh,.....

I'd cut the Neutral, then the Ground, Then the Hot........

joed · 03-26-2008, 09:08 AM

Cut the hot and ground together then the breaker will trip and the circuit will safe.
Seriously none. Find the breaker and turn it off.

220/221 · 03-26-2008, 03:20 PM

Quote:

if you have a hot wire and a neutral and a ground wire , and it is hot and you have to cut power quickly.

Define quickly.

If someone was being electrocuted @ less than 250 volts, I would cut them all and HOPEFULLY trip the breaker.

If you have enough time to make a choice, the obvious choice would be the hot. If you cut the neutral and there is a load you will have 2 "hots".

Stubbie · 03-26-2008, 09:34 PM

I just gotta know....what employer asked a question like this on a test? Or was this an exam for licensing or was it an exam for school?

The only correct multiple choice answer would be none of the above.

I like this one... If you have 2 hots , a neutral and a ground and you have to cut power quickly and you can't get to the box and all you have on you is your linemans... which wire do you cut first?

Hint:
The hots and neutral are 4/0 al and the ground is 1/0 al and there is a disconnect within 10 feet of you.

Dilligaf77 · 03-27-2008, 07:29 AM

I carry a axe with a fiberglass handle in my tool pouch all of the time just for this situation. I use it to pull the disconnect.

goose134 · 03-27-2008, 11:22 PM

Quote:

I carry a axe with a fiberglass handle in my tool pouch all of the time just for this situation. I use it to pull the disconnect.

I thought that was so you could knock the guy off the ladder. Safely.

jcalvin · 03-28-2008, 07:23 AM

Uh....I don't know what the wiring looks like in your area, but, there isn't any way to possibly get to a wire to cut faster than the breaker unless the panel cover is off or you are standing on the power pole. Everything is in pipe around here.

CowboyAndy · 03-28-2008, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goose134

I thought that was so you could knock the guy off the ladder. Safely.

I know this isnt electrical related, but this post made me think of when I was a kid.

My dad had a workshop in the basement, and he had been using the table saw. He f-ed up and turned his back after he hit the switch, but because the blade was spinning I thought "hmmm... i'll stop it for him". He realised as soon as he had turned around that I was standing there and there was no blade guard on the saw and saw me going for it... he wasn't close enough to grab me so he grabbed a 2X4 and knocked me over with it. I was pissed that he hit me with it, but he saved me from losing my hand at the ripe old age of 6.

After that, he stopped taking the safety guard off his table saws!

jerryh3 · 03-28-2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowboyAndy

I know this isnt electrical related, but this post made me think of when I was a kid.

My dad had a workshop in the basement, and he had been using the table saw. He f-ed up and turned his back after he hit the switch, but because the blade was spinning I thought "hmmm... i'll stop it for him". He realised as soon as he had turned around that I was standing there and there was no blade guard on the saw and saw me going for it... he wasn't close enough to grab me so he grabbed a 2X4 and knocked me over with it. I was pissed that he hit me with it, but he saved me from losing my hand at the ripe old age of 6.

After that, he stopped taking the safety guard off his table saws!

That explanis a lot.

CowboyAndy · 03-28-2008, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerryh3

That explanis a lot.

Wait a minute...

My dads name is...

Jerry.

Dad? Is that you?

J. V. · 03-29-2008, 02:56 PM

Stupid question, especially on a test. It does not matter which wire you cut first. If you have to ask, then you should not be working on a hot circuit to begin with.