DIY uptake has increased greatly in recent months. It’s likely down to people having more free time at the weekends, of which this time is being spent in the home.
While there are many tasks you can do yourself including decorating, putting up shelves and even laying flooring. Doing electrics is a bit trickier.
Unfortunately, nearly half of all severe electric shocks are caused by DIY attempts.
This typically includes:
- Cutting through power leads
- Drilling into wiring
- Repairing electrical items while they are still switched on
We have put together a few tips on how to approach DIY electrics, safely.
- Safely isolate the power at the consumer unit. Do this by turning off a singular circuit breaker, or all of them individually from left to right, before turning off the mains switch last. Use battery powered tools and double check the power is off by plugging in an appliance before commencing work.
- Locate all your cables. You can purchase a quality cable detector that will help you to track buried cables before you begin work. Mark these on the wall with pencil where possible.
- Ensure you have an RCD fitted in your consumer unit. This will turn off the power whenever a fault is detected in the electrical system.
Use the right tools.
- Voltage Detector – this will test for the presence of power.
- VDE screwdriver – Using a VDE 1000V screwdriver will protect you from shocks.
- VDE Cable stripper & cutters – These will ensure you are trimming wires neatly and efficiently, while also protecting you from shocks.
- Cable Detector – This will identify any buried cables and wires in the walls.
Where you have any doubts or are unsure about what to do, always contact a qualified electrician.