It will seem obvious to state that you should never work on anything electrical that is conductive, or live, without first disabling it, but let’s face it, even the best of us get lazy once in awhile. We get tempted to grab that fallen piece of banana bread by sticking a fork into the toaster without first unplugging it. Yes, you know you did something stupid like that once, before you thought better of it.
In any situation where you need to make an electrical repair, first disable the power supply. Few people realize that this is also true before you drill into ceilings or walls—you may hit a wire without knowing it, so shut off power at your circuit box before you drill. Keep a flashlight near your breaker box so you can see what you’re doing.
John – Good reminder for anyone doing their own electrical work. ALWAYS ensure the power is off.