Some
of
the
most
popular
projects
do-it-yourselfers
tackle
around
the
house
involve
electricity.
For
example...
replacing
a
light
switch,
outlet,
or
light
fixture.
The
first
thing
to
remember
is
safety.
Because
the
human
body
can
be a
fairly
decent
conductor
of
electricity,
the
danger
of
getting
an
electric
shock
increases
greatly
when
part
of
the
body
gets
between
the
electrical
current
and
the
ground.
If
electricity
flows
through
the
heart,
even
the
tiny
amount
of
current
it
takes
to
light
a
Christmas
tree
bulb
can
be
lethal.
For
that
reason,
you
should
always
turn
off
the
power
before
working
on
anything
electrical.
Turning
off
a
individual
circuit
or
the
entire
house
can
be
done
at
the
service
panel
by
removing
a
fuse
or
switching
a
circuit
breaker
to
the
off
position.
Never
depend
on a
wall
switch
to
disconnect
electricity
before
working!
While
you're
at
the
service
panel,
this
extra
safety
measure
can
help
prevent
disaster:
Tape
a
note
on
the
panel
to
tell
others
what
you're
doing
so
no
one
will
come
along
and
replace
the
fuse
or
reset
the
circuit
breaker
while
your
working.
As
an
added
precaution,
you
may
want
to
take
the
fuse
with
you
or
tape
the
circuit
breaker
in
its
off
position.
Since
more
than
one
circuit
may
be
supplying
power
to
an
outlet,
you
should
always
test
it
with
a
light
or
something
to
make
sure
that
the
area
you
are
working
on
is
no
longer
a
threat.
With
the
electricity
turned
off,
you
can
work
in
complete
safety.
But
it's
still
a
good
idea
to
keep
these
additional
safety
precautions
in
mind.
Remember
that
water
and
electricity
don't
mix.
Never
work
on
wiring,
fixtures,
switches,
outlets
or
appliances
when
you're
wet
or
standing
on a
damp
spot.
Lay
down
dry
boards
to
stand
on
if
the
floor
or
ground
is
wet.
When
working
with
electricity,
keep
children
and
pets
away
from
the
work
area.
It's
also
a
good
idea
to
remove
metal
jewelry
and
watches.
And,
be
sure
your
work
area
is
well
lighted.
A
battery
powered
light
is
the
best
choice,
or
you
can
bring
in
an
extension
cord
from
another
part
of
the
house.
Before
making
changes
or
additions
to
home
wiring,
for
safety
and
accuracy,
check
the
electrical
codes
in
your
area
before
beginning.
Do
not
guess
when
working
around
electricity.
If
you
run
into
problems
or
don't
understand
something,
check
with
a
licensed
electrician.
