Showerthought: everyone says to always check the panel first, but that wasted a full day for me on a Reno job

Spent 8 hours tracing a dead circuit only to find a nail through a wire in the attic, the panel was fine. Does anyone else think we over-rely on that advice sometimes?

3 comments

3 Comments

william_taylor3mo ago

Ever been burned by a shortcut?

matthewh283mo ago

Oh man, @william_taylor, that question hits home. I read this article about a guy who tried to save money by doing his own electrical work. He skipped getting a permit and just watched some videos. Ended up frying his whole kitchen's wiring. The fire department said it was a total mess. It cost him way more to fix than if he'd just hired someone from the start. Sometimes the long way is the only way that actually works.

cameron_owens491mo ago

Is it really that common though? I mean, I get that it can go real bad, but how many people actually end up burning their house down from a DIY job? Probably not that many. Plus, the guy who watched some videos and messed up, that's on him for not knowing his limits. Some stuff like swapping out a light fixture or an outlet is pretty straightforward if you're careful and turn the breaker off. Idk, maybe it's just me but I feel like people blow these stories out of proportion to scare you into paying for permits.