KAPOW!

I was hooking up a new ceiling light that I bought over the weekend. Not knowing which breaker was the right one to turn off, I made sure the switch for the light was turned off. I took my usual precautions, making sure not more than one wire is exposed at a time, and hooked up the light. After wiring it up, and fastening the fixture to the box, I went to install one of the light bulbs, to check that it worked properly. As I inserted the bulb, I found out that the wires were live the whole time that I was installing it, so I reached for the switch to turn off the light. As I switched it off, KAPOW!, a blue flash came out from behind the light switch, and my place went dark.

I went up to the electrical panel, switched the tripped breaker, and again, KAPOW!, there was a blue flash from behind the breaker.

I typically don't like working with electricity, giving it much respect, so by this time I was feeling a little nervous, as to what my next move should be. I went back down, and reversed the wiring procedure for the light, and put the marrets back over the exposed wires. I went into the kitchen, got my fire extinguisher, then went back up to the electrical panel, hoping that it would turn on without incident. I apprehensively reached for the switch, and did a quick flick, and it was back on.

Phew, what a relief.

I called my Dad, and told him what had happened. He said that there must be a short circuit somewhere, either in the light, the switch, or someplace else. For the time being, I said that I would leave it be, until I spoke to one of my electrically inclined friends, or had one of them come over to try and help me with this predicament.