Calling Apple or Just Apple

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

IIRC, one of you is our resident electrician.

I tried to remove a broken lightbulb from an outside lantern and I am stuck.

I shut off the power to the light. I then used a potato cut in half to unscrew the lightbulb base. But the base won't unscrew and now I have raw potato goober all over the bulb socket.

How can I remove the bulb base?

And how can I remove the potato goober so the lamp doesn't short circuit when I turn the power back on?

TIA!!!!

<<<<<<<a complete failure at DIY today.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Aug 27, 2012 18:51:34 GMT -5 @bloomscuzzer said:

needle nose pliars. you can squeeze the metal part of the bulb to collaspse it if that helps. do all with the power off. maybe even flip the breaker off so no one turns switch by accident

Yup, the breaker is off. I found out the hard way. ;D I flipped what was listed on the circuit box as the right circuit for the lamp and then and went and tried the potato. But, the potato flesh is damp, and suddenly the damp potato flesh and some electricity came in contact with each other.

The good news is that I found a quick way to cook potatoes. ;D

Oh, and now I know I have to relabel the circuits.

So, needle nose pliers...and I won't get electrocuted? Cuz, there is no switch for the outside lamp. It is on a timer...although maybe I can shut the timer switch off?

[Apple]

Aug 27, 2012 18:51:34 GMT -5 @bloomscuzzer said:

needle nose pliars. you can squeeze the metal part of the bulb to collaspse it if that helps. do all with the power off. maybe even flip the breaker off so no one turns switch by accident

Yes, this. If it's wired right, turning of the timer should work. If you want to be more certain (because getting shocked kinda sucks) you should be able to find a tool at the hardware store called a "voltage detector". It kind of looks like a fat pen. You still want to be cautious with it (stick it in a known live outlet before and after you use it to test your "dead" circuit) it will light up and/or beep if the circuit is hot when you hold it against a wire, in an outlet out in a lamp socket (it will not light up on the neutral write, so only one hole in a working outlet lights it up). They are not perfect but they are handy when looking for a breaker.
I'd post a picture, or link, but I'm on my phone... (I like the ones with only one range)

[Apple]

Oh, and if you know you have the right breaker, that is safer than a switch or timer, but it doesn't hurt to turn off both.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Will the potato goober cause any trouble in the socket?

I ask because it has gotten dark here, so we are going to wait until tomorrow to pull out the lightbulb base. But, I need to power that circuit back up because this silly 85 year old house is wired very weird and my freezer in the basement is on the same darn circuit as this outside light.

[Peace Of Mind]

GRG Hash browns!! I was going to tell you Apple but she is already here to save you. I hope she brought some eggs.

[Jaguar]

freaking hilarious

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Aug 27, 2012 20:23:41 GMT -5 Peace Of Mind said:

GRG Hash browns!! I was going to tell you Apple but she is already here to save you. I hope she brought some eggs.

Even DH is !!!

[chiver78]

or, if you don't mind meeting me a little earlier than the MA meetup we still all need to plan, I could head on over if you still haven't gotten it out. you've posted enough about where you are that I am pretty sure you are within 3 or 4 towns of me along route 20.

I'm not an electrician, but I play a mini-sparky (low voltage) 40 hours a week.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Aug 27, 2012 20:42:51 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

or, if you don't mind meeting me a little earlier thanhe MA meetup we still all need to plan, I could head on over if you still haven't gotten it out. you've posted enough about where you are that I am pretty sure you are within 3 or 4 towns of me along route 20.

I'm not an electrician, but I play a mini-sparky (low voltage) 40 hours a week.

Hmmmmm...what are your hourly rates? . Are you licensed and fully bonded?


<<<<-----looking at a map to see if Chiver is as close as she thinks she is and if I would have time for a.running start if she turns out to be.a.serial killer...

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Powered the circuit back up.

Mmmmmmm...smells like baked potatoes...

[chiver78]

um, a post-successful electrical work session drink at the local pub? no, and no. for references, I provide Malarky to vouch that I'm not a serial killer.

sounds like you're all set, though. if the rain that Pete Bouchard mentioned earlier tonight comes through later this week as billed, the rest of that potato should wash out in no time.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Aug 27, 2012 21:10:21 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

um, a post-successful electrical work session drink at the local pub? no, and no. for references, I provide Malarky to vouch that I'm not a serial killer.

sounds like you're all set, though. if the rain that Pete Bouchard mentioned earlier tonight comes through later this week as billed, the rest of that potato should wash out in no time.

Them's reasonable rates, Chive!

But, maybe Malarky is your partner in crime.

Oh, and Pete is good, but tonight I got Harvey's (identical) forecast. ;D

[chiver78]

ugh....I graduated HS with one of Harvey's "shy" daughters. I can't stomach his on-camera persona knowing how obnoxious his whole family is IRL. sorry if he's your go-to guy.

we do still need to plan that local get-together though....there's more of us than I thought in this area! ;D

[Apple]

Sorry, had to hit the store and just got home a bit ago. Was going to say a potato should dry out quickly enough not to cause any issues if you can get the chunks out, but looks like you got it.

[Phoenix84]

Dumb question, is apple and just apple the same person? I thought there were rules in the COC of having more than one user name?

[chiver78]

they are not the same person.

[Apple]

I'm me, Just Apple is her

ETA: During the possible name changes, I still keep my little electrical pyro

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