Ever get away with doing something stupid?

I always turn off breaker before doing anything electrical but learned long ago i might think its off but it may still be on:(

So I stick a screwdriver into a vulnerable spotto confirm its off!!!

On a couple occasions I have gotten a nice arc, better my screwdriver than me:)

=3D=3D When I lived in the city I had a snow blower with an 8 HP motor and when it snowed I would often clear my driveway and sidewalk for myself and a couple of neighbors on either side of me. No problems most of the time but once after a heavy snowfall I "accidentally" digested one neighbors power cord. Its a wonder I didn't get a shock or worse. Local bylaws required overhead support for temporary cords so the neighbor really couldn't say much when I sheepishly rang his doorbell and handed him the mangled cord. Needless to say, I was more vigilante after that episode. =3D=3D

That sounds to me to be a variation of the "Jesus Method".

That in-more-original-form is "best-done" with suitably-insulated wires of 12 AWG or preferably 10 AWG if that is convenient or if you need to do that a few times or more in your lifetime.

The "tip ends" are stripped to expose an inch or so of bare copper wire.

If you apply this to an outlet, a way mentioned is to suitably connect these wires to a cord-with-plug no thinner than AWG 16. Otherwise, I would offer usage of clip-leads to clip onto the mostly-insulated wires

One thing that I would add - use a voltmeter to make sure that you have identified what wires you are up against, since the "Jesus Method" is intended to pop a hard-to-find breaker.

The action finally taken to "pop that breaker" is to short the circuit. That typically involves an initial spark often bright enough to mildly put a spot in peoples' eyes, a sound that can be considered anywhere from "mildly-moderately loud pop" to "more like a bang or 'small kaboom', " along with fair chance of a small brief shower to smaller splattering of small molten metal droplets that could be a problem if they hit anything flammable and you don't verify lack of a fire starting in such a way.

This method is traditionally called the "Jesus Method" because when that is done, traditionally either the one using it or someone else nearby screams "Jesus!" in response to the pop/bang sound and bright "initial spark", unless doing so a second or 2 later in response to everyone in the room in question still being as alive-and-well as 1 minute before.

^^^^^^^^^

You killed your neighbor for leaving a cord on his driveway?

=3D=3D No, but I should have. That should have read "neighbor's power cord"...although with that neighbor I should really have blown the snow onto his sidewalk instead of from it. =3D=3D

Oh, after reading it again, you became more of a vigilante after. You weren't to the "killin'" stage yet. ;-)

Sensible, I think.

Glad you said something. Most people just drive on.