Is it safe to change a light fixture without turning off the power?

That is, is it possible to do it with just the light switch off? I don't have access to my apartment's circuit breaker, so I can't shut it off there. As I imagine it, the flow of electricity is immediately controlled by the light switch, and shutting off the power is a safety precaution, but perhaps not completely necessary. Also, would wearing thick rubber gloves insulate me?



Thanks for any help!
Is it safe to change a light fixture without turning off the power?
Usually it is safe with the switch off. Assuming some other untrained DIY person installed the switch correctly. A voltmeter would tell you for sure. If you are not grounded, you will not be shocked. Stand on a wood ladder or chair. Touch only the insulated part of the wires. Don't let the wires touch each other except when making the connections. Don't touch a wire and a metal box or ground wire at the same time. Thick rubber gloves are almost impossible to do this work with.
Is it safe to change a light fixture without turning off the power?
get your landlord to bring in an electrician..it's not to swift to fool with live electricity if you don't know what you are doing.
You can still get a shock from the neutral wire if it is a shared neutral with another circuit. probably not enough to kill you, but enough to scare the crap out of you and make you fall off the ladder. If they are electrical safety gloves that have been inspected and tested recently, they will protect you from shock. I wouldn't use kitchen dish washing gloves!
the switch will cut power to the light fixture but some older places use the light fixture as a junction box for all the power in that room so there could conceiveably be hot wires in there. if you have an ohm meter and know how to use it, you could test the wires after you have removed the wire nuts. thick rubber gloves are not workable in this type of situation. if you are not comfortable doing this call an expert.
As long as you turn off the switch that controls the light it is safe to work on the fixture. I always tape the switch in the off position while I am working on it so nobody else come along and turns it on while I am working on it.
Turn the switch off, remove the old fixture (pay attention to white and black wires). Install the new fixture, done.
Its possible to do even with power on, but definitely not safe. you can turn the switch off and do it carefully!!! Use a circuit tester to be sure there is no power to the light. remove one wire at a time. when you remove one, put a wire nut on it and dont let it come into contact with anything. especially you or the other wire! as long as they dont touch, nothing will happen. Or you could ask the landlord to show you the circuit breaker. either way be safe and make sure its done correctly.
You rent this place right? If this is the case, get your land lord to get an electrician to fix the problem properly. If you get it wrong and their is arcing in the wires which causes a fire, then you are lible for the damages to the apartment. That can be VERY VERY expensive. It is about $40-100 bucks to get an electrician to do it right --- have it done right.
I'LL BET IF YOU CALLED THE CITY BUILDING DEPT. YOU WOULD GET ACCESS VERY FAST!
yes that would work now its not the %26quot;way%26quot; but sometimes you dont have a choice.



you can still get a little shock from the neutral wire if the wiring is old,



make sure the switch is off as a precaution put some duct tape over the switch helps to make sure it doesnt get turned on



then take the screws out that are holding the fixture and the junction box pull down the fixture take off the wire nuts one by and put the nuts back on the wires in the ceiling and you can figure out the rest just do in reverse