Electrical projects are much more dangerous than putting up a set of shelves. It's not possible to learn from your errors when working with electricity as any error could potentially be deadly. I'm not however suggesting that homeowners can't do some of their own electrical repairs, they just have to bear in mind some specific information.

Do you Need permission

In certain states you need to request a special permit from your local council so that you are permitted to do work on your home. You do not need a permit to do certain tasks, however the ODBCS says that you do need a permit to do the following:

Installing any permanent wiring

Installing additional wiring, adding in new outlets or light fixtures. Upgrading your fuse box to a modern RCD unit.

These laws will be different from state to state, so it is very important to make sure that you understand the laws in your state.

Lights out.

Before carrying out any work it is important that you turn off the power at the mains. Do this by removing the fuse or switching off the circuit breaker. Simply switching off the appliance at the wall isn't enough as the wires behind the outlet will still be live. It's important not to take any chances or risks when dealing with electricity.

Make sure you personally check that the circuit is completely dead, to do this use a voltage meter. Do not allow anyone to check for you, you must check yourself. Make sure you put tape onto the circuit breaker so nobody tries to turn the power back on while you are working on the live circuit. Do not switch the power on until you have finished all of the work.

It's possible to turn off your own electricity supply using the circuit breaker. However it is not possible to turn off the supply entering your house. If you think there is a problem with these incoming wires you need to talk to your power company.

Don't risk getting a shock

When working with electricity you should be careful that you don't stand on a wet or damp floor. This could cause a very serious electric shock. Check for moisture coming through any .

Metal or rubber?

Metal conducts electricity and so is very bad, rubber stops electricity which is good. It's not good if you touch anything with metal as it can cause a life threatening shock.

Rubber insulates and so prevents you from getting a shock. You should use tools which have rubber handles to protect you. You should also wear rubber soled shoes to protect you.

Test it out.

When you have finished repairing your electrical circuit you need to turn the electricity back on by putting the fuse back in or switching the circuit breaker back on. Make sure you use a voltage tester to check how much electricity is flowing around the circuit. Most home appliances use 120 volts of power, while some need 220V dedicated power supplies such as air conditioners and electric ovens.

You can visit many different DIY stores for workshops which help to teach you information about electricity and improve your electrical skills. You should attend these so that you can learn more and feel more confident that you will be able to complete the work. Never cut corners when repairing electrical circuits as it's not worth the risk.