The Absolute Basics

Never think you don't know enough to start fixing - the bar is probably lower than you think!

Summary

Even though they may be handy at DIY, many people are hesitant to get into fixing electrical items because they think they don't know enough. In fact, very many faults can be seen with your own eyes. Even if you don't consider yourself handy, a logical approach and a bit of curiosity might get you further than you'd think possible.

Safety

You're probably here because you know that mains electricity can be lethal - congratulations! But electricity plays fair - if you learn to treat it with proper respect (which isn't hard), then it won't bite you. Just don't push your luck!

Minimum Skills and Knowledge

Here, we set out the minimum skills you need under the headings of Mechanical, Electrical and Logical.

Mechanical Skills

• Know which way to turn a screw to tighten or to loosen it. The simple rule is righty tighty, lefty loosey.
• Choose a screwdriver that's a good fit in the screw, especially if it might be tight.
• If you feel the screwdriver starting to slip in the head of the screw, press harder. If the screwdriver repeatedly slips you may damage the head of the screw and make it nearly impossible to undo.

Electrical Skills

Battery powered items are generally safe to work on but you need a good understanding (nevertheless, quite easily acquired) in order to work safely on mains items.