John Peters, IT and Network Consultant, LLC

Electrical Safety 101

This is real basic master of the obvious stuff and I can’t stress this enough. No matter how unsightly wiring is, you NEVER EVER EVER cut a wire if you do not know the source, the destination and that power or data transmission has been secured.

Cutting electrical wiring that has not been secured can result in bodily injury or death. Cutting data wiring without positive identification may not be physically catastrophic but it can disrupt essential communication and data transmission services and be extraordinarily costly to repair

Unless you can ascertain beyond all doubt that the wiring is not in use and will not be needed for future use, PUT THE CUTTERS AWAY AND LEAVE IT ALONE.