Hey, I need some advice.
I was screwing a screw into the wall about 60 cm (around 2 feet) above an electrical outlet. Suddenly I got shocked (luckily I was holding the screwdriver by the plastic handle), the breaker tripped, and there was a brief burning smell.
I turned the breaker back on, and the outlet seems to be working normally now. I removed the screw.
My questions:
- Is it possible I only nicked the wire and it’s “fine”, or is it definitely damaged?
- Is it dangerous to keep using that outlet (I had two computers plugged into it)?
- What are the real risks here – fire, shock, something else?
- Is there any way to check this without opening the wall?
The problem is my family can’t afford an electrician right now, so I’m trying to understand how serious this is and what I can safely do in the meantime.
Any advice appreciated.