Getting bit is the trade's understated way of saying someone took a shock, usually a short 120 V jolt through the hand from a live conductor, a shared neutral or a box that turned out to be hot. Veterans tell their bite stories casually, but each one is a near miss: the same mistake on a 277 V lighting circuit or with sweaty hands can stop a heart. Getting bit is the trade's reminder to test before touching, every time.
Got bit on that bathroom circuit, somebody tied two neutrals together in the attic and it was carrying current.
Also heard as
- get zapped
- get lit up
Related terms
Hot
Ungrounded, voltage-carrying conductor of a circuit, and as an adjective anything that is live.
Tick tracer
Pen-shaped non-contact voltage detector that beeps or lights up near an energised conductor.
Angry pixies
Joking name for electricity itself, especially when it escapes as sparks, smoke or a shock.
MWBC
Multiwire branch circuit: two or three hot conductors on different phases sharing one neutral.