How can I tell if my wires are live?

[coopns]

I took down a fixture to replace with a ceiling can light. My box is labled very well so I am not sure what circuit it is. I don't want to buy a "not sure what they are called...tester", is there some other way to test those two wires without getting zapped?

[220/221]

Turn off ALL the power Einstein.

Maybe it would have neem a good idea to find the circuit when the fixture was still installed??

If there are only two wires in the light j box (one black, one white) turning off the switch will turn off the power.

If there are more than two wires up there, turn off the circuit somehow.

[Gary Swart]

A simple tester is dirty cheap. All they are is a glow light with 2 leads that you touch to the wires or push into a socket. If the light glows, the wires are hot. These are not high class meters or voltage readers, just is there power or not.

[ActionDave]

I don't want to buy a "not sure what they are called...tester", is there some other way to test those two wires without getting zapped?

Heavy gloves and the neighbors cat.

[Cass]

If there are only two wires in the light j box (one black, one white) turning off the switch will turn off the power.

Maybe and maybe not...if the neutral was switched by a DIYr instead of the hot it will still be live...always use a meter / tester to test a curcuit, test it on a known live circuit first...ask me how I know...

[Thatguy]

Testers/voltmeters (except Wiggys) indicate phantom voltages so instead use an incand. lamp in a socket with pigtail leads.

[Cookie]

My dad and I used to take our fingers wet them, and briefly touch a hot wire. I wouldn't recommend this.

[iminaquagmire]

Testers/voltmeters (except Wiggys) indicate phantom voltages so instead use an incand. lamp in a socket with pigtail leads.

Not better multimeters. But still a simple tester here will do the job.