OK, so I want to change a light fitting, I've done this before (successfully) but I'm doubting myself. I've switched off the lec to the light switches at the box and the light now doesn't come on.
Can I now assume that the light fitting is OK to fiddle with or could there be some secret electricity lying in wait for me inside the fitting?
ps - can't seem to switch off all the lec else the alarm goes off, presume this is normal?? We didn't have that installed...
Buy a multimeter and learn how to check that there's 0 voltage across any combination of the wiring terminals.
That would sound like sense... To Wilkos I go!
depending on how its wired its quite likely there is a permanent live in the ceiling fitting. IE it will still be live when turned off.
You can probably just turn off the lighting cicuit at the fusebox
IE it will still be live when turned off
It's not called electrickery for nothing then, I knew it!! Thanks both.
Hang on - I may have misread your post - have you turned the lighting circuit off at the fuse box? then its safe to work on it
I wouldnt be assuming that it's safe to work on just because the lighting circuit is switched off. That is a dangerous assumption as you never know who has been doing the wiring or tampering with it. I found out the hard way.
Think there is sufficient doubt from you guys and sufficient concern on my part for me to believe that a testing device of some sort is my only option if I can't turn all the electricity off (must look into that).
Cheers all.
In our last rented house the kitchen light switch was still live even when the electricity was turned off completely at the rcd. Luckily we learnt this when the switch tripped and the lights remained on rather than when we were trying to do anything else.
House alarms often have a battery installed that will provide power so the alarm doesn't go off when the power is off, you might want to see if you can change the battery to that.
I know the answer to this.
ONE.
His name is Troutie.
LOL!
If I was the OP, I'd find the key/code to disable the alarm, throw the master switch at the fuse box, then change the light fitting.
If there's any doubt, I'd also test all the wires with an electrician's screwdriver or one of those handheld devices that can detect electricity without having contact with it.
Yeah this OP will see about getting that code for the alarm, we did have a bloke round to change a couple of sensors and he knew (and told me) what the disabling code was but of course, naturally, I completely didn't think to write it down.
Just been to Wilkos (nearest hardware store, before anyone comments!) and got a meter thing for £9. To test it I placed the contacts on each of Mrs M's temples and it registered no current so it must work...
Thanks all.
Answer to OP - One to do the work and the gazilion others to bitch, moan, jibe and generally go on about it 
get your self one of these. Cheap, reliable. Everyone should have one in their toolbox
http://www.voltstick.co.uk/
You can get them from quite a few hardware/elec stores.
Well, I've done it, and still alive. And I now have a multimeter to play with too, bzzzt! Thanks all.
Can I now assume
The first thing you should learn when dealing with electricity is no you can't assume, whether the assumption is to do with fault finding or safe isolation. Don't assume.
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