You can, but it's not a good idea. Heck, you can change it with the power on, but that's not a good idea, either. Turning off the switch will disconnect power, if the fixture is wired properly. Some still like to run a “hot” wire to each lamp, and switch the neutral, or grounded conductor..
Keeping this in consideration, can you change light fixture without turning off breaker?
If removing the light fixture damages the insulation on the Hot wires or dislocates a poorly installed wirenut you would be in trouble. Unless you know for sure how the light switch and fixture are wired the only safe way to replace the light fixture is by turning off the circuit breaker.
Subsequently, question is, can you get electrocuted if the light switch is off? Even after you turn off the breaker that controls the light's circuit, you can still get shocked. So even if you cut the power to the light fixture, there may still be live wires in the junction box. To be safe, check all the wires in the box with a noncontact voltage detector before you disconnect any wires.
People also ask, is it safe to change a light fixture with just the switch off?
Even with the switch off, there are live wires at the light. You should be just fine with the light switch turned off. If the light switch is not in close proximity to the socket where you will be working, place a sign over it or tell family members to not touch it.
Do I need an electrician to change a light switch?
Replacing light fixtures Generally speaking, a homeowner can replace light fixtures. If the amperage isn't high enough to cover the wattage of your new light, you will need an additional wire run from your circuit breaker. It's best to hire a licensed and qualified electrician for such a task.
Related Question Answers
Why is a live wire dangerous even when the switch is turned off?
The earth wire carries current to the ground (literally, earth). This makes circuits safer because if there is a fault, it conducts the current to the ground rather than making the appliance 'live'. Even if a circuit is switched off (i.e. the switch is open), the live wire can still be dangerous.What happens if you don't connect the ground wire?
In the absence of the ground wire, shock hazard conditions will often not cause the breaker to trip unless the circuit has a ground fault interrupter in it. If the case is grounded, a high current should flow in the appliance ground wire and trip the breaker.Are wires hot when switch is off?
Nope. After turning it off, use a proximity voltage tester to verify that the circuit is not energized. Now, onto my edited answer: The hot wire (black) can come from the panel, through a switch, and then to the light. The neutral (white) wire would leave the light and make its way back to the panel.Why do I have voltage when switch is off?
Just to recap, a "phantom voltage" is where a wire from a switch to a light or outlet runs next to a permanently live wire, when the switch is off, the AC voltage in the other wire can induce a voltage in the switched-off wire. Now I turn the switch off and check the voltage again.What happens if you wire a light fixture backwards?
This happens when the hot and neutral wires get flipped around at an outlet, or upstream from an outlet. Reversed polarity creates a potential shock hazard, but it's usually an easy repair. One of these wires is connected to the earth, or 'grounded', so this wire is called the grounded conductor.How do you know if a switch is off?
As an eyelid opens, the eye can see, meaning the switch is on. When the eyelid closes, we can't see, meaning the switch is off.Do LED light fixtures need to be grounded?
Nope! Power is power and our LED light products won't discriminate between grounded and ungrounded power so long as it's coming through an adapter. A.K.A. as long as you're feeding it DC power your lights will work just fine, grounded or not.How do I make sure my electricity is off?
Turn the power in the circuit off, selecting it on the electrical panel with the circuit breaker. Verify that the power is off by placing the voltmeter on the two output points at the bottom of the circuit breaker. The voltmeter will show that there is no voltage if the light does not light up.Is it safe to turn off all breakers?
A circuit breaker takes a little damage whenever you turn it off and on again. This means that while shutting it off once in a while isn't an issue, repeatedly flipping the switch can harm it and cause an electrical hazard.Is it OK to install a light fixture without a ground wire?
If the fixture is out of reach, the lack of a ground is probably a low risk. If it is a pull chain light, use of a string pull rather than metal is a good idea. Yes, if you have a metal light fixture your fixture needs to be grounded. The ground wire exits your junction box, but it is not attached to your junction box.Will rubber gloves stop electric shock?
Selected properly, insulating rubber gloves will do the job of protecting the worker against electrical shock. Do not forget about leather protectors, for they are an essential part of wearing and using the insulating rubber gloves correctly. As mentioned above, determining gloves' size is also important.Is turning off the breaker the same as unplugging?
No device has ever failed (except the breaker it's self) by being turned off at the breaker. Flipping the breaker is the same as "unplugging" the device. Look around your home and tell me one device that will break because you unplug it.How does a breaker go bad?
When you flip the breaker, you should hear a definite click. If the switch flops back and forth and there is not definite “on” or “off” position, the breaker is probably bad. If the circuit breaker trips immediately: The problem is either a short circuit or a bad breaker.Can you die from putting your finger in a socket?
A light socket you are likely to touch both contacts causing a shock to your finger. you won't have current going through your heart and stopping it which is what kills but you will have burns on your finger and you will likely jerk back violently and possibly damage or injure something in doing so.Can the black wire shock you?
If you come in contact with an energized black wire—and you are also in contact with the neutral white wire—current will pass through your body. You will receive an electrical shock. You will receive a shock if you touch two wires at different voltages at the same time.Can you get shocked and not feel it?
As long as the electric charges flow through your body at a rate that is lots less than 1/1000 of an ampere (one milliamp), they're not dangerous. You can't even feel them. When someone gets a shock from touching wires, electricity WAS NOT put into their body from outside.What happens if I don't ground a light switch?
Going without a ground wire When you screw the light switch in, it will make contact with the box, and as long as the box is grounded, it will pick up ground that way. If the box isn't grounded, the switch will still work. 
