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andyp · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Essex

Hi Everyone...

I was using a cheapo detector (either that or I wasn't using it properly!) and thought I was safe to screw an L shape bracket into a plaster wall, high above a twin plug socket.

I drilled the two 6mm holes into the wall and stuck the rawl plugs in. As I was screwing in the two screws (a bit at a time each), all the power in the flat went off and the mains switch itself had tripped.

I removed the two screws and bracket I'd been putting in, turned the mains switch/lever back on, and all was well, lights, sockets (including the socket below the wires I'd hit), cooker, etc., all works.

I didn't want to chance leaving dangerous exposed wire in the wall, so I turmed the mains back off and dug out the plaster in front of the wire where I'd drilled, and hopefully you'll see below the damage...

From the look of it the bracket I was putting in has shorted across the two wires... You can see the remaining tips of the grey rawl plugs I was using.

As I said, everything in the flat seems to be working ok, including the double socket that these wires go down to, but I want to be REALLY sure everything's ok 'cause this is the socket I plug my 3kw AC unit into in the summer! My questions are...

Have I got to dig these wires out to make sure they're ok or can I leave them?
Is there some sort of tester I could buy that would test the integrity of the wires rather than digging them out?
What do I do if they're damaged?

I really appreciate any help on this.....

Thanks, Andy

vince knight · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 6:29 pm Post subject:

You would not belive how common this is.
The best way to do it without rewire that leg of the ring is to dig out the damaged part of the cable and rejoin it with a through crimp, tape it up and fill the hole. The socket may still be working due to it being a ring main and the power is coming from the other leg. The way to test the continuity of the ring is to test the legs from the fuseboard end, also doing an insulation test.
Where abouts in Ess*x are you?

Vince

AlanE · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 7:56 pm Post subject:

andyp · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Essex

Thanks for the replies Guys...

I was hoping you'd just say, "Ignore it, it'll be fine!" Laughing

vince knight · Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 5:58 pm Post subject:

The crimps you can get from B+Q or Homebase or the best place for you is City Electrical factors in poplar just off the high st in the new industrial industrial bit.
You need 2.5mm (blue) through crimps. The cable is a 2.5mm twin and earth ring main cable.

The detector will tell you that you have very little change left after buying it Laughing

.

As a rule of thumb, never drill above, below or either side of a switch or socket. Pipes are a different matter as there is no visable sign on the surface where they run.

Vince

andyp · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Essex

Thanks again Vince..

I'll do this tomorrow and put up my results for a bit of closure.. Very Happy