Reply to: Tracing hidden electrical main wiring

[xoggoth]

Bah. Spur from socket on other side of wall with crappy connection.

[xoggoth]

There's a socket tester you can use to check if it's only one wire broken.

Got one of those from Workzone, shows various faults. Also got a multimeter. I am fairly techie and it's definitely only the neutral that is not connected. The fault is not in the socket or its local connections unfortunately.

[Contreras]

There's a socket tester you can use to check if it's only one wire broken.

Mains Socket Tester | Maplin

Might be of use before you connect a sig gen only to find the live is fully functional.

The socket tester is an excellent tool for sanity checking an installation. But everything it does can easily be done with a multimeter and a little knowhow, which you would hope a DIY electrician has already.

[RSoles]

There's a socket tester you can use to check if it's only one wire broken.

Mains Socket Tester | Maplin

Might be of use before you connect a sig gen only to find the live is fully functional.

[Contreras]

Buried wiring from a wall mains socket or switch should always be routed straight up or straight down. Once it reaches floor space a cheapo tester is unlikely to help.

I'd probably start by visually inspecting all other sockets in the vicinity for clues, including rooms above/below. This is assuming you've already checked the wires are not live rather than it being a faulty socket. Can also check for continuity on the earth and neutral back to the consumer unit, if so then disconnect stuff until the continuity is lost. Not going to comment on the star configuration. TBH, if you need to ask...

[xoggoth]

Darn it! Now I need to trace a mains wire.

One of my sockets just failed while the fan heater was running and checks show the neutral is not connected. Usually that's due to a poor connection causing burn out but there's no smell of burning anywhere.

Wish I'd kept all one of my old signal generators when I gave my old electronics junk away. Have to try one of those Maplin things.

[The Lone Gunman]

Disconnect cable from wallsocket.
Remove socket.
Get a grip of the end of the cable with a good pair of grips.
Give a firm yank and keep pulling.

That should trace the cable for you!

I would not recomend using old unknown cable. Replace it.

[Turion]

If you are sure that the sockets are dead then you could use a Cable Tracer

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...C=SO&U=strat15

Used for tracing network/phone cables (You would however have to modify a plug so you can connect the tone module)

Yes, this type of thing could be useful if the metal detector does not work. Will get the MD first as that will be useful for other jobs.

[wc2]

If you are sure that the sockets are dead then you could use a Cable Tracer

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...C=SO&U=strat15

Used for tracing network/phone cables (You would however have to modify a plug so you can connect the tone module)

[xoggoth]

Special detectors! Pah, I have a cheap 1970s transistor radio that works fine at detecting mains wires. Not dead ones probably, for that I think you need one of those dogs like they used in Jersey.

[tim123]

I don't know how good it would be in detecting a dead copper cable though... I shall experiment a bit if I can find the flipping thing & let the congregation know...

It's a metal detector. It detects pipework and studwork (or the nails into) as well.

tim

[Board Game Geek]

I have one of these and it works perfectly. You have to know how to use it though. Turn it on using the dial and turn up the dial until it beeps, then turn down the dial until the beeping stops and then go looking for pipework/wires/etc. If you turn the dial up to full it will constantly beep and if you only just turn it on it will never beep.

I would suggest the users writing the reviews don't know how to use one. I haven't gone through any pipework/wires since I got mine (although you have to realistically expect it to have an error margin. For example if you have a double thickness wall with pipes behind the first layer of bricks it probably wont sense it.).

Ardeso speaketh the truth. I have one as well, and setting it up for use has to be done properly. Never failed me.

[Turion]

I have to say that IMHO, if you don't know enough DIY to be able to trace the cables, you don't know enough to re connect them.

The rules about the way that leccy cables are connected are there for a reason.

tim

I have done small scale electrical wiring before, so know what to do connect the circuits. Won't be suing anyone on this board if the unqualified advice leads to me receiving a nasty

I can easily trace the wires by ripping off the plaster etc, but want a more subtle method. The metal detecting method is the one I will try first.

Thanks for all replies

[tim123]

There's no ring main. More like a star system. Continental you see. I checked the fuse box, but these sockets do not seem to connected. If I can trace the wires I can connect them either to the fuse box, or to an existing circuit.

I have to say that IMHO, if you don't know enough DIY to be able to trace the cables, you don't know enough to re connect them.

The rules about the way that leccy cables are connected are there for a reason.

tim

[Diver]

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Piece of crap, 1 Dec 2007
By K. Hartnett (London, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
It's not a stud detector, it's a wall detector. I can detect walls on my own, even with my eyes shut, so this isn't a lot of use to me.

Coffee keyboard interface moment...