Finding Cables In A Wall

[woofgang]

Can someone please recommend a make and model of cable finder? My budget is around 30 to 40 quid. I know there are cables in the wall because there is a socket there. I want to put the holder thingy for my stick vac on the wall there to use the socket but don't want to zap myself in the process. Many thanks
PS for those of you with a sense of humour (or a grudge) the idea is that I NOT get electrocuted!

[MTbowels]

https://www.toolstation.com/shop/p88346?table=no

This will do the job without any bells and whistles. It's well within your budget and similar ones can sometimes be bought in Aldi or Lidl at a cheaper price.

[woofgang]

thank you but the reviews are dire

[MTbowels]

Oops sorry about that. There are a couple within your budget on the machine mart website that have got good reviews. They also sell that dire draper model!

[woofgang]

thank you I go to look....

[The Builder]

I've never had much success with these, Woofters, but I think they've improved a lot recently.

This has good reviews...

https://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-truvo-digital-wall-detector/1375R?tc=OA2&;ds_kid=92700022885065287&ds_rl=1248184&ds_rl=1245250&ds_rl=1247848&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIw-6esq7x2QIVyDobCh3HKQolEAQYASABEgKyGfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CJT_9biu8dkCFS4g0woddu4IHA

[woofgang]

thanks Builder, that was one I had been looking at...is there a better way of doing it than using one of these? Obvs I will turn off the relevant electrtic while I actually drill the hole.

[-Talbot-]

Are you drilling at the side of a socket?
Very unusual for a wire to go horizontal to the socket.

If the thing you are fixing to the wall will cover a bit of 'plaster knocking of' you should be able to expose the brick/breeze to check there is no wire quite easily.

[Ryzen]

Take the socket off and have a look at the cable direction.These detectors either give false positives (especially on foil backed plasterboard)..or they miss the cable.

[Spungle]

I just wish you all the best and hope you don't get frazzled. As a painter and decorator I can tell you that the best way to find a cable is to employ a plumber and the best way to find a water pipe is to call an electrician!

[woofgang]

no Talbot, the bracket will go above and to the side of the socket. The socket is at floor level

[Garaman]

Spungle’s post made me smile.

There is no foolproof way that I know of, and all you can do is take as many precautions as possible. Do as others have said, and drill very carefully, you can normally detect a change of material.

[The Builder]

Yes. these things aren't infallible. I must admit, what I do is to mark the exact position where you want to drill, then carefully chip away at the plaster with a small chisel, and get back to the original wall ... to be sure.

Cables always used to run vertically from the socket position. Under later regulations, it is quite permissible to run horizontally (even diagonally) providing the circuit is covered by an RCD.

[woofgang]

thanks Builder that's a good tip...I sort of like being alive :)

[-Talbot-]

Yes, it is ... wish I had mentioned that now.

[bhg481]

Many years ago my boss told me that when he was a student he volunteered to put up a shelf for his landlady in her kitchen. There was a tap on the wall, so he carefully drew a vertical line from the tap to the ceiling, measured 6 inches to one side and drilled a hole for a screw - straight through the pipe.

[Ryzen]

We had a guy a few years ago managed to 'detect' a TPN mineral cable with a 150mm long drill bit.The engagement of the two resulted in the 150mm bit being vaporised up to the chuck.After a few tests we recon the fault was around 2000 amps......the 'fuse' wire remained intact...the school caretaker had replaced a 60 amp fuse wire with a piece of 10mm2 copper wire.

[woofgang]

At sea once I saw a fuse replaced by a breadknife. If there is a fire on land, at least you stand a chance of getting out the door and there is somewhere to stand once you are out there....at sea there are lifeboats if you are lucky :(