Found a redundant live cable during building work

[PotatoSoup]

We're just pulling down a wall in our house and have found the cable for the old electric shower (since replaced with a thermostatic one) and it's still live!!! *Scared face* I'm not good enough with electrics to go routing around in a consumer unit and unfortunately the cable goes straight into it - bah! so just wondering if there's another way to make it safe until we can get an electrician out? I'm capable of very basic electrics - wiring plugs and sockets etc. We have electrical tape, some unused light pendants and some unused light switches?! We also live near a Tesco that'll still be open, if I could maybe grab something useful from there (aware I possibly watched the A-team too much as a kid)... I'd be really grateful for any help! Thank you...

 

[thomp1983]

How have you identified its live? If you have a consumer unit that has mcbs then look for one that's likely 32a or 40a and turn it off then check if the cable is still live, if you've more than 1 32a or 40a mcb then turn them off one at a time until you find the one that makes the shower cable dead, then leave that mcb switched off.

 

[Wayners]

Turn power off.

Cut live and neutral cable to different lengths. One 50mm ish longer than the other.
They want to be cut straight off with no copper sticking out.
Tape up with insulation tape around and around starting on the cable 100mm down and working your way up to the top.
Turn power on.
Maybe try identify fuse for cable and leave off.
Get electrician around when you can

 

[PotatoSoup]

Thank you for responding so quickly!!! I used a "non-contact AC voltage detector" (looks like a big blue pen). Tested it on live sockets just to be sure. I've pulled the cable through the floorboards (we currently have no ceilings) and it joins directly to the CU. If I flip the black switch to off for the shower and turn the electricity back on, will it definitely stay dead? I'm sure I'm being neurotic but electrics scare the pants off me and we'll have this dangling wire that is definitely connected to the CU...

 

[PotatoSoup]

I was typing as your response came through - I shall do that too. That makes me feel better!! Thank you so much, both of you - I very much appreciate your help!!! Thank you!!!!

 

[flameport]

"non-contact AC voltage detector"

Next to useless, and proves nothing.
Do not rely on that for anything.

 

[PotatoSoup]

Works pretty well as a laxative!!

 

[PotatoSoup]

 

[PotatoSoup]

Is that taping right, please?

 

[PotatoSoup]

What would you recommend for a DIYer, please?

 

[PotatoSoup]

As in, instead of the voltage detector, please?

 

[plugwash]

The taping looks about as good as taping ever will.

Taping is not a good long term soloution, but it makes things less dangerous until you can get it sorted properly.

 

[big-all]

my thought
i assume each core off the cable still has its individual cover on iff so 50mm or so off electrical tape overlap is enough as the individual insulated wires dont need extra insulation
if the individual wires have been stripped back to wire all the way to joist level needs looking at again but as i say should be ok as it looks like belt and braces and several layers on top for extra safety is what you have done

 

[crystal ball]

Next to useless, and proves nothing.
Do not rely on that for anything.

Very useful in the right hands

 

[ericmark]

Next to useless, and proves nothing.
Do not rely on that for anything.

Neon screwdrivers and non contact testers have saved me in the past, where items should not have been live, in one case whole fuse box switched off in the house, and socket turned out to be supplied from next door.

I use my non contact tester a lot, shown here detecting volts, buzzer sounding, red light flashing, and all 4 bars showing, I also use it to measure AC and DC amps with non contact.

Yes also use a contact volt meter and proving unit, there is a place for both. With the one shown, to date, not had a false reading. Not sure how it works, but the pens with a reed switch can be easy damaged by dropping, so need proving with some known source before and after use.