Tidying up very old cut off electrical cables?

zenonithus · 1 Sep 2017

Hello all,

I'm renovating the kitchen and want to tidy up the mess that is the meter area which will be seen often inside the cupboard.

Just wondering about these old cut off cables to the left in the big black tube. They look switched off so would it be safe to assume I could just cut them down to the wall and plaster over them? Also there is some sort of small wire sticking out of the white patch of filler to the right where one of the electrical cables is feeding into. I can touch it so can assume that is ok to cut?

Lastly there is a big iron pipe in the corner with electrical cable running through it that has been severed. This pipe gets in the way of fitting the unit (meaning the unit needs to have a space cut out) thought do you think its safe to just cut the pipe at the base with an oscillating saw or something?

Cheers.

zenonithus · 2 Sep 2017

Any suggestions?

ban-all-sheds · 2 Sep 2017

They do look defunct, as in it's hard to see how they could be live, but Prudence she say test with a 2-pole tester or multimeter nonetheless.

zenonithus said:
I can touch it

Not a good way to test.

Any sign of red/black cables in the CU? Elsewhere? Any chance they come from somewhere else?

zenonithus · 2 Sep 2017

I think these were the old electrical connections before the flat had a major re-wiring. The fact it is exposed and there is no current going through them makes me thing they have been severed completely from the other end. Also there are some severed electrical pipe housing under the stairs in the hallway, though like you said would be best to check for live current. cheers

zenonithus · 2 Sep 2017

With the iron pipe housing would it be best to use an oscillating multi tool on that?

Iggifer · 2 Sep 2017

Take you hours with a multi tool but given that the gas main is right there I’d be tempted to do nothing with it.

The multi tool will go through that flexi gas pipe MUCH easier than it will cut through that steel conduit, one slip and you could have a big issue on your hands

zenonithus · 2 Sep 2017

Yeah the gas pipe there is a big concern. I was thinking of putting a wood panel there to shield it, screw it into the floor. The videos I've seen with oscillator cutters show they get through the pipe fairly quick. Just wondering peoples experience using them?

Iggifer · 2 Sep 2017

They will cut through it but nothing like an angle grinder would do. Conduit is pretty thick steel and the multitool, as it’s name suggests, isn’t specifically designed for the job.

If you’ve got a multitool and a metal blade it’s worth a try, if you dont own one, I’d think about another option.

zenonithus · 2 Sep 2017

My dad has one so will have a go. I also have an angle grinder, though not sure how it can get to the corner without cutting into the whole corner.

Taylortwocities · 2 Sep 2017

Last time I had to deal with one of those, I put some big Stilsons on the pipe and turned it (anti-clockwise)

Often it goes into a screwed joint under the floor and it comes out once you've freed the 50-year old thread

If you are lucky it's just set in the floor and a twist is all you need.

I agree with the above, you'll not cut it even with a good hacksaw.

333rocky333 · 2 Sep 2017

As above the bigger threaded pipe looks like it may go into a screwed bend or similar, try unscrewing it

Taylortwocities · 2 Sep 2017

Mind you, Stilsons may be a challenge. That pipe is tucked right in the corner.

deadshort · 2 Sep 2017

zenonithus said:
small wire sticking out of the white patch of filler to the right where one of the electrical cables is feeding into. I can touch it so can assume that is ok to cut?

I would be cautious about cutting the white cable ! Check it is not connected to the consumer unit.

DS

zenonithus · 2 Sep 2017

Screwing it off would be ideal! Though not sure how to go about gripping it with the stilsons as its so tightly wedged into the corner.

I think I will need to turn off all power via circuit breaker and dig out that crap job of white filler to see what that wire is part of. I doubt its anything modern.

ban-all-sheds · 2 Sep 2017

zenonithus said:
Though not sure how to go about gripping it with the stilsons as its so tightly wedged into the corner.

Drill through it and use a tommy bar?

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Tidying up very old cut off electrical cables?

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