Curious electrics in kitchen at own house

Lol999 · 17 Sep 2020

I live in a council house and about 4 years ago they re-wired the kitchen and fitted new units etc.
Above the cooker, where the wall meets ceiling, there are 3 blanking plates, single socket size, with the 'danger 230v' warning on.
I believe they have something to do with some of the sockets but can't be sure.
This year I would like to put up a cooker hood and so need to drill the wall.
What are the odds on the wires running down the wall and so increasing my chances of hitting one and can someone suggest a suitable wire detector that will do the job but not be a very expensive toy afterwards?

aptsys · 17 Sep 2020

You may have more luck using one of these detectors in metal detection mode. Most should do the job OK if you understand how they work.

ETAF · 17 Sep 2020

take the blanking plates off and see where the wires are going , sometimes you can see if they are going up/down, not a guarantee - but it may confirm the direction.
Photos would help
Also be careful when taking the blanking plates off that you have isolated the power , in case the wires are just bare behind the plate - should not be , but you never know

winston1 · 17 Sep 2020

Lol999 said:
I live in a council house and about 4 years ago they re-wired the kitchen and fitted new units etc.

Is this permitted in a council house?

JohnW2 · 17 Sep 2020

winston1 said:
Is this permitted in a council house?

I'm confused. Are you questioning whether a council are allowed to rewire the kitchen or fit new kitchen units in one of their council houses?

winston1 · 17 Sep 2020

JohnW2 said:
I'm confused. Are you questioning whether a council are allowed to rewire the kitchen or fit new kitchen units in one of their council houses?

My mistake, I thought he had done the work.

Lol999 · 19 Sep 2020

No I just have a son who needs to fry every meal hence the need for an extractor fan.
Recommendations on live wire detectors would be welcome.

Taylortwocities · 19 Sep 2020

Lol999 said:
Recommendations on live wire detectors would be welcome

I have never found one that works with any degree of reliability.

aptsys · 19 Sep 2020

Taylortwocities said:
I have never found one that works with any degree of reliability.

The Bosch D-Tect is pretty much spot on every time.

Taylortwocities · 19 Sep 2020

aptsys said:
The Bosch D-Tect is pretty much spot on every time.

At £210 it had better be.
Hammer and a 6” nail does the job too!

conny · 19 Sep 2020

I have one of these and have no complaints. For £36 I think it's a bargain.
One thing I did find, when standing on a carpet or with rubber soles I got more accurate results if I held the meter in one hand and placed my other hand against the wall. I don't know if this method works over wallpaper as my walls are painted plaster.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-Detector-Truvo-batteries-detection/dp/B01J1FN7ZE

aptsys · 19 Sep 2020

Taylortwocities said:
At £210 it had better be.
Hammer and a 6” nail does the job too!

It's only the cost of 30 minutes of my time

Lol999 · 20 Sep 2020

aptsys said:
The Bosch D-Tect is pretty much spot on every time.

you buy it I'll try it

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Curious electrics in kitchen at own house

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