Ancient cabling

[trwils]

No I don't believe you are asking stupid questions, how can it be stupid if you don't already know the answer. Stupid answers

Reason I ask location is this is the sort of Job i'd probably not invoice to test/make safe if I was passing. Other than heading to Liverpool from kent last week for my Goddaughters graduation I haven't been that way for many years.

I love Liverpool, great place! and thats a kind offer, i will get an electrician in, its no bother- from the sounds of things it will be relatively cheap to get it made safe and isnt a big job for an electrician.

My biggest concern with the cable was that i would get the fireplace plastered, paint/paper everything- then when i update my fuse box find the cable behind the fireplace keeps triggering the more sensitive modern consumer unit and that i need take the plaster back down.

 

[SUNRAY]

as a matter of interest, do you have the airing cupboard,or the location where the hot water cylinder was, are there any cables there or maybe a redundant thermostat on the wall or any other location where pumps/motorised valves used to be?

 

[trwils]

as a matter of interest, do you have the airing cupboard,or the location where the hot water cylinder was, are there any cables there or maybe a redundant thermostat on the wall or any other location where pumps/motorised valves used to be?

Hey, i think it was in the loft? in the airing cupboard there is the combi boiler, it has two power supplies, one going into a condenser pump and the other into the boiler, other than a lot of piping i have no idea what it does the only other item is a carbon monoxide detector

I will have a look in the loft i guess.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Hey, i think it was in the loft? in the airing cupboard there is the combi boiler, it has two power supplies, one going into a condenser pump and the other into the boiler, other than a lot of piping i have no idea what it does the only other item is a carbon monoxide detector

I will have a look in the loft i guess.

This is one of those occasions where a volt stick might be sensible to use, combined with some experience in their use and trying all possible combinations of switching the heating and hot water, whilst testing with the stick.

 

[SUNRAY]

Hey, i think it was in the loft? in the airing cupboard there is the combi boiler, it has two power supplies, one going into a condenser pump and the other into the boiler, other than a lot of piping i have no idea what it does the only other item is a carbon monoxide detector

I will have a look in the loft i guess.

I'm only being curious, I see 2 cables in the breast which I guess (but could be stupidly wrong) are incoming power and a control device of some sort, like a thermostat, pump or motorised valve etc. Equally I guess that somewhere there is a switch/fused switch which isolated the heating system.
Such a switch is commonly quite near the boiler or the hot water cylinder.

Agree with Harry and the volt stick, excellent tools if one takes the effort t learn how to use them.

 

[trwils]

I will have a nose in the loft, thanks- i may be daft but im not sure why trying combos of heating and water would be worth it?
The water and heating has been controlled by a combi boiler for a very long time?

I can well imagine there being a fused box somewhere with power that no longer does anything.

I work for an electrical company that makes voltmeters, ammeters, multimeters so can easily borrow one but dont know what i am doing so think i might just get an electrician in (too late to call tonight however)

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I will have a nose in the loft, thanks- i may be daft but im not sure why trying combos of heating and water would be worth it?
The water and heating has been controlled by a combi boiler for a very long time?

In the absense of any knowledge of what has been done in the past - Idea is to make sure no combination, makes any of those cables become live. An even better way would be to trace those cable's route back to their source.

 

[trwils]

Ok i just had another look in the airing cupboard (which isnt exactly above the breast but is almost above it) - the airing cupboard is where i have a combi boiler and there is some obsolete piping going into the loft (tank was drained by plumber who put combi in but left in situ)

I found this on the opposite wall. Looks like it has take a bit of a knock! is this it? I shone a light in the hole and can see a green and red cable.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Ok i just had another look in the airing cupboard (which isnt exactly above the breast but is almost above it) - the airing cupboard is where i have a combi boiler and there is some obsolete piping going into the loft (tank was drained by plumber who put combi in but left in situ)

I found this on the opposite wall. Looks like it has take a bit of a knock! is this it? I shone a light in the hole and can see a green and red cable.

They should need to be used for the purpose, but it might have been a flex outlet to the flex for an immersion heater. Turn all the power to the house off, undo the screws and take a look/phone of the cable inside. Post on here, before refitting and turning the power back on.

 

[trwils]

They should need to be used for the purpose, but it might have been a flex outlet to the flex for an immersion heater. Turn all the power to the house off, undo the screws and take a look/phone of the cable inside. Post on here, before refitting and turning the power back on.

I will do that tomorrow when it is light, but hopefully this is the mystery solved

I have a laundry basket in there, and this was very close to the floor- i didnt even know it was there, will have a closer look tomorrow thanks.

 

[SUNRAY]

While doing that, how is the current boiler powered?
Possibly some chance its a fused switch and behind the plate there may be a disused cable?

 

[trwils]

Local electrician came out today
Waved a wand at my live sockets then waved it at my ancient cabling, pronounced it dead, went into the airing cupboard etc to 'just be safe; and opened up the flex socket which was dead and also had a quick look at my wiring and bonding- tidied up the cabling for me too behind the fire

Told me i would need a condition report but he doesnt think i would need a rewire based on what he has seen it wont be an issue

Refused to take payment! bit shocked to be honest.

 

[SUNRAY]

Local electrician came out today
Waved a wand at my live sockets then waved it at my ancient cabling, pronounced it dead, went into the airing cupboard etc to 'just be safe; and opened up the flex socket which was dead and also had a quick look at my wiring and bonding- tidied up the cabling for me too behind the fire

Told me i would need a condition report but he doesnt think i would need a rewire based on what he has seen it wont be an issue

Refused to take payment! bit shocked to be honest.

Thank you for the update, glad it's sorted.

 

[trwils]

Thank you for the update, glad it's sorted.

Weight off my mind and can get it plastered up and forget about it and get consumer unit sorted- unfortunately this guy is booked for 2 months or i would hire him in a flash. Still cant believe he wouldnt take payment. He just said it was on his way home and only took 5 mins so no need.

Thanks for all the advice guys i really appreciate it.

 

[SUNRAY]

Still cant believe he wouldnt take payment. He just said it was on his way home and only took 5 mins so no need.

Reason I ask location is this is the sort of Job i'd probably not invoice to test/make safe if I was passing.