Cable to nowhere?????

[Aquaman]

Whilst insulating the loft I have found a cable with nothing attached just cut and stuffed under the old insulation. I have traced the other end but can't find out what it attached to because it goes down into the wall. Near it are two other cables which go down the wall to a wall socket I think. I can't tell if the cable I have found is live.

My question is would it be safe just too just cap the ends (red & black wire and earth) with insulation tape and leave it. I'm thinking this would be safer than just leaving it as it has been for the last 10 years.

Thanks in advance for any replies!

 

[CortinaV8]

Buy a volt stick, see if it has power to it, if it does and you dont want/can't find the other end, cap it off in a junction box. I would reccomend trying a multimeter but you wouldn't be able to safely test the ends really.

I've loads of cables like this in my loft, they are all old VIR and Lead lighting cables that are totally defunct now. I found something similar in one of my parents rentals recently, tennant had cut the cable to a wall mounted heater and just pushed it up out of the way, I didn't have much time to spare so put it into a junction box up in the loft, will get sorted when the house is rewired in the near future no doubt.

 

[Aquaman]

Thanks CortinaV8 the junction box is probably the better idea rather than insulation tape.
The wiring was done with the house in about 1980, maybe it was to put a light up there or a socket, but I just want it capped off safe.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

I'd also be looking if it had the potential to come live, you may test it now for a voltage and it could well be dead.
But they could be switches, isolators or even breaker/fuse that are connected to the cable that are currently killing the live feed, so worth investigating, better to know than not to know.
Remember to isolate it if it is live, prior to making the ends safe.
I'd also fix the junction box to an accessible point rather than stuffing it back.