diappearing cable (and hole!)

[Dan scotland]

Many moons ago it was decreed the artex ceiling in the dining room would go, and so would the single CENTRAL (will come back to this) light, replaced with 4 downlighters.

From inside the dining room, central light removed and terminal block connected to cable.

Plasterer did great job, nice smooth ceiling, pushed cable block up and filled and plasterd hole.

Drilled holes and put in downlighters, went on Holiday, many moons have past.

Now trying to wire up new lights, (In X formation so where the middle of the X is is where the old hole and cable are... oh no there not.

I have now taken back all the fibreglass insulation, and can not find the hole or cable. (also it is in an extension loft so limited crawl space)

There are two switches for this light and I can not find cables in the loft space for either of them..

My question is how the hell do I wire up the lights, I have a bosch DMF 10 to locate cables... (excellent at finding the new X cables and one runs unbroken diagonally across the loft, which you can see anyway!)

As the folks are coming to fill up the loft insulation I need to fix them rather soon.

Questions welcome, shall I do diagram of where it all is?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Your going to be struggling pal, the cable should have either been measured for location prior to disappearing up the hole or never been pushed up.
It might be a case of cutting hole in the board big enough to do some searching then repair it, if you can not lift floorboards from above.
The cable locators are not that great.
So now downlights and thermal insulations are you aware of the fire risks? You need fire rated downlights and insulations should be kept clear of any transformers.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I have now taken back all the fibreglass insulation, and can not find the hole or cable. (also it is in an extension loft so limited crawl space)

You've removed all of the insulation and you can't find any cables?

There are two switches for this light and I can not find cables in the loft space for either of them..

I assume that there are cables at the switches?

And you're sure that you have identified the locations in the loft directly above the switches?

Is the ceiling in the room a false one?

shall I do diagram of where it all is?

How?

You don't know where it all is...

 

[holmslaw]

..

 

[Dan scotland]

And the picture should be here...

Disappearing Cable.. and hole

• Dan scotland
• 15 Nov 2011
• 1

disappearing hole good, disappearing cable not good!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

The photo just repeats what you told us in words - there are no cables where you think they should be....

 

[Dan scotland]

Even as a sanity check I have asked visitors where they thought the old light was... (people who have been to the house before!)

so the question is, as the cable does not seem to be there and no sign of cables in the loft space from the switches, how would you wire in these lights?

Here I also have to confess this is the third time I have been up there looking for this cable,,, I know it was there, and know where it was, and I have no idea where it has gone (could the plasterer have pulled it through, I doubt it he said pushed it back up,)

The reason for the break was health, those heart attacks don't do you much good, but they don't make cables disappear!

If you are a slim agile electrician near to Hamilton... please let me know!

 

[bernardgreen]

Did the plasterer put new plaster board under the old artex ceiling instead of removing the old plaster board and attached artex ? Some plasterers do not like removing artex and instead just cover it up.

If the ceiling you can see is an inch or two lower than the artex one then your cables might be between the old and the new ceilings.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

That would mean that before the new ceiling went up the cables were on the underside of the old one, which seems unlikely.

 

[Dan scotland]

Sorry maybe should have been clearer:
Single storey extension, so no between floors.
The lights are mains so no transformers, have looked at hoods.
The previous light worked from both switches
I have removed the insulation from the area so it is now clear nearly to the new lights.
I know this does not make much sense, being unable to locate the cable ( Yes Dear I know it was there, but its NOT now, Sure she thinks I am not going up there to look!)

There are downlighters in the Kitchen (also part of extension) and yes can see the cables running over the joists, sudden thought should I try to follow these back towards dinning room in attic (but why, it is a different lighting circuit?)

If you were faced with this conundrum how would you approach?

 

[chivers67]

I'd see where the switch cable rises up to meet the ceiling and work from there. There has to be cable above it nad it there isn't take off the switch plate to make sure it hasn't been pulled out too!

Why don't you run the cables to where one of the spots is (the easiest one to get to) and join and wire up there all in one place

 

[TicklyT]

Has the wiring been cut and pulled back from the old rose position, and re-connected at one of the downlighter positions?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Doesn't seem like it.

It's still to be confirmed, but this does read as if he can't find any cables in the loft.

I have now taken back all the fibreglass insulation, and can not find the hole or cable.

 

[securespark]

If you are a slim agile electrician near to Hamilton... please let me know!

Snort!

 

[Taylortwocities]

DYB DYB DYB

PS Where's your Electrician's Badge?