how to cap off unused wires to regs..

[baxtec1]

I have removed a wall and have several wires that require 'capping', can I simply attach the wires into separate junction boxes to isolate them and fix to the joists?

 

[sparkwright]

You're busy today.

You need Hager/Ashley maintenance free junction boxes.

Usually 32 amp ones for sockets 2.5 mm2 cable.
Usually 20 amp 3 or 4 terminal ones for lighting 1.0 or 1.5 mm2 cable.

A generalisation above, but will give you an idea.

 

[bernardgreen]

If the cables are redundant then remove them completely.

Remember to disconnect them from the source before doing this.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

If they are redundant but still live, remove them or disconnect from the live supply in a manner that they can never be made live again!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

1) What circuit(s) are these cables for?

2) When you applied for Building Regulations approval, what did you say, or allow to be assumed, would be the way that you would ensure compliance with Part P?

3) Don't you think it would have been a good idea to have done your research into all these questions before you decided to just dive in and start doing, hoping to get answers to the things you suddenly realised you needed to know, as you went along? The chances of you not missing some unknown unknown, or not finding out too late that you should have done XYZ are not good.

 

[Essex1]

What were they doing before the wall was removed. It could be possible that a ring circuit is now incomplete thus leaving the cable liable to overload and catch fire and put yourselves and family at risk.

 

[baxtec1]

The only wires that are left are a 13a socket and a light fitting. None of which the circuit has change.

 

[Essex1]

So what you need to do is:

1. Test your voltage tester with a proving unit.
2. Isolate the circuits in question.
3. Test across all cores and check zero volts is present.
4. Prove your voltage tester again with your proving unit.
5. Connect the cables back as they were in the accessories within a MF junction box
6. Carry out insulation resistance tests.
7. Carry out R1+R2 tests
8. Check results are within parameters set out in BS7671.
9. Turn on electricity.
10. Carry out earth loop,impedance test following safe live working procedures.
11. Check results are within parameters set out in BS7671.

 

[sparkwright]

So what you need to do is:

1. Test your voltage tester with a proving unit.
2. Isolate the circuits in question.
3. Test across all cores and check zero volts is present.
4. Prove your voltage tester again with your proving unit.
5. Connect the cables back as they were in the accessories within a MF junction box
6. Carry out insulation resistance tests.
7. Carry out R1+R2 tests
8. Check results are within parameters set out in BS7671.
9. Turn on electricity.
10. Carry out earth loop,impedance test following safe live working procedures.
11. Check results are within parameters set out in BS7671.

How can we realistically expect a DIYer to do steps 7-8 and 10-11?

 

[Essex1]

So what you need to do is:

1. Test your voltage tester with a proving unit.
2. Isolate the circuits in question.
3. Test across all cores and check zero volts is present.
4. Prove your voltage tester again with your proving unit.
5. Connect the cables back as they were in the accessories within a MF junction box
6. Carry out insulation resistance tests.
7. Carry out R1+R2 tests
8. Check results are within parameters set out in BS7671.
9. Turn on electricity.
10. Carry out earth loop,impedance test following safe live working procedures.
11. Check results are within parameters set out in BS7671.

How can we realistically expect a DIYer to do steps 7-8 and 10-11?

Does it need to be done in order to achieve a safe and complicate job?

 

[skotl]

So what you need to do is:

1. Test your voltage tester with a proving unit.
2. Isolate the circuits in question.
3. Test across all cores and check zero volts is present.
4. Prove your voltage tester again with your proving unit.
5. Connect the cables back as they were in the accessories within a MF junction box
6. Carry out insulation resistance tests.
7. Carry out R1+R2 tests
8. Check results are within parameters set out in BS7671.
9. Turn on electricity.
10. Carry out earth loop,impedance test following safe live working procedures.
11. Check results are within parameters set out in BS7671.

How can we realistically expect a DIYer to do steps 7-8 and 10-11?

Does it need to be done in order to achieve a safe and complicate job?

That's not really the question, nor the point.

How do you expect a DIYer to complete these steps in any order? Or are you simply blowing through, showing off your apparent knowledge, without any attempt to help anyone? If so, then I applaud your intellect and experience but question the value on this thread.

(and I presume you mean "compliant" rather than "complicate"?)

 

[JohnW2]

How can we realistically expect a DIYer to do steps 7-8 and 10-11?

By telling them that they must not attempt any electrical DIY work until they have acquired the knowledge, skills and equipment of a properly-trained electrician? ... or perhaps that they have to read a dozen books (list kindly supplied) before they can get their living room lights back on?

Kind Regards, John

 

[Essex1]

So what you need to do is:

1. Test your voltage tester with a proving unit.
2. Isolate the circuits in question.
3. Test across all cores and check zero volts is present.
4. Prove your voltage tester again with your proving unit.
5. Connect the cables back as they were in the accessories within a MF junction box
6. Carry out insulation resistance tests.
7. Carry out R1+R2 tests
8. Check results are within parameters set out in BS7671.
9. Turn on electricity.
10. Carry out earth loop,impedance test following safe live working procedures.
11. Check results are within parameters set out in BS7671.

How can we realistically expect a DIYer to do steps 7-8 and 10-11?

Does it need to be done in order to achieve a safe and complicate job?

That's not really the question, nor the point.

How do you expect a DIYer to complete these steps in any order? Or are you simply blowing through, showing off your apparent knowledge, without any attempt to help anyone? If so, then I applaud your intellect and experience but question the value on this thread.

(and I presume you mean "compliant" rather than "complicate"?)

I don't expect a DIYer to knock down walls in their house and think it is ok to just chuck the cables into a JB and throw them in the ceiling.

There are other things to think about. It is vital that the earth is checked after a circuit alteration is carried out. Vital. If this happened on a socket circuit and other people are plugging things in with no earth because they had become loose during the work how would the op live with themselves knowing they had caused that.

 

[bernardgreen]

I don't expect a DIYer to knock down walls in their house and think it is ok to just chuck the cables into a JB and throw them in the ceiling.

What you expect and what is reality are very different.

I have seen several cases of cables and JBs dumped in a ceiling or other void.

There is a lot of ignorance in how to carry out electrical work and the testing necessary and the reasons why that testing is so important. Sadly a few "professional electricians" are also ignorant of the reasons. They simple follow the instructions. That is unforgivable in a professional electrician.

But ignorance in a DIYer has to be accepted and the DIYer given the advice they need along with an explanation behind the advice. The DIY does a job in some fashion and finds the results are OK in that the light works or the socket provides power to the appliance. As there is no smoke, flames or other obvious fault he or she assumes all is OK

Before one can help a DIYer one has to understand the position the DIYer is in. Some can be desperate to get power and / or lights working. Yes that sort of person is ignorant to have started the project but being aggressive to them will not help. Get them out of trouble even if it means leading by the hand with simple but detail instructions "put the red wire in L2 and the black wire in COM " After that [1] they realise they need to learn a bit more BEFORE starting another task and [2] they will come back for more advice and will be open minded about what they are told.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

What you expect and what is reality are very different ... But ignorance in a DIYer has to be accepted

Accepted, as in recognising it's existence yes.

Accepted as in viewed as acceptable, never.

If the guy had knocked down a wall in ignorance of the structural implications, and the house then fell down, or somebody was injured or killed, would you say "Oh well - never mind, he was a DIYer, we just have to accept it", or do you think he would deserve criticism?

even if it means leading by the hand with simple but detail instructions "put the red wire in L2 and the black wire in COM "

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