Nail through ring main cable

[Mr Chibs]

Being a clown, somehow I'd managed to drive a nail into a cable, that was in a notch in a floor joist, teach me for 'fixing' that floorboard!

It wasn't on at the time.
On inspection, the cable is plaster into the wall and there doesn't seem a lot of slack, to add a junction box.

I had read up on here about crimping or maintenance free junction box method.
If there is not enough slack, are two junction boxes and a new 300mm bit of cable connection them acceptable.

Any opinions on these:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/chocbox/54936

 

[motorbiking]

Any maintenance free box is fine. I'd drill a new hole in the joist a bit lower down, run your new 2.5mm twin and earth through the new hole, screw some stud or similar wood across the notched area to strengthen and then use two junction boxes to re-join the ring.

 

[Iggifer]

Two junction boxes are fine if that’s what you need to do.

The chocbox you link to is not maintenance free though. You want this.

If you need to solve it today (understandable) and only have Screwfix you’ll have to get a box of wagos and a Wago box but it’s much more expensive that way

 

[aptsys]

Or use these from Screwfix: https://www.screwfix.com/p/debox-2sl-screwless-in-line-junction-box/9858r

 

[bernardgreen]

On inspection, the cable is plaster into the wall and there doesn't seem a lot of slack, to add a junction box.

Could one of the new junctions be in a new socket on the wall ? Extra sockets are ( almost ) always usefull.

 

[Mr Chibs]

Thanks for all replies.

Or use these from Screwfix: https://www.screwfix.com/p/debox-2sl-screwless-in-line-junction-box/9858r

Think this only rated at 16A, does this matter? most folk seem to like 30/32A

 

[JohnW2]

Or use these from Screwfix: https://www.screwfix.com/p/debox-2sl-screwless-in-line-junction-box/9858r

Interesting - thanks. I was not aware of these - so now we have an alternative to the Hager/Ashley ones (assuming these are compliant with the relevant Standard for MF JBs {whose number I forget!}). Do you know if they come with higher ratings than 16A and/or 4 terminals?

Kind Regards, John

 

[rsgaz]

The 24A, 4-pole one is not maintenance free...

http://www.hylec-apl.com/Debox/Debox/DEBOX_S.html

 

[crystal ball]

Interesting - thanks. I was not aware of these - so now we have an alternative to the Hager/Ashley ones (assuming these are compliant with the relevant Standard for MF JBs {whose number I forget!}). Do you know if they come with higher ratings than 16A and/or 4 terminals?

Kind Regards, John

I bought some by mistake and was pleasantly surprised when I opened the lid, very handy for lighting jobs

 

[Mr Chibs]

So, what exactly is the 'maintenance free' bit? I'm confused now,

What's wrong with 30A standard junction box? other than being against regs.

Is this maintenance free?
https://www.toolstation.com/shop/El...n+Boxes/sd3071/30A+Connection+Box+IP20/p49718

 

[Iggifer]

So, what exactly is the 'maintenance free' bit? I'm confused now,

What's wrong with 30A standard junction box? other than being against regs.

Is this maintenance free?
https://www.toolstation.com/shop/El...n+Boxes/sd3071/30A+Connection+Box+IP20/p49718

Nope. Maintenance free means it doesn’t use screw terminals, it uses sprung loaded connections to maintain constant pressure on the connection - unlike screws which can, and do, work loose

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Being a clown, somehow I'd managed to drive a nail into a cable, that was in a notch in a floor joist, teach me for 'fixing' that floorboard!

You are not the clown.

That will be the person who installed the cable in a notch in the top of a joist, that will.

 

[John D v2.0]

You are not the clown.

That will be the person who installed the cable in a notch in the top of a joist, that will.

Seems the most common reason for floorboards not being fixed down properly is due to a pipe or cable underneath.
Your point stands for mains cables, but with copper pipes, I doubt many heating installers would do anything other than notch at first floor level. Plastic is easy, but not everyone seems a fan.
To the OP, I use the wago boxes as they seem to be well made, but it seems the range is much better now.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Seems the most common reason for floorboards not being fixed down properly is due to a pipe or cable underneath.

True.

 

[JohnW2]

You are not the clown. That will be the person who installed the cable in a notch in the top of a joist, that will.

I don't think we know how old the OP's house is but, to be fair, one does not have to go all that far back in time to the days when all (certainly most) electricians probably were, by the above definition, 'clowns'!

Kind Regards, John