Tool to find live wires / pipes before drilling

[gerbils]

I am looking to move a light fitting so it's over my table (currently all lights are screwed into joists which are in odd places). I'd like to do this by installing a hook with a plasterboard fixing and 'swagging' the pendant.

However these tend to be quite long and I am concerned about screwing into something bad like a water pipe or live wire. I went to buy a detector (would come in handy for other projects)
but these get pretty terrible reviews, even the £100 ones.

What do professionals use?

 

[SammyInnit]

The Zircon i700 gets ok reviews. Hilti make some detector stuff that I'd imagine is somewhat reliable as do Bosch.

Fact is, none are 100% accurate and you'll need deep pockets to have enough of a selection of detectors to eliminate any false flags.

Can't beat the old fashioned way of first hand inspection.

 

[flameport]

What do professionals use?

Nothing, because all of these detector devices either fail to detect what they should, give false readings when nothing is there, or both.

If screwing into a joist from below, virtually all of the wires/cables will either be near the centre of the joist or at the top so putting a screw through any of them is exceptionally unlikely.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

these get pretty terrible reviews, even the £100 ones.

What about more expensive ones?

 

[SammyInnit]

What about more expensive ones?