What is this big cable for ?

[trevorbayliss]

Any idea what this big cable is for ?

I am buying the flat and so have today been allowed to measure up for bits and pieces, so i haven't gotten into the building properly yet to take up carpets etc. I will be doing a full rewire with the sparky once i get the keys officially.

Just thought i would ask on here to see if anyone has any idea what it might be for.

It feeds out of a neighbours flat from their flat roof, comes up the wall and then goes horizontally along my wall as you can see in the photo. It then goes into my wall or it has been chopped off. The metal protection hides what is happening.

 

[crystal ball]

Communal system of some sort, door entry, TV ....

 

[trevorbayliss]

There is a linked fire warning system and i spoke to the contractor who maintains it on the phone. I dont think it will be part of this because it is not clipped correctly and these guys would clip everything properly. He doesnt think it is part of the system, but that was just a phone chat.

Actually now you mention it. There is a phone on the wall above where this cable maybe comes into the wall. I wonder if it is part of the flat buzzer system ? Thanks for the info.

 

[flameport]

I dont think it will be part of this because it is not clipped correctly and these guys would clip everything properly.

Fire alarm installations are some of the most untidy, shoved in shambles that can be found anywhere.

 

[securespark]

Looking at a close-up of it, it looks like it might be 1960s Twin and Earth.

It could be a supply cable from another part of the building into your flat.

Do you have a picture of the stuff around the meter?

 

[trevorbayliss]

This is the meter cupboard. It has a breaker for each flat.

I couldnt find any fuse board in my flat yesterday.

 

[securespark]

Looks to be 6 meters?

How many flats are there?

 

[trevorbayliss]

7

 

[securespark]

In that case, those fuse boxes in the meter room look like they may be feeding a fuse box in each flat.

I might be wrong, but I think that cable feeds your fuse box.

 

[trevorbayliss]

Ok, well i need to investigate a bit more.

I have a feeling this is not feeding my flat, but the one where the cable goes along the wall and then into another flats flat roof.

Where it disappears into the wall (behind the metal plate) it doesnt pop up anywhere that i can see in my flat BUT now you mention it i am wondering if the cable then goes downwards inside the wall and comes to the front door where the fuse boards are.

I noticed in the flat all the external walls have been battened out, and i am thinking it is to carry services up for the other flats. So i am actually ripping out all the plaster board on these walls as i need to insulate them.

 

[conny]

Get your sparky to check it out. There is always the possibility someone may be tapping your electricity or, vice versa the previous owner of your flat was tapping someone elses. Don't be mislead by the size of cable. Some people think any piece of wire will do for using electricity.