What is this cable? Dangerous?

[David_DIY_idiot]

Was cleaning the understairs cupboard in our new house and this popped out at me.

It's setting off my wee detector, but only on low, not the big alarm you get when you touch plug sockets.

It's a 100 year old house so could be from any era! Can't trace it back any further as it goes right under the floor from here. It's really thin so I'm wondering if it's maybe old telephone cable?

I have an expert coming out who can check it, but not until the new year so if someone says it could be dangerous I'll get someone sooner.

 

[Gigagator]

It is difficult to say without applying a contact tester on it i.e. a multimeter with probes, to see what voltage is present.
To look at it, my money would be on it being for an old doorbell so possibly connected at the other end to a transformer.

Like I say though, it's all conjecture without a bit more testing.

You could carefully terminate them individually into a terminal block for now or some Wagos, at least to eliminate the possibility of something touching bare ends without knowing what voltage is on it.

 

[terryplumb]

Put each wire into separate insulated terminal blocks ,or wago's ,and await an electrician.

 

[Alec_t]

I'm wondering if it's maybe old telephone cable?

Don't think so. I've used similar-looking stuff over the years for mains-powered lights and loudspeaker wiring. If I recall correctly it's rated ~2A 250V.

 

[David_DIY_idiot]

It is difficult to say without applying a contact tester on it i.e. a multimeter with probes, to see what voltage is present.
To look at it, my money would be on it being for an old doorbell so possibly connected at the other end to a transformer.

Like I say though, it's all conjecture without a bit more testing.

You could carefully terminate them individually into a terminal block for now or some Wagos, at least to eliminate the possibility of something touching bare ends without knowing what voltage is on it.

Put each wire into separate insulated terminal blocks ,or wago's ,and await an electrician.

Don't think so. I've used similar-looking stuff over the years for mains-powered lights and loudspeaker wiring. If I recall correctly it's rated ~2A 250V.

Great feedback all - really useful. Thanks a lot.

An old doorbell seems a really likely suggestion considering the old wired one has been removed and replaced with a wireless one. I'll do as you suggest and put them in a terminal block for now until my electrician can get out.