Testing live cable?

simonts

Our house is a little over three years old but the previous occupier for someone buying a new house apparantly didnt like any of it and had pot shots at destroying just about every room in the house, Which we are now rectifying.

Rather rubbishly these houses are built with no electric or lighting in the garage..also no window.

It seems previous muppets final unfinished venture was to go through the kitchen wall into the garage and convert it, He got half way through the supporting wall which is hel up with acroprops until I get a bricky in to sort it...anyway Im way off the path now.

Where he was coming through a reel of electrical cable is coming from somewhere inside the house, If its live its great as I can just wire myself a switch and a light. Unfortunatly however my girlfriend didnt play ball when I asked her to pop her tongue on the end of the cable and see what happens

I assume i will need to buy something to check for voltage?

mcfisco

I can't imagine a reel of cable will be connected to a live feed - but you never know

coolagarry

I have a screwdriver I got from my local DIY that you touch the red wire with and it lights up if it's live. Only a couple of quid.

Nile

Hello simonts

Have you read the 'Safety Announcement' thread?

Announcement: Warning! Always use a professional for gas maintenance and complex electrical repairs. Being safe is more important than MoneySaving.

Please consider getting a qualified electrician to do the work.

Nile

BarmyBubba

Chances are it wont be live if it is still on the drum. If you do buy a testing instrument, make sure you prove it works on something you know IS live before testing the drum of cable.

molerat

If you need to ask a very basic question like how to test if a wire is live you should not be even thinking of touching it. You may end up looking like this. :eek:

BarmyBubba

Its better that they have asked though instead of going straight ahead with the tongue test

Wig

There's a whole load of tools for the job here
http://www.tooled-up.com/SubCategory.asp?MAN=Testers&CID=7&SCID=210

But this one
http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=13286&MAN=Draper-63mm-Mains-Tester-With-13a-Safety-Gate-Tool
is cheap as chips and will do the job, as mentioned test it before you use it on the cable in the garage, using the adapter provided. The current earths itself through your finger and in the process lights up a fuse inside the screwdriver, pretty nifty thing to have around the house. And perfectly safe to use.

If the postage is too much try your local B&Q or hardware/electrical store now you know what to look for.

plumb1_2

Use a voltage stick to a simple test

http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=122750&MAN=West-Voltage-Detector

Mikeyorks

And check both cores in the cable - not just the red (or brown). Have known them to be wired the wrong way round.

Lord_Gardener

I'd recommend that you get an electrician in to check that the other end has been wired in correctly!