Drilled through a lighting circuit last night

mkaibear

So, last night I was fitting a curtain rail at home and used my stud/wire detector to check the area where I had marked to drill.

No lights came on to indicate an electrical wire.

...so I drilled there. 20mm into the wall and the lights go off. MCB tripped and the RCD the MCB is on as well.

*rats*, think I. Why do I trust technology? I work in IT, if technology worked then I wouldn't have a job

Resetting the breakers and it's all ok. Went to have a quick research as to what I am legitimately allowed to do.

As I understand it my options are (in approximate order of preference for me);

1) Open up the wall, crimp or solder, plaster over.
2) Open up the wall, put in a metal JB, chocolate block in the JB, plaster over.
3) Move the switch up to where the hole is (really not a good idea, it's a long way up, but feasible I suppose!)
4) Open up the wall, fit a junction box, cover with an inspection plate (require 6" slack in the cable which I don't think I have, so would actually be "fit two junction boxes and a lot of spare cable")
5) Re-lay cable, requiring chasing the walls and re-painting after. (irritating but doable as the switch is behind a curtain).
6) Ignore it as the lights are back on and the breakers are working properly. (I won't be doing this but I suppose it's an option!)


Any sparkys want to comment on what they think I should do (and if I've missed any options)?

The_Black_Sheep

Flat batteries in your detector?

Unlucky how you picked that exact spot!

mkaibear

The_Black_Sheep wrote: »

Flat batteries in your detector?

Unlucky how you picked that exact spot!

Murphy's law in action! :rotfl:

hoppo,p

Option 1 crimp!

ic

I've found electric/stud detectors to be as accurate as dowsing for water with two bits of bent metal...

madjay

hoppo,p wrote: »

Option 1 crimp!

Nasty...cowboy!!!

Replace the damaged cable do not joint and Plaster in the wall!

mkaibear

madjay wrote: »

Nasty...cowboy!!!

Replace the damaged cable do not joint and Plaster in the wall!

Interesting - crimping the cable (mechanical joint) is perfectly safe under Part P 17th - why do you think it is a cowboy job?

jbainbridge

Indeed ... if you are not leaving it available for inspection crimping is a good option.

diable

As others have mentioned crimping is fine and will save you the hassle of running a new cable in you could use insulation tape over the ends of the crimp to stop and water ingress when you plaster the hole and turn the circuit off when you do to stop it tripping.

baldelectrician

mkaibear wrote: »

Interesting - crimping the cable (mechanical joint) is perfectly safe under Part P 17th - why do you think it is a cowboy job?

Here lies the confusion

Part P is an inadequate attempt to bring electrics into building regs in England and Wales and does not mention crimps etc

17th Edition of BS7671, formerly known as the 'regs' or the 'wiring regs' mention things such as crimps, access to conductors etc

So this is mentioned in BS7671: 2008, 17th Edition Wiring Regulations, but not in Part P

To answer the OP, I would rewire that part of the circuit - to the ceiling void atleast in the first instance. With a join in a cable there is always a risk

mkaibear

baldelectrician wrote: »

Here lies the confusion

Part P is an inadequate attempt to bring electrics into building regs in England and Wales and does not mention crimps etc

17th Edition of BS7671, formerly known as the 'regs' or the 'wiring regs' mention things such as crimps, access to conductors etc

So this is mentioned in BS7671: 2008, 17th Edition Wiring Regulations, but not in Part P

Er, Part P regs (Building Regs 2010 Electrical Safety-Dwellings) begin with;

"In the Secretary of State's view, the requirements will be met by adherence to the 'Fundamental Principles' for achieving safety given in BS7671:2001"

Part P and 'the regs' are fundamentally intertwined.