Drilling through my house wall

Dan-Dan

I need to power an outside light by 240v cable , so i need to drill through my house wall to be able to plug it into a socket upstairs , it is a standard brick house , not timber framed

I know i need a whacking long drill bit , any advice other than that , drill from the outside in , inside out? , `im thinking neater to go outside in , then gloop round the installed cable using sealent etc ?

Tips welcome

ariba10

When drilling through a wall like that I would drill from the inside.

You will get dust but nothing that someone holding a vacume cleaner cannot cope with.

There will be more likely damage with spalling were the bit comes out.

Dan-Dan

Ok , thank you , what mm drill bit should i use to ensure the power cable is snug and still fits rather than baggy in the hole? , and ideas?

zaax

Lights should be on the lighting ring main, with a switch.
But otherwise; make sure your not going to drill through pipes or cables and work out how quickly you can turn the water or gas off if you do.

Also you will need a strong drill and drill from the outside though cement not brick so if you need to remove the cable later the hole can be invisibly filled.

Dan-Dan

thats a good point that is , drilling through the mortar not the brick itself....

I cant really afford any more trades now , so will have to have the PIR light controlled by plug

StuC75

Drill from the inside out - that way get a neater hole on the inside as the brick may 'blow' on the outside when it gets through.. This might take a bit of doing with a standard drill - I always tend to use the 'normal' drill head on my sds drill as it manages it much easier.. rather than burning out a standard drill..

You want the hole to be a bit bigger since you don't want to damage the cable whilst you are running it through. Then you can get the orange plastic 'covers' that can make the cable hole look tidier on the wall..

Then use sealant on the outside to avoid moisture getting in - also

jbainbridge

I did a couple of holes for tv cable using a long 8mm(I think) bit and a standard mains hammer drill. SDS would be better I'm sure but don't worry if you haven't got one.

Going inside to outside angle the bit very slightly down - so water does not track back in along the cable.

Clive_Woody

jbainbridge wrote: »

Going inside to outside angle the bit very slightly down - so water does not track back in along the cable.

That's what I was going to say, seems obvious but quite important even with sealant.

Dan-Dan

Thanks chaps , all much obliged

Dan-Dan

I have read somewhere , that the plug to be used within the house that will run this PIR light , needs a 3amp fuse , not a 13amp

Is this correct , if so , why ?

Mark_Mark

Dan-Dan wrote: »

I have read somewhere , that the plug to be used within the house that will run this PIR light , needs a 3amp fuse , not a 13amp

Is this correct , if so , why ?

3 amp will be correct, to protect the light.