Any idea what these wires are before I get an electrician in?!

svince80

Hi,
Our house was left in an interesting state by the previous owner. One of the many issues are wires that come through the wall in almost every room. They originate from under the stairs, by the fuse box. Before I get an electrician in, does anyone have any experience of what they're for and how I could deal with them? I've put images up here http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/forums/any-idea-what-these-wires-coming-from-fuse-box-area-understairs-t41946.html Many thanks.

Kiran

Have you got a photo of the end of the cable? Does the house have/did the house have an alarm system with a door entry camera? The one by the front door could have bee a monitor. That many cables would make me think PIRs etc.

brightontraveller

The type of cable would give a better idea e.g alarm, data, fire etc How many cores does each cable have

e.g alarm cable

http://www.bitsbox.co.uk/images/small/alarmcable_sml.jpg
flex
https://www.electrical-trader.co.uk/media/catalog/category/Flex-cable-3-core_1.jpg

Without knowing that I'd guess at alarm it being white and appearing to be quite flexible?

TheCyclingProgrammer

Nobody can say for certain but I'd also say its alarm cabling. Did you see one when you viewed the house? Did you know they were taking it with them?

Norman_Castle

They originate from under the stairs, by the fuse box.

Are they connected to anything? It looks like the previous owner started to fit an alarm.

svince80

Thanks for all the replies. Yes we knew there was an alarm at some point and the wire by the front door could definitely be that. Confused by it going to lots of different rooms though? I've so far counted 8 wires coming out of walls throughout the house. I'll have a look at those links and examine the cables a bit more. Thanks again. Anyone know what you do with them if they're not needed? Sorry, complete DIY novice.

Cornucopia

The terminators in the second photo could be Ethernet?

If you don't want them, just cut them off, poke the loose end back into the wall and fill the holes. Removing them entirely will be a hassle.

brightontraveller

An alarm/ call system etc would likely go to each room with a window / access point if you check for power/live either then isolate or if none some would push excess cable back into wall, plaster/fill over (can use at later date if you require alarm etc if you write down distance height of each you be able to find again at later date with minimum disruption) or you could fit surface pattress
http://www.screwfix.com/p/1g-moulded-box-25mm/9474d
or dry line box
http://www.screwfix.com/p/appleby-1-gang-35mm-dry-lining-box/44827
Leave excess cable in those, cover with
http://www.screwfix.com/p/1-gang-blanking-plate-white/4104d

[FONT=&quot]The possibilities are just limited to your imagination :rotfl:[/FONT]

paddyrg

My hunch is alarm connected to PIR, etc around the house.

jbainbridge

Guess cat5 or alarm cable. Can you look closely at the end of one and tell us how many cores and what colour they are?

That one you pictured by the front door(?) could be for an alarm panel ... it's probably not for a data point!

southcoastrgi

Have you got underfloor heating ?