Drilled into earth

troffasky

jamie_128 said:

Ive held the non contact detector, doesent seem to detect any AC current from 50v to 1000v, so can we assume its safe to just leave, its only took the coating off anyway in a small patch, i really dont know what the wire is. 

What I would do is poke it with a multimeter and if there's nothing there, then assume it's dead. If it's safe to do so, cover it with electrical tape, but you'll probably struggle with access to do that.

Just bear this cable in mind if you ever discover any mystery panels, sockets or switches that might turn something on.

FreeBear

jamie_128 said: Surely a low voltage wire wouldent be that thick?

An Audio/Visual cable could be that thick, especially if it also has some wires for control functions.

nofoollikeold

1. The fundamental issue is neither you nor anyone else knows what that cable is for.
2. Trying to check with a multi-meter is pointless.  It could be attached to a switch, in the off position at the point of testing.  What if it then gets turned on again?
3. It needs digging out to check for sure what it is, and hopefully to see what it is connected to.

rubble2

Did you say that the 'cable' is about 15mm diameter? if so I think you are looking at a gas pipe. (don't ask me how I know about drilling into a gas pipe in an unexpected location in a wall)

troffasky

If you tap a multi-core cable it will just be a dull thud, if you tap a pipe it will "ping". Not sure what effect the plastic coating would have but a pipe will definitely sound different to a cable.

jamie_128

Had an electrician round, he is confident it is a gas pipe ive hit and ive just took a bit of coating off, do you think ill be safe? There is no smell of gas at all, ive actually just had a new boiler installed and some of the pipework has been capped off, and the bit that is capped off looks like it is inline with that pipe so dont even know if gas is coming through it anymore, its where the storage tank was before but now we have a combi with new pipework. 

jamie_128

Also the gas supply for the boiler now comes from outside a different end of the house and under the floorboards into the airing cupboard as i watched him do it, i assume there is only one gas supply pipe into the boiler? And the other pipes are for water/hot water and so on? 

Captain_Crink

rubble2 said:

Did you say that the 'cable' is about 15mm diameter? if so I think you are looking at a gas pipe. (don't ask me how I know about drilling into a gas pipe in an unexpected location in a wall)

I wondered that too. And yes, I have also nearly drilled into one with a 1 inch speedbit!

jamie_128

Captain_Crink said:

rubble2 said:

Did you say that the 'cable' is about 15mm diameter? if so I think you are looking at a gas pipe. (don't ask me how I know about drilling into a gas pipe in an unexpected location in a wall)

I wondered that too. And yes, I have also nearly drilled into one with a 1 inch speedbit!

It is indeed a gas pipe, its possibly a redundant one but cant be certain. 

Nevertheless it looks like ive grazed it with my masonry bit and scored the pipe but touch wood havent actually penetrated the pipe, think this was a lucky escape!