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Bathroom has a light over the mirror, doesn't work.
I've pulled the light off the wall and checked the positive, nothing. The cable is sealed behind paneling which I'd rather not pull off and it's impossible to work out where it goes. I've been up in the attic above it and can't find anything obvious although there are plenty of wires coming from upstairs down to the fuse box.
All the other electricals in the bathroom work fine, there's only one light fuse for upstairs and only one ring for upstairs.
So how should I trace this wire? In my electronic engineering days we used to have little dibbers that we would put on a wire so we could find the other end in a mass of wires, would that be an option? Obviously it's risky because at some point it could be connected to something live.
when was the wiring done?
If sometime over the last 3 decades then all runs should go vertically in walls until they reach a floor void. They may be behind steel shielding strips in the plaster.
A wire/stud finder will trace metal, a test pen will indicate live wires.
It was within the last 3 decades. It's a new house for us and the previous owners have provided a certificate for a complete rewire in the last ten years.
It in theory should run up the wall and then to main bathroom light really. Has it got its own switch
then it really should be a vertical run from the outlet to the floor void above (or below) with a steel capping if it's in the plaster, but not if it's just loose behind the plasterboard. The latter is harder to find with any device.
You are allowed to run cables horizontally, from my Part P guide book:
Cables should be routed in 'safe zones' horizontally or vertically from fittings or close to corners or at ceiling level. Cables should not run diagonally or outside these zones.
It's a little thing with it's own pull cord. I could have sworn it worked when we viewed the house. I've tried various combinations believing it has some weird wiring which means it'll only work when the bathroom light or fan is on but nothing so far.
The alternative is that when the kitchen blokes put a new kitchen in (including wiring), which is directly underneath, they cut the wire. That's probably most likely.
if they run horizontally must they not do so only between identifiable surface points, like switches and outlets?
i.e. if you want to come down the wall and then run along to a socket you should put a socket/access point at the point where the vertical runs stops and the horizontal runs starts?
i.e. if you want to come down the wall and then run along to a socket you should put a socket/access point at the point where the vertical runs stops and the horizontal runs starts?
Not sure. I *think* you can run horizontally from a socket/switch to the edge of the wall then run vertically up or down within 100mm of the edge. I'm sure someone will come along with a more definitive answer. I've downloaded all the regs but not read them, just skimmed a Part P installers guide.
not heard of that 100mm thing.
but worth knowing if that is the case.
is there a shaver socket ? could be wired into back of that
I've pulled the light off the wall and checked the positive, nothing.
Are you using a multimeter? Between live and neutral? Is it set to AC volts?
You have checked the bulb right ?
I really wouldn't assume cables will run vertically or horizontally. I've just refitted my kitchen and the mains cables for the under-counter lights ran at all sorts of weird and wonderful angles from the ceiling to the base of the cupboards. The extension and kitchen was all done by the same outfit in 1998 and I got all the paperwork with the purchase.
The cables now all run vertically...
[i]Are you using a multimeter? Between live and neutral? Is it set to AC volts? [/i]
One of those live checking screwdrivers. I checked the screwdriver worked first by trying it on a mains socket, then tried it on the wires in the cable.
And yes, changing the bulb was the first thing I tried 😉
It prob goes back to the ceiling rose, but to be honest if you don't have the correct tools/knowledge, it may be worth getting a leccie in.
for Stoner - 150mm.
[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3826/9498925615_3073124caa.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/9498925615/ ]Cable Safe Zones[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/brf/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr
Send me your email and I'll mail you a copy of the book as a PDF
cheers flaps, YGM
Useful to know.
Cool - I've sent you a mail.