watcharacters Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 How can I be sure to avoid any electric cables when I drill into the wall? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bankruatsteve Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 There's the metal detector gadgets but not sure if they are available in Thailand. (?) I just notice where outlet and switch boxes are and avoid any space directly above or to right-angle (as to another box same height). And, since common practice is to enclose cable in conduit you would notice bumping into that before damaging any enclosed wire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Mega Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 pop the face plates off the power point and look and see which direction the wires run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xylophone Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 13 minutes ago, Don Mega said: pop the face plates off the power point and look and see which direction the wires run. That's a good start and if there is some plastic conduit in the wall, that will be immediately noticeable. However I've come across many instances where cable is actually laid in the plaster in a wall and can come from anywhere, as I found out much to my disgust. So check carefully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watcharacters Posted December 25, 2016 Author Share Posted December 25, 2016 6 minutes ago, xylophone said: That's a good start and if there is some plastic conduit in the wall, that will be immediately noticeable. However I've come across many instances where cable is actually laid in the plaster in a wall and can come from anywhere, as I found out much to my disgust. So check carefully. And that's the operative question. Checking.. How is the path chosen after the direction is established. WE have left/right and up and down. Is it guaranteed the path/install will be based on the shortest distance between two points or is there some other method of establishing that. I'm not familiar with concrete walls when it comes to electrical installation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watcharacters Posted December 25, 2016 Author Share Posted December 25, 2016 31 minutes ago, bankruatsteve said: There's the metal detector gadgets but not sure if they are available in Thailand. (?) I just notice where outlet and switch boxes are and avoid any space directly above or to right-angle (as to another box same height). And, since common practice is to enclose cable in conduit you would notice bumping into that before damaging any enclosed wire. I've replaced a shower flash heater in the house and discovered the cable was just buried in the concrete and fed to the heater without any electrical box (JB ) whatsoever. I can only assume the whole house is done with buried cable and no conduit. I'm hoping to avoid creating any extra issues but if they happen I know I'll just open the area wide enough to splice the cable and motor on from there. I hope to avoid that scenario. I just don't know where to buy the faded paint to paint my patch job on the concrete. 555 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Mega Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 Buy an electrical cable finder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossy Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 2 hours ago, Don Mega said: Buy an electrical cable finder. Indeed, but have you seen them here? Otherwise Ebay is going to be your friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Mega Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 7 minutes ago, Crossy said: Indeed, but have you seen them here? Otherwise Ebay is going to be your friend. RS should have something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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