How do I find where this circuit has been chopped?

Quartz

Quartz

Quartz

Soldato
Joined
1 Apr 2014
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Location
Aberdeen
Any electricians in the house?

I have a space where a hot water tank used to be. The power circuit to there is dead. The fuse in the fuse box is still in place. So somewhere between the two it's been chopped or redirected. I assume it was done when the hot water tank was removed. About 6 months ago, an electrician had a very brief look at it, as I wanted power points put in. After determining that the circuit was dead, he declined to pursue the matter. I'm now up for another stab at the matter. How do I - safely - progress this?
 
Trace the cable from either end.

If it is buried in the wall, a tone tester may be of use, but these only really work when the probe is right on the cable itself.
 
Take the old fused spur off and see if the cable enters from above or below.

If its coming from below then it will be floor board up time. Or if it is above (and assuming 1st floor) then its time for you to get covered in fibre glass.
 
AS_Platinum said:
Take the old fused spur off and see if the cable enters from above or below.

If its coming from below then it will be floor board up time. Or if it is above (and assuming 1st floor) then its time for you to get covered in fibre glass.
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Confusingly, there are two points, either side of the door. The fuse on one side and where the power cable came out on the other. Interestingly, the fuse is the farther away from the fuse box. I believe that the cable goes up and over the door - the cables on both side go up. The floor was up earlier this year and I did not spot any power cables. I really don't understand why the circuit wasn't left live.

Hmm... time to investigate. Thank you.
 
Are you sure it hasn't just been snipped back and left in crimps or blocks in the back of the board? Often redundant cables aren't completely cut out.
 
Last edited:
Quartz said:
No I'm not sure. How would I tell?
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Should have said aren't* completely cutout, you qouted me for truth before I edited my typo lol

Asuming you have a relatively modern consumer unit, carefully remove the board cover and see if you can see the cable tucked away inside anywhere.

If you have an old cartridge style board with rewireable fuses you'll probably find the cable has been left in the local vicinity of the board and neatly clipped out of the way - at least that's what we do anyway. It helps to not remove unused cables completely for instances just like this.

Good luck :-)
 
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