Drilled through wire sheath, advice to make safe until after Xmas

[Quiffboy]

Hello,

I drilled a hole late last night after a long day and stupidly didn't check the wall directly under the plug socket (I know).

The RCD tripped and it appears to have just exposed the copper wires, just the sheath is damaged (pics attached).

From a bit of googling it seems there is no fix for this, just replacing the entire wire?? That seems pretty drastic.

Can anyone advise if there is a fix and also how to make it safe to have the sockets on until after Xmas. It's in our kitchen so need the power for fridge, oven etc.

Many thanks!

 

[Midwest]

I fear there's no quick fix for this. Its hard to tell from your pic, but the conductors look damaged. Have you turned the circuit back on?

 

[Pete999]

Hello,

I drilled a hole late last night after a long day and stupidly didn't check the wall directly under the plug socket (I know).

The RCD tripped and it appears to have just exposed the copper wires, just the sheath is damaged (pics attached).

From a bit of googling it seems there is no fix for this, just replacing the entire wire?? That seems pretty drastic.

Can anyone advise if there is a fix and also how to make it safe to have the sockets on until after Xmas. It's in our kitchen so need the power for fridge, oven etc.

Many thanks!

View attachment 39902

View attachment 39903

Where does that cable go to that is not going into the metal box?

 

[Midwest]

Where does that cable goo that is not going into the metal box?

Have you been drinking Pete.

 

[Pete999]

Have you been drinking Pete.

Have you been drinking Pete.

Corrected that for me Middy

 

[westward10]

It is certainly a novel bit of cable routing. Agree with above no one is going to advise of a quick fix get an electrician in.

 

[Midwest]

Corrected that for me Middy

I've only got 2 1/2 hrs to go me self.

 

[Midwest]

It is certainly a novel bit of cable routing. Agree with above no one is going to advise of a quick fix get an electrician in.

Bet the OP had been putting off doing that shelf all year, and his missus demanded today it was put up before Monday, or else.

So she's only got herself to blame!

 

[Quiffboy]

Where does that cable go to that is not going into the metal box?

Hi Pete, It goes over the top and into the box that way. It follows the red arrows on the pic.

Not sure why it doesn't feed through the bottom.

 

[Quiffboy]

I fear there's no quick fix for this. Its hard to tell from your pic, but the conductors look damaged. Have you turned the circuit back on?

Yeah, have turned it back on and everything works fine still

 

[Spoon]

Look at the pic closer mate. It looks like you have damaged the copper wire as well.

 

[Midwest]

You will need an electrician to replace or repair that cable. Expect you might struggle with that before Xmas. It's a bit dangerous to be exposed as it is.

 

[Spoon]

What are your electrical skills mate?

 

[Midwest]

What are your electrical skills mate?

They're are documented in my profile, some people don't believe me though!

 

[westward10]

What are your electrical skills mate?

Hopefully better than the person who put that cabling and back boxes in

 

[Spoon]

From a bit of googling it seems there is no fix for this, just replacing the entire wire?? That seems pretty drastic.

The entire cable does not need to be replaced. There are other options but replacing it is the best option.

 

[westward10]

Assuming that is a ring final you could for now knock another back box in, replace the damaged section and fit a socket to it.

 

[davesparks]

Yeah, have turned it back on and everything works fine still

It will still work fine from the point of view of the appliances plugged in to the circuit. However it is very dangerous from the point of view of and person near it, there are exposed live conductors which presents an electric shock hazard. Plus if something was to accidentally make contact it could spark and start a fire.

 

[Spoon]

It will still work fine from the point of view of the appliances plugged in to the circuit. However it is very dangerous from the point of view of and person near it, there are exposed live conductors which presents an electric shock hazard. Plus if something was to accidentally make contact it could spark and start a fire.

Will probably trip the RCD again when he's cooking the mashed potatoes for the xmas meal as well....

 

[westward10]

He could pack it out with goose fat.

 

[Spoon]

He could pack it out with goose fat.

I have quite a bit of fat going spare....

 

[cprfenom]

This looks like a B&Q kitchen rewire!! why does it even route that way!!

 

[Spoon]

T why does it even route that way!!

They only need to do the one channel in the wall for the socket and cooker socket.... That's what I'm guessing.

 

[ipf]

Get someone in to sort it.....if you can't, timber over and put the cooker in front (desperate measure), then get it repaired ASAP. The conductors do look intact, though damaged and in urgent need of repair. If it doesn't trip, the RCD protection is very helpful. Use as minimally as possible.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

still plenty of time to pop to local corner shop and get some of them microwave Christmas dinners... then next week get an electrician in to repair the cable, you dont have to rip it out, it could be repaired in situ, but its a case of which method and whether it will be accessible afterwards that will determine the best course of action.

 

[ipf]

still plenty of time to pop to local corner shop and get some of them microwave Christmas dinners... then next week get an electrician in to repair the cable, you dont have to rip it out, it could be repaired in situ, but its a case of which method and whether it will be accessible afterwards that will determine the best course of action.

Hmm!.....replace the short piece from the socket and install another at the point of damage, maybe?

 

[westward10]

Hmm!.....replace the short piece from the socket and install another at the point of damage, maybe?

As in #17

 

[Midwest]

Poor old OP, probably getting an ear bashing from her indoors.

If it were me, and wearing the hat of a diy'er, I'd turn off the kitchen sockets, plug necessary appliances into ext. leads, and wait till after Xmas. Hopefully the oven is on its own circuit, and he has another RFC to plug in those ext. leads . Or else its off to the in-laws for Xmas

 

[ipf]

As in #17

Great minds think...................basically

 

[Spoon]

Have we scared away another OP....

 

[nivag]

very silly in my opinion to power back up a circuit that not only has exposed live conductors endangering family and friends, but could be a broken ring final circuit on a 30a fuse or 32a mcb now with a weakend cross sectional area of the conductors and considering this is in a kitchen with some potential high loads, this is a serious fire risk.

take the above advice of the professionals and turn it back off, leave it off and get in an electrician when you can.

 

[Spoon]

very silly in my opinion to power back up a circuit that not only has exposed live conductors endangering family and friends, but could be a broken ring final circuit on a 30a fuse or 32a mcb now with a weakend cross sectional area of the conductors and considering this is in a kitchen with some potential high loads, this is a serious fire risk.

take the above advice of the professionals and turn it back off, leave it off and get in an electrician when you can.

If the OP replied to my post #13 we might be able to help him out. Poor bloke....

 

[westward10]

If the OP replied to my post #13 we might be able to help him out. Poor bloke....

Probably busy fitting a new oven.

 

[paul291277]

1: Run an extension lead from another socket circuit in your house to power the fridge

2: IF!!! your oven is attached with a 13 amp plug do the same as above but not via an extension lead with anything else plugged in

3: Get an electrician in

 

[PEG]

I hope i am wrong,but...somewhere,at a B&Q self-service till,a stressed out DIYer,is sheepishly scanning 2 rolls of PVC tape,a small bag of one-coat,and some white emulsion paint