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Hey there, I don't normally post much on here but am always browsing through this forum as the topics are somewhat interesting.
Anyway, as per the title. I managed to end todays work with a BOOM!
I have been working on a complete refurbishment on a old 1920's terraced house. The property has a dedicated resin supply cable feeding a single phase meter which then feeds a consumer unit. After stripping out all the cables throughout the property only leaving a temporary socket, you would assume every cable in the house is dead, right? WRONG!!
Today I had to ease of a sheet of wood that the electrical cutout/meter was fixed to so that the plasterer could dry line/plaster the wall behind it. That was easy. He then came back to me and asked if this other cable sticking out of the wall also dead?, I went back to the cupboard to discover an old 6mm lead cable poking through the wall with the end taped up. I told the plasterer "Of course its dead, the only cables in this building that are live are the temporary sockets". As i finished the sentence I was already halfway though cutting the cable. Then BOOM!!!!!! The sound of a £30 pair side cutters turning to ash along with some fireworks for added effect.
After scratching my head and wondering how the hell the old cable could still be live I then ventured into next doors property...
After opening her electrical cupboard and letting out the smoke I had created, I spotted the old LEAD cable going into the suppliers side of her old cast iron fused live/neutral cut out. The funny thing is was that her house was still on so the smoke in the cupboard must of been the old lead cable turning to ash!!
I told the lady that she needs to call the electrical provider and for them to send out an engineer ASAP.
Ive never seen this is 16 years of my electrical profession, but apparently this is how properties were supplied pre 1950's.
The funny thing is that the neighbours electrical intake had a new meter and consumer yet noone had pointed this out to her!!
What a great way to end a weeks work
Mike
Anyway, as per the title. I managed to end todays work with a BOOM!
I have been working on a complete refurbishment on a old 1920's terraced house. The property has a dedicated resin supply cable feeding a single phase meter which then feeds a consumer unit. After stripping out all the cables throughout the property only leaving a temporary socket, you would assume every cable in the house is dead, right? WRONG!!
Today I had to ease of a sheet of wood that the electrical cutout/meter was fixed to so that the plasterer could dry line/plaster the wall behind it. That was easy. He then came back to me and asked if this other cable sticking out of the wall also dead?, I went back to the cupboard to discover an old 6mm lead cable poking through the wall with the end taped up. I told the plasterer "Of course its dead, the only cables in this building that are live are the temporary sockets". As i finished the sentence I was already halfway though cutting the cable. Then BOOM!!!!!! The sound of a £30 pair side cutters turning to ash along with some fireworks for added effect.
After scratching my head and wondering how the hell the old cable could still be live I then ventured into next doors property...
After opening her electrical cupboard and letting out the smoke I had created, I spotted the old LEAD cable going into the suppliers side of her old cast iron fused live/neutral cut out. The funny thing is was that her house was still on so the smoke in the cupboard must of been the old lead cable turning to ash!!
I told the lady that she needs to call the electrical provider and for them to send out an engineer ASAP.
Ive never seen this is 16 years of my electrical profession, but apparently this is how properties were supplied pre 1950's.
The funny thing is that the neighbours electrical intake had a new meter and consumer yet noone had pointed this out to her!!
What a great way to end a weeks work
Mike
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