Avoiding Electrics (Wire) while drilling a Concrete Wall

bringitdown

Hi

A few questions some of which I think I know the answers to.

I am looking to mount a TV on a concrete wall.

I have a double socket in the middle of the wall - would I be right to assume the feeder wire runs vertically up to the ceiling?

I assume the only way to be sure is to get a wire detector and mark it out.

And assuming the wire is there how far each side of it should I leave to ensure I avoid hitting it - I would imagine there is some error margin in the detectors?

Am I better off getting a sparky to do this for me?

my3cents

The detectors are fairly bang on. How do you know the cable doesn't run up from the floor? Don't know if I should suggest it I'll probably get a bollocking for suggesting this but I'd unscrew the socket and take a look where the cable comes in to the socket. You could switch the power off before doing that to be on the safe side.

Sleeper12

With stuff like this you should never assume anything especially if you are not the first owner of the house. There's always the possibility that a diy warrior brought the cable horizontally across the wall or even diagonally. You always need to be 100 percent certain.

doubtfir3

I'd suggest that you open the socket to see where the cable runs..

If you are looking to mount a TV on the wall I assume that you want to have the coax socket for aerial and also power behind the TV rather than having trailing wires?

Where you will need to install an extra socket you will need to get an electrician to do it these days, you could move the coax yourself but overall I'd suggest getting an electrician (once you have done the initial investigation to see which way the cable comes into the socket underneath).

If you want to move the socket and coax, or put in extras you are looking at either trunking on the wall or chasing the wall and replastering/repainting once the electrician is finished.

bringitdown

doubtfir3 wrote: »

I'd suggest that you open the socket to see where the cable runs..

If you are looking to mount a TV on the wall I assume that you want to have the coax socket for aerial and also power behind the TV rather than having trailing wires?

Where you will need to install an extra socket you will need to get an electrician to do it these days, you could move the coax yourself but overall I'd suggest getting an electrician (once you have done the initial investigation to see which way the cable comes into the socket underneath).

If you want to move the socket and coax, or put in extras you are looking at either trunking on the wall or chasing the wall and replastering/repainting once the electrician is finished.

Thanks, budget doesnt stretch to moving sockets and such right now, the detector worked a treat and I safely avoided electrics (and coax).

I'll be running cables horizontally (prob in a simple painted conduit) to the nearest wall and then downward to be hidden behind a media unit - we may move/conceal in the future but this approach is not that bad and saves is a little money for now.