How can I detect if there are any electrical wiring or panels behind dry wall?

[cindawalker]

I need to drill a hole in some dry wall and mount an anchor hook to hang a 30+lb fire extinguisher. I am concerned about any electrical wiring or panels behind the dry wall. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[RogertheBodger]

It's quite easy to make a hole in plasterboard, you could use a variable speed drill on a very low rpm, take it nice and slow,wrap a bit of tape around the end of your drill bit as a guide, say 15mm from the end, so you don't go through any further, you could even twist a flat screwdriver through.
You will need a very good fixing for a 30lb load on plasterboard, be nice if it was a wooden stud wall and you could fix into the wood, if you don't have a stud finder just tap along the wall until it stops sounding hollow and you should be in the right spot.

 

[Adam W]

There may be cables directly up or across from any sockets or switches, or within 150mm of the corner of the room.
More often than not cables will go up from a switch and down from a socket.

 

[BLBelfast]

Or in a stud wall any shape at all