Made me jump!

[Mjward]

Moved into a new house and before I make a start on the serious renovation, thought I'd mount a TV so I have some evening entertainment.

Easy, the previous owners already had one up, just need to move along slightly for new pilot holes for the new bracket. Or so I thought.

Drilled first pilot hole, no issue.
Drilled second pilot hole and lights in room went out. (I didn't connect the two immediately as the microwave was on and this earlier triggered the RCBO).
Drilled third pilot hole and poof, bit of a spark, RCBO triggered again and told me something was not right.

The things that are alarming me are:

1) I've drilled a couple of inches horizontally from where previous mount was installed. Closer to a power socket but nowhere near above. Further away from a light switch and in no logical route of a cable run

2) the room lights are switching off when there was a power overload earlier on the sockets. Don't know why these would be on same RCBO.

This house is completely new to me less than a week ago so don't have a full understanding of the electrics but there s growing number of warning signs that something isn't right

 

[Mjward]

Looks like the sheath on the outer cable has been nicked by whoever drilled the hole?View attachment 86766

Good eyes. It has just about but not penetrated inner sheath. Is that good to leave or is there anything I can do aside from cut out and repair?

 

[DPG]

Good eyes. It has just about but not penetrated inner sheath. Is that good to leave or is there anything I can do aside from cut out and repair?
View attachment 86768

Note, I've put my tin hat on.

I'd wrap a couple of layers of tape around it neatly. That's assuming the damage has definitely not gone right through the outer sheathing.

 

[Mjward]

Note, I've put my tin hat on.

I'd wrap a couple of layers of tape around it neatly. That's assuming the damage has definitely not gone right through the outer sheathing.

Tis what I'm thinking and tin hat is right ? is there anything I should mark on the tape to let a future electrician know why it's been taped or just not the done thing?

 

[Mike Johnson]

If there is enough slack in the cable I would be tempted to do the same as you have to the others, but that's me, belt and braces.

 

[OnlQQker]

I would skin up a 150mm length of the outer sheath of a 16mm swa cable and fix that over it.

But I'm no electrician so could be speaking out of my backside ?

 

[DPG]

If there is enough slack in the cable I would be tempted to do the same as you have to the others, but that's me, belt and braces.

I knew you'd go that way Mike. Be interesting to see what the general consensus is.

I accept my way is technically a bodge, but I think it's acceptable. Again, with my tin hat on. It avoids several joints which are potential failure points.

 

[telectrix]

i would have used these, neat and if necessary, a bit of heatshrink over.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Note, I've put my tin hat on.

I'd wrap a couple of layers of tape around it neatly. That's assuming the damage has definitely not gone right through the outer sheathing.

just make sure it’s grey tape

 

[telectrix]

all tapes are grey in the dark.

 

[dodger421]

Personally, and with tin hat firmly on, if it’s only the outer sheath I’d cover it with green line tape (aka self amalgamating tape) and think no more about.

 

[Mjward]

Thank you all. I will go the tape route, acknowledging it's not the ideal treatment but one as the property owner am happy with but also know that no-one is drilling into that wall for the next 50 years as I plan to die in this house

To complete the loop, the TV is now mounted on the wall and all working fine. I've completed the coax routing check around the house with the aid of a great little (and cheap) device from Klein tools (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B076DP1534/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o08_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

Next on the to do list is to check all the CAT5/6 terminals although I've already come across helpful labelling such as "does not work"

Oh...and my wall scanner arrived so hopefully no more crimping (famous last words)

 

[Mjward]

Right...so I've got a cable route which has some coax, ethernet and these two random white cables with brown and blue wires terminated in a chocbox.

For life of me can't figure out why they were routed there or what they do. Anyone have a guess where they may be routed near a TV location? Hopefully can use that information to figure out where they end up as haven't found the other side yet!

 

[telectrix]

remote speakers???

 

[Mike Johnson]

I assume the two co-axial cables are from a dual LNB from a satellite dish to allow signal to a receiver box and allow one programme to be recoded whilst watching a different programme, can't help on the two white cables, perhaps low power cables? have you checked if power is supplied to them?

 

[Mike Johnson]

remote speakers???

Good shout, maybe check the audio system for continuity?