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

 

[littlespark]

Looking carefully at your photograph, I can now SEE the live busbar inside between the mcb’s.

is it a Lewden branded consumer unit or lewden breakers in another board? They just don’t look like they fit properly.

The stickers that came with the consumer unit in the first place would have the appropriate labels to say which MCBs were controlled by each rcd (colour coded labels or whatever)

 

[MJPD29]

Will start tracing back each socket to the relevant RCD using my loopcheck and RCD check function (ie trips it). Out of curiosity, tried it on the TV socket and only the RCCB on the end tripped, not the single circuit RCDs (including the one labelled for the relevant socket). That's not normal is it?View attachment 86712View attachment 86713

They are some fine and expensive tools for someone who isn't an electrician. Very shiny looking too

 

[Dustydazzler]

They are some fine and expensive tools for someone who isn't an electrician. Very shiny looking too

Better tools and certainly cleaner tools than Most sparks that I know , i have a bucket with some old drivers , a pair of ck snips and my old Stanley fat max pliers

 

[Mjward]

Looking carefully at your photograph, I can now SEE the live busbar inside between the mcb’s.

is it a Lewden branded consumer unit or lewden breakers in another board? They just don’t look like they fit properly.

The stickers that came with the consumer unit in the first place would have the appropriate labels to say which MCBs were controlled by each rcd (colour coded labels or whatever)

I'm not up to speed with my corporate logos, there is no name visible but this logo on the CU cover

 

[Mjward]

Re the tools, it's a relatively recent "upgrade" over the past 3 years replacing previous stuff that's done me well for over 15 yes.

My Fat Max wire cutter strips the outer sheath off a 2.5mm twin and earth better than any of my knipex tools but overall happy with the kit, very well made. I'd say I've been most impressed transitioning to the Wera screwdrivers (both electrical and standard), didn't think I would be with such a "basic" tool.

 

[littlespark]

I'm not up to speed with my corporate logos, there is no name visible but this logo on the CU coverView attachment 86736

The board is Lewden as well, so breakers and board are matching. Just looks like they don’t fit very well.

 

[Mjward]

The board is Lewden as well, so breakers and board are matching. Just looks like they don’t fit very well.

Suspect a case of not fitted well ie more user than product error ?? I continue to find shockers. Found the coax collection point with two random T&E open terminated into one half of a choc box (ie stick anything in the other side and bam!). By the sheer number of fused spurs this is definitely a property that has had its electrics added to over the years as opposed to a full rewire.

 

[Mjward]

For completeness for anyone that pulls up this thread years to come. Have completed the fix. If it was in any other location I would have preferred to rerun a whole new cable but with the existing wires clipped to the outside of the original property and no obvious channel to use, I had to settle for crimping, heat wrap and tape (tucked in temporarily for now)

 

[Dustydazzler]

I would just leave it like that and make it a feature of the property like an exposed brick column

 

[Mjward]

I would just leave it like that and make it a feature of the property like an exposed brick column

??? Maybe just cover with a sheet of Perspex so visitors understand they are viewing an art of substantial value?

 

[DPG]

??? Maybe just cover with a sheet of Perspex so visitors understand they are viewing an art of substantial value?

Brill ?

 

[nicebutdim]

Is there sufficent depth to add a 2 gang socket over these cables? Might be of no use to you, but could be hidden behind the TV and would serve as a warning to any future owner of the property.

 

[static zap]

( tricky I would be tempted to leave - a note of location of repair for if any future readings are a bit off )
Gives you an clue of an area to thump to see if anything missbehaves.!

 

[Mike Johnson]

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

 

[Mike Johnson]

( tricky I would be tempted to leave - a note of location of repair for if any future readings are a bit off )
Gives you an clue of an area to thump to see if anything missbehaves.!

I have been guilty of putting a note inside a coax junction box before now, whether any one ever see's it or not I don't know, or a sticky label on a hidden socket behind the TV may work.