Unidentifed Cables from Main Supply

[MadMax14]

I have recently moved into a new house and had to reset the breaker after a bulb went. When I was crawling around with a torch, I noticed some cables (Red, Black, and Blue-ish/Green-ish) leaving the main supply and running into the wall without going through the meter or the consumer unit.

Is this normal? Is there a second meter somewhere? Shared supply?

New consumer unit was fitted about 2 or 3 years ago.

I haven't been into the foundations yet to have a look but I thought someone here might have an idea of what they are for.

Thanks.

 

[Bellendian]

Whats on the other side of the wall?

 

[MadMax14]

Kitchen/Dining room

 

[Bellendian]

It's a bit strange. Presumably if you kill the main switch on the new cu everything in the house is isolated?

 

[MadMax14]

Yes, well as far as I know. Throwing the main switch off stops the meter turning.

 

[snowhead]

What sort of property is it, Terrace, Semi, Detatched?
Was it part commercial at one time, maybe a shop at the front?

Looks like they may have been fastened to the wall lower down but have been lifted up by whoever fitted the new Consumer unit.

Ring your energy supplier, they'll be able to look on the database and see if there's 2 meters registered to that address.

 

[MadMax14]

1960's semi-detached that has only ever been residential. Garage is detached and fed from one of the breakers on the consumer unit, so I know it's not that.

The cables are quite tight so I assume, as you have, they were moved (given the white paint) to fit the new consumer unit.

 

[Strima]

Where do your neighbours get their supply from?

 

[MadMax14]

Not sure, and I don't think I would get anything more than 'I don't know' if I asked.

Is it normal for semis to share electricity supplies? The house is in a large development and not out in the sticks.

 

[freddo]

Is it normal for semis to share electricity supplies?

I've never seen a shared supply done like that. But I guess anything is possible. There certainly appear to be 2 supply fuses there.

 

[KEV 1 N]

Get tapped into that.....free leccy!

Seriously though I’m surprised the DNO has done it like that as it’s really open to abuse! At least they should have used concentric cable, that would be difficult to splice into to steal electricity.

 

[MadMax14]

Seeing those cables made me think someone already had! Growing some magic green herbs or running a crypto farm...

Joking aside, is it worth me getting someone to investigate this? I know nothing is 'wrong' with my supply but I don't what to be accused of stealing electricity or get a shock off the cables at some point in the future.

 

[littlespark]

An electrician may have a non contact voltage tester, which although not 100% should give an indication of voltage present.
He may also have a clip on ammeter which will show if any current is flowing (power being used)

If these stray cables are not passing through your meter, you’re not paying for someone else’s electricity.... however as suggested, there may be another meter for your property that you do not know about.


New CU 2 or 3 years ago? You might want to check. The test date sticker on the front hasn’t been filled in.

 

[telectrix]

think you need to get DNO over for a shuffty.

 

[MadMax14]

Who should be my first point of contact?

- Electricity supplier
- Network operator
- Electrician
- someone else?

Think I might as well get it looked at given that it will drive me insane not knowing what the cables are for.

 

[littlespark]

An electrician will be able to test it, and possible trace where it’s going.... but would not be able to remove it.

Try your supplier first, but they just might tell you to phone the network operator.

 

[MadMax14]

Called my electricity supplier and they confirmed the supply is for my property only and the adjoining neighbour has their own supply.

What's the next step? See if there is current in the wires? Go under the floor and try to trace where they lead?

I do hope this isn't an illegal setup...

 

[telectrix]

clamp meter the red cable. see if it's carrying any current.

 

[snowhead]

If there's no meter on the end of the cables, it will be for the D.N.O to disconnect but you'll need to find the ends to confirm that.

The DNO will want to know that they aren't cutting of someone with an unregistered meter or a legitimate unmetered supply.

 

[DPG]

Looking forward to seeing the outcome of this one.

 

[littlespark]

Agree. Please let us know how this pans out.

 

[MadMax14]

I'll go under the floor this weekend and have a look see where the cables go, take a few photos, and keep you posted.

 

[MadMax14]

As promised here are some photos of the cable from under the floor:



The first 3 photos show the cable running through a metal pipe and then into the neighbour's property. I assume that this means the guy I spoke to from the energy supplier either misunderstood the question or didn't have a clue.

I discovered a few other 'problems' that I am not overly happy about. For example:

• A broken cable held together without a junction box enclosure with the earth wound together and a little solder.
• Junction boxes going into junction boxes, I am not sure if this is a radial or ring curcuit.
• A nail used as cable management/support.
• Huge amount a waste cable that looks connected further under the floor. Although it mostly looks like telecom cabling, there are definatly some mains cables in there but I don't know if they are live or dead. Needless to say, I am not touching it...

Having seen the mess of cables under the floor, I am tempted to get a quote for a full rewire of the house. Although it is probably not worth it as everything is working as it should.

TL;DR: The mysterious cables are the neighbour's main electricity supply.

 

[Wilko]

Hi - it does need a good tidy up, but likely we've all seen worse. Correct me, the mystery red/black singles go back into the black metal pipe we can see under the floor and onto your neighbour's?

 

[snowhead]

or are you saying the red/black singles go back into the black supply cable and onto your neighbour's?

I see that as steel conduit.