unidentified circuit

[growler]

did a cu upgrade on a house the other day but could not identify 1 16a radial circuit. The old board was not labelled and the owners were no help. I searched high and low for it and the house was also full of junk which didn't help. What do others do in this situation ?

 

[davethsparky]

It all depends really, but one method is to leave it off and say call me when you notice what's stopped working!

 

[growler]

It all depends really, but one method is to leave it off and say call me when you notice what's stopped working!

that's what I did but it may be something that's not used so what do I put on test cert ?

 

[Tiny Spark]

I would agree with Dave, If you cant find it to confirm its safe leave it isolated.
It may not be connected to anything!
Or it could be in a attic/shed/cupboard etc.

 

[Sintra]

Disconnect it at the cu then it becomes a spare circuit on your schedule. Easy enough to pop it back in if they find something not working.

 

[Guitarist]

I often find these old circuits which very often turn out to be cut off inside a stud wall, or terminated in a JB under the floor. I tape them up with a label "not in use" and tuck them out of the way inside the CU.
As already said, if it becomes apparent that something isn't working, then it's easy to reconnect.

 

[ipf]

that's what I did but it may be something that's not used so what do I put on test cert ?

Just 'put' what you've found and done.

 

[Darkwood]

Suspect old immersion supply is the most common redundant circuit found as more and more houses use combi-boilers ...as above disconnect -you'll usually find out soon enough if something dont work.

 

[oldtimer]

Yep leave it disconnected and if its missed you will get a call and always check if it is the old immersion as I have changed it in the past to a single socket

 

[Octopus]

"Unknown" - against the description and leave the mcb switched off. Obviously you can do an IR but not much else!

 

[Darkwood]

If you dont know the destination of the circuit then always best to disconnect it... if its a floating live wire in the loft, studding or under the floor its may be a potential hazard to someone .... leaving it connected will invite it been re-energised next time a mcb trips the normal customer reactions is turn everything back on ....on tat thought i always disconnect and double check any safety or security system isn't de-energised.

 

[oldtimer]

Agreed if you don't know where it terminates then don't connect plus as I said you may get a call 2 years later saying we moved the wardrobe and found a double socket behind it or you could get a call saying was up the attic and got a shock when I picked up what looked like a length of cable . I connect these to a bit o connector block and label it as unknown

 

[7029 dave]

Yes I would disconnect the circuit

 

[Flanders]

As most of said leave disconnected mark cable up in CU as unknown and explain to customer to check that ever thing is working over the next though weeks,:75: Just double check there is nothing like sump pump in the cellar or garden that might not get noticed until it over flows

 

[northeastsparx]

i always disconnect an unidentifiable circuit, as above label as unknown and make a note on page 2, tell the punter too,it covers your backside and its no trouble to reinstate if they find something doesnt work.