Live wire taped off in the loft.

[Goatus]

Afternoon all, new on here and hoping someone maybe able to offer a bit of advice?

I am flooring the loft at the moment in the loft, and there is a length of wire (grey 3 core) that has just been taped off and taped to the rafters. The wire is live (240v) but isolating the MCB for upstairs lights/sockets and downstairs lights sockets makes no difference so assuming it's not to do with them! I did wonder whether it was put up to faciliate loft lighting?

As mentioned it's a fairly new build house.

I'm a novice at this and am curious as to what it was and if anybody would know?
Many thanks
Nick

 

[westward10]

How do you know it is live?

 

[telectrix]

loftlight or maybe an aerial amp.youneed to find which MCB isolates it, then trace it back.

How do you know it is live?

wet finger test???

 

[ipf]

There seems to be a lot of tape around.
First question. How do you know the cable is live?
edit….late, it seems.

 

[Goatus]

Cheers for the quick replys!

Firstly im assuming as testing with a voltage tester / multi meter is bringing a reading of 237/240, although wet finger test would give a positive result I'm sure!

There are Ariel wires up there (as in the previous house) so thats another option! I shall continue the search!

 

[Pete999]

Any chance you could trace the cable route? when you say 3 core do you mean L,N and Earth?

 

[Goatus]

It comes up on the exterior wall side, which is also the side of the consumer unit (located down stairs in the under stairs cupboard ). Yes that's right L N and earth. I've attached an image of said wire, not that it will be much help!

Thanks again!

 

[telectrix]

Cheers for the quick replys!

Firstly im assuming as testing with a voltage tester / multi meter is bringing a reading of 237/240, although wet finger test would give a positive result I'm sure!

There are Ariel wires up there (as in the previous house) so thats another option! I shall continue the search!

who the hell puts washing powder in the loft, unless it's a funny place to get 'er indoors out the way, doing the weekly wash.

 

[Goatus]

Now you've got me thinking.... So im going to need sockets and plumbing put up there now....

 

[telectrix]

and some hefty cable for the weed farm

 

[westward10]

Looks like 2.5, not a lighting cable.

 

[telectrix]

oops, just seen it's a recent build.navigation through the jungle of weedy roof trusses and 2 ft/ thick itchy-poo needs a risk assessment, full bio-hazard suit, and a link to the local plod's missing persons department.

 

[Pete999]

It comes up on the exterior wall side, which is also the side of the consumer unit (located down stairs in the under stairs cupboard ). Yes that's right L N and earth. I've attached an image of said wire, not that it will be much help!

Thanks again!

View attachment 47424

Looks like it's 2.5mm2 that has been spurred from a socket in one of the bedrooms.
Try isolating the sockets upstairs, or is there a spare way in your fuse board marked up as loft supply or something that may look like it, probably a supply for a roof socket, get an Electrician in to identify and terminate it safely, left like that is dangerous. Simple 15 min job

 

[telectrix]

or get a plumber in. then it will never work again.... ever.

 

[Pete999]

Now you've got me thinking.... So im going to need sockets and plumbing put up there now....

Naa what a washing machine in the loft? daft idea, or was that a sarcastic reply?

 

[Goatus]

Ok thanks, I did try isolating the sockets upstairs but seemed to make no difference. I shall investigate some more when time permits. I think that'll probably be the best option to get it terminated properly , or if I find it's use it may actually be of use someway!

And the washing machine was a tongue in cheek reply to an earlier post

Thanks again all!

 

[Strima]

As it is a fairly new build I would be informing the builders of the dangerous condition that the building has been left in. I wonder how many other properties have the same in the loft?

 

[Pete999]

Ok thanks, I did try isolating the sockets upstairs but seemed to make no difference. I shall investigate some more when time permits. I think that'll probably be the best option to get it terminated properly , or if I find it's use it may actually be of use someway!

And the washing machine was a tongue in cheek reply to an earlier post

Thanks again all!

You're right Goatus, that cable looks long enough to terminate anywhere you like, depending on where it's fed from will determine how many sockets yo can have, may be possible to have lighting as well, only a competent Electrician will be able to help, don't try it on your own please, get professional help, the jobs half done anyway getting the supply to the roof space, don't waste the opportunity.

 

[buzzlightyear]

the cable might be for indoor Ariel point for booster .

 

[Pete999]

the cable might be for indoor Ariel point for booster .

Agreed Buzz

 

[Goatus]

Thanks again all! I'll contact a spark in the near future and see what they say!

 

[pirate]

 

[buzzlightyear]

I bet the lady was moving the Ariel from room to room ,to try and watch Lennie Hendry .

 

[Pete999]

I bet the lady was moving the Ariel from room to room ,to try and watch Lennie Hendry .

Henry Buzz Henry.

 

[Rpa07]

Is that @buzzlightyear s full name Pete?
It’s rather posh!

Henry Buzz Henry.

 

[Midwest]

As it is a fairly new build I would be informing the builders of the dangerous condition that the building has been left in. I wonder how many other properties have the same in the loft?

New build suggests its recent. Concur with Strima, get bob the builder back to sort out.

 

[Pete999]

Is that @buzzlightyear s full name Pete?
It’s rather posh!

Keep up Mate keep up

 

[Pete999]

Is that @buzzlightyear s full name Pete?
It’s rather posh!

I prefer Buzz an air of mystery, just what this forum needs the Buzz files, sounds OK ? if it was televised who would play Buzz? Dominic Cumberbatch would be my choice, ugly yet strangely mysterious, bit like Me. But Buzz sounds better than Pete don't you think? Think I'll change my name to be Mysterious, something like the pedanterous, or maybe Toolman. several other names I could think of but I would get a ban if I typed them.

 

[ipf]

Henry Buzz Henry.

Sounds like he's Got a Hole in his Bucket...…..

 

[buzzlightyear]

Sounds like he's Got a Hole in his Bucket.

you can umm this song at work tomorrow IPA .

 

[Fitzy]

You could try by turning every mcb off, then turn them on one by one while checking the cable until it becomes live again, then you’ll know which mcb it’s connected to.

 

[SJD]

Could well be a supply for a loft socket that whoever first bought the house didn't want to pay extra for, so was never fitted. Either a spur off somewhere (if live), or not actually terminated in the consumer unit (if not actually live, just picking up stray voltage due to proximity to other live cables).

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

If its a new house it could have been put up there for future use. How did you test it was live.

Recently did a wetroom in a new house, had a mixer shower switching to an electric shower. Found a 10mm in the board taped up with the other end in the loft ready. Had a semi all day after finding that, saved half a days work.

 

[telectrix]

the cable might be for indoor Ariel point for booster .

another poster gobbing on about washing powder. i give up.

 

[buzzlightyear]

another poster gobbing on about washing powder. i give up.

that bold coming from you .

 

[telectrix]

that bold coming from you .

gerrof. you fairy. .

 

[Pete999]

If its a new house it could have been put up there for future use. How did you test it was live.

Recently did a wetroom in a new house, had a mixer shower switching to an electric shower. Found a 10mm in the board taped up with the other end in the loft ready. Had a semi all day after finding that, saved half a days work.

What a semi detached?

 

[littlespark]

Aerial! Gees.

All these jokes are Cillet Bang out of order.
Daz n’t say much for the experts suggestions here.
Persil.... persil?.... no can’t think.

Give it time, I might have a Flash of inspiration.

OP. For the sake of safety, isolate all power in the house, check the cable is dead and terminate it properly in a secured joint box.
Then you can finish flooring the attic and worry about getting a spark to check it another time

 

[telectrix]

Aerial! Gees.

All these jokes are Cillet Bang out of order.
Daz n’t say much for the experts suggestions here.
Persil.... persil?.... no can’t think.

Give it time, I might have a Flash of inspiration.

OP. For the sake of safety, isolate all power in the house, check the cable is dead and terminate it properly in a secured joint box.
Then you can finish flooring the attic and worry about getting a spark to check it another time

well, this post has certainly wiped the floor.

 

[littlespark]

We'll be finished in a Jif-fy….
oh... its called Cif now is it?

 

[Moley]

All this reminds me of my poor old cat. She got into the washing machine and curled up asleep. No one noticed and the washing machine was turned on. At least she died in Comfort.

 

[Timbo]

Persil.... persil?.... no can’t think.

Keep Persil-vering, you'll get there.

 

[EbolaSideRoom]

Well you’ve all cleaned up nicely....

 

[Bri_uk712]

What size cable?
I’ve come across a live cable taped up yesterday while in a loft. It was the old shower feed.
Can never understand why people don’t just diconnevt the live conductor in the dB/fuse box rather than just being lazy.

 

[EbolaSideRoom]

What size cable?
I’ve come across a live cable taped up yesterday while in a loft. It was the old shower feed.
Can never understand why people don’t just diconnevt the live conductor in the dB/fuse box rather than just being lazy.

And the neutral, if the circuit is RCD protected (which, in most domestic circumstances, it’s going to be nowadays).