stud finder finds cable but need advise

[javidr]

Hi

I have a wall where i know that there are some wires inside, as the electric installation of the thermostat is placed there.

I need to drill a hole in that area and obviously i want to avoid hitting those cables. I have bought a stud finder to see where can i drill the hole, but it "detects" wires everywhere in that wall, which is not correct.

Can somebody advise what can i do to find exactly where the wires are to drill the holes safely?

Thanks

 

[telectrix]

the cables should be directly abobe and/or below the accessory. sometimes horizontal. depending on what the wall structure is, hard plaster on brick or dry lined, determines on your method. with dry lining or studded walls, jost poke a screwdriver in. with direct plaster on brick, use a drill carefully to go through the plaster.once you hit brick, you know you've missed any cables

 

[freddo]

Before any drilling it is also useful to know where to shut off the water and/or gas and that the valves actually work!

 

[ipf]

Before any drilling it is also useful to know where to shut off the water and/or gas and that the valves actually work!

….and a circuit breaker or two, maybe...

 

[ipf]

….and a circuit breaker or two, maybe...

Only problem is, you might cause a fault and not know about it.
These things are sent to try us.

 

[Midwest]

I have one those cable locators, a green Bosch one. It’s marketed for the DIY market. It’s completely useless. Senses cables where there’s none, and doesn’t when there is.

 

[Wilko]

Hi - some additional information may be had by looking which way the cables run out of the existing thermostat. Assume all cables are live, so if you take the unit out you need to electrically isolate the boiler circuit and proceed with caution. Hopefully the cables go straight up the wall, +/- 100mm depending on how tired the installer was.