Unidentified cable in loft - advise needed!

[hallur84]

Hello,

I am installing insulation in my loft and have been mindful of all the electrical cables to lights and switches. All good, as they are nicely secured to the joists - so no need to touch them.

However, there is a cable running across the length of the loft and I can't figure out what it is for and I am hoping that you good people may have come across something similar.
I have attached some photos showing one end of the loft where the cable disappears into the wall (photo 1) and the other end where it goes down behind the plaster board (photo 2). At one point the cable seemed to be taped and a thin grey wire comes out and disappears down through the ceiling. I removed the tape and was faced with a multicore cable the thinner grey cable coming of a few of the cores (photo 3).
I'm really puzzled to what this could be! I have a voltage detector pen, and it beeps intermittently when I touch the cable, so I think that there may be some current going through.

Some things, which I think that I have already determined, which may help.
- It is not coming from an antenna or the sky dish (can see these cables, and they are routed differently).
- My house is a semi-detached house, so the end in photo 1 may go into my neighbours loft. I have still to ask him if he knows about this cable.
- The cable comes down (photo 2) almost above our combi-boiler, however I had that replaced 2 years ago and have never seen this cable, so it is not routed towards it.

Ideally I would like to either remove or re-route this cable, as it is very stretched for its entire run. I am not sure why, but there is no slack in the cable and it seems to be very randomly routed across the loft.
If anyone has any idea what this cable could be for and if I can remove it, then that would be much appreciated!

 

[westward10]

That is a telecoms cable by the look of it.

 

[7029 dave]

That is Telecoms cable, the blue beans give's it away.Those crimps were late 60's to the 70's.

 

[7029 dave]

I would ring BT , that looks like a feeder cable may be to the next property, if you look at the picture,can see the 2pair take off to your's.

 

[KEV 1 N]

You could “tap” your neighbours phone line.....

 

[snowhead]

Cut the cable as it goes through the wall to next door.
Then ring your neighbour, if they don't answer you've probably cut them off..

 

[telectrix]

You could “tap” your neighbours phone line.....

in morse code, no doubt.

 

[KEV 1 N]

 

[Strima]

I'd also say it's a BT cable. Quite odd to see running through your property to another though as they usually want unrestricted access for maint and repairs.

Have BT been paying you rental for the space their using?

 

[Midwest]

I'd also say it's a BT cable. Quite odd to see running through your property to another though as they usually want unrestricted access for maint and repairs.

Have BT been paying you rental for the space their using?

Perhaps the house was built around the cable.

 

[hallur84]

Brilliant, thanks for the replies!

Although, yes, very strange that the cables runs through my loft... Especially considering that our telephone cables are underground. It might be a redundant cable from a time when they were from poles?
Also, funny with the pair which takes off (the grey cable). I have no clue where it goes... My main (and only) telephone socket is downstairs (house has 2 floors + the loft) and I'm pretty sure that it comes from the sub-floor.
Unless someone thought that it was a good idea to run the cable to my neighbour from the subfloor, up to the loft, across the loft and back down to my neighbour

I phoned BT and they were very much unhelpful. All they told me is that if I wanted anyone to have a look at it then I would have to pay £129 for the engineer... So, currently I am considering if I should just cut it at each end and terminate into a JB and wait to see if anyone complains...
Would find it really surprising if BT has decided to provide my neighbour's telephone cable though my loft - although I like the idea to charge for rental!

 

[Squid]

If its live then tap in to your neighbours side and phone all of your friends who live abroad for a long chat and set up a cold calling business in your loft.

 

[gutterball]

Can your neighbour or yourself look in the neighbours loft and see where it goes.

 

[elsparko]

possession is 9/10 of the law, chop it, its yours

 

[davesparks]

There appears to be an octopus box underneath the cable, they’re a rare sight these days!

 

[hallur84]

Will check with the neighbour before going for the cut

Yes, that box is quite antique! I switched off the main breaker and had a look inside, wiring looks neat so just left it as is

 

[Midwest]

All joking aside now. You need to trace to cable, to see where it comes from and where it goes to, before you get you chain saw out, Die Hard style. It could prove expensive, especially where Open Reach are involved.

 

[Squid]

I love the way the joists are held together with redundant galvanised tray work.

 

[hallur84]

Will check with the neighbour before going for the cut

Yes, that box is quite antique! I switched off the main breaker and had a look inside, wiring looks neat so just left it as is

 

[pirate]

"Will check with the neighbour before going for the cut "

I'd check with the wife/girlfriend first actually...
It's quite a big decision...