Finding cables and wires in walls?

[CarpeJugulum]

How do you do it?

I want to hang pictures, and put up a mirror. There are plugs nearby and I know where I'd logically put the cables, but in this house, nothing is ever as it seems.

So, is there anything I can get? (I'd ask my DH, but I want to paint and decorate as a surprise for him, so asking would give the game away!)

We have a funny sensor thing that lights up if there's anything behind the wall... no idea where it came from... I'll google!

tra laaaa

taaaa daaa!

I have one of those. It works!

I've always avoided hanging pictures up directly above sockets or lightswitches and have had no electrocution incidents.

Probably better to get one of those lighty up things though.

logically the cables should run straight up or down from fittings. But if you have any doubt, go buy a cable detector, they aren't expensive. It should also detect metal pipes.

The detectors are great when used with a bit of thought.. If you have pipes/switches/sockets/thermostat etc either below, above, behind (check the next room too!) or horizontal to where you intend to make a hole then be extra careful.

If you are not mounting your mirror on an external (brick) wall, make sure that you use enough of the correct fittings, plasterboard isn't as strong as it looks!

Hope that helps! Dennis

Well you'd think that is logical... but not in our house.

It was a self build, and we have found "interesting" (albeit legal and certified) layouts. Suspect it is because it was originally designed as a 1 storey build and then converted (although it was always going to be 2 storey IYSWIM, just a way round planning regulations!).

Will wander to B&Q and have a look for a detector and rawl plugs.

As you mention it and someone might be interested, my favourite plugs are the Rawlplug Uno (red ones for most things).

Could I be any duller?!

"electricians can now lay cables on the diagonal,"

is that what they told you?

Cable detectors are useful and help to locate pipes, too - so long as they're not the modern plastic ones, as a colleague of DH's found out the hard way!