Hanging a Hive directly above a light switch- bad idea?

[ClaraEccles]

We’ve just had a Hive installed.

I’d like to wall mount the control unit and the best place to do it is directly above a light switch... we know the electrical cable for the switch will run up, so we’re a bit worried about it.

We’d use these to hang.. the metal rods wouldn’t go more than a few mm into the wall. Does anyone know how deep cable is within walls, and whether this is a spectacularly bad idea?

www.amazon.co.uk/Merriway%C2%AE-BH00093-Non-Trace-Hardwall-Drywall/dp/B007RXR9R0/ref=asc_df_B007RXR9R0/?hvlocphy=1006964&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=207961523712&hvpone&hvlocint&th=1&hvpos&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-422572953305&hvrand=882119372453708254

Does it have to be above? Ours is right next to a light switch.

It depends.

Shockingly, in this house, the plaster was only a couple of mm over a cable to a light switch. When stripping wallpaper the plaster crumbled and fell off!

The carpet fitters also banged a nail through a cable and blew the lights.

Find a different spot or use a command sticky hook or tape

www.amazon.co.uk/Command-17091CLR-Medium-Hooks-Strips/dp/B0084M66PY/ref=sr_1_5?hvlocphy=9045255&hvnetw=g&keywords=command+sticky+hooks&hvadid=259069670396&qid=1591216754&dchild=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlN32BRCCARIsADZ-J4vv34nem_jdekctPmbdoGYTMVGDh83jxonR6TOVLLzLTL6UrWMyoi8aArgdEALw_wcB&hydadcr=29357_1792276&hvdev=t&hvqmt=e&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=kwd-301424997802&adgrpid=57243049590&hvrand=2254672508125781436&sr=8-5

www.ryman.co.uk/command-utensil-damage-free-hanging-hooks?&istCompanyId=724692e0-2f99-4874-9565-6fc82074fe86&istFeedId=62fcf5e7-7380-40af-a2f8-d6441f27c300&istItemId=xlwiqtwp&istBid=tztx&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlN32BRCCARIsADZ-J4tgD6lhTP3l5vJam4I3dve9id49Leqve_PwadH-3fBiGhZ8pFHckdEaArdQEALw_wcB

Didn’t think of Command strips... great idea. Thank you!

Bad idea because the cable for a light switch is pretty certain to run directly upwards from it.

"Safe zones" for electricians to run cables are, among others, horizontally and vertically from accessories such as switches and sockets, on the grounds that no sensible person would put a nail or screw into them.

Because the light, and the circuit, will be in ths ceiling above, it would be abnormal for a light switch cable to go anywhere other than upwards, though there are some eccentric people around. Put the hive to the side of the switch, even if (for the moment) it will be glued on.

It is reassuring to unscrew the accessory and see which way the cable comes into the backbox.

You need a cable detector https://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-0603681201-digital-detector/8426T?tc=KA9&dskid=92700048793290430&dssrl=1244066&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuN6x-9Pm6QIV1vZRCh04Ng3AEAQYAiABEgKQXfDBwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Thanks both.

We know the cable runs upwards ... think I’ll go with the Command strips and risk peeling my (new!) paint off the wall.