Electricity question

[wolf63]

I have to admit that electricity and the supply in a building confuses me - so this is probably a stupid question.

Is it safe to hang pictures on a wall above a electric light switch? I have no idea how the electricity gets to the switch and I don't want to electrocute myself when I hammer my nail in.

[ChuckFickens]

Agree with the lizard....

The "standard" route for cable to take is straight up from a socket or switch, you should never attempt to fix anything to a wall above either unless you are very sure about the exact position of the cable.

(that said, I've drilled through a power cable that somebody installed running at 45degrees from the socket to the corner of a room!!)

[Barmaid]

Wolf - very simple tip which is what I always used to do.




Get a bloke in. ;-)

[Clanad]

It may be a difference in codes or habits between the U.K. and here in the U.S., but the feed line to any switch or outlet must be attached to the same wall stud that the junction box for the switch or outlet is attached (usually by nails, occasionally by screws). The wire must be stapled to that stud no more that 12 inches from the junction box (to prevent anyone subsequently pulling the wire out causing a short). If the wire feeds a switch, the switch must be 4' above the floor, while if it feeds an outlet they can not be more than 18" above the floor.
Granted, after the wire is attached to the stud it then can be routed horizontally to the next fed device, but those horizontal wires (routed through drilled holes in the intervening studs) would be on a fairly level line between devices.
Long way of saying, the use of a wire detector is great, but the chaeper ones don't work all the time. If your picture is at, say, eye level and there are no outlets or switches to the left or right near that level, one is safe in attaching a picture. Fact is, if the wall is constructed of drywall (gypsum board?) the hanging device shouldn't go through the wall anyway...

[wolf63]

Barmaid - good idea, once upon a time I had a brother and father in the area, but dad died and little brother moved abroad to England. Can you buy brothers on EBay?

Guys I have to say that this is much too complicated for a mere female brain. I have to admit that clanad's explanation was both informative and confusing.

Who would have known that hanging a notice board would be so difficult. I will give it a bit of thought before proceeding.

Susan
dreich Scotland

[ricky2525]

Buy a cheap detector from a diy store and run it across your wall up and down, side to side. It bleeps when it goes over electric cables or sheathing. You will then be able to ascertain whether the power comes downwards, upwards or at some side angle to your switch.

[scotman]

I would get a wire detector. Normal wire routing would be vertically up or down or horizontal with the up/down options being most common.

[LCDMAN]

We Electricians have to install electric cables in "safe zones" to meet BS7671:2008. These are generally horizontally and vertically from the device in question(switch, socket, etc.) and the width of the device, as well as within 115 mm of conrers and edges. You should therefore avoid directly above/below (from floor to ceiling) and horrizontally from any switch/socket etc.

See diagram here;

http://wiki.diyfaq.or...s_for_electric_cables

[LCDMAN]

Arrghhh - typos!

That should read "150mm of corners and edges..."