Finding electrical wiring - how?

[Fetchez la vache]

Is there a tool available to buy that will enable me to find the location of electrical wiring that has been chased (sp?) into walls?

I know electrical wiring should only go vertically in walls as far as I am aware but I wanted to mark it out exactly (ie know where it is rather than guess) before I put a new fireplace in, as there is a socket too close for comfort, as far as the mantle goes.

I'm sure one must exost, but I don;t even know the name of it to google.

Cheers

[aclivity]

http://www.abbeypowertools.co.uk/electrical-plumbi...
Metal Detector?

[elster]

http://www.screwfix.com/search.do;jsessionid=Y13KR...

something like these perhaps?

[shirt]

aye, go into any diy store and they'll have them. most will find wires, pipes and also the location of stud walls. £20 for a decent one.

[mark69sheer]

Yes lots. Aldi currently have one in stock for only £4.99 and it compares well with the Bosch one I have that was £40.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=wire+de...

They are called 'wire detectors'

[Famous Graham]

A lot cheaper than paying an electrician to come out and reconnect the mains cable you sawed through when removing part of an internal wall

[Ganglandboss]

Fetchez la vache said:

Is there a tool available to buy that will enable me to find the location of electrical wiring that has been chased (sp?) into walls?

I know electrical wiring should only go vertically in walls as far as I am aware but I wanted to mark it out exactly (ie know where it is rather than guess) before I put a new fireplace in, as there is a socket too close for comfort, as far as the mantle goes.

I'm sure one must exost, but I don;t even know the name of it to google.

Cheers

Or horizontally or within 150mm of the edge of the wall. As mentioned you can get detectors but they ain't always reliable.

Edited by Ganglandboss on Thursday 13th November 15:19

[kambites]

I've got a detector and it's OK but I wouldn't trust it with my life - it seems to get it wrong sometimes.

[Plotloss]

http://www.fluke.co.uk/comx/show_product.aspx?loca...

These arent bad, I dont use mine to locate wires though, only to ascertain if something is live before working near it.

The other way to do it would be to turn the electric off, attach a toner to the socket end of the wire and follow it up with a tracer but for a proper one of these you're talking a few quid.

Edited by Plotloss on Thursday 13th November 17:10