How to run this cable?
Discussion
I want to put a pair of lights on the two pillars either side of my front door, as below:
Power will come from the garage on the right, so he rh lamp will be straightforward. But for the left, although the void above the porch is clear, there's no apparent way to get a cable from the void to the lamp (I guess about 5' off the ground). I've looked under the soffit and there's no access into the pillar. I guess it'll have to go straight through the pillar and then into some trunking and up into the void that way? But alternative suggestions welcome! Rear view of pillar
Power will come from the garage on the right, so he rh lamp will be straightforward. But for the left, although the void above the porch is clear, there's no apparent way to get a cable from the void to the lamp (I guess about 5' off the ground). I've looked under the soffit and there's no access into the pillar. I guess it'll have to go straight through the pillar and then into some trunking and up into the void that way? But alternative suggestions welcome! Rear view of pillar
You've got an RC lintel with a steel angle, so presumably a cavity wall above. Are they butting right up against each other? Might you be able to break into the cavity and push something down between then? What's the insulation situation and is there a cavity tray (if yes to latter than forget that idea, but I don't see any weeps).
talkssense said:
A long drill bit at an angle straight up into the void above
Hmm, that's a possibility, I do have a couple of very long masonary bits. In answer to the point above about the lintels etc, they seem rather over-engineered to me! They "only" support the garage roof (see pic below) which is completely void and only constructed from fairly light timbers, although of course the tiles will be heavy. But there are no walls above (well, a couple of courses from the pillar to the house. But there's no apparent/obvious gap where I could get a cable through, and since I'll likely be pushing it upwards (downwards and through a small hole seems pretty j likely to succeed), there would need to be an appreciable gap for it to stand a chance of getting through.
I guess chase the mortar is another option if all else fails.
Is the roof space hollow easy to access? Is that an option?
Just come through from the back of the tile if its not brickwork to the eves, and drop down to your lamp locations use conduit which you can paint to somewhat near the brick colour.
I would not have thought the tiles are fixed solid and hope theres a bit of play in them to drop a cable behind.
I think chasing out the brickwork will look unsightly but if its your final option!!
Just come through from the back of the tile if its not brickwork to the eves, and drop down to your lamp locations use conduit which you can paint to somewhat near the brick colour.
I would not have thought the tiles are fixed solid and hope theres a bit of play in them to drop a cable behind.
I think chasing out the brickwork will look unsightly but if its your final option!!
Edited by r1flyguy1 on Saturday 4th February 16:46
Another way is to remove the no 6 and drill through the cement line wih a small drill bit, once into the cavity wiggle a piece of cable about and you should be able to push a load in, if it goes in then the cavity is empty. If its empty maybe shine a torch into the hole and have some one in the loft to look to see if the can see light, if you can't see light or there isnt a hollow in the pillar putting the no 6 back on will hide the hole.
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