Plasterer damaged cable. Is repair okay?

[veedee]

Plasterer went through a cable which runs straight down to a light switch.

The wall is dot and dab.

Is it okay to simply join the wires with a maintenance free junction box, then plaster over it? Do I need to take any extra precautions?

 

[terryplumb]

Better to replace the cable/s

 

[veedee]

Better to replace the cable/s

Can I ask why?

Hopefully I can avoid this as it will be too much palava. The wire travels through a boxed in metal beam, then insulated ceiling with Pir.

 

[bernardgreen]

Can I ask why?

Yes you can,

My answer is that a concealed junction box is never a good idea.

As the plasterer did the damage then he should agree to re-plaster the area after a new cable has been installed.

I recall an area of plaster in a house that gave a "tingle" when touched. There was a cable repair joint buried in the wall. Plaster that was damp from condensation was in contact with a Live terminal.

 

[chivers67]

How on earth did he "go through" the cable? What exactly was he doing, was it the edge of he trowel?

 

[JohnD]

I wonder what it used to be. Light switch?

 

[robinbanks]

Inline wagos, just buried in the wall. Nice

 

[veedee]

Maintenance free junction box. All wire were neatly tucked into the 221 slots and all earth were sleeved.

Can we plaster over now?

 

[JohnW2]

Maintenance free junction box. All wire were neatly tucked into the 221 slots and all earth were sleeved. Can we plaster over now?

Strictly speaking, I suppose the answer is yes. However, I'm sure that many of us would feel that 'plastering in' any junction box (even if 'maintenance-free') is far from a good (or 'nice') idea.

Kind Regards, John

 

[veedee]

Strictly speaking, I suppose the answer is yes. However, I'm sure that many of us would feel that 'plastering in' any junction box (even if 'maintenance-free') is far from a good (or 'nice') idea.

Kind Regards, John

But why?

Is it because, potentially the wire may come lose in the connection. Thus breaking the electrical connections and your light fitting/switch no longer works?

 

[JohnW2]

But why? Is it because, potentially the wire may come lose in the connection. Thus breaking the electrical connections and your light fitting/switch no longer works?

Yes.

As you imply, there is not really any significant 'safety' issue (although some might say that if a connection became 'loose', it could overheat and cause a fire!), but it just doesn't feel 'nice' - a bit like 'papering over cracks', I suppose

Kind Regards John

 

[robinbanks]

But why?

Because it's a bodge. How much this offends one's desire to do a good job is highly variable to the person

I wouldn't do it; plasterer on hand means you can rip that wire out in both directions as far as needed to renew the length, put the junction somewhere accessible and only take a few minutes more to plaster over..

although some might say that if a connection became 'loose

(which, incidentally, isn't supposed to happen in an MF joint)

 

[bourbon]

Why are you even thinking about doing it. Surely the plasterer has insurance, let them sort it out

 

[JohnW2]

Because it's a bodge. How much this offends one's desire to do a good job is highly variable to the person

Indeed. As I said, it's just 'not nice' - even though I could not really justify my concerns particularly logically (in terms of 'safety' etc.).

It's a bit like the Victorian tradesmen who built my house in the 1880s/1890s. As we only discover when we 'dismantle things', their 'pride in their work' (and desire to 'do a good job') was so extreme that they seem to have done things (aesthetically, as well as technically) 'perfectly', even when it was apparent that the result of their efforts would be hidden, and very probably never seen by anyone. These days, that would probably be regarded as 'wasted effort'!

I wouldn't do it; ...

As is probably apparent, nor would I.

(which, incidentally, isn't supposed to happen in an MF joint)

No, it's not meant to happen, and very probably only happens very rarely, if ever. However, I am a great believer in "devils we have known for a very long time" and, in terms of connections/joints in domestic electrical installations, that's true of 'screwed connections', but won't be true for a few more decades in terms of 'spring-based' ones

Kind Regards, John

 

[mattylad]

How on earth is someone supposed to know that that lot is in the wall when they come to put up a picture etc. ???