Socket backplate buried in skirting?

[sonaldo]

I was in the process of taking skirting off the wall to install new flooring and discovered what appears to be the backplate of sockets buried in the old skirting, with electrical wires attached to them. I'm assuming this is the remnants of plug sockets but not sure why they're wired up? I also can't see where the sockets fitted in the wall are wired up?

 

[Wayners]

Get a

https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-non-contact-voltage-detector-pen-1000v-ac/3222G?tc=MA7

Probably dead cables but you can't be sure unless you test.

I'll guess those new white sockets have cables coming in from the top. Take one off and look inside.

 

[Tigercubrider]

I would guess that the ones in the skirting were the originals? Loads of older houses built before electricity used the skirting for sockets as it was easy to cut in and feed the wires to the floor.
Possibly someone just wired the modern ones below the boards, applied a fillet or filler to the wood and carried on?

What’s actually live?

 

[sonaldo]

Get a

https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-non-contact-voltage-detector-pen-1000v-ac/3222G?tc=MA7

Probably dead cables but you can't be sure unless you test.

I'll guess those new white sockets have cables coming in from the top. Take one off and look inside.

thanks. Where would I test them--would the backplate itself have voltage if it was live?

I'll have a look inside one of the sockets.

I would guess that the ones in the skirting were the originals? Loads of older houses built before electricity used the skirting for sockets as it was easy to cut in and feed the wires to the floor.
Possibly someone just wired the modern ones below the boards, applied a fillet or filler to the wood and carried on?

What’s actually live?

So there are no sockets on the other side of the skirting. Assume they're blanking plates that have been filled over/painted

 

[Wayners]

Lay tester anywhere on old cable.
Run around cables.
They can beep a bit even though cable is dead although will be very flashy and beep if live.
It will give you an indication either way. Never rely on contract less testers as fact. Useful though..

 

[nero44]

If you are new to voltage pens, before you run it around the old cables, run it around a live cable you definitely know have current.

Also there seems to be a white label attached to one of the old cables? perhaps that shows "dead" or "disconnected".

 

[Sureitsoff?]

the old backboxes appear to have been filled, lets not even think that the cables are joined and still live buried under wood filler