electric walls

[The Natural Philosopher]

I'd do that meself.

[Lobster]

AFAICS you haven't mentioned trying the test with the incoming power turned off; which would I have thought provide you with useful information... if the phenomenon goes away then it proves it's definitely 'real'; if it doesn't, it means either it is an artefact of some sort, or you've got live cables in there from next door or somehow bypassing the main switch (maybe you can judge the plausibility of either of those scenarios to your situation?)

David

[drsabrown]

Hi, Yes - I tried turning off the mains electricity and the indication stops - so its definitely caused by the mains power to the house. Why its detectable over the entire wall I have no idea... Also whether this is potentially dangerous, or a harmless phenomenon, I don't know either.

Cheers,

Simon

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

Time to take out the fuses one b one then, starting with the lights.

-- Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

You're computer date needs fixing.

-- Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

[andrewd909]

Is there a light switch on the wall? i had a similar problem in my kitchen, the detector sounded over a large area of two walls it turned out to be the lighting circuit, the original lighting had no earth but a second switch had been added using 3 core and earth with the earth wire connected to both back boxes. This was causing the back boxes, screws and walls to appear live, although it would light a neon screwdriver,i was advised that it was unlikly to do any harm, i earthed the original circuit and everything is now as it should be.

[Weatherlawyer]

It sounds like there is a current supplied to the wall for damp proofing. Check outside for a wire running along the bottom of the wall somewhere. I think every other brick will conrtain a cathode or anode from that wire. I don't remember much about the method.

If you cut the wire you will break the circuit and the damproofing will become ineffective. It was a method widely practiced by Rentokil among others for walls such as yours which were built in a time before damp proof courses.

The previous tenant may have neglected to tell you about it. They may have been ignorant of it themselves. It might be mentioned on the deeds or in some previous sale's contract. A near neighbour might remember them having it done -some may have had the same problem and dealt with it the same way at around the same time.

Some say that the method is ineffective but it seems to be doing its job in your house.

[Steve Pearce]

Your computer time is about 4 1/2 months in the future.

[Michael Chare]

I used Unibond bathroom and shower sealant from the local shed. Expensive at 8 quid a go but it's so bloody waterproof it's v.difficult to smooth it after application 'cos it sticks to

*everything*. Flexible too, the only thing that broke it in our case was for some reason the shower tray managed to drop a few mm (don't ask why, I dunno yet!) and the stuff stretched and broke the grout on the surrounding tiles resulting in much leakage.....

The moral to this tale is if yer tray doesn't drop this stuff is good! IMO obviously.

cheers

witchy/binarydinosaurs