Kitchen wiring encased in steel channel

[Ben Blaukopf]

Just started digging out some wires in the kitchen with a view to moving a socket up from skirting level to worktop level, and thereby saving myself the trouble of running new wires, and discovered that they are encased in steel channel, much like this:

is a PITA, since it looks like I'll havve to dig the whole lot out or at the very least cut the wires, channel new wiring, and join with a junction box in the loft. I can't see a way to cut the steel without practically guaranteeing that I damage the cable inside.

I can see the advantages of this - it protects the cable, and means the original kitchen fitters don't have to worry about where exactly the cables are - but is there any reason why I should need to use a similar scheme when I run my new wiring (which will be nothing fancy, just standard twin core & earth). Not aware of any, and it seems unlikely, but thought I'd check!

Ben

[Lurch]

On Tue, 07 Dec 2004 23:09:25 GMT, Ben Blaukopf strung together this:

You can do it, but it takes skill and precision! Best bet is to pull it away from the wall and cut it where you want, this way the cables aren't directly below the channel.

For the sake of a couple of drops you should be fine without it.

[Peter Stockdale]

Surely all you need to do is expose about a foot length of the cladding centered on the position of the new socket. Chop everything at the lower end and ease wire out of cladding as Lurch suggests and chop cladding where new socket going.

Regards Pete

[Pete C]

Hi,

Cutting the channel would be a piece of cake with an angle grinder, especially with a thin blade. Or cut almost all the way through and knock out with a chisel held at a low angle but in the direction of the cut.

cheers, Pete.

[Lurch]

On Thu, 09 Dec 2004 19:28:40 +0000, Pete C strung together this:

Angle grinder and chisel, a couple of mm from some cables? Yes, that'll work................. It's only a piece of flimsy steel, a pair of side cutters will do.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Crikey. Sounds like a recipe for cutting through the cable too. I'd use some decent sidecutters to cut the steel channel - or rather bend it so it fractures.

[Ben Blaukopf]

It turned out to be pretty easy with a junior hacksaw. Hardest bit was getting the thing flat enough afterwards to replaster over the top.

Ben

[Lurch]

On Wed, 02 Feb 2005 14:44:10 GMT, Ben Blaukopf strung together this:

Excellent stuff, it's always nice to hear how a story ends, no-one bothers usually! :-)