Electrical wiring in a wall

**Greg** · 12-10-2006, 10:25 AM

I need to put up a shelf in my study and I'm wondering about the typical layout of the electrical wiring in a modern home. The wall has a twin electric socket. Of course I don't want to pierce the wires when I put screws into the wall.

So what I'm wondering is it typical for the wiring to go vertically up from the socket inside the wall?

Thanks.

**tweak'e** · 12-10-2006, 10:35 AM

fairly typical. but they also can go across to connect to another socket.

got a stud finder? they will also pick up wiring.

**pine-o-cleen** · 12-10-2006, 04:52 PM

If your feeling keen, unscrew the plate and look which way the wires go. But, you can never be completley sure without taking the lining off, sparky's do some strange and wonderful things with their cables.

**Shortcircuit** · 12-10-2006, 04:57 PM

Mine goes down from the socket/switch, but then my house is a slightly older one than yours Greg (and there are no switches/sockets on the outside walls... how dumb is that?)

If you are screwing into a stud there should not be any wires in the way... normal practice now days is to nail the metal switch box to the side of the upright.

Just wear rubber gloves and maybe gumboots when drilling

**mark c** · 12-10-2006, 08:11 PM

I have no authority on the matter but from my exp. of building sites the general practice is to put the cables thru the middle of the studs/nogs, therefore (hopefully) avoiding the nails any greater than 2 inch 50 mill from either side.

PS the wiring can go any way but with good sparkies either only vertical or horiizontal.

**beama** · 12-10-2006, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by Shortcircuit

Just wear rubber gloves and maybe gumboots when drilling

Is that how you got your screen name ( Shortcircuit )

**netchicken** · 13-10-2006, 06:27 AM

Have a look in the roof above where the plug is, and see where the cable goes up to the main box.

**Greg** · 13-10-2006, 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by netchicken

Have a look in the roof above where the plug is, and see where the cable goes up to the main box.

Are you serious? Do you know what kinds of greeblies live up in roofs?

(I'm allergic to greeblies

)

**Shortcircuit** · 13-10-2006, 07:22 AM

Option 1: Get up close and personal with greeblies

Option2: You can borrow my screen name

But seriously, it's a fairly safe thing to to do. If you're worried about getting zapped you can always turn off the power at the mains while you drill.

If you're still a scaredy-cat I'd come and do for you... as long as you don't mind the smell of crispy bacon in the morning

Actually no, I take that back. All men should experience the pleasures of DIY themselves

**Greg** · 13-10-2006, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by Shortcircuit

All men should experience the pleasures of DIY themselves

Hey! I'm pretty handy around the home and cars. But I have an aversion to electricity, heights and creepy crawly things, aka greeblies!

But yeah, what I'll obviously do is your suggestion and switch off the mains.