Advice needed!!
I had to remove a wall light today as it was in the way of a new bookcase that we've bought. I'm looking for the best solution to make it safe - seems to be a mixed bag on google. Its connected into a chocky block connector (that was then fed into the light which I've removed). A lot of people are saying to wrap the chocky block in insulation tape and push it into the wall hole and then blanking plate over it (it is still visible at the top of the bookcase) - but others are saying this isn't safe and I should get a spark in to properly disconnect it. I don't want to waste money but I also don't want to scrimp and put ourselves at risk. Anyone got a better idea than me as to whether this is safe or not?
Cheers
How many cables are in it? 1, 2, more?
Wrapping it in insulation tape and pushing it back into the wall will be fine, if you want to go one better a 1g blank from bandq over the top of it would help.
http://www.diy.com/nav/fix/electrical/switches-sockets/white-switches-sockets/blanking_plates/-specificproducttype-1_gang_blanking_plates/Marbo-Single-Blank-Plate-White-12498682?skuId=13019331
I'm an electrician btw and obviously it would be better to disconnect the redundant cable but the above is fine and safe as a diy job.
A block behind a blank plate would be perfectly safe. Its not like you're hiding the cables in the wall and filling the old cables in the wall.
yep as suggested. Just feed it into blocks (make sure they can take the voltage & not melt) & insulation tape. If you wanted to disconnect it, you could always do that from the light switch end.
Quote from: DEViANCE on October 22, 2013, 21:34:47 PM
How many cables are in it? 1, 2, more?
Here's what I started with - all I've done is remove the three cables that connect the light fitting to the block. Sounds like if I just tape up the block I can safely push it into the wall and plate over it? Cheers guys really appreciate the advice.
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/23/y9avu6e8.jpg)
just undo the wall light side of the connector. Tape off & Push into wall & cover with filler. Wouldn't either bother with a blanking plate - filler will be neater.
As I said earlier, you can always disconnect it at the switch end if it makes you feel safer. I got a few cables around in my house that are just taped off. No blocks - but its a clean cut.
Do you have another wall light in the room? If you do the other end of that cable will be in the other wall light you could disconnect it out of that if you feel brave.
Looks like a stud wall if I were you I would just tape it up and push into the wall and filler the hole up. No danger at all there.
Quote from: DEViANCE on October 23, 2013, 17:22:12 PM
Do you have another wall light in the room? If you do the other end of that cable will be in the other wall light you could disconnect it out of that if you feel brave.
Looks like a stud wall if I were you I would just tape it up and push into the wall and filler the hole up. No danger at all there.
Cheers guys - yeah I've done this (its an external wall) - taped it up and blanking plate over top. Appreciate the help ta :)