C
Chris
- Jan 1, 1970
- 0
No harm done (to me, at least), but I accidentally drilled into a live,
metal sheathed wire while hanging a tv bracket. (I happened to hit it
right where it was stapled to the stud, so the sheathing didn't move
and I drilled right into it. Other annoying thing is that I actually
used a stud sensor with one of those wiring detectors, but it didn't
pick it up). Weird thing is that it cut the power to my daughter's
room, which is next door and on the same circuit as the room as I was
in, but it didn't cut the power to the room I was actually in, nor did
it blow the breaker.
Anyhow, I cut into the wall, found the damage, removed a section (3
inches?) of the metal sheathing, and spliced a piece of romex into the
line. Functionally, this did the trick. My question, though, is how
safe is this fix? The tie in is the same as for hard-wiring lighting
fixtures, for example, but this is a power line we're talking about.
Also, once I repair the wall, the splice will be essentially
inaccessible. Also, assuming I need to have an electrician come in to
replace the metal sheathed wire section, how big of a job would that
be? I suspect the sheathing is "stapled" every couple of feet or so.
Would he have to tear up the walls in both rooms to swap in a new wire?
I'm less concerned about the cost than the hassle, but I also don't
want to burn my house down. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
metal sheathed wire while hanging a tv bracket. (I happened to hit it
right where it was stapled to the stud, so the sheathing didn't move
and I drilled right into it. Other annoying thing is that I actually
used a stud sensor with one of those wiring detectors, but it didn't
pick it up). Weird thing is that it cut the power to my daughter's
room, which is next door and on the same circuit as the room as I was
in, but it didn't cut the power to the room I was actually in, nor did
it blow the breaker.
Anyhow, I cut into the wall, found the damage, removed a section (3
inches?) of the metal sheathing, and spliced a piece of romex into the
line. Functionally, this did the trick. My question, though, is how
safe is this fix? The tie in is the same as for hard-wiring lighting
fixtures, for example, but this is a power line we're talking about.
Also, once I repair the wall, the splice will be essentially
inaccessible. Also, assuming I need to have an electrician come in to
replace the metal sheathed wire section, how big of a job would that
be? I suspect the sheathing is "stapled" every couple of feet or so.
Would he have to tear up the walls in both rooms to swap in a new wire?
I'm less concerned about the cost than the hassle, but I also don't
want to burn my house down. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks.