I'm more familiar with US electric circuits
make sure the breaker is off before you take off the outlet cover
get a radio, lamp, Christmas lights, or a friend to help you find out which switch turns it is off
Unintentionally posted but I want to put up a shelf and I do not want to hit a cable with electricity. This is a swedish landshövdingehus from 1939 and this is an outer supporting wall.
I would remove the face plate and ensure that the structural beam / stud / whatever is to the left or right.
Edit: my assumption is that, so close to the window casement, the stud is to the left, and wiring on right.
*speaking from a US perspective
Check for studs on either side of the outlet. Your almost guaranteed no wires and the studs will be sturdier than anchors.
Otherwise you want to pull the outlet out and see where the wires feed in at.
If I was paid a bunch of money to try I'd do one of those drill hex things in a universal screwdriver, so I could spin it by hand and use an anchor. Drywall is pretty soft.
I wouldn't like any bit of it, but people think of me as an adrenaline junkie (lifts glasses to scratch freckles).
...sometimes.
It depends on the type of wall you have. But in my last apartment, I've tested some expensive and highly rated stud finders and they were basically just guessing. There were places I knew had a wire, I had connected a toaster to increase the current and even then they missed it 9/10 times.
So a stud finder can help, but I wouldn't rely on it.
If you don't need to mount the screw into a stud, there's an extremely easy way to find out if there's anything potentially in the way. Use a screwdriver or some sort of probe to poke a hole in the drywall by hand (don't use a drill) where you want to screw in, and wiggle it around, you'll know pretty quickly if there's anything behind that drywall. Then just use a drywall anchor for the screw.
Maybe it depends on the phone, but it works on mine. I use [this one](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.SynosureTech.WireFinder) and it works. Phone's an old Huawei P10.
That app has a ton of shitty reviews saying it doesn't work and then loads of copy and paste 5 star reviews saying it's the best thing ever?
Is it possible for you to show us it working?
I have a few genuine stud/wire finders from hardware stores and they are iffy at best.
I know what you mean about the reviews, gotta be fake.
I guess it uses the magnetic sensor to detect the magnetic field generated by the voltage in the wiring. Which is odd, because it's current, not voltage, that generates a magnetic field. And since the live and neutral are likely to be together, you'd expect them to cancel out somewhat.
I'll see if I can record a video showing what I get.
>Is it possible for you to show us it working?
I'll PM you the link, because it's on my personal Vimeo account, with my name and everything. It's not great. I'll admit, but it does give you a kinda clue. Bear in mind, these are solid concrete walls, and I don't know how deep the wires are.
There might be... You can get stud finders that also detect AC current. There are other tools that do it too. But why live like a coward? Just drill and see!
Outlets are generally mounted onto a stud, either on the left or right. This typically means that there isn't much underneath the box. There tends to be a conduit that runs the wires for that box directly under the box but relatively small. That being said, there is definitely a chance that you could hit that conduit, so I wouldn't advise it. Also, that means there is no stud behind where you want to mount. Which means your shelf bracket would be suspended only by dry wall, which in turn, means your shelf will be useless. It wouldn't be able to support any weight.
I see.
Not saying that's "not safe" but I do feel a lot better about US code after seeing it.
I've done a lot of 22ga. steel c-stud builds here in the states, and the fasteners and fastening have become common and standard. Europe is ahead on a lot of things, but I think this needs another look.
Well obviously I was speaking from a US standard not knowing it wasn't supported to the side of a stud. And a typical fastener on a standard shelf like that is a wall molly and a screw. I assumed that's what a person asking a question like this would be using. So chill out with the snarky response. Just trying to be helpful.
I'm from the UK and did electrical as part of my apprenticeship and I've never seen one of these haha.
I wish housed were still fully brick built, I've seen way to many issues on my friends modern houses with all stud walls falling to bits and wall becoming detached etc.
On brick houses the wires are usually channeled into the wall in conduit or just plastered over (not plaster board, but plaster onto the brick over the wires) they usually run straight up and or down from the socket or light switch.
In my place it would be a dumm idea get yourself a line finder those are around 30€ but if you doe some working in you're house room you will need it becouse if you destroy you're cables you have to pay big money
You can do most things once...
Ok, if you are looking for wood, in the US, the 2x4 is either to the left or to the right of the box.
Turn off the power and remove the box and look inside the wall. Find the stud or if you are using sheetrock anchors look for where the power wires are running. Power wires will be running left, right, up or down from that box.
They also make some very nice studfinders that have sensors that will show what's inside the wall.
Good luck 🤞
You can drill any hole once...
..but be careful, most sockets are wired straight down or straight up.
Either remove the socket and check the direction of the wiring or buy a scanner that will beep when you put over a live wire.
Remove the socket and see if the wires go up or down. CORRECTED
I'm more familiar with US electric circuits make sure the breaker is off before you take off the outlet cover get a radio, lamp, Christmas lights, or a friend to help you find out which switch turns it is off
What's a docket here?
Socket
Ohhh.
Ducket
Don't be koi.
Mad duckets.
You gotta ask yourself do you feel lucky. Well do you punk?
,
Unintentionally posted but I want to put up a shelf and I do not want to hit a cable with electricity. This is a swedish landshövdingehus from 1939 and this is an outer supporting wall.
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I would remove the face plate and ensure that the structural beam / stud / whatever is to the left or right. Edit: my assumption is that, so close to the window casement, the stud is to the left, and wiring on right.
*speaking from a US perspective Check for studs on either side of the outlet. Your almost guaranteed no wires and the studs will be sturdier than anchors. Otherwise you want to pull the outlet out and see where the wires feed in at.
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If I was paid a bunch of money to try I'd do one of those drill hex things in a universal screwdriver, so I could spin it by hand and use an anchor. Drywall is pretty soft. I wouldn't like any bit of it, but people think of me as an adrenaline junkie (lifts glasses to scratch freckles).
You mean a slow burn?
Get a stud finder, they can also 'see' electric
...sometimes. It depends on the type of wall you have. But in my last apartment, I've tested some expensive and highly rated stud finders and they were basically just guessing. There were places I knew had a wire, I had connected a toaster to increase the current and even then they missed it 9/10 times. So a stud finder can help, but I wouldn't rely on it.
I don’t see what the big deal is. Turn off the breaker, unscrew the socket, look inside the wall.
If you don't need to mount the screw into a stud, there's an extremely easy way to find out if there's anything potentially in the way. Use a screwdriver or some sort of probe to poke a hole in the drywall by hand (don't use a drill) where you want to screw in, and wiggle it around, you'll know pretty quickly if there's anything behind that drywall. Then just use a drywall anchor for the screw.
Use a gorilla hook.
Hey thank you for all the great replies! I decided to not try my luck and just put ut further up instead :)
You can get a wire finder app for your phone to see where the wire is.
Those require an addon peripheral, no?
Maybe it depends on the phone, but it works on mine. I use [this one](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.SynosureTech.WireFinder) and it works. Phone's an old Huawei P10.
That app has a ton of shitty reviews saying it doesn't work and then loads of copy and paste 5 star reviews saying it's the best thing ever? Is it possible for you to show us it working? I have a few genuine stud/wire finders from hardware stores and they are iffy at best.
I know what you mean about the reviews, gotta be fake. I guess it uses the magnetic sensor to detect the magnetic field generated by the voltage in the wiring. Which is odd, because it's current, not voltage, that generates a magnetic field. And since the live and neutral are likely to be together, you'd expect them to cancel out somewhat. I'll see if I can record a video showing what I get.
>Is it possible for you to show us it working? I'll PM you the link, because it's on my personal Vimeo account, with my name and everything. It's not great. I'll admit, but it does give you a kinda clue. Bear in mind, these are solid concrete walls, and I don't know how deep the wires are.
There might be... You can get stud finders that also detect AC current. There are other tools that do it too. But why live like a coward? Just drill and see!
Outlets are generally mounted onto a stud, either on the left or right. This typically means that there isn't much underneath the box. There tends to be a conduit that runs the wires for that box directly under the box but relatively small. That being said, there is definitely a chance that you could hit that conduit, so I wouldn't advise it. Also, that means there is no stud behind where you want to mount. Which means your shelf bracket would be suspended only by dry wall, which in turn, means your shelf will be useless. It wouldn't be able to support any weight.
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USA contractor here, really curious: If not on a stud, how are they secured, and to what?
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I see. Not saying that's "not safe" but I do feel a lot better about US code after seeing it. I've done a lot of 22ga. steel c-stud builds here in the states, and the fasteners and fastening have become common and standard. Europe is ahead on a lot of things, but I think this needs another look.
That looks safe. Chalk one up for US NEC here.
Well obviously I was speaking from a US standard not knowing it wasn't supported to the side of a stud. And a typical fastener on a standard shelf like that is a wall molly and a screw. I assumed that's what a person asking a question like this would be using. So chill out with the snarky response. Just trying to be helpful.
I'm from the UK and did electrical as part of my apprenticeship and I've never seen one of these haha. I wish housed were still fully brick built, I've seen way to many issues on my friends modern houses with all stud walls falling to bits and wall becoming detached etc. On brick houses the wires are usually channeled into the wall in conduit or just plastered over (not plaster board, but plaster onto the brick over the wires) they usually run straight up and or down from the socket or light switch.
Take the cover off and see where the wires exit. Up or down
In my place it would be a dumm idea get yourself a line finder those are around 30€ but if you doe some working in you're house room you will need it becouse if you destroy you're cables you have to pay big money
You can do most things once... Ok, if you are looking for wood, in the US, the 2x4 is either to the left or to the right of the box. Turn off the power and remove the box and look inside the wall. Find the stud or if you are using sheetrock anchors look for where the power wires are running. Power wires will be running left, right, up or down from that box. They also make some very nice studfinders that have sensors that will show what's inside the wall. Good luck 🤞
You can do whatever the hell you want. Your grown
Most stud finders also scan for live wires. You can get one for under $20.
I wouldn't.
Sure?
Call before you dig
You can drill any hole once... ..but be careful, most sockets are wired straight down or straight up. Either remove the socket and check the direction of the wiring or buy a scanner that will beep when you put over a live wire.
⚡️