How to find a broken hidden wiring. How to find a wire break in a wall: an overview of methods for detecting and eliminating a break

Probably, each of us is familiar with the situation when electricity suddenly disappears in the house, not due to the fault of the utility services, but due to problems with the electrical wiring.

It’s good if there is a professional electrician in the family. What to do if there is no such specialist? How to find a broken wire, especially if it did not occur in an open area? Many experts argue that this will be very difficult to do without a professional electrician and a route finder (special tool). However, you can try to fix this problem on your own.

Preparatory stage

Before you begin, prepare the necessary tools. So, you will need:

• Tester.
• Screwdriver indicator.
• Non-contact indicator of hidden electrical wire. Please note that sometimes a simple non-contact indicator is built into the indicator screwdriver. However, for such a tool to work perfectly, make sure that there are no other metal components in the wall being examined, except for electrical wiring.
• An ordinary screwdriver.
• Knife with insulated handle.
• Pliers.
• Insulating tape.

Step-by-Step Guide to Finding a Broken Wire

Step one. Determine which conductor is damaged. This can be either a phase or “neutral” wire. “Test” the contacts of a non-working switch or socket with an indicator screwdriver. The switch must have one contact in the off position, and both contacts in the on position. There should only be one live contact in the outlet. The presence of a “phase” indicates that your “zero” conductor is broken.

If the accident occurred on a hidden section of electrical wiring, then it is better to look for the answer to the question of how to find a broken wire together with a professional electrician, because you are unlikely to be able to localize the problem area on your own.

Step two. If you have access to the entire section of the electrical wire, then using a tester you can find the damaged area. This is done according to the following scheme:

• On switchboard turn off the voltage.
• Make two "notches". The first is to cut the insulation near the wire exit from the junction box, exposing the metal of the conductor, the second is to do the same procedure about a meter from the first “notch”.
• Measure the resistance in the “selected” area. A small value indicates that there are no breaks in this area.
• Repeat the same operations on each meter of electrical wire until the tester shows no resistance.

Step three. If the tester shows that there is no resistance in a certain area, then this means that you have found the location of the damage. We perform an operation with “notches” on the “identified” area, reducing the distance between them in order to find the point of damage as accurately as possible. According to experts, this method is optimal when searching for broken wires.

If the location of the damage to the phase conductor is in a brick or concrete (without metal reinforcement) wall, then you need to use a non-contact hidden wiring indicator. As a rule, the wires from the junction box are laid according to a certain pattern (horizontally or vertically with a right angle turn), so tracing the “path” of the electrical wiring will not be difficult for you. Further along the wires, lightly touching the wall, move the indicator, which with a certain signal will inform you about the location of the break.

Important information

Be sure to insulate any areas where there are exposed wires after completing electrical repairs. Also remember that working with electricity does not tolerate carelessness and frivolity. Be careful and attentive. Before starting work, do not be lazy and once again make sure that the electricity is turned off. Although, of course, it is better to entrust work with electricity to experienced professionals. Have you changed your mind yet? Do you want to find a broken wire yourself? Well, you have theoretical information. Get to work! Stay with us!

How to find a broken wiring in the wall, we will figure it out in detail. This is a fairly common problem that almost everyone has encountered.
At first glance, it is quite difficult to solve, and it will be difficult to eliminate it with your own hands, but this is not so.
After all, there is no need to call a professional electrician to find and fix the problem. In most cases it is enough to have school knowledge about electric current and voltage indicator.

Before you find a broken wire in the wall, you should prepare all the necessary tools. This does not require any special equipment, and you will probably find everything you need at home.

So:

• Two-pole voltage indicator with circuit detection capability. But this seems like an ideal option. If desired, you can get by with a regular screwdriver - an indicator and a tester.
• Non-contact voltage indicator. This is perhaps the only thing that may not be in your home. But its cost is not very high and even for the best models the price varies up to 1000 rubles. And at home, this thing is irreplaceable.
• Pliers whose handles are made of dielectric material.
• A screwdriver whose handle is made of dielectric material.

In what cases do they look for hidden wiring in the wall?

Before you find hidden wiring in the wall, you should decide the purpose of this action. If you just want to hang a picture or nail a shelf, but are afraid of getting into the electrical wiring, then this is one option.
If you need to find the wiring when looking for damage, that’s completely different:

• If you need to hang a picture, then a non-contact voltage indicator will easily indicate its location to you with an accuracy of 10 cm. To do this, we use its ability to light up red when located close to live sections of the circuit. That is, in the places where it glows red, electrical wiring is located.

Note! When looking for wiring coming from a switch, be sure to turn it on. After all, according to the PUE, a single-phase switch must open the phase wire. That is, when it is turned off, there will be no voltage on the rest of the circuit to the light bulb. And accordingly, a non-contact voltage indicator will not be able to find it.

• But if you need to know how to find wiring in the wall when looking for damage, then this is a completely different question. To answer this, you should know that two wires are used to wire the 220V network.
  One of them is phase, and the second is zero. And if the location of the phase wire break is quite easy to detect, then to find the location of the damage to the neutral wire you will have to tinker.

Identifying a damaged wire

To determine which wire is damaged, we need a voltage indicator or a regular indicator screwdriver:

• If we have voltage at one of the socket terminals, then most likely the neutral wire is damaged.
• If there is no voltage at one of the socket terminals, then the damage is in the phase wire.
• Another option is when you have voltage on both terminals of the socket. But this happens extremely rarely, and we may describe this case in one of our next articles.

• If our lighting wiring is damaged, then we first need to identify the damaged area. To do this, you need to check the presence of voltage on the phase wire coming to the switch.
• There is either no neutral wire here at all, or it goes in addition to the switch (this is quite rare). If voltage comes to the switch, then there is a break in another section, if it does not come, then in the section from the distribution box to the switch.
• We further check the presence of voltage on the socket of your lamp. To do this, do not forget to turn on the switch. If there is no longer any voltage, then there is a break in the area from the switch to the lamp; if there is, then most likely you have a break in the neutral wire.

We are looking for the location of the wire damage

Method for finding phase wire damage

Wiring can be of two types: external and hidden (internal).
Finding the location of damage to external wiring is quite simple:

• In 80% of cases, a simple visual inspection allows you to detect the location of the damage.
• If this does not help or several possible places of damage have been identified, then after removing the voltage from the wire, you can probe it. This almost always allows you to accurately determine the location of the damage. If this does not help, then we use the most labor-intensive, but at the same time simplest method.
• If you have a non-contact voltage indicator, then simply run it along the wire from the electrical box to the outlet or switch. The place where it stops glowing is the point of damage.
• If you do not have a non-contact voltage indicator, then we remove the voltage from our section of the wire and make a small cut on it, sufficient for the indicator to touch the live parts.
• Then we apply voltage and check its presence at the cut site. So, gradually narrowing the search area, you will determine the location of the damage.

But to answer the question: how to find a break in hidden wiring, you cannot do without a contactless indicator.

• To do this, as in the case of external wiring, we simply guide it along the intended location of the wires. At the point where it stops glowing, you should perform several circular movements to determine whether you have deviated from the place where the wire was laid. If you haven’t deviated, then the place of damage is right here.

Method for finding the location of damage to the neutral wire

Finding the location of the neutral wire break is a little more complicated, and many sites advise not to tempt fate and entrust this matter to professionals. After all, how can you find electrical wiring in the wall if not a single device responds to the neutral wire?
The answer is really simple. This means that it should be made phase, the damage of which we already know how to determine. But I’m warning you right now! This should only be done if you actually remember at least the school AC cycle.
If this is not the case, then it’s better not to even read further. After all, electric current has no smell, no color, no sound, and it will not warn of danger. And the consequences of contact with him can be very disastrous.
We will reduce the further answer to the question of how to find electrical wiring in a wall if the neutral wire is damaged to step-by-step instructions:

• Unplug all electrical appliances in your home. This is especially true for devices for which the location of the plug in the socket is important, some modern chandeliers and the like. We do this solely for security reasons.
• Determine the feeding location of the damaged area. It would be better if it was a circuit breaker rather than a junction box.
• Turn off the input machine for your house or apartment.

Note! If you use a batch switch as an input, then you can turn it off only after turning off all the circuit breakers. This is because burst switches are not designed to disconnect loads. And if you have successfully done this a thousand and one times before, this does not give any guarantee that this time it will not burn along with your hand.

• If you have a single-pole circuit breaker installed, then disconnect the phase wire. In its place, insert the neutral wire of the damaged connection. It is very important not to confuse and insert the neutral wire of exactly this connection.
  The wire, which we had as a phase wire, is insulated and diverted to prevent it from coming into contact with live parts. If you have a two-pole circuit breaker installed, then it is much easier for you. We disconnect the phase wire and install a neutral wire in its place.
• Before finding hidden electrical wiring in the wall and where it is damaged, make sure once again that all electrical appliances are turned off. This is especially true for devices that are powered from the area where we have damage.
• We turn on the input machine or batch switch.
• We turn on the machine that supplies the damaged section of the network. If you did everything correctly, then you have absolutely nothing to worry about. After all, you have eliminated all possibilities of a short circuit.
• We carry out further search for damage as our instructions advise to do it for a phase wire. After all, now our neutral wire has become a phase wire and it is quite easy to determine its damage.

conclusions

Now we know how to find electrical wiring in the wall, as well as how to look for damaged hidden and external wiring. The only thing left to do is to carry out the repairs.
And if everything is quite simple with external wiring, then repairing hidden wiring can cause certain problems. The main thing is to follow safety rules when working with electrical devices and eliminating any problem related to electricity will happen without incident.

Due to a violation of the integrity of the wiring immured under a layer finishing materials, apartment residents may be left without the usual amenities. To restore the current supply, you need to know how to find a break in the wall and repair the detected damage.

Damage to electrical networks can be suspected if the electrical current supply partially disappears. A broken wire may be indicated by a lack of voltage in outlets located in a certain area, or by lighting not working in a separate room.

Sometimes wiring problems can also be accompanied by smoke or sparking in the cable.

Wire defects include breaks and breaks in the cord cores, as well as damage to the cable insulating sheath

Damage occurs on various sections of the network: the power supply may be disrupted at the point where the cable connects to the socket or switch; in the area between these devices and the box or lighting fixture.

Causes of malfunctions

If the operating rules for electrical communications are observed, they can serve regularly for decades. But in practice, damage to electrical networks is quite common, which can be caused by various reasons. These factors include:

• Long-term cable operation. Wiring can function flawlessly for many years, but after a certain time limit it begins to deteriorate. In this case, twists scatter in the network and leaks appear, which regularly knock out the RCD (its absence affects the increase in leaks). Sooner or later, such violations lead to interruptions, and then to a complete cessation of the power supply.
• Mechanical damage. Without knowing the layout of electrical networks, when drilling holes and driving nails into the wall, you can easily touch a wire, causing it to break and sometimes short circuit. Sometimes minor mechanical damage has a delayed effect: in this case, the integrity of the core may not be damaged immediately, but after several months or even a year.
• Defective wire or poorly executed electrical installation. Damaged cables tend to become constantly hot, which can have fatal consequences. After a sudden power surge, such wires may break.
• Incorrect use of adapters. Electrical wiring malfunctions can be caused by improper use of extension cords or tees. This can happen if several high-power household appliances are connected to the device, for example, a washing machine and dishwasher. In such a situation, the cables that come from the adapter are subject to overheating and increased stress, which can lead to melting of the insulation.

In all cases, it is necessary to identify the location of the cable damage in order to immediately repair the damage.

General instructions for finding a break point

If a malfunction is detected, it is necessary to immediately take measures to determine the cause of the damage and search for the approximate location of the electrical network defect.

First of all, you need to check which rooms have problems with the supply of electrical current.

Melted switches or sockets indicate that damage to the wiring occurred in the adjacent sections of the electrical network

Then you should find out whether the cable break affected lighting fixtures or sockets by checking them with a tester. Depending on the answers to the last question, you should follow the instructions below.

Identifying the location of the breakdown in case of problems with sockets

In this case, the malfunction may be caused by a faulty phase or neutral cable.

Broken phase wire

First of all, you need to determine which machine the damaged socket is connected to. Having identified the power source to which the faulty cable is connected, it is necessary to turn off the electricity and disconnect all wires from the panel: “zero”, “phase”, “ground” (if any).

In order to find the power source of the outlet, you need to switch the machine, while simultaneously checking with the indicator the presence or absence of a phase

Then you need to arm yourself with a multimeter, with which you should sequentially check all connections adjacent to the damaged object, starting from the cable in the panel. In this way, you can identify the affected area: usually between two sockets there are two, and in the presence of “ground”, three wires. If in this area it is possible to identify only one vein (for example, a zero), we can safely assume that the break is located here.

Terminal boxes are often inaccessible because they are hidden under a layer of finishing materials. If you have access to such devices, it is advisable to open them, since damage to the cores often occurs in them. If no malfunctions are found, you should check the non-functioning wires with an indicator, starting with the twists, and also inspect the terminal block and disassembled twists.

A wiring option is possible that does not involve installing a box. In this case, the cables run unhindered from one outlet to another, with two wires entering each outlet box, making up 4 cores. In this case, to identify the defect, it is necessary to remove the devices located at the beginning and end of the faulty section, and then examine all the wires with a multimeter.

Broken neutral wire

The search for a broken neutral wire is practically no different from the work on detecting a broken “phase”, but it has certain features.

You can find out about a break in the neutral wire at the contacts of the socket by bringing an indicator screwdriver to this place: it will glow in the “phase”, but will show the absence of a “zero”. In this case, it is useless to use a multimeter to check the voltage, since this device will show an arbitrary value from 0 to 220 V.

It is important to observe strict safety precautions: due to the existing phase, there is still a danger of electric shock even if the socket is not working.

It is quite difficult to understand the intricacy of wires placed inside the wall. To identify a faulty cable, it is often necessary to check the integrity of each network element

If a three-core cable is used to distribute electricity, a “grounding” conductor can be used as a last resort to transmit “zero”. However, in this case, the “ground” function will be absent from the socket: this is generally undesirable and unacceptable if we are talking about high-power household appliances, for example, a washing machine.

Troubleshooting lighting wiring

If damage occurs between the box and the switch or an artificial light source, you should use an indicator (single-pole voltage indicator) to use it to identify the presence or absence of a “phase”.

If there is no light in one of the rooms, you must first check the condition of the lamps and sockets. If their condition does not cause concern, most likely it is a cable break.

To do this, open the switch from the lighting device; in the off position, the presence of “phase” on the contacts is checked. If it is absent, the break point is between the box and the switch. If there is a “phase”, its presence is also checked on the lamp (in this case the switch is turned on). If there is no “phase” on all conductors, the place of damage should be looked for between the lamp and the box.

There is an option when, when the lighting is not working and there is no “phase” on the switch, the indicator shows its presence on the lamp. This situation means that the neutral and phase wires have swapped places.

To solve the problem, you need to trace the passage of the “phase” wire along the entire distance of the laid cable, starting from the box to the lamp and then to the switch. It is necessary to find the point where the wires were changed, disconnect them and make new fasteners, positioning the wiring correctly.

When searching for damage, you should turn off the power supply to the cable, which can come from any source. In some cases, it may be necessary to burn through the wiring insulation to reduce the resistance level.

Having established the approximate affected area, you should begin an in-depth search for the location of the damage, which can be done using different methods.

Finding the exact location

There are various ways to find a damaged wire.

Opening a wall during a major renovation

The easiest way to detect cable damage is to completely clean the walls of finishing materials. In this case, it is easy to inspect the grooves made to accommodate hidden cables. They differ in color from the rest of the surface, and additional putty is applied to them.

Finding broken wires is a rather complex process, so in some cases it is advisable to call electrical network specialists who have special equipment

However, since in this case complete exposure of the walls and dismantling of decorative coatings (paint, wallpaper) is required, it is therefore advisable to use it during a major renovation of the room, which involves a new design of vertical surfaces.

Boolean search method

If residents do not have an electrical plan, you can try to recreate it using logic.

Professional electricians are well aware of the basic principles of laying electrical communications, namely:

• Wiring installation is always carried out strictly along vertical and horizontal lines, that is, the cables always run parallel and perpendicular to the floor.
• Power lines located above sockets and switches always run straight up, which is why drilling and hammering nails is strictly prohibited in this area.
• The wiring is usually pulled at a distance of 15 cm from the floor or, more often, the ceiling, so repair work should not be carried out here either.

Knowing the location of sockets and switches, you can create a communications diagram in the apartment.

Knowing the basic principles of the location of electrical networks, you can reduce the time spent searching for faulty wiring by focusing on the most likely areas of damage

However, to check the proposed layout of electrical networks, it is advisable to use special devices (professional or homemade), which will be discussed below.

Tools at hand: radio and microphone

If necessary, a conventional transistor receiver will allow you to identify the affected area of ​​the cable. It must be tuned to 100 kHz waves and brought to the intended affected area. Above the place where the electrical network passes, the noise of the receiver will intensify, and above the place of the break the crackling will subside.

Don't rush to throw away the microphone from your old radio. This simple device will help you identify the location of the electrical wire damage.

Instead of a radio, you can also use a microphone from a portable tape recorder. It should be plugged into the network and routed above the wall surface where the faulty cable is believed to be located. As in the previous option, a crackling noise will be heard above the power line, which will cease when a break is detected.

It is important to take into account that improvised devices give an error of 10-15 centimeters. In order to avoid electric shock when performing repair work, it is better to play it safe by taking additional precautions.

Search using professional equipment

Special devices allow you not only to detect the cable, but also to find the area where the burnt or broken wire is located.

Inexpensive household testers are available that can easily inspect wiring and locate damaged wires.

Among the various devices used to locate damage are:

• Alarm E-121 (“Woodpecker”). With its help, you can carry out work at a depth of up to 7 centimeters, which allows you to detect electrical wiring and broken wires even in a wall finished with plasterboard.
• Detector MS. Another popular detector that is easy to use and allows you to get fairly accurate results.

These and similar devices provide quick and reliable results, but have certain disadvantages. First of all, with their help it is impossible to find a cable protected by a foil screen. Such devices react not only to electrical wiring, but also to other metal objects, for example, nails and screws in the wall. Finally, although these detectors are easy to use, operating them requires attention and skill.

You can also examine the wire in the wall using an indicator screwdriver, but this method is only suitable for cases where live wires are located at a shallow depth in the concrete.

The thermal imager allows you not only to determine the location of the damage, but also to check the quality of electrical communications in the building, detecting network problems (short circuit, leakage)

Bosch DMF 10 zoom, VP-440, POSP-1, GVT-92, GVD-504A and others are also suitable for detecting hidden wiring and conductor damage points under plaster. It is possible to use a locator or other professional equipment.

Checking wiring with a homemade device

An alternative to expensive professional equipment can be a budget metal detector made from scrap material. One of the most popular options is a device made from old CDs. Despite the apparent simplicity of this device, it allows you to find live wiring located under decorative trim at a depth of up to 10 cm.

Making a metal detector with your own hands

For the device you will need:

• unnecessary CDs and DVDs (double-sided ones make the device more sensitive);
• battery "Krona";
• calculator (simple model);
• glue;
• insulating tape.

Step-by-step instruction:

• First of all, you need to cut off the headphone plug. Strip the insulation on two wires, exposing the cores by 0.5-1 centimeter.
• The exposed wires should be divided into 2 parts, so that you get 4 cores.
• One of the contacts taken from different groups is attached to each of the disks. On double-sided media they are attached arbitrarily, on single-sided media they are attached to the writing side.
• The installed wires are fixed with glue, and then additionally secured to the disks using electrical tape.
• The remaining two wires are connected in the standard way to the plus/minus of the battery, after which the exposed contacts are carefully insulated with tape.
• The included calculator is also secured to the CD using insulating material.
• A DVD is placed on top of the calculator, then the structure is secured with electrical tape for integrity.
• The battery is attached to the surface of the video disc using electrical tape.

After this, you can test the device, which will produce sound over metal objects.

A homemade metal detector can also be made from an AM radio and a calculator. It is enough to place the included elements in the disc box and secure it with electrical tape

Modern construction technologies often involve the use of beacons or markers in places where electrical networks pass. This greatly simplifies the process of searching for a damaged core using both professional and amateur means.

Searching for electrical wiring for preventive purposes

Usually, electricians or residents start looking for cables running through the apartment when there are problems with the light. Meanwhile, you should take care of this in other situations:

• Before the planned redevelopment of the apartment. For any manipulations that even affect non-load-bearing structures (for example, when dismantling a partition or moving a doorway), it is important to take into account the location of electrical communications.
• Before installing sconces, hanging pictures or other wall accessories. To carry out such work, it is important to know where the cable is located so as not to stumble upon it when drilling holes or driving nails.
• When purchasing a home. Immediately after purchasing an apartment, it is advisable to draw up a plan for the electrical networks located along the walls and ceiling. On the diagram it is also worth noting the locations of sockets, switches, and junction boxes. Such markings will help when performing major/cosmetic repairs of the apartment, as well as when arranging furniture.

To search for an electrical route, you can use homemade or professional devices, which were described above.

Elimination of broken phase and neutral wires

Having found out the exact location of the cable break and determined its peculiarity (damage to the “phase”, “zero”), you can begin to repair it.

To eliminate a damaged phase wire, follow these steps:

• First of all, you need to disconnect the phase wire.
• Using a hammer or other tool, remove plaster or other finishing from the wall surface. It is necessary to clear the area along the route by approximately 10-15 cm, covering the area to the right and left of the expected center of damage.
• It is necessary to separate the damaged core from the network, being careful not to touch the insulation on other cables.
• It is better to connect copper wiring by soldering. To do this, you need to take an additional piece of a similar product from which the repair jumper is made.
• It is also advisable to first place a polyvinyl chloride or heat-shrink tube on the core of the damaged cable. The ends of the jumper are twisted with the ends of the broken wire, after which the connections are soldered.
• Insulating tape is applied tightly (in several layers) to the repaired area, after which the tube covered with the wire is carefully pushed onto it. This ensures the tightness of the fastener.

Aluminum wires are less amenable to soldering, which also requires special solder and flux. In this case, the most reliable connection method will be the WAGO terminal, and the place of its attachment must be wrapped with electrical tape and additionally covered with sealant.

The wires can also be connected using a junction box. To do this, the insulation is removed from the broken wire, after which its ends are separated in different directions. Using a hammer drill equipped with a special crown, a hole is punched in the wall, the dimensions of which coincide with the parameters of the branch box.

The device is inserted into the opening, after which it is secured with alabaster. The wires are placed in the box, while the damaged wires are connected by color and wrapped with insulating tape. Finally, the box with the restored wires is closed with a lid.

If the cables are placed in special tubes, the damaged wires should be carefully pulled out, and new wires should be inserted in their place using a pulling device.

If the neutral cable is damaged at the beginning of work, it must be disconnected from the bus by attaching the phase conductor. The rest of the process coincides with the regulations described above.

After any type of repair, the grooves are covered with plaster. It is possible to apply voltage to the repaired wiring only after the coating has completely dried.

Laying open electrical networks

Repair work associated with a break in a hidden wiring usually requires complex construction and repair work: dismantling the finish, gating the walls, followed by sealing and covering a section of the wall with decorative materials.

Eliminating a broken hidden wire often requires dismantling the finishing, so it is advisable to combine such work with a major renovation of the premises

Since immediate implementation of such manipulations is not always possible, in some cases it can be recommended to lay a new wire along the surface of the wall, covering it in a special box or tube.

The videos below provide detailed video instructions for finding a damaged cable.

Searching for a cable break using a metal detector:

If you have a radio handy, it can also help:

Finding a broken wire is a rather complex and responsible process. It requires attention, accuracy and strict adherence to instructions. Using the methods outlined above, you can find the location of the wire damage and eliminate the defect found.

In rooms where electrical installations were designed and installed in compliance with generally accepted rules, problems arise extremely rarely. However, breaks still happen. Most household and industrial appliances are powered by electrical network, and when the electricity suddenly goes out, all planned activities collapse. Therefore, in order to quickly fix the problem, it is useful for everyone to know how to find a broken wiring hidden in the wall.

Main causes of breakage

Most often, the problem is detected at the junction of hidden wiring coming to a switch, outlet or junction box. This is the most common case in which searching for a broken wire will not take much time. A situation arises when you need to drill or gouge a wall in order to hang a cornice, a picture or something else, and the hidden wiring is accidentally damaged. Sometimes only the insulating material is broken, and the break is not detected immediately. Basically, this happens due to inattention.

The rarest situation is a hidden wiring break in the wall without the influence of external factors. This situation is typical for old premises in which hidden wiring has not been replaced since construction.

Finding the location of the break in this case is the most difficult. Cables wear out over the years, network overloads occur, and a break can occur due to a malfunction of the residual current device. To carry out repairs yourself in such cases, you will need a special device to detect the location of a broken hidden wiring.

In addition, the areas where hidden wiring is connected using conventional twisting begin to overheat over time and the contact breaks. When laying hidden electrical wiring, the use of such a connecting method is unacceptable.

Finding and eliminating hidden wiring breaks should be carried out using tools with insulated handles.

Detection methods

Initially, if hidden wiring in a house or apartment breaks, you need to check whether voltage is supplied to the meter. To do this, you need to turn off the circuit breakers in the electrical panel and use a tester to measure the voltage at the meter contacts. If there is no voltage, then the problem must be looked for in front of the meter. Detection of voltage means that a break in hidden wiring has occurred somewhere in the house.

The first step is to determine exactly which conductor is damaged - phase or neutral. This can be done quite simply using an indicator screwdriver. Electricity must be turned on. When inspecting the switches in the “on” position, both contacts are energized; in the “off” position - 1 contact. There is only 1 contact in the working socket. If the phase is present during the test, then a hidden break in the neutral cable has occurred.

In almost all rooms, electrical wiring is hidden in the walls. In these cases, after detecting a faulty cable, it is necessary to establish the exact location of the conductor in the thickness of the plaster or concrete. Not everyone has a wiring diagram for a hidden electrical network at home, so it is necessary to use a special finder, which will significantly speed up and facilitate the process. The simplest option, which will give results with high accuracy, is to purchase a modern device. The simplest detection means are suitable for home use.

In addition, you can make a hidden wiring finder yourself. There are quite a lot of options, below are methods that have repeatedly proven their effectiveness in practice:

Finding the break point

With the help of such homemade devices you can find the location of the hidden wiring break. If a contact break is detected, the device will stop beeping, the nature of the noise will change, or the indicator light will go out. However, these devices have one significant drawback: cable detection is impossible if the hidden wiring is located at a depth of more than 5 cm.

Modern equipment is more accurate and easier to operate. A special non-contact finder is used to detect hidden wiring at a depth of up to 10 cm.

But if fittings or other metal elements pass through the wall, then detecting hidden cables becomes difficult, because false signals will appear. This needs to be taken into account.

For the most accurate search for a broken hidden wiring, finders are used that have the possibility of additional settings, which allows you to ignore large metal objects in the wall. This function eliminates the sending of false signals. If there is direct access to the entire length of the wiring, then the damaged area is often visible to the naked eye. In the case where there is no visible damage, searching for the location of the electrical wiring break can be done using a conventional tester. The algorithm of actions will be as follows:

1. first of all, it is necessary to de-energize the room by turning off the electricity supply in the electrical panel;
2. then you need to strip the wire in two places: at the outlet of the distribution block and at a distance of 1 meter from the notch made;
3. on this segment the resistance is measured, then another notch is made after 1 meter and the procedure is repeated;
4. The resistance at all measured intervals must be the same. When the device finds an area where the value is very different or completely absent, a break occurs in this place.

If it is not possible to buy a special finder, but there is a great desire to solve the problem without outside help, you can assemble a primitive device for searching for broken wiring with your own hands.

All you need is a working socket, a light bulb, two single-core wires, a knife, pliers and electrical tape.

A light bulb is screwed into the socket and the wires are connected. From the other ends, the insulating material is stripped 4-5 mm from the edge.

Checking the assembled tester is extremely simple; you need to supply electricity to the wires. If the light is on, then everything is assembled correctly.

Detecting a wire break involves connecting the tester to the wire being tested, which must be cut with a knife (before stripping the cable, you must turn off the power supply).

If you find an area where the light on the tester does not light up, you need to start moving in the opposite direction, making notches at a shorter distance. After finding the desired location, the damaged section of the wiring will be replaced, all cuts made must be insulated.

It is advisable to find out the location of hidden wiring and draw up a detailed diagram before a break occurs. This will protect the cables from damage during repair work. If you accidentally get into hidden electrical wiring, at best the room will be de-energized, at worst it will cause harm to human health.

There can be many reasons for problems in electrical wiring; this can happen at any moment, including when the wires are live.

This could be due to defective wires, poor-quality installation, faulty wiring, and much more.

In those places where the cable is damaged, the wire will heat up, and if increased voltage occurs, it will break.

The cause may also be mechanical damage, as a result of improper driving of nails into the wall and drilling holes, or the problem may arise due to high voltage.

How to determine a broken wire

A wiring break can be of two types; it can be a break in hidden or open wiring. If this happened with hidden wiring, you need to know how to find a broken wiring; a regular transistor receiver will help you find the cable line.

To begin with, you can connect any device to the outlet, for example, an electric razor; you need to put the receiver on the mid-wave range and move it across the surface; if you hear noise and crackling, it means that the wiring has broken in this place.

• If there is no light in the apartment, you need to understand whether voltage is going to the meter. To do this, you will need an indicator tester, they need to touch the meter contacts, before doing this, turn off all the machines on the electrical panel.
• If, when pointing the tester at the meter, there is no voltage, then the location of the damage is located in front of the meter. If it is, the break occurred in the apartment. Sometimes, to eliminate all problems you just need to replace the fuses.
• If the case is more complex, you need to troubleshoot the system. Most often, breaks occur in junction boxes, since with high resistance, the wires can burn out.
• If the damage occurred in open wiring, then it is easier to find and repair it, but if the wiring is closed, then it is better to contact a specialist, since there is a lot of work to be done.

Before starting work to eliminate the break, you need to take a tester to detect voltage; you will also need a special screwdriver indicator and a simple screwdriver, pliers and a knife with an insulated handle, insulating materials and a non-contact indicator of a hidden electrical wire.

In order to find a break in an open wiring, you need to understand which wire is damaged: phase and neutral, an indicator screwdriver will help with this, it will identify all contacts of switches or sockets and check their serviceability.

If the outlet is energized, then there is only one contact. If we talk about the switch, then at the moment of power amplification, only one or all contacts can be turned off. If, thanks to a screwdriver, it turns out that the phase is operational, then it will be clear that the neutral wire is damaged. If the wiring is hidden, then it is better to invite professional electricians to determine the problem.

This will be better, and if it is damaged, you should try not to overestimate your capabilities, especially in such a serious matter.

If you have sufficient skills in working with electrical wiring, then you can find a break in the hidden wiring yourself; for this you can use the acoustic or induction method.

• For the acoustic method, you will need a generator, it needs to be connected to a cable, you will also need headphones and an acoustic sensor.
• The process consists of listening to electrical wiring with these devices. At the break point, you will hear clicking sounds in your headphones, and the generator will need to be configured correctly.

If you decide to use the induction method, the generator must be connected to power cable, determine the load level and apply the sensor where the break occurred, you will also hear signals.

If you have concrete or brick walls, use a non-contact indicator to locate hidden wiring. All cables in such buildings are installed horizontally or vertically, and all turns are made at right angles.

Usually, in such houses it is well known. The indicator needs to be moved along the wall and in the area of ​​the cliff you will hear a signal. You can use other methods, but to use them, you need to invite specialists from companies licensed to carry out such work.

How to fix a broken wire?

Before you begin repairing the break, you need to turn off the phase wire. Using a hammer, remove all the plaster in the center of the damage, as well as on the right and left, up to 15 cm in total.

The ends of the broken wire need to be pulled apart. Using a hammer drill and a special bit, make a hole in the wall so that the branch box fits into it.

Place the box in the opening and secure it using alabaster; you need to carefully place the wires in it. If there is a supply, the damaged wires should be combined by color and wrapped with electrical tape.

After finishing the work, close the box with a lid and cover the repaired area with plaster. If the wiring is in special tubes, the broken wires must be carefully pulled out and replaced with new ones using a pulling device.

In general, this work requires quite serious knowledge, especially when it comes to hidden wiring, but with some skill, it is quite doable. If you want to learn more about this, you can visit our website, you can always find a lot of useful information there.