ᐅ Are the electrical circuits dead?

Hello,

my topic might sound a bit unusual. Friends of mine have bought an old farmhouse that they want to renovate gradually. I will be helping them from time to time, offering advice and support – even though I need to get some advice myself here first! 😀

This question concerns the kitchen, which is full of old electrical outlets and light switches. We have only one problem: the light switches cannot be assigned properly. There are two lamps in this kitchen but four light switches. Two of these can be assigned to the lamps, but the rest remain a mystery. My friend suggested that these might be disconnected, or dead, wiring, but then there shouldn’t be any power on them, right? 😕

A cable is usually declared dead only when it is no longer part of the network—that is, no longer connected to power. In this case, there is no more "juice" flowing through it. However, if current is still present, the cables are still operational. To locate or trace cables, there are special devices available. For example, the multi-digital locator PDO from Bosch—without any intention of advertising here. Maybe it could be used to trace the route and possibly find out more. 😉

Hello Tarzan,

With old electrical wiring, it is always difficult to tell whether it is dead or not. However, if a cable is dead, there should be no current on it, and there must not be any voltage present. For safety, measure everything again. If there is truly no electricity present, then the cables are dead.

hi,

yes, definitely measure that first to avoid any accidents later on. I always thought that when working on the electrical system, you need to shut off the power to the entire house. Isn’t that the case? 😕

best regards,
yung 🙂

First, I would check whether there is still voltage present. If there is none, check if all the fuses or circuit breakers are switched on. If they are, the switches can be safely removed. Make sure to insulate the ends of the wires (L1, N, and PE) with tape to prevent them from touching each other. If power is accidentally applied to the line later during any work, this would otherwise cause a short circuit.

Hi,
when dealing with old wiring, it can be tricky because you often don't know where the cables lead to or come from. Get an electrician who knows their trade and let the professional decide whether the wiring is live or not. Have fun with the renovation and stay safe.