Those Joist/Pipe/Cable Sensor Thingies...

[Glassman]

I needed one for a small DIY job. Didn't want to buy tosh, but still didn't want to pay over the odds for something that is essentially going to be used once.

Opted for the £19.99 3-in-1 B&D jobbie.

New battery, two settings (for wood / metal) and it automatically detects live cables...

There's a switch on one of the walls which switches three lights in the room. According to the all singing and dancing Black & Decker giszmo, there are no live cables anywhere near the switch.



I'm either using the thing wrong, or I've just wasted 20-quid.

[Brite spark]

Glassman said:

I needed one for a small DIY job. Didn't want to buy tosh, but still didn't want to pay over the odds for something that is essentially going to be used once.

Opted for the £19.99 3-in-1 B&D jobbie.

New battery, two settings (for wood / metal) and it automatically detects live cables...

There's a switch on one of the walls which switches three lights in the room. According to the all singing and dancing Black & Decker giszmo, there are no live cables anywhere near the switch.



I'm either using the thing wrong, or I've just wasted 20-quid.

will only detect to a certain depth, cable may be too deep for the unit to pick up

[speedy_thrills]

Try a live lead to an appliance.

[Glassman]

Brite spark said:

will only detect to a certain depth, cable may be too deep for the unit to pick up

This particular bit of cabling is in a newly-built, freshly-plastered extension... I saw the cabling at first fix...

[Simpo Two]

Has it got a sensitivity control?

I have one by Draper - it looks a bit like a staple-gun. It's OK and better than nothing but not 100%.

[jmorgan]

Tried three and they (the ones I bought) are all a load of crap at what they are meant to do.

[Glassman]

Simpo Two said:

Has it got a sensitivity control?

No.



There was one for 39-quid, but too expesive for my, "I only want to locate joists and pipes in a floor" problem.

[GreenV8S]

If the cables are in a metal conduit that may mask the fact they are live, but you should still be able to detect the metal. I'd be inclined to try it out with any old metalwork you have around the house and see if it detects that, then try power cables etc. Once you know it basically works you can try the harder stuff like buried cables.

The only ones I've ever used have had sensitivity controls and have had to be adjusted to get a reliable reading.

[anonymous-user]

Think i bought one in a cheap shop(like poundland or similar) and it looks like a stapler! Father in law used it and said it was brilliant, so i guess you pays your money etc>

[Brite spark]

Glassman said:

Brite spark said:

will only detect to a certain depth, cable may be too deep for the unit to pick up

This particular bit of cabling is in a newly-built, freshly-plastered extension... I saw the cabling at first fix...

looking at one in a magazine a few weeks ago, it wouldn't see through double boarded plasterboard, if the wiring is installed to the 17th edition it will be over 50mm back or suitably protected

[Kuroblack350]

I bought one for around a tenner from CPC - works pretty well, has a sensitivity control etc. It detects pipework and cables with no worries at all - struggles a little with wooden objects, joists etc but is fine for the money.