How to identify a broken electrical wiring in the wall under the plaster

If the wires are embedded in the wall, this does not mean that they are protected from damage and violation of the integrity of the insulating layer. If problems arise, you can not only be left without electricity, but also become participants in the fire. To restore the supply of current and eliminate the problem, you need to know how to find a zero break in the hidden wiring and phases, how to fix the problem with minimal financial and physical costs.

Break search methods

There is an induction and acoustic method for detecting a break in hidden communications. To implement them, you will need the following tools:

• headphones (headphones);
• acoustic signaling device;
• a generator that is connected to a wire.

With the help of the above devices, during the search, the wiring hidden in the wall is carefully listened to. As soon as the damaged area is found, a sharp and pronounced click is heard in the headphones. For operation, it is important to correctly tune the equipment to the frequency that is needed.

The essence of the induction method is to connect the generator to the power cable. As soon as the load level is set on it, testing will be carried out in the same way as in the previous method, using a signaling device and headphones. The difference is that the sound in the headphones will be heard during the entire search time, and when the break point is found, it will increase.

Signs of a break in the wiring

If the electricity in the house has partially started to disappear, most likely, there was a break in the hidden wire. Also, this place may be indicated by the lack of voltage in the outlets that are in the same zone, or the absence of lighting.

Also, a violation of the integrity of the wires is accompanied by sparking of the cable, smoke and the release of a pronounced smell of burning. The cause of sparking is not only a violation of the integrity of the conductive cores, but also the selection of poor-quality or inappropriate insulating material in a particular case. It starts to melt.

Damage is formed on any length of the veins. Most often, breaks are found in the places of the broken connection of the cable with the outlet or with the switch, as well as in the areas between the switchboard with lighting fixtures and electrical devices.

Causes of wire breaks

If you follow all the rules for the use of electrical wiring, household appliances and electrical appliances, the electrical network can last for several decades. However, with the rapid increase in the number of electrical appliances at home and at work, damage to the magician is becoming more common.

Istrali. The main reasons for the phenomenon:

• Long-term operation of the cable. For many years, the wiring can work efficiently and without interruption, but after a certain time, the material from which the cable is made begins to deteriorate. In such cases, the networks crumble into twists and leaks appear.Such violations inevitably first lead to interruptions, and then to a complete blackout.
• Incorrect use of adapters. Malfunctions in the wiring can be caused by improper use of tees or extension cords. For example, this can be observed when several high-power household appliances are connected at the same time - washing machines or dishwashers, refrigerator, drill, etc.
• Mechanical damage. If you do not know the circuit through which the wiring is laid, during repairs with a drill or hammer when driving nails, you can break the integrity of the wire, break it and cause a short circuit. Even minor damage will manifest itself over time.
  
• Poor electrical installation or the use of a defective wire. Damaged and defective cables tend to overheat, which sooner or later leads to fatal consequences. Also, the conductors of the wires can be abruptly cut off with a strong voltage surge.

In all these cases, it is necessary to immediately find the place of damage and fix it.

The procedure for determining a break in the wiring in the wall

The search for the place of damage, regardless of the cause of the problem, is carried out in the following order:

1. First of all, you need to de-energize the wiring. To do this, turn off the automatic switch (switch).
2. Sometimes it is required to reduce the resistance level of the insulating layer of the wiring, for this it is burned.
3. To search for a damaged place, they resort to the induction or acoustic method, you also need to arm yourself with an ordinary household multimeter and a transistor receiver.
4. To facilitate the search, electricians also use locators. These devices, which have different modifications, allow you to accurately establish the path along which the cable is laid, find all current-carrying conductors, and also find out whether they are energized or not. Some models use them in conjunction with generators to increase efficiency.

Innovative electrical networks have been invented, equipped with lines of beacons - markers. This mounting method is actively used in Europe and America. In Russia, this method has not yet become widespread. In this case, if the integrity of the wire is violated, the locator, on a signal from the beacon, will quickly and with high accuracy determine the place of the break.

Troubleshooting between junction box and outlet

If the integrity of the wire between the junction box and the switch, lighting fixture or outlet has been broken, you must use a single-pole voltage indicator - an indicator. With its help, it is possible to determine with high accuracy the presence or absence of voltage.

First of all, you need to open the switch, the outlet and, in the off position, check the presence of voltage on the contacts. If not, the damaged area is between the switch, the socket and the box.

If "phase" is present, the voltage is checked on the fixture in the closed position of the switch. If there is no voltage on all cores, the damage is between the junction box and the luminaire.

Finding the exact location

Having identified the approximate place where the broken wire is located, they begin a thorough search. There are many ways to find the exact location of a breakdown.

Opening walls during renovation

The easiest and at the same time effective way to check the condition of the wiring and eliminate tears is to completely clean the walls from finishing materials. Only in this case it is possible to get acquainted in detail with the state of the strobes, which were made specifically for carrying out hidden wiring. They differ from other surfaces in color, and several layers of putty are additionally applied to them.

This method is advisable only during a major overhaul, accompanied by the complete dismantling of all decorative coatings.

Logical ways to search

If the owner of the living space does not have an electrical circuit diagram, it can be recreated using logical methods. You should familiarize yourself with the basic principles of laying electrical communications:

• Most often, the wiring is carried out at an interval of 10-15 cm from the ceiling or floor (the first option is more common).
• Installation of electrical communications is carried out strictly along vertical and horizontal strobes. Errors are possible, but small.
• Communication lines that are located above switches and sockets are always laid straight up. Do not hammer, hammer, drill or hammer in these areas.

By the location of switches and sockets in an apartment or house, you can recreate the electrical communication scheme with high accuracy.

Search for electrical wiring for preventive purposes

As practice shows, most often the tenants of a house or apartment start looking for wires in the walls only with the appearance of problems. However, for preventive purposes, you should also know the location of the highway.

• When purchasing a new home, it is recommended to create a detailed wiring layout so as not to damage its integrity during repairs.
• Draw up a plan before implementing the planned redevelopment. It is extremely important to take into account the location of electrical communications when any manipulations are performed even with interior walls.
• When hanging accessories, sconces and paintings, it is also important to know where the conductive wires go, otherwise hammering in nails becomes a cause of trouble.

To recreate the path of the electric route, it is recommended to use one of the methods for finding the places of the cliff, or ask the diagram from the previous owners if it has been preserved.

Elimination of a break in neutral and phase wires

Elimination of a phase conductive core is carried out according to the following algorithm:

1. The phase wire is de-energized.
2. With the help of construction tools, finishing materials are removed from the surface of the walls. It is important to free the area near the electric line by 10-15 cm.
3. The damaged core is separated from the mains. It is important not to touch the insulating material on other adjacent cables.
4. It is preferable to connect copper conductors by soldering. It is also recommended to use heat shrink tubing or PVC tubing when refurbishing.

If the neutral cable was damaged, it must be disconnected from the bus and the phase conductor must be attached in its place. Further, the algorithm is identical to the restoration of the phase wire.