Mystery Wire Cut - what to do?
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Mystery Wire Cut - what to do?
While running a cable TV wire from the Attic, through a second floor room and down to the kitchen I had a particular struggle drilling from the 2nd floor down to the 1st floor. Even using a 16 inch drill bit extension I was not coming through on the other side.
I tried to drill up from the kitchen, expecting the two holes to intersect. It didn't go well. The end of that story is that I ended using a different approach from outside the house and the TV is installed.
The problem is that during the struggle I think I may have cut a wire of some sort. It was during the drilling up from the 1st floor part. It is an exterior wall. There appears to be a space above the top plate and when I peer through the hole that I drilled the I see what looks like the end of a wire in that space. It's a very small, single silver wire. I can't get a good look at it because of the angle, etc. I doesn't look like it could possibly be an electrical wire.
Everything in the house still works fine - electrical, telephones, etc.
I know that you are supposed to map out all of the wiring in your home before drilling and fishing wires - but since my basement is completely fixed it is pretty much impossible for me do.
Does anyone have any idea what this wire might be? How can I confirm it? What can I do about it?
I tried to drill up from the kitchen, expecting the two holes to intersect. It didn't go well. The end of that story is that I ended using a different approach from outside the house and the TV is installed.
The problem is that during the struggle I think I may have cut a wire of some sort. It was during the drilling up from the 1st floor part. It is an exterior wall. There appears to be a space above the top plate and when I peer through the hole that I drilled the I see what looks like the end of a wire in that space. It's a very small, single silver wire. I can't get a good look at it because of the angle, etc. I doesn't look like it could possibly be an electrical wire.
Everything in the house still works fine - electrical, telephones, etc.
I know that you are supposed to map out all of the wiring in your home before drilling and fishing wires - but since my basement is completely fixed it is pretty much impossible for me do.
Does anyone have any idea what this wire might be? How can I confirm it? What can I do about it?
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To Satellite Guy: it's a good thought but the thermostat is on the other side of the house and there is no alarm.
To BobF: house is 20 years old.
The wire is silver or maybe darker but definitely not copper. It's really hard to see because the hole is down below the crown molding - so I'm not positive as to whether there is insulation or it is a bare wire but tapping on it makes a tin-ey sound that makes me think that it is bare.
To StickStan: it's definitely not a nail because it bounces when I tap on it. I can only see one end of it but it is possible that there is another end that I can't see.
I know I may have to knock a larger hole to check it out - I'm just trying to avoid that - I have a nice small 3"x3" hole now and bigger will be more noticable.
Of course, no size hole is worth a risk to life and limb....
To BobF: house is 20 years old.
The wire is silver or maybe darker but definitely not copper. It's really hard to see because the hole is down below the crown molding - so I'm not positive as to whether there is insulation or it is a bare wire but tapping on it makes a tin-ey sound that makes me think that it is bare.
To StickStan: it's definitely not a nail because it bounces when I tap on it. I can only see one end of it but it is possible that there is another end that I can't see.
I know I may have to knock a larger hole to check it out - I'm just trying to avoid that - I have a nice small 3"x3" hole now and bigger will be more noticable.
Of course, no size hole is worth a risk to life and limb....
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Ok 20 yo house rules out the old type of wiring. Its not electrical - you'd be able to tell if it was.
I don't think its phone wire either. Phone wire has at least 4 wires with colored insulation inside gray insulation.
Thermostat wiring usually runs down an inside wall, not an outside wall.
It could be for a doorbell or burglar/fire alarm system.
I don't think its phone wire either. Phone wire has at least 4 wires with colored insulation inside gray insulation.
Thermostat wiring usually runs down an inside wall, not an outside wall.
It could be for a doorbell or burglar/fire alarm system.
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Ok - I'm going to chalk it up to either a mirage or nothing to worry about - there is no current alarm in the house and all current doorbells work. Maybe it's a vestige of some old install.
Thanks for your help.
Thanks for your help.