simple TV coax DIY leads to electricity issues??..

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › simple TV coax DIY leads to electricity issues??..

thetree13

16 posts

Geek

#113416 16-Jan-2013 14:42

Greetings and Salutations to all that can help
Who would have thought something as simple as running a new coax cable in the ceiling and down internal wall for TV could be so annoying..
Right, so running the cable has had its issues but its not the main problem anymore.
Having turned power off at the mains so I could take the elec socket out and see when the coax comes down went relatively smoothly, Its now when I have turned mains power back on and find my Dishwasher, Waste Disposal and one Power socket in my kitchen will no longer work.
My house is less than 8 years old so in the power board as far as I can see there are no fuses, just trip switches which (heres the weird part) none of have tripped???

Regards,

headache

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#745718 16-Jan-2013 14:45

At this point though there are a few diagnosis options, because you are not already aware of them, my advice is to stop, and and call an electrician.

ubergeeknz

3344 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Vocus

#745719 16-Jan-2013 14:47

^^^ Sage advice

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#745734 16-Jan-2013 15:16

Just to clarify, it could be something easy, minor, and safe, but you could also be looking at something that could kill you by touching something misconfigured or damaged.

Without a bare minimum of a non contact voltage detector and some basic electrical knowledge, the chance for serious injury/death is high, if your install of coax has caused damage to power cabling, or if there is another pre-existing fault that has been aggravated by, or happened in coincidence with, the install.

richms

28218 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#745740 16-Jan-2013 15:20

The other thing might be that there may be an RCD outlet somewhere with that bloody annoying no power causes it to trip "feature" that is just off now because of the power being turned off.

Had one like that in a freinds old house.

Richard rich.ms

Jaxson

8044 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#745762 16-Jan-2013 15:44

Sounds like you may have a RCD unit local to your kitchen area, in addition to/away from the main board. This will need to be reset, so I'd start by having a look around in the kitchen, under the sink etc for an RCD you can reset. Before these were moved to the main board you could install one at other locations in the house.

That's about as much info as you should be given. If you can't sort it from outside the walls etc, you NEED to get an electrician in to sort this. DO NOT go opening anything, or inserting anything into anywhere if you don't 100% know what you are doing. Nothing is worth getting electrocuted over, ever. If you don't know what you are going, get someone in who does.

Jaxson

8044 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#745764 16-Jan-2013 15:47

richms: The other thing might be that there may be an RCD outlet somewhere with that bloody annoying no power causes it to trip "feature" that is just off now because of the power being turned off.

Had one like that in a freinds old house.

Yeah I'd say that's what it is. We have one in our house and it's a laugh as it's linked to the garage door opener. Any power issue and the door won't come up as you drive in. That's when you hope you've got the physical house keys with you

thetree13

16 posts

Geek

#745797 16-Jan-2013 16:37

Thanks guys, just so you all know I am very safety concious and well aware of my limits. I should have also mentioned I have disconnected one power socket, taped the wires seperately and pulled it up to the ceiling cavity and will guide these cables back down with the coax attached.

Safety is paramount!

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

wongtop

565 posts

Ultimate Geek

#745809 16-Jan-2013 16:48

Technically I don't think you are allowed to do what you are proposing. LV signal like coax need to be seperated from power cables, either by a seperation (300mm springs to mind) or a physical barrier (e.g. on the other side of a stud). I don't think you are supposed to put coax and power down the same hole in the wall. This is because if the cable insulation is compromised your coax will nicely distribute 230V around the house which is likely to result in a nasty surprise. There are also potential interference issues.

cyril7

9061 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#745810 16-Jan-2013 16:49

thetree13: Thanks guys, just so you all know I am very safety concious and well aware of my limits. I should have also mentioned I have disconnected one power socket, taped the wires seperately and pulled it up to the ceiling cavity and will guide these cables back down with the coax attached.

Safety is paramount!

Hi, so you have pulled a ELV RG6 coax cable down a hole in the top plate that is shared with a LV TPS run, and is in a common wall cavity with further unknown seperation between ELV and LV.

You do realise that is illegal and directly fails AS/NZ3000-2007 section 3.9.8.4 (c)!

Cyril

ubergeeknz

3344 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Vocus

#745822 16-Jan-2013 17:12

Mr. tonyhughes earlier advice is proving to be very sound indeed.

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#745879 16-Jan-2013 19:14

There is just so much at stake here including safety, best practice, and legislation.

This needs a qualified sparky.

cyril7

9061 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#745881 16-Jan-2013 19:16

tonyhughes: There is just so much at stake here including safety, best practice, and legislation.

This needs a qualified sparky.

Who can loose his license to practice, and receive other financial persecution if he did what you just did.

Cyril

thetree13

16 posts

Geek

#745885 16-Jan-2013 19:29

Thanks all. I will be consulting a friend of mine who is... You guessed it, a qualified sparky !
Just a quick question re legislation: my house was built in 2007 and the place where i have pulled the coax up from which is where the TV was originally has power socket cables running down with it for the socket next to the aerial plug i the wall. When was this law passed re distance between elec and coax?

Thanks once again for all who helped..

cyril7

9061 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#745889 16-Jan-2013 19:37

Hi, AS/NZ3000-2007 was issued in .....................2007, but the separation requirement has been there from way before that, we are talking 15yrs or more.

I work in an industry where we are managing data and electrical installers who flaunt this law daily, and the ELWB (electrical wiring board) are now taking note and persecuting these electricians who are placing the public safety at risk.

Cyril

richms

28218 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#745937 16-Jan-2013 20:49

yet you still see installs where the extra switch mechs are swapped for a crappy tv coax passthru.

Richard rich.ms

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5