Jim Neal Posted September 20, 2022 Report Share Posted September 20, 2022 (edited) Can anyone recommend me a reasonably reliable cable/stud detector? I’ve had a couple from the DIY places and, to be honest, don’t entrust my life to them! I need to drill fixings in a house which was previously owned by a proper bodger, we’re talking cables chased in diagonally and all sorts!! Edited September 20, 2022 by Jim Neal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted September 20, 2022 Report Share Posted September 20, 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Neal Posted September 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2022 47 minutes ago, harrycatcat1 said: OK thanks. But from one of the many almost identical one-star reviews of the product.... Quote " This product made drilling difficult. Apparently I live in a house with metal walls. Everything beeps. The next time you use it, nothing will beep, even directly over a live cable. Very unreliable and adds uncertainty to drilling in walls. Seems to be a common issue reading other reviews. " So Harry and @Jaymo have you found the device reliable? I've already got two others that seem to be just as much of a lottery! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted September 20, 2022 Report Share Posted September 20, 2022 Got one from Lidls and it is really good, my lad put me onto it, hes a sparkie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted September 20, 2022 Report Share Posted September 20, 2022 58 minutes ago, Jim Neal said: OK thanks. But from one of the many almost identical one-star reviews of the product.... So Harry and @Jaymo have you found the device reliable? I've already got two others that seem to be just as much of a lottery! Well I am not a full time user of it but the bosch one recommended to me is very good. It found live wires where the one I bought first didn't detect. The thing I like is it makes different noises for different things, such as live wires, pipes etc. Like I say I am happy with it but I'm no expert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaymo Posted September 20, 2022 Report Share Posted September 20, 2022 Jim Found ours to be extremely accurate and reliable. As offered to Harry, if you wish to borrow for postage then let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Neal Posted September 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2022 4 minutes ago, harrycatcat1 said: Well I am not a full time user of it but the bosch one recommended to me is very good. It found live wires where the one I bought first didn't detect. The thing I like is it makes different noises for different things, such as live wires, pipes etc. Like I say I am happy with it but I'm no expert. 2 minutes ago, Jaymo said: Jim Found ours to be extremely accurate and reliable. As offered to Harry, if you wish to borrow for postage then let me know. Thanks to you both. I'll take a punt on it, then! Very kind offer Jaymo but I'll be using it enough to justify the modest outlay of purchasing one for myself It can always go back if I don't get on with it. It's just baffling when you read half the reviews saying it's useless and half of them saying it's the dog's danglies 😣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted September 21, 2022 Report Share Posted September 21, 2022 11 hours ago, billytheghillie said: Got one from Lidls and it is really good, my lad put me onto it, hes a sparkie. Hello, as above, not used yet but it looks a good unit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discobob Posted September 21, 2022 Report Share Posted September 21, 2022 I will ask the wife what she used when she found me Then buy something different because it didn't work 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udderlyoffroad Posted September 21, 2022 Report Share Posted September 21, 2022 10 hours ago, Jim Neal said: It's just baffling when you read half the reviews saying it's useless and half of them saying it's the dog's danglies 😣 You need to practice with them, over 'known' wires e.g. directly above a light switch that you've previously had the faceplate off to confirm the wire exits the back box upwards. Don't just wave them at the wall and expect clear beeps, you need a little 'feeling' for want of a better word. They are after all detectors, similar in function to metal detectors. Got the Lidl's Parkside one personally. 14 hours ago, Jim Neal said: I’ve had a couple from the DIY places and, to be honest, don’t entrust my life to them! To be clear, you shouldn't be entrusting your life to them, no professional would. If your house truly has been built by messrs Bodgit and Scarper, turn the power off before drilling (you do have a battery drill?). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Neal Posted September 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2022 10 hours ago, udderlyoffroad said: You need to practice with them, over 'known' wires e.g. directly above a light switch that you've previously had the faceplate off to confirm the wire exits the back box upwards. Don't just wave them at the wall and expect clear beeps, you need a little 'feeling' for want of a better word. With one of them I've observed every detail of the instructions and persevered as you say, detecting what I know is there. I just couldn't get any consistency out of it. The other went in the bin it was that bad for false positives! 10 hours ago, udderlyoffroad said: To be clear, you shouldn't be entrusting your life to them, no professional would Yes, my statement was a little over-dramatic and not to be taken entirely at face value! Don't worry - common sense rules the roost here. Unlike the gas utilities contractor who was replacing the mains pipe into one of my properties and put his drill through the external house wall..... directly below and dead centre to the electric meter. Guess what happened next? Clue: there was an ambulance and a trip to screwfix involved but not necessarily on the same day. The Western Power engineers who came to sort it out couldn't believe the story until it was told to them from the Cadent foreman himself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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