Wires from wall lights been plastered over

Question

My husband took some wall lights off the wall today and has basically plastered straight over the wires (they have not been turned off)

Is this dangerous? He didn't tape the ends of the wires or anything. I'm now concerned that it is not safe!

Please help!

Are the wires now buried behind the wall? That is not allowed. Or do you mean "some plaster/paint/drywall mud/etc. splattered all over the wires"? That is not so safe but quite common - in which case "turn off power, verify power is off, clean the wires, turn power back on" — manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact, Nov 07 '22 at 20:13
Or this? What is the best way to permanently abondon an unused cable? — isherwood, Nov 07 '22 at 20:41
Or this? How can I remove a receptacle and abandon the electrical outlet? — isherwood, Nov 07 '22 at 20:42
Thank you for the comments. They were buried behind the wall, I figured dangerous! We've just found them in the loft and pulled them out and disconnected them thankfully so all resolved — Sarah, Nov 07 '22 at 20:53

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 07 '22 at 20:27

0

Damp plaster will conduct electricity. You now have bare live wires embedded in damp plaster. It's dangerous.

answered Nov 07 '22 at 20:27

Simon B

how do you know the wires are bare? i would think if we're talking about the end of a romex an arc/creepage would quickly dry out the 1/3" of wet plaster and thus stop conducting. Like cooking a hotdog with mains; it shuts itself off when done. – dandavis Nov 07 '22 at 20:51
1

@dandavis Is that faster than a microwave? – crip659 Nov 07 '22 at 21:12
1

@crip659 not for 1 hot dog, but 3 or 4 in parallel would give it a run for the money... – dandavis Nov 08 '22 at 04:33

1 Answers1