I am installing a ceiling light in my German apartment. I bought a Spannungsprüfer to test for live wires. And I bought a Leitungsfinder to locate the live wires. Yes, I know it’s technically better to use an electrician. I would like to learn how to do this properly.
I realize that the Leitungsfinder works when I check for wires on my walls. I can locate the wire locations when I search around outlets and light switches. However, it seems that the ceiling is too thick? I cannot locate the wires. The device doesn’t indicate anything I realize.
When my brother thought he got the Leitungsfinder to work, he started drilling holes to install the light. The first hole went in fine with an anchor, but then we ran into trouble with the second hole. We seemed to have found metal. We assume it’s the metal housing for the electricity around the wires. We tried drilling an inner hole, and it seemed to go in too easily and that was concerning too. So we stopped.
I don’t want to gamble and drill more holes until we understand what this is. The other problem is that this is a hallway light that had two light switches. So I’m not sure what directions to even expect.
Has anyone had issues with locating live wires in their ceiling using their Leitungsfinder?
Does anyone know what this metal is exactly?
I know what the interior of American walls looks like, but I’m not entirely sure about German walls or ceilings. If this is not the right subreddit, would you please point me to a better one?
Many thanks in advanced!
by 5ThinkingCats
3 comments
In Germany, wires aren’t usually laid with metal housing. You might be hitting a pipe or steel reinforcements.
Many Leitungsprüfer find only wires that are currently powered on, so it’s only partly useful. Are you sure yours can find wires without power and pipes?
In my apartment, the ceiling is plasterboard, so very easy to drill and hollow after a centimeter or two. Yours sounds similar to mine as well. And now, when I Google “gipskarton decke” and check photos, some photos show them being installed on an aluminum frame. Mine is an older building so it’s installed on wood beams, but if yours is newer, this might be the metal you encountered. Also, seems like in these ceilings, power cables don’t run flush to surface, but a bit above the hollow space. This might be the reason why you can’t locate the wires.
Ceilings are usually steel reinforced in Germany. Google „Stahl Armierung“, then you get the idea. A wire is copper with a few milimeters in diameter surrounded by plastic insulation, if you hit that with a drill you barely notice it. The Armierung is hardened steel with 6mm and more in diameter. To get through that you‘ll need a good drill with a bigger machine behind it.