The First Step is to confirm if your Existing Cable is in a Duct or Metal/Plastic Piping ! Taking an Outlet off the wall ! Will show this !!.
If No Piping this means that a Groove has been cut in to wall ,cable inserted then Plastered over !. Means Cutting out Again !.
Always use a Metal Detector/Cable Locator to follow Cable Route !!.
Always Switch Off/Remove Fuses before Work ! The Mains Socket system should be Different from Lighting !!
In The UK we use the Ringmain system ! This means the String of Outlets Ends back where it Started at Fuse Box !!.
If you have Trunking/Piping you should be able to Pull New Cable easier !.
To Replace a Existing cable you will use the cable to Pull in New cable !!. Sometimes just Twisting New Cable to old ! Will not Work if Tight !. Solder Cable to Cable , each bit separate, to give Full Power !!.
If you think you may want to Pull another Cable Thru Later ! Always pull thru a String as well !.
If there is No Existing Cable & you CAN’T push New Cable Thru ! There are a few ways to do this !!.
1/ use length of Earth Wire ! Then Attach Cable & pull thru !!
2/ blow a Nut with string fitted ! Use this to Pull Cable true !!.
3/ you can get a Springgy orTape like for pulling thru cables !! Looks like a plumbing Deblocker Cable !!.
If you have to RipOut Plastered Cables ! Always Refit in a plastic pipe or Trunking ! You can buy tools for Cutting out for Trunking !!
Beware of someone that already Replaced a bit of Cable ! Where you can See It ! But the Rest in in old Metal Tubing & is Rubber/Cotton Covered Cable ! This go,s Brittle over the Years & could Short Out if moved !!
If your Cables are Plastic Insulated ! These are Post War & should be still safe !!.
In the UK the Cables were coloured GREEN for Earth BLACK for Neutral & RED for Live !. This is Pre 1970,s cable !.
We now use GREEN/YELLOW for Earth BROWN for Live & BLUE for Neutral !.
