[boxcarwilly]

Need to mount some display case units on both sides of an interior wall..1/2 dry wall+steel stud +1/2 drywall on the other side. Total width 5 inches. These cases can share straight through bolts as they will be identical position on opposite walls. My concern is are there electrical wires through steel studs. House is 11 year old block stucco..looks to me like a typical build ..Ron Hess was the builder.

[Kenswing]

Yes, there can be wires run through steel studs. But at least in our house the wires seem to be lower than where you'd be hanging stuff from. Drill with caution. lol

[Altavia]

Yes, here's a recent example.

[retiredguy123]

I don't think there is any way to tell where the electrical wires are located. But, mostly, they run vertically along the steel stud from the attic to an outlet or switch, and then run horizontally to connect to other outlets in the room.

[Tmarkwald]

Yes, there can be wires. Easy way to find them is a metal detector. But you can approximate based on the location.

The wires run through the prefabbed holes in the metal stud and are centered in the middle of the stud. What you can do is drill in one side only, then use a screwdriver and see if you hit a wire. There are also cheap USB powered inspection cameras that can be used.

[sail33or]

I would not drill completely through metal studs even though your cabinets are symmetrical on each side. (No need to risk drilling into wire).

Instead there are some great toggle bolts that will fit through a small hole. They open up in a way that spans the inside of the metal stud and will carry any type cabinet weight. I hung 3 Giant TV's on the wall this way.

Stop drilling as soon as you have penetrated the stud.

[Tmarkwald]

Originally Posted by sail33or

I would not drill completely through metal studs even though your cabinets are symmetrical on each side. (No need to risk drilling into wire).

Instead there are some great toggle bolts that will fit through a small hole. They open up in a way that spans the inside of the metal stud and will carry any type cabinet weight. I hung 3 Giant TV's on the wall this way.

Stop drilling as soon as you have penetrated the stud.

I'd agree with this. I did commercial electric for a few years and we used a lot of toggles through the steel studs to mount things.

[Mortal1]

Originally Posted by Tmarkwald

Yes, there can be wires. Easy way to find them is a metal detector.

the studs are metal and so is the wire...please explain to me how it will distinguish between the two. Thanks.

[villagetinker]

Originally Posted by Mortal1

the studs are metal and so is the wire...please explain to me how it will distinguish between the two. Thanks.

Wires are copper, studs are steel, there are detectors for each type of metal. Also, there energized wire detectors, I have one that will indicate an energized wire 6 inches away, so this type of instrument would indicate the presence of energized wiring but NOT the exact location. I agree with previous comments about using toggle type hangers and careful drilling of the studs.

[boxcarwilly]

USB powered inspection cameras....good idea

[retiredguy123]

I have been drilling holes in walls for 50 years and I have never damaged an electrical wire. Maybe I have just been lucky.

[Michaelk]

Keep in mind that the metal studs are only used in the non-loadbearing walls in the typical constructionand are not permitted to carry more than 200 lbs per stud per ASTM specification C645 which is part of the building codes. If your loads are more than this you may cause a problem.

[thevillages2013]

Originally Posted by boxcarwilly

Need to mount some display case units on both sides of an interior wall..1/2 dry wall+steel stud +1/2 drywall on the other side. Total width 5 inches. These cases can share straight through bolts as they will be identical position on opposite walls. My concern is are there electrical wires through steel studs. House is 11 year old block stucco..looks to me like a typical build ..Ron Hess was the builder.

You didn’t say what the total weight of your display is going to be but I hung wall cabinets in my laundry room with self tapping hex head screws . Screw should be max 1-1/4 longer than the thickness of whatever you are mounting.

[birdawg]

If your mounting a cabinet put a hole in the wall behind the back of the cabinet where it’s being installed you will never see it when there up.

[HiHoSteveO]

Understand what you're trying to do and your concern for what's inside the wall.
As I see it, that method will squash/crush the wall as you tighten. Those metal studs in the wall are very thin steel.

Have to agree with those that suggest going the toggle bolt method.
"Toggler" are the best I've ever used. Best of course is to bolt/screw into the center of a wood stud, but if that's not possible, those Togglers work great into wallboard alone.

See the Toggler video below.
SNAPTOGGLE Toggle Bolts - YouTube