Self-installation of electrical wiring

Modern overhaul often involves the installation of electrical wiring in the apartment. The performance of such work imposes a great responsibility, since not only the correct operation of electricity consumers, but also the fire and electrical safety of the home depends on the quality of the functioning of the wiring elements.

Wiring diagram

Before proceeding with any wiring work, it is necessary to draw up its diagram. To do this, you need to follow this algorithm:

• You should start by drawing up a plan of the premises of the apartment, which should be made to scale with an indication of the dimensions. The subsequent application of all elements of electrical wiring to this plan is carried out with the distribution of consumers into groups, depending on their type and location.
• The total power of electricity consumers in the apartment is determined, as well as their distribution in the premises. This is quite easy to do if we take as a basis a similar wiring plan, for example, such as in the figure.

• The required amount is determined sockets in each room. If the future interior design is approximately known, then sockets can be arranged based on the maximum convenience of their operation. Otherwise, at least one such device should be provided for every 6 m2 of living space, in kitchens - for every 3 m2. You can not install sockets in the toilet. In the bathroom, their installation is allowed, but this can only be done using devices that have increased moisture protection. Such sockets are connected through an isolating transformer, as a result of which their galvanic connection with the general household electrical network is excluded. This solution provides the maximum level of electrical safety, but entails additional material costs.
• The location of powerful household appliances (more than 2 kW) is determined, such as electric stoves, boilers, hobs, dishwashers and washing machines, air conditioner groups, etc. For each of these devices, you need to draw a separate line that has a ground and is connected directly to the input electrical panel.
• The required number and cross-section of cables are calculated, nominal circuit breakers, RCD or difavtomatov. To make such calculations, you need to clearly determine the number of consumer groups, as well as their power.

Wire section selection

For the correct selection of the wire cross-section, as well as the nominal parameters of protective devices, you can use the following recommendations:

1. For lighting circuits, circuit breakers with a rated current of 16 A and a time characteristic of type B must be used.
2. For individual sockets or their groups, as a rule, switches with a rated current of 20 A are used.
3. To connect powerful household appliances, you need to choose a circuit breaker, the rated current of which corresponds to the power of these consumers. For example, when connecting a device with a power of 5 kW, a switch with a rated current of 25 A is needed.
4. It is desirable to connect all consumer groups through an RCD, as a result of which protection against electric shock is provided in the event of insulation damage. As for powerful electrical appliances, the use of devices that respond to the occurrence of differential currents is mandatory when connecting them.
5. The choice of the brand and cross-section of wires that must be laid for reliable operation of the wiring can be made using tables that clearly demonstrate what cable cross-section is needed to connect a group of consumers of a certain power.

In most cases, for the installation of high-quality electrical wiring is used VVG cable, having a cross section of 1.5 mm2 for lighting networks, 2.5 mm2 - for connecting sockets, 4 or 6 mm2 - for connecting powerful electrical appliances.

Features of the installation of electrical wiring

There are two main wiring options:

• Open way. Currently, it is used quite rarely, mainly in rooms where it is impossible to arrange hidden wiring. Wires are laid in cable channels or special boxes fixed on the walls and ceiling with self-tapping screws or mounting clips.

• Hidden. The most common way. To covertly lay wires, it is necessary to perform wall chasing. This method of wiring installation is associated with the performance of certain construction works, therefore, it is carried out simultaneously with renovation in the apartment.

When laying wires in the walls, they should be placed strictly vertically or horizontally, all turns of the wire are performed only at right angles.

Light switches are located next to the doorways at a height of 1.5 m or 0.8 m.

It is customary to place electrical sockets in rooms at a height of up to 1 m. It is necessary to pre-lay wires for sockets designed to power wall-mounted TVs, boilers, air conditioners, etc. If this is not done, then it may subsequently be necessary to lay external wires or use extension cords .

It is advisable to start work on the installation of electrical wiring by installing a separate electrical panel in the apartment. An introductory circuit breaker and one modular socket are initially installed in this shield. This solution allows you to turn off the voltage in all circuits of the old electrical wiring and at the same time use a power tool for work.

The procedure for wiring the electrical cable

The wiring in the apartment is as follows:

• Markup. When performing these works, you need to ensure that the channels for the wires, with which the parallel-connected sockets are connected, are located on the same level with them.
• Chasing walls with an angle grinder or puncher. The depth of each strobe is from 1.5 to 2 cm. In order to properly conduct wires in load-bearing walls, the strobes for them should not be made too deep, as this can lead to a violation of the strength of the building structure. To properly lay the wire, you should be guided by the following requirements:

1. distance to the floor is at least 200 mm.
2. distance to the ceiling at least 150 mm.
3. distance to door or window openings is at least 100 mm.

• Drilling recesses for mounting boxes for sockets and switches, as well as for accommodating junction boxes. To perform such work, special crowns are used.
• Laying wires in strobes. Such work is carried out with the power turned off on a common shield. Laying of wires is carried out using special fasteners or alabaster putty. At the same time, it is necessary to carefully monitor the absence of contact between the wire insulation and the metal parts of the building structure.
• Installation of modular elements of the electrical panel.
• Installation of mounting boxes. It is also performed with the help of alabaster. If plasterboard partitions are installed in the apartment, then special socket boxes with appropriate fasteners are used for them.
• In junction boxes, the wires are connected in accordance with the developed wiring diagram. It is extremely important to ensure high-quality electrical contact, for which soldering, terminal or bolted connections can be used. Any wiring connections must be made only in junction boxes.
• Installation of sockets and switches.It should not be forgotten that each switch must be installed in such a way that when it is turned off, it is the phase wire that breaks. When installing lighting fixtures, the phase wire is connected to a contact located deep in the bulb holder.
• Wall puttying with gypsum plaster.

Thus, the replacement of electrical wiring provides for a mandatory study of the issue, careful planning of the circuit, as well as the correct choice of the parameters of all its elements. If such preparatory work has been completed and a clear action plan has been drawn up, then it is quite possible to carry out the correct installation of the wiring with your own hands, while saving significant funds on the services of electricians.