Installation of electrical wiring the apartment provides for the installation of modern electrical panels. A feature of such products is the acquisition of their equipment on a modular basis. That is, all devices that are placed in such a shield are unified for certain sizes and fastenings.
A metal profile made of aluminum or galvanized steel is used as a common fastening system. This profile is called a din rail. This product owes its name to the German Institute for Standardization (DIN), where it was developed. To date, this standard is generalized and is used in the manufacture of electrical products in many countries around the world.
The modular devices that can be installed in the electrical panel are circuit breakers, residual current devices, differential automata, electricity meters, various indicators and relays, terminal strips and, of course, sockets.
The modular design of devices placed in the shield makes it possible to place a very large number of functional elements of the electrical network in a limited space. This not only makes it possible to significantly reduce the size of distribution cabinets, but also significantly increases the convenience of working with them and ensures a high level of electrical safety.
The switchboard socket is an important element of the electrical panel or junction box, since any electrical appliance can be connected to such equipment with its help. This can be very useful when carrying out repair work and maintenance of electrical network elements located in the shield.
Unfortunately, in many switchgear, mounted back in Soviet times, there are no panel sockets. This often creates inconvenience associated with the need for work or simply a control inspection of equipment using various lights or carrying. Therefore, when replacing or upgrading wiring in an apartment, special attention should be paid to the competent arrangement of the switchboard, in particular, the installation of a switchboard socket in it.
Another area in which din rail sockets are very widespread is industrial enterprises and production complexes, where such devices are used to connect measuring instruments or electrical equipment.
Varieties of din rails
Since it is customary today to use din rails to mount a modular socket, it would be useful to familiarize yourself with their varieties, as well as installation and operation features.
As already mentioned, these products can be made of various materials depending on the operating conditions. Their dimensions are unified, depending on the manufacturer, din rails can be provided with holes or notches that make it easy to fix the product, as well as divide it to obtain the required length. In addition, the purpose of these rails decisively affects their size and shape.
There are the following types of din rails:
- Ω-type. The most common variety. For mounting most modular devices, a TH35 rail is used, which has a width of 35 mm. There are also similar reduced format products used to install terminals.
- C-type. As can be seen from the figure, the ends of such a product are bent inward. Unlike the previous model, these rails are mainly used to install terminal blocks.
- G-type. Products of this type, in appearance of their profile, really resemble the letter G. They are used mainly for fixing hardware clips.
Features of installing a modular outlet
Before installing each electrical panel, it is necessary to clearly determine the number and arrangement of all modular devices included in its composition. This is due not only to the need to correctly draw up a general power supply scheme for the apartment, but also directly affects the choice of the switchgear housing.
Each modular element has a well-defined size, which is regulated by the DIN43880 standard. In accordance with this document, the width of one module is assumed to be 17.5 mm.
Depending on the power, today two types of DIN rail sockets are produced. They differ primarily in size.
The design of each such outlet has no fundamental differences from the device of built-in or overhead models. Such a socket also has two working terminals, to which the phase and neutral wires are connected. Depending on the purpose, this device may be equipped with grounding contacts.
The only feature of such sockets is their clearly regulated shape and size, as well as the presence of a special latch that allows you to mount the product on a rail.
The figure shows the two most common types of sockets designed for installation on a din rail. These models, in addition to size, differ in the presence of grounding contacts.
Socket without grounding
This device is 1 module (17.5 mm) wide and very compact. To install such an outlet does not have to allocate a lot of space. A similar product is intended for connecting low-power consumers that do not require mandatory grounding, for example, a lamp or a soldering iron. Models with rated current of 6 and 10 A are produced.
Ground socket
A somewhat larger is the socket, which has a width of 2.5 modules. It is equipped with grounding contacts and is designed to power consumers whose metal parts of the case must be grounded during operation. Such devices include, for example, hand-held power tools. Models are available with a rated current of 10 and 16 A.
The main parameters that characterize such sockets are the rated voltage and current, as well as the degree of protection.
Within the two varieties considered, there are a fairly large number of design options for sockets designed for installation on a DIN rail, which are designed to work in different conditions.
Most of the devices presented in electrical stores have an IP20 degree of protection, which is quite enough to install them in a switchboard.
As for the interpretation of the designation of the degree of protection of electrical equipment IP, it is very simple. The first digit of the code corresponds to the diameter of the object from which this equipment is protected. The number 2 indicates that the body of the device is protected from penetration into it by objects with a diameter of more than 12.5 mm (human fingers or similar objects). The second digit of the numeric code indicates the degree of moisture protection. 0 corresponds to the absence of any protection against moisture.
If necessary, you can choose a product that meets higher protection standards. For instance, earthed socket Bemis 1/16A with degree of protection from the environment IP44designed for use in difficult conditions. The case of this product is made of durable plastic, it is reliably protected from dust and water splashes. This makes it possible to actively use such sockets in manufacturing enterprises.
The panel socket is fixed on the din rail very simply. To do this, you just need to pull the lower movable clip and install the socket on the rail until the lock clicks into place.After that, it remains only to connect the phase and neutral wires to its terminals.
Socket manufacturers
The quality of any electrical product significantly depends on the manufacturer. This fully applies to sockets designed for installation on a din rail.
To date, the leaders in the market for the production of electrical goods are the following brands:
- Legrand is a French company with over a century of history. Its main activity is the manufacture of products for electrical and information systems. Thanks to the opening of production in Russia, this manufacturer was able to firmly gain a foothold in the market of the CIS countries.
- Schneider Electric. This is a large French engineering company specializing in the production of equipment for the distribution and transmission of electricity.
- ABB. Swedish-Swiss company, which specializes mainly in the production of protective automation for electrical networks for various purposes. Today it is one of the leading manufacturers of such equipment in the Russian market.
- Bticino. Italian manufacturer whose products are of the highest quality. However, the price of such devices is also quite high.
All the companies examined offer their products at fairly high prices. Despite its undeniable quality, it is sometimes more expedient to purchase a device from a lower price segment. Manufacturers that offer such products include brands such as Makel, Anam, Lezard, Wessen, GUSI. Also, quite high-quality devices that are sold at affordable prices are products of Belarusian manufacturers.
Installing an electrical outlet in a switchboard is not only an excellent solution for ensuring the convenience of maintenance and repair of electrical equipment, but also does not incur significant costs in the process of purchasing and installing this device.
