In any family, situations often arise when it is necessary to de-energize a separate room or the entire room. The event may seem simple at first glance, but this opinion is often erroneous. There are many nuances that are characteristic of old-built houses, where internal communications and shields are in a worn and neglected condition. Not knowing how to turn off the electricity in the apartment correctly, you can get into an unpleasant situation or pay with your life for a mistake.
Why disconnect electricity
Disconnecting the power supply involves a break in the phases and the neutral wire, made manually using the devices installed on the line. This is not about switches or sockets with toggle switches. Turning off involves a complete lack of power on the input cable coming from the common shield on the landing. At the same time, the network does not have not only voltage, but also random stray currents that occur when the measuring and protective devices are not connected correctly.
The decision to turn off the lights in the apartment is made voluntarily or under pressure of circumstances.
Reasons to turn off the electricity may be the following:
- A trip on vacation. Eliminates the risk of short circuit and fire due to old wiring or in case of flooding by neighbors from above. In addition, after a lightning strike, household appliances connected to the network may break.
- An emergency occurs when sparking in sockets or smoke from the melting insulation of wires is observed.
- Replacing or checking the meter when these procedures are followed by removal of the instrument.
- Survey, maintenance and repair of communications. Partial line replacement.
- Overhaul in Khrushchev when the dismantling of the old and the installation of new wiring.
Before you turn off the electricity in the apartment in the dashboard at the entrance, you should get access to its internal contents. In some houses, keys are held by persons in charge who do not give them to anyone. Therefore, it is necessary to solve the issue of power outages in the shield in advance. The corresponding line on public property is specified in the contract.
How to find the right machine
In old buildings, the guards are in poor and emergency condition. If electricians do not mark lines and devices, it is extremely difficult to find their direction.
Options for action:
- Try using a flashlight to find previously written inscriptions that are partially erased or dusted.
- Track cable direction. On sites where there are 2-3 apartments, it is not difficult to calculate your wire.
- By increasing and decreasing the load, determine your device by the frequency of rotation of the disk or the blinking of the indicator.
- Find your meter by the serial number specified in the contract.
- Call a specialist and ask him to show his machine.
Do not experimentally identify your device. This can cause complications in relations with neighbors who might be doing important work on the computer at that time or cooking on an electric kitchen appliance.
How to safely turn off the electricity in the shield
Since not all apartments are equipped with common electronic systems, you can find a wide variety of power-off devices at the entrance.
Depending on their type, you can turn off in the following ways:
- Stopper without a button (manual). Both products are simply twisted out of the nests. Taking the opportunity, you can change the fuses in them and remove the bugs.
- Automatic plug (with buttons). The power is interrupted by pressing the small red buttons. In this case, the white button should rise with a characteristic click.
- Circuit breaker with toggle keys. Both toggle switches are lowered.
Do not manipulate the terminals. After de-energizing, check the mains voltage, as the devices may not work.
What to do if there is an RCD in the shield
Due to worn communications and an unstable level of current supplied to the house, protective disconnect devices (RCDs) are installed. These products stabilize the voltage, turn it off at a high load level, short circuit and punching on the body of household appliances in the absence of grounding.
To turn off the light in the apartment, if there is an RCD in the shield, you just need to turn off the device using the toggle switch specially designed for this. There is no need to remove the device or disconnect wires from it.
Safe power off
Gaining access to the access panel requires the observance of accuracy and caution. One awkward movement can cause major troubles and troubles.
The following points should be noted:
- If it is not possible to determine your bag, act at random only after the neighbors on the site have been warned. This will allow them to complete important matters and prepare for a blackout.
- You should put a separate switch inside the apartment, even if such a device is available in the shield. This will allow you to interrupt the energy supply when you need to switch to the mode of conservation of housing. It is possible that someone can arbitrarily connect power to the shield.
- It is forbidden to use home-made protection or interrupt devices, to put fuses in plugs, whose power is designed for industrial load. This leads to fires due to a short circuit, when the wire does not burn, and the supply of energy to the housing continues.
In all cases, it is better to coordinate your actions with the board of the house.
If the machine is in the stairwell, and the meter is in the apartment
This is a common occurrence in homes where the doors to the entrance are not equipped with combination locks or intercoms. People spend money and transfer counters to apartments for safety, since attackers often steal metering devices from open shields.
To turn off the housing, it is enough to unscrew the plugs from the sockets, if the device has such a design. When the device is electronic, and in the entrance there is a separate machine, the power is turned off through it. Next, you need to put an observer at the bag for the period of work to prevent its unauthorized inclusion when people are working on the line. Another option is to disconnect the input cable wires from the terminals of the machine. It must be remembered that it is impossible to carry out such manipulations with the counter, since independent tearing of seals entails a large fine.
Security measures when disconnecting an apartment from power supply
In case of inept handling and negligence, electricity is a deadly threat to human life, a fire hazard to buildings and structures.
During electrical work, the following safety measures must be observed:
- in order to avoid electric shock, all manipulations should be carried out while standing on a dielectric rug;
- Do not touch bare wires with your hands;
- use tools with a degree of protection of 1 kW;
- Do not carry out live work;
- remember the location of the wires in the terminals;
- at the slightest risk of outside interference, arm the machine.
When disconnecting, it is advisable to wear mounting gloves to avoid accidentally touching live wires.
When not to interfere with the visor
There are a number of cases where you should not open the shield and carry out any manipulations in it.
- The door is sealed, there is a warning sign on the prohibition of opening. Only the representative of the management company has the right to break the seal.
- Counter malfunction. In this case, it makes no sense to carry out any actions until the repair of the meter is completed.
- Damage to the junction box, which is responsible for wiring the apartment.
- Inability to access the machine due to the connected wires located around it, the accessory and purpose of which cannot be established.
With a competent approach, turning off the current in the apartment will not cause problems and complications.
