Electrical wiring is one of the most important points in modern homes. When buying a home, during repair, in case of malfunctions, it is necessary to find out the condition. There are several ways to check the wiring in the apartment yourself.
How to ring a wiring
The easiest way is to contact a specialist. If you master the rules and techniques, you can cope on your own.
Safe wiring rules
Electrical activities require compliance with technical safety standards. In addition to maintaining health, the rules allow you to do the job quickly and accurately. Highlights include:
- blackout circuit;
- the ends of the wires must be secured with tips - “crocodiles”;
- when checking long wires, it is important not to touch them with your fingers;
- stranded cables are separated, stripped.
The last rule is important when working with circuits that are designed for high voltage networks. If the load is light, you can simplify the process.
How to check wiring at the laying stage
Wires are laid in special gates (recesses) or along the walls. Then comes the plastering and finishing step. Checking the wiring in an apartment or other room is carried out up to this point.
Mistakes are made by builders and electricians. In the first case, it is necessary to carefully monitor and verify the work. In the second - use the prepared scheme, make timely ringing wiring in the apartment (to plaster and finish). Checking the wiring begins with the following activities:
- visual inspection;
- circuit check;
- verification by a megohmmeter;
- ringing.
An electrician is one of the most important elements of any repair. Wiring of poor quality is not able to withstand a stable or high voltage.
How to ring the wiring with a multimeter
To ring the wires in the apartment, the easiest way to understand the scheme of work with a multimeter. If we assume that the electrician was originally installed in accordance with all the rules, the check will not take much time.
When the light goes out in the room, the first thing to do is check the condition. De-energizing the premises is the initial stage. Ringing the wiring with a multimeter is a quick and safe way to check the electricians in the apartment. Subject to the rules and safety requirements, this can be done independently.
What to check
With the help of a multimeter, they check devices - lamps, switches, sockets - and wiring. Measurements are carried out both locally and throughout the room.
How the multimeter works
On the external panel there is a display and a switch. The numbers indicate serviceability, the strength of the voltage. The following symbols are located on the outside:
- OFF - on / off;
- ACV - voltage (alternating);
- DCV - voltage (constant);
- DCA - current (constant);
- Ω is an indicator of resistance.
There are connectors for probes and for testing transistors.
Before starting work, it is important to correctly position the probes: black - COM, red - up to 200mA in VΩmA, above 200mA in 10ADC.
Open circuit test
A dongle is a way to find out if current is passing through wires. The multimeter is connected, the discharge is started. The device shows resistance. If there is no break, the device will beep and the screen will display zeros.
The resistance level depends on the cable length. There should be no contact between the wires of the multicore cable product - this checks the multimeter.
Conductor Integrity Check
You can track the integrity of the cable with a multimeter. In this case, the amount of current transmitted does not matter - the voltage either passes or not. Measurement error is not important.
The stranded wire is first separated, then checked with each probe. If everything is OK, the device will emit a sound signal, and there will be no short circuit between the individual cores.
If the machines did not work
Sometimes malfunctions appear due to a power surge and automatic shutdown of machines on the meter. If everything on the dashboard is on, faults should be found in the cartridge, lighting device and switches.
- Check the voltage on the machine.
- The device is tested for serviceability - they short-circuit the ends of the wires.
- Remove the lamp from the cartridge.
- One probe touch the base, the other - the center.
- If a signal appears and the value on the screen is in addition to 0 or 1, the device is working properly.
- Check the cartridge - disassemble the device, check the integrity of the contacts, wires.
- Check the switches - remove the protective cover, unscrew the bolts, pull them out of the wall; conduct inspection; the ends of the multimeter are connected to the contacts - if sound and value appear, the device is working properly.
Such a check will detect malfunctions in devices (lamps, sockets, and others).
In the case of automatic machines, it is necessary to ring the wiring in the apartment with a multimeter.
If the machine has worked
First of all, de-energize the housing by turning off the apartment machine. Perform the following actions:
- The screwdriver disconnects the conductor.
- Unscrew the bulb from the holder.
- Touch one probe of the conductor, the other "zero".
- If a signal appears, the electrics are shorted;
- You need to find the junction box at the top, under the ceiling.
- Separate the wires, check with probes, then again check the cables on the panel of the apartment.
If the signal sounds during testing from the shield to the box, then there is a problem in this area. If not, the verification continues.
Outlet Check
To test the outlet, any multimeter is suitable - analog and digital. The device will reveal the performance and voltage level. The meter is prepared - turn on, set the handle to alternating voltage. For domestic premises, the level of 750 Volts is suitable.
When three zeros are displayed on the screen, insert the probes into the holes (red on the left, black on the right). The standard voltage is 220 volts. The value may vary within 10% (according to GOST).
Wiring Condition Testing Technique
The check is carried out in several cases - after the initial installation of electricians, after the purchase of the premises, in case of malfunctions. There are several ways to check the wiring in the apartment. Everyone helps in certain cases.
Insulation Failure Check
The insulation layer - its quality and condition - has an effect on the operation of electricians. Malfunctions can occur during manufacture, transportation, operation. The main ways to check the electrician in the apartment for insulation:
- periodic, independent or with the help of professional electricians;
- automatic, through special devices throughout the entire technical cycle.
In the first case, a multimeter is used. A mandatory assessment of the external condition of all available cables. Insulation is checked through measurement and testing. In stranded wires, check for the absence of short circuits between them, connecting them alternately.
Checking the integrity of a single piece of wire
A wire break is one of the most common wiring problems. The reasons may be a lot, the methods of verification depend on which cable you need to examine:
- Cut-off (wire lies on the table) - touch the probes of both ends (parameters on “Ohm” or “Ω”, value 1000 Ohm). In case of a malfunction, the device will show EL or a very large number.
- Hidden wiring - the wires are de-energized, separated from the devices, the ends are connected with a separate wire to get a whole circuit for testing. Next, examine with a multimeter each.
When working with the cable (even without power), do not touch it with your hands or other parts of the body. Devices and probes are protected by special plastic nozzles, for which they should be held.
Short circuit detection
Knowing how to work with a multimeter and how to check the wiring in the apartment, you can find the place of a short circuit. Sometimes devices turn off for no apparent reason. It is necessary to find out the presence or absence of contact.
A short circuit is a connection of the neutral and phase wires without the corresponding resistance. Thus, it is enough to check only these two cables. In addition to de-energizing, they remove the switches, turn off the lamps, appliances. Check in a junction box or inoperative outlet.
Initial inspection after purchase
Checking the condition of the wiring is the first thing to do after purchasing a home. Even minor malfunctions can lead to short circuits, fires and other unpleasant consequences.
New building
In new housing, wiring is examined prior to overhaul and finishing work. First, the power of the devices that will be indoors is calculated, the cable section is determined, compared.
If the value is less than necessary, replace the wiring. Otherwise, overloads, short circuits, fires cannot be avoided.
An external visual inspection, compliance with the laying rules are mandatory. To check the wiring in the house, if it is already covered with plaster, you should use a multimeter. The circuit of the outgoing ends of the cables is closed, checked by the probes of the device.
Old housing
“Secondary” or older buildings are more difficult to verify. First you need to find junction boxes, find out the location of sockets, switches, lamps. The wires in the boxes should not be damaged, rust or other pollution is not allowed - such an electrician is changed.
Similarly, sockets and other appliances are inspected. The protective covers are removed, the resistance is measured with a multimeter.
How to troubleshoot
Troubleshooting is simplified if there is an initial wiring diagram. The plan is attached to the technical passport of housing. If not, a drawing is made - subject to the rules, the tracks run in a straight line (vertical, horizontal).
Regular ringing with a multimeter will help to identify malfunctions. It is not difficult to determine in which area the breakdown is. For example, if sockets and switches connected to the box do not work, the problem is here. If only one - a breakdown between the box and the outlet.
Modern technologies and systematic checks will ensure safety in the operation of electrical wiring in the apartment, increase the service life. The main thing is to follow the principles and rules of work.
