Safety of housing is the main task that is solved at every stage of construction and design. A large number of fires arise due to problems with the wiring, so it is the electrics that need to be given special attention. The wiring must be reliable, serviceable, comply with the rules of the EMP and safety standards, and also correctly selected. To make an independent installation of electrical wiring, you need to follow clear rules and requirements at all stages of work.
DIY wiring
The laying of electrically conductive cables and wires begins after the construction of the roof and walls. You can perform the installation yourself if the master has skills in working with electricity, and he also has a professional tool.
If there is no self-confidence, you need to seek help from a professional. In the event of an error, a fire or electric shock may occur to family members.
To do wiring in the house with your own hands, you need to follow the instructions:
- Development of a cable management plan and arrangement of power points and electrical devices in the rooms.
- Calculation of energy consumers.
- Selection of appropriate conductors and wiring devices.
- Laying wires on walls and ceilings.
- Installation of junction boxes, switchboards, sockets and switches.
- Switching all electrical parts into a single power grid.
- Performance check, putting the assembled system into operation.
Each stage must be performed carefully and carefully. The slightest mistake can lead to negative consequences.
Circuit layout
Any work begins with creating a plan. The wiring diagram is created in advance, it must contain information about the location of the cables, their characteristics, power points, switches. Next, the markup is transferred to the walls. It is important to track that there is no contact with engineering systems (gas pipeline, water supply system). The availability of heating devices, as well as the height of the ceiling and the location of doors and windows, are taken into account.
All wiring lines must be laid vertically or horizontally. With this layout, the risk of damage to the occasions is reduced and the search for a non-working area in case of repair is facilitated.
The choice of wiring method
When a plan is created and drawn on the walls, you can proceed to the next step. There are two ways to make wiring in a private house with your own hands - open and closed installation.
With open installation, all cables are laid along the walls and can be seen. This method has its advantages - ease of installation, no need to ditch walls, ease of repair. The disadvantages are significant, so they limit the use of this type of installation. Highlight the risk of damage to cables, unaesthetic appearance, the need for high-quality insulation. If the house is made of timber and logs, only the open electrification of the house is used. In wooden houses, hidden wiring is prohibited.
In the case of closed wiring, cables must be routed in the wall in gates. A similar scheme should be designed at the initial stages of repair work. The advantages include reliability and safety of wires, invisibility to the eye, durability. Cons - the complexity of installation, the need to make holes in the wall, difficulties with repair. Also, a professional tool is required for gating.
Wire preparation
Cables, cords and wires are selected in advance according to the load that they must withstand. Typically, electricity consumers are divided into groups with similar electricity consumption. Separately considered lighting group and powerful equipment.
All conductors can be divided according to the material of which the conductive wires are made. Commonly used are copper and aluminum. Aluminum products are notable for their low price, fragility and fragility. Copper cables are more expensive, but their service life is longer. They do not oxidize, they are easier to bend, they are easier to spread and they carry more current.
Single and stranded wires are distinguished by the number of cores. For cottages and private houses, it is recommended to take just two and three-core products. Cables with two conductors are used for lighting, with three - for connecting electrical equipment and ground outlets.
The range of wires in the market of electrical equipment is wide, and users can not always immediately understand the proposed product. Therefore, you should use the recommendations for choice.
Products with double insulation should be chosen - for example, VVG or PVG with additional marking of NG (non-combustible). These are the most affordable devices for house wiring at a cost and characteristics. The sections are different, for cottages conductors with an area of 2.5 sq. Mm, 4 sq. Mm will be required. and 6 sq. mm.
Input cable
The thickest conductor should be laid on the input. Through it, the entire load from the energy entering the house goes, and then it gets divorced into different groups. SIP wires are usually installed from the pole to the electrical panel. This cable is mounted by a power supply company, and the owner of the cottage is engaged in laying in the area.
In the case of installing a shield on the street, a cable with a cross section of 10-16 square mm is required. If the house will be equipped with powerful electrical equipment (electric boiler, air conditioning system, powerful flow and exhaust ventilation), the cross-section must be increased to 16-25 square mm.
Grounding
In order to increase safety and protect a person from electric shock during leakage, a grounding system should be developed. All household appliances are connected to outlets with the conclusion to the ground. Grounding circuit can be done independently in a private house. It includes an RCD and a tap into the ground. The RCD is placed in the shield itself, and for the withdrawal, special fittings are selected, which are driven into the ground.
The entire assembled design must comply with the requirements of the PUE. The verification is carried out by the power supply service when commissioning the system. In case of violations in connecting the house to the network will be refused.
Residual current circuit breaker and circuit breaker
In addition to RCDs, other devices are used for protection - circuit breakers or automatic machines. They are installed at the entrance and to certain groups of consumers of electricity. In the event of an emergency or overload, the circuit breakers de-energize the line. This is the main difference from RCDs, which can disconnect voltage only when a leakage current appears. Differential automatic machines are more expensive and have a more complex composition. Externally, both devices are similar.
In most cases, one RCD is enough to protect. But if expensive and powerful equipment is installed in the house, it is better to purchase automatic machines in addition. Typically, a circuit breaker is placed on washing machines, computers, lighting group.
Junction boxes
An equally important component of home wiring is junction boxes. They are used to connect wires that are supplied from different sides, as well as their wiring. Mounting junction boxes allow you to reliably insulate the contact points of the cores, protect them from the negative effects, including mechanical, as well as prevent the spread of fire in case of fire.
Installation and switching of cables and structures
Wire switching is carried out in several ways:
- soldering, welding;
- terminal blocks with screw and spring clamps.
Soldering is the most high-quality, durable and reliable method of connection. But it has its difficulties associated with the need for a tool and the skills of a master.
Previously, strand twisting was used. This method is prohibited by the rules of the EMP. Application is possible only in conjunction with another method - for example, soldering or welding.
Terminals are one of the most common ways to create a contact. They are easy to use, inexpensive and do not require additional tools. It is important to choose the right terminals and clamps, as they are designed for different materials and different diameters of wires.
Connection of sockets, lighting devices
When turning on lighting devices and power points in a common electrical network, it is important not to confuse phase and zero. The appropriate conductors must be connected. Before making a connection, you should make sure what this or that core is responsible for. To do this, a check is performed using different testers.
Switchboard
The distribution box is the most difficult element in the cottage network. Installation must be performed by a professional, since all the currents for the house go through the shield. With minimal error, the risk of problems and malfunctions increases.
Final testing and commissioning of the system should also be done by a specialist. If this is not done, the inspection commission may find problems and will not give permission for electrification. In this case, you have to re-go through the entire process of creating a plan and wiring.
