The electrical wiring in the room can be carried out in two ways - open and closed. Open wiring is the easiest when installing and laying electrical lines. It does not require wall chipping, so it is possible to lay cables in this way already after construction work. Open wiring is used infrequently. It can disrupt the interior of the room, therefore they prefer to conduct conductors with an external type in certain areas. Installation is simple and does not take much time, but certain rules must be followed.
Primary requirements
Wiring is a process during which all the nuances must be observed. Deviation from the rules may lead to an emergency and fire hazard.
The basic rules include:
- Do not install the cable for external wiring under the pipeline on which condensate is collected.
- Heat emitters must not be located in the area with cables.
- It is recommended to lay cables with additional protection. The choice of conductor type (hard, shielded, flexible) is determined by the operating and application conditions.
Junction Boxes for Open Wiring - If the wiring is laid in plumbing niches, you do not need to use junction boxes.
- Cable cores are connected to each other only in special distribution boxes.
- The distribution panel should be located in such a place that the master, if necessary, had easy access to it. When used in a humid room, gaskets are installed on the cover for added tightness.
Before installation, the wires must be checked visually. They must be without damage, creases, insulation violations along the entire length up to connecting to a power outlet, switch and other power points.
Cable installation
The conductor is fastened using plastic staples. They are purchased with the cable along its diameter. There should not be a large distance between the locking mechanisms, since then the wire will sag. Staples are placed on both sides of the cable and next to the connection points to the elements. When the telephone and electric wires are laid horizontally, the brackets are placed one above the other at a distance not exceeding 40 cm. If the conductor is armored, the minimum distance is increased to 75 cm. In the case of vertical wiring, the interval between the fixing devices does not exceed 1 m.
Conventional conductors with protection in the horizontal position require staples to be located at a distance of no more than 25 cm, in the vertical - no more than 40 cm. The interval between the clamp and the electrical element to which the cable is connected should not be more than 10 cm.
A power line may cross a non-electric pipeline. In this case, there should be a minimum interval of 3 cm between them. You can bend the conductors with a smallest radius of 8 cm.
Advantages and disadvantages of open wiring
An open method of wiring has its advantages and disadvantages. The pluses include the following factors:
- Easy installation.
- The integrity of the walls and ceiling is not violated, since their gating is not required.
- The ability to conduct electrical wiring after construction work during the finish.
- No need to buy additional equipment.
- Easy to replace wires and batteries in case of breakage.
- Cheapness. An electrician will charge a smaller amount for installing open wiring.
Minuses:
- Unappealing appearance. Vintage wire is not suitable for all interiors. Most often used in rooms in the style of loft, retro, steampunk. To create a beautiful appearance, you may need the help of a professional designer.
- It is required to take into account the technical standards of the room.
- The risk of damage to the power cable, especially if it is not protected by a corrugated pipe or mounting box.
- High fire hazard.
- The need for protection from external influences (temperature, UV, moisture). Especially relevant when wiring to the street.
After studying the advantages and disadvantages of open wiring, as well as its features, the landlord decides whether to choose it or better to prefer hidden installation. You should also decide: the work will be carried out independently or with the call of an electrician.
The main methods of open installation
Previously, the installation of open wiring was carried out only by attaching to the walls and ceiling on ceramic insulators. Now there are more ways, and the main ones include:
- Mounting on buttons or brackets. The wires are fixed on the wall using special brackets at a certain distance from each other. Usually metal strips are used. This is the cheapest and easiest way to lay cables. Disadvantages - insecurity and unattractive appearance.
- Installation in pipes. Cables are laid in special electrical pipes made of metal and plastic. They reliably protect the conductor from fires, mechanical damage. In wooden houses it is better to use a corrugated pipe. The diameter of the purchased tube depends on the total thickness of all the conductors that will be laid in it. When creating a scheme, it is important to consider the location so that the pipes do not intersect or cross.
- Laying in boxes. For this, durable electrical boxes, cable channels or skirting boards are used. Such structures cannot be placed on uneven walls, unlike corrugated pipes. There are different types of boxes, the choice of which depends on the type of room, type of walls, operating conditions and other indicators. Such frame boxes are equipped with snap-on covers, making them easy to open and remove. They have a stylish design (antique, retro), different colors (black, white, color) and are convenient to install sockets and switches.
All described installation options have a similar installation algorithm. The complexity is also approximately the same in all cases.
Mounting technology
Installation of electrical wiring in an open way is carried out according to the following algorithm:
- Create a project. The number and location of sockets, switches, boxes and other elements is determined.
- Purchase related materials. They must be suitable for performance, safety requirements, room decor, be antistatic. Depending on the interior design, you can use twisted retro wire. Outdoor products must be adequately protected.
- Mounting boxes.
- Wiring. The twisted wire is laid either in the case, or fixed with brackets, depending on the method chosen.
The final step is to supply electricity and check for proper operation.
Be sure to pay attention to the choice of base material. The choice of mounting devices depends on it. On a tree, boxes are attached with screws, on brick or concrete - on dowels, panels and boards - butterfly fasteners.
Common mistakes
External wiring is simpler than closed, but wizards make some common mistakes. The most popular are the following:
- The lack of a structured scheme. If you do not think about the internal wiring of the twisted cable for open wiring in advance, the reliability and convenience of the entire assembled system decreases.
- Selection of substandard materials. Safety in the home directly depends on the quality of wires and boxes, so it is important to give preference to proven products. You can buy everything at a professional building materials and electrical equipment store. You should choose well-known brands that are responsible for the quality of the goods and have the appropriate licenses.
- Purchase of wires without stock. Incorrect calculation of the cross-section of the electric cable for outdoor installation without an additive of 20% can lead to overloads and fire.
- Connect powerful electrical appliances to a common outlet, not via a separate cable. Even when installing a professional outlet designed for increased power, the wiring may not cope with the load.
The combination of copper and aluminum leads to rapid corrosion of metals - Wire connection twisted. This method is strictly prohibited by the PUE, so it is better to use the terminals.
- Contact copper and aluminum wires. These materials have different properties, so when you try to connect them, the contact will be unreliable and will quickly collapse.
- Incorrect junction box location. They are placed 20 cm below the ceiling to reduce the risk of accidental damage.
- Lack of grounding.
- Installation of sockets and switches in places where it is difficult to reach the hand of any tenant of the apartment.
Compliance with safety precautions and strict adherence to the installation algorithm will help the master to make a safe and beautiful outdoor wiring in the house.
