The electrical wiring in the house can be carried out in a hidden and open way. In the first case, the wires are removed into the wall in specially made strobes. If the wiring is open, the conductors must be hidden with special cable channels from mechanical damage. They also protect a person from electric shock. Channels come in different types and sizes, each type has its positive and negative sides.
Types of cable channels
The wiring in the house and in the production is different. Both types of premises have their own characteristics, climatic conditions, dimensions, load, therefore, components should be different. There are the most popular cable channels that are applicable in everyday life and in industrial conditions.
Types of cable channels for electrical wiring:
- From plastic.
- From various types of metals.
- Plastic corrugated tubes.
- Corrugated metal pipes.
- Smooth rigid pipes.
Less commonly, cable channels made of other materials (such as wood) can be used. This is due to the fact that they have worse characteristics than plastic and metal products.
Plastic cable channels
The most common area of application for plastic products is the laying of information wires in offices and the creation of temporary open wiring. Plastic cable ducts vary in shape, material, and size.
Initially, cable channels were produced in two colors - white and gray. In shape they were in the form of the letter P or W. Now the assortment has been expanded, on sale you can find products of different colors and shapes for laying cables for various purposes. Triangular, in the form of a hemisphere, angular box are widespread. They have a cover, thanks to which the cable is conveniently laid, inspected and pulled out if replacement is necessary.
Non-combustible PVC or polyethylene is usually used as the material of manufacture. The standard length of one section is 2 meters. The width and height of the cross section is from 10 to 60 mm, but the manufacturer can make changes to the channel dimensions.
In everyday life, the most used are U-shaped cable channels. They are made with solid or perforated walls. The main advantage is low weight and low cost.
Fixing plastic cable channels to the surface
The mounting method depends on the material of the surface on which you want to install the channel. Fastening can be performed using collapsible and non-collapsible clamps. The first group includes dowel nails, self-tapping screws, metal staples. Fixed mounts are glued to the cable channels.
Additional details
For ease of installation, manufacturers release additional components. These include plugs, turning angles, tees and other mounting elements. Separate mounts for sockets and switches are also available. They are mounted in special elements that are fixed in the cable channel.
Advantages and disadvantages
The positive aspects of plastic cable channels include:
- lack of need to shtrobit walls;
- open cable for inspection;
- reliable protection of a wire against mechanical influences;
- light weight;
- low cost;
- fast installation speed;
- A wide range of shapes, allowing you to fit channels into any interior.
The main disadvantages:
- easy to hook the cable channel;
- the need to purchase additional accessories for quality installation.
Cable channels do not always fit into the interior. They visually take a few centimeters from the wall.
Metal boxes
Similar products are practically not used in everyday life. They are designed for heavy loads, which are rarely enough at home. The main scope is industrial premises with highways, consisting of a large number of conductors. To protect against corrosion, the ducts are made of galvanized steel. Section - U-shaped. There are perforated, stair and smooth trays.
Fastening is carried out using anchors or bolted connections. Bonding is not used due to the heavy weight of the product.
Advantages of metal boxes:
- the ability to withstand heavy weight;
- ease of tracking cable laying paths;
- ease of installation, verification and replacement;
- fire safety.
Disadvantages:
- not suitable for home wiring;
- narrow scope;
- It is not recommended to be installed in rooms with a high level of humidity due to the negative effect of water on the metal.
For installation, additional details are required to create turns and transitions.
Corrugated plastic pipe
Metal and plastic products are used on flat surfaces. But there are times when the surface has frequent bends and turns. The use of a large number of components is difficult and economically disadvantageous, so it is better to use flexible pipes that can be bent at any angle. Corrugated pipes are attached to ordinary clips.
Visually, a PVC corrugated pipe looks like an elastic channel with a circular cross section. Such products can be used for laying any cables.
The standard inner diameter of the pipe channels is from 16 to 32 mm. By appointment, there are light and heavy. The former are suitable for mounting electrical circuits inside buildings. Heavy corrugations can be used in difficult conditions and even under water. In addition, corrugated pipes can be equipped with metal probes. They allow you to push the wire into the tube itself without damaging it.
Advantages of plastic corrugated pipes:
- the ability to install on uneven surfaces;
- tightness;
- reliable protection against external negative conditions and mechanical damage;
- ease of attachment to clips;
- ease of installation and maintenance;
- fire safety;
- wide range of applications;
- the ability to install on the street and under water (depending on the type of corrugated pipe).
Disadvantages:
- Difficulty working at low temperatures. Lose their elasticity and break.
- Difficulty laying the wire in case of frequent bends.
If the surface has a large number of turns, it is easier to first place the cable inside, and then already perform the installation.
Corrugated metal pipes
Metal analogues of plastic corrugated pipes differ in the manufacturing method. Plastic products are a completely sealed one-piece device. Metal are rolled up from galvanized steel tape. It is in this property that the positive and negative features of a metal corrugated pipe are determined.
The advantages of corrugated metal pipes:
- High reliability and protection of cables from mechanical damage.
- Possibility of grounding a metal hose. This allows the pipe to be used as an additional electromagnetic shield. This property is especially important in the case of laying information conductors.
- Ease of installation.
Disadvantages:
- The pipe is not solid, which is why it is not tight. For this reason, usage restrictions are imposed.
- High cost compared to plastic products.
- Great weight.
- Immunity to freezing temperatures.
At home, plastic tubes are most often used to create common wiring. Metal are used either for individual sections of the wiring, or in production.
Smooth rigid pipes for electrical wiring
If you need maximum cable protection, smooth, rigid pipes are used. They are convenient to maintain, since when wiring the wires into the wall they give all the positive features of hidden wiring. In case of repair or verification, it is not necessary to shatter the walls - just pull the conductors out of the channel.
The advantages of smooth rigid pipes:
- Protecting a person from electric shock even in the event of a serious circuit.
- High degree of fire safety.
- Light weight.
- Installation does not require large expenses.
Disadvantages:
- Additional fixtures and details are required to create turns and branches.
- The difficulty of pulling wires with a large number of bends and turns.
The listed types of cable channels are the most common for installation in domestic conditions and in production. The choice of a channel depends on the specific case and certain conditions. You can buy a flexible cable channel for wires in any construction or electrical installation store.
