Connecting an outlet is a procedure that you have to perform during construction, major repairs of residential, office and utility buildings. To carry out this event, there is no need to call a professional electrician, everything can be done with your own hands. The main condition for carrying out work on the line is strict adherence to security measures. You can connect devices only after turning off the power to the apartment. It is also necessary to familiarize yourself with possible schemes for connecting outlets and the rules for their placement.
Outlet device
An outlet is a device with which energy consumers are connected to an electrical network. Various types of products are designed for voltage 220 V, 380 V and current up to 25 A.
The device consists of the following parts:
- box - designed to accommodate internal parts and mechanisms, their protection from environmental influences;
- case - serves for fastening and connecting components;
- terminals - for connecting wires (clips or bolts);
- contacts (petals) - for contact with the plug of the power cable;
- clamping device (paws) - hold the body in the socket;
- cover - closes the inside, performs a decorative function.
Modern electric points are equipped with automatic stabilizers, residual current devices (RCD) and displays.
Common species
Manufacturers produce goods that have a wide range of applications designed for use in certain conditions.
By the number of consumers, products are divided into single and double. To create blocks of 3-5 points, the sources are combined into one system.
Regarding the ability to withstand the load, the devices have the following power indicators:
- weak - 1.7 kW;
- medium - 3.4 kW;
- strong - 6.6-10 kW.
The most popular in everyday life are products designed for voltage of 230 V and current strength of 16 A. Z
According to the level of protection against electric shock, products are divided into ordinary and with grounding. Protected outlets have external contacts that are output to a separate terminal to which the ground wire is connected.
Since instruments and equipment with certain properties are used in various spheres of life, the nests have the corresponding configuration.
The number of connectors is as follows:
- 2 - phase and zero;
- 3 - 2 phases and zero;
- 3 - phase, zero, earth;
- 4 - 2 phases, zero, earth;
- 5 - 3 phases, zero, earth.
An important characteristic is the level of protection of sockets from moisture. This indicator is marked on the product case with IP letters and numbers.
The classification according to the degree of protection is as follows:
- IP 0-24 - absence;
- IP 25-40 - from spray;
- IP 41-54 - against weak water flows, equipped with a cover;
- IP 55 + - absolute, have a tight cap.
The main difference between the goods is the way they are placed.
Way to install wiring and sockets
Depending on the material of which the bearing surface is made, a choice is made of the method of laying lines and mounting devices.
In accordance with the requirements of SNiP, the following installation options are possible:
- Inner. It is used in buildings built of brick and concrete. With sufficient thickness of the bearing walls, it is practiced in houses of foam blocks.Cables, mounting boxes and sockets are buried in the base and sealed with mortar. Commutations are hidden, if they are damaged, power is restored by opening the channels or installing a new line. Laying is carried out only in vertical and horizontal directions. The wrong option is diagonal. A similar approach to saving material, time and effort is prohibited by regulatory documents.
- Outdoor. It is used for electrification of buildings made of wood, wall blocks made of polyurethane foam and drywall. This rule is dictated by fire safety requirements and low bearing capacity of the bases. You need to know exactly how to connect the outlet in such buildings, so that the system is workable and durable. Cables and points are mounted on the surface of the walls openly or in channels.
Each method has its pros and cons. The choice is made on the basis of an analysis of all factors regarding the regulatory framework and ease of use.
Compound elements
The general arrangement of the electrical circuit in a building is the same for indoor and outdoor structures.
They include the following elements:
- Introductory dashboard. It contains fuses, junction boxes and circuit breakers. One or more lines come out of the shield.
- Cables. They disperse through the building to the end points, which are sockets and keyboard switches. Powerful devices (water heaters, electric stoves) are recommended to be connected directly to the bags. The type of cable is determined based on the maximum load created by household appliances. For wiring to the ceiling, there are enough lines with veins with a cross section of 1-1.5 mm. For the lower level, this indicator should be at least 2.5 mm.
- Sockets. Depending on the operating conditions, devices with two or three terminals are selected. Grounding sockets should be installed in the bathroom and in the kitchen. Where the use of powerful equipment is not planned, it is possible to mount devices with phase and zero.
Junction Boxes for Open Wiring - Key switches Products can have from one to three buttons, some models are equipped with LEDs. To avoid additional work on laying the lines, combined devices combined with sockets are used.
- Mounting boxes. Designed for routing lines in each room. To connect the wires used tires, clamps, bolts with nuts or twists.
- Line and ground loop. A copper wire with a cross section of 10 mm or more is used as a conductor; the circuit is made of copper or iron profiles and fittings. The pins are driven into the ground by 200-300 cm.
The meter can be installed inside the apartment, in the entrance or in a special box on the street.
Type of connection
The choice of outlets in the house is determined by the type of wiring that is installed in it. In buildings of various series, cables with 2, 3 and 4 wires are laid. Labeling will help to understand what they are intended for.
The color of the insulation corresponds to the following characteristics:
- red (brown) - phase;
- blue is zero;
- green-yellow is the earth.
If all wires are colored the same, you must use the indicator to establish their affiliation.
Before connecting the outlet, you need to determine the location for household appliances.
Switching can be done in the following ways:
- If the earth is there, but not connected, zero and phase are screwed on, the yellow-green wire is unbent and insulated.
- Two phases are suitable - both cores are twisted and fastened to one contact or one of them is transferred to an adjacent device.
- Three phases. The option is the same - by wires to the points, zero connects three contacts.
Disconnection of sockets is carried out in cases where it is necessary to replace the product or carry out its maintenance - to clean the contacts, tighten the bolts, fix it more tightly in the box.
At what height should the sockets be installed
Electric points can not be installed wherever you want, based on the aesthetic or practical side of the issue.
The following standards for the placement of devices:
| An object | Distance (cm) |
| Floor | 20-120 |
| Doorways | 100 |
| The angles between the walls | 80 |
| Gas pipes | 50 |
| Water and sewer pipes | 60 |
| Heating appliances | 100 |
| Gas and electric stoves | 30 |
| Water taps | 40 |
Failure to comply with these parameters may result in a fine from the inspector or a complete disconnection of housing from the network.
Schemes for connecting outlets to the electrical network
When conducting electricity to the house, the following schemes are used:
- Parallel (loopback). It is used in cases where the property is equipped with a three-phase line. A separate wire is connected to each point, through which electricity is supplied. This option is convenient in that you can simultaneously connect to several powerful consumers at once.
- Consistent. Used in homes where the cable consists of only two cores - phase and zero. In such cases, jumpers are installed between the terminals with single poles. It should be remembered that the total load cannot exceed the power of one point.
Regardless of the choice of circuit, you need to use wires whose cross section corresponds to peak loads.
Installation process
Installation of outlets is a procedure that is carried out in a certain sequence.
First you need to prepare such tools and materials:
- hammer drill;
- Bulgarian;
- level;
- roulette;
- indicator;
- knife;
- pliers;
- screwdriver;
- pencil;
- putty knife;
- cement;
- sand;
- primer for concrete.
When installing the electrical system, you must use safety glasses, gloves and a respirator.
Preparatory work
The volume of this process depends on whether a new cable will be laid or all will be limited to replacing the outlet.
The sequence of actions when electrification of a building under construction or its overhaul is carried out:
- Charting and marking. It should be calculated so that the holes for the mounting boxes are on the same vertical or horizontal line.
- Wall chipping. Grooves for the cable and round holes for the points are made. After drilling, they are interconnected to install jumpers. Apertures are cleaned of dust and crumbs, treated with a primer. If the external method is chosen, channels or fasteners are installed - plastic boxes, metal or plastic pipes, ceramic insulators, strings.
- Installation of sockets. The caps break off from them, after which the products are coated with a solution and inserted into the holes. Excess putty is removed.
When the mortar completely hardens, it is polished flush with the surface of the wall.
Connecting wires to a power outlet
To prevent damage to the cable during shrinkage of the building or contact with moisture, it should be pulled into a corrugated plastic tube. After that, the channel is walled up in the gates. The ends of the cable are led into the mounting boxes so that there is enough material left for the connection. Further actions are carried out after complete hardening of the solution.
Power outlet
Before connecting the wires to the outlet, you need to make sure that they are not energized. To completely protect yourself, you must turn off the opening switch.
After that, you need to perform the following steps:
- Remove the insulation from the cable, and then from the cores, exposing the metal by 10-12 mm.
- If the wire is copper, twist it and solder it. This will prevent its oxidation.
- Connect the ends of the cores to the holes on the terminals. Tighten bolts as tight as possible.
- Insert the socket housing into the mounting box.After leveling, fix it with the presser feet.
- Install cover. Check the fastening with a fork - insert it and pull it out of the connectors several times.
After that, you can supply electricity and use the point.
How to connect the outlet from the outlet
The most popular way to connect outlets is to install jumpers between their terminals.
The advantages of this solution are as follows:
- ease of implementation;
- no need to ditch the walls for a new line;
- speed of carrying out;
- minimum consumption of materials.
Cons are also available:
- a large number of compounds contributes to the heating of the chain;
- there is a risk of wires leaving and short circuit;
- you still have to drill and cut - you need to make channels and a hole for the glass.
If you carefully perform each stage of the work, the design will be strong and safe.
Features of connection in three- and four-wire networks
The presence in the house of a network of three wires means that in addition to phase and zero, there is a ground line. To connect to such wiring, you need to purchase sockets with three terminals. Phase and zero are attached to the extreme contacts, and the earth is in the middle.
Four wires mean that two phases are fed into the house. The second conductor can be used to directly connect double points. When connected to a single socket, it is advisable to isolate and bend the second phase, since two wires will not enter one hole.
