Wiring in a corrugated pipe in a wooden house. Which wire is best for installing wiring in a wooden house - recommendations for selection and advice. Nuances of drawing up a power supply project for a wooden house

Despite their attractiveness, buildings made of wood have a significant drawback - the material from which they are built belongs to the category of fire hazard (it ignites quite easily and also burns quickly). Therefore, special requirements are imposed on electrical wiring in such houses. Moreover, if we're talking about about internal communications. What kind of wire do you need to buy for wiring in wooden house? Let us consider this issue in as much detail as possible and clarify important points.

Core material

There are no restrictions on this item. But experts point out that for indoor wiring in wooden buildings, it is advisable to choose products with copper conductors. It is much preferable to aluminum-based analogues.

  • Electrical conductivity is much higher. Consequently, line losses will be less.
  • Both designated metals are subject to corrosion (oxidation). But copper not so much. Why is oxide dangerous? In this layer, the conductivity drops sharply, the resistance increases, and as a result, the wire heats up.
  • Copper is stronger than aluminum, including in bending. Consequently, if there are breaks in the veins, the risk of possible sparking is practically reduced to zero.
  • Screw clamps hold the copper wire more securely. Therefore, during operation, the quality of connections does not decrease. With aluminum wires it is more difficult - you will have to regularly check the line and make “tightenings”, since the contacts (the metal is soft) weaken over time.

Note

There is an intermediate option on sale - wires with composite conductors, made of aluminum copper. This alloy optimally combines all the advantages of both metals, but the indicators are, naturally, averaged. When choosing such products, consulting a professional will not be superfluous, since you will have to take into account many factors and decide on priorities based on the specifics of the line and general scheme in-house wiring.

Insulation

Examples of wires and prices

It is hardly worth listing the entire assortment. Moreover, the prices of the same type of wires differ depending on the region. For in-house electrical wiring, the most popular products are those with a core cross-section of 2.5 square meters. They are used to connect switches, sockets and a number of medium-power household appliances - washing machines, air conditioning equipment and the like. Using this example, it’s easy to get an idea of ​​the cost. various types wires

*Price in Russian rubles per linear meter.

  • VVGng and its modifications – from 38.6;

  • RKGM – from 25.9;

  • NYM – from 42.

What not to buy

PUNP. This wire is still found on sale today, and is even still produced by individual companies. It attracts with its low price and is often used to connect sockets and household appliances. Unfortunately, not everyone knows, and dealers are silent, that this wire is prohibited from being used for indoor electrical wiring, since its characteristics no longer comply with the latest GOST.

These wires have copper cores, and their insulation fully complies with all the requirements for cable products for installation inside wooden house.

One of the most important measures when building a house made of wood is its electrification in compliance with the rules against fire safety. Typically, professional electricians are involved in installing the cables into the house and further laying cables to each point, although some homeowners tend to take responsibility themselves when doing this difficult task. To help those who decide to install electricity in the house themselves, step-by-step instructions accompanied by mandatory rules.

Rules for laying electrical cables in wooden structures

Before working out in a wooden house, you should study some of the features of this activity that are typical for buildings made of timber or logs. Electrification rules wooden structure differ from the wiring and installation of equipment performed in houses built from stone, brick or building blocks. The main difference is the flammability of wood, which requires special care when carrying out all work related to supplying power to each point.

The second feature of a building made from lumber is its significant shrinkage, the degree of which must be taken into account when installing electrical wiring. These features of buildings built from wood building materials dictate the following rules that must be followed when installing electrical wiring with your own hands:

  • preference is given to an electrical cable with a copper power core, as it is more flexible and less susceptible to damage from bending and stretching;
  • priority is given to the open (external) method of laying wires;
  • use of metal (non-flammable) socket boxes and distribution boxes;
  • holes in the walls for routing cables between different rooms and when entering the house, they are fenced off from the wood with metal cases (sleeves);
  • when installing electrical wiring in a closed way, the cable is laid only in a solid metal tube; the use of corrugated cable ducts for these purposes is strictly prohibited;
  • It is recommended to use a wire protected by several layers of non-flammable braiding, the outer diameter of which is at least 40% smaller internal section case or mounting tube;
  • special attention is paid to protection against short circuits (installation of automatic circuit breakers and RCDs), grounding of all electrical appliances with connection to the appropriate circuit, creation effective protection from lightning strikes;
  • The electrical distribution panel is mounted to a wooden wall using a reliable dielectric non-flammable plate.

These rules will ensure you maximum safety during the operation of the electrical supply, because more than half of the cases of fires occur in wooden buildings caused by problems with electrical wiring. Due to fire safety, to the detriment of aesthetic preferences, experts recommend using an open cable installation method when wiring around the house.

If, however, hidden (internal) laying of wires is preferred, the laying of metal cases for electrical cables must be done during the construction of walls. This is a labor-intensive process, which also requires accurate calculations when designing power supplies in order to minimize the likelihood of channel deformation from pressure building structures when shrinking the house. For this reason, they often give preference to open installation of wiring in a wooden house, as it is safer and more controllable during operation.

With the open method of laying cables, two options for installing wires are used. The first, considered somewhat outdated, involves fixing the wiring to special dielectric insulators, which are installed with a certain step according to the wiring diagram. This method is inferior in aesthetics, but at the same time it is the easiest to install, safest and least expensive in terms of material investments. Open wiring on insulators is now used less and less, preferring to lay electrical cables in special closed cases that are mounted on top of a wooden wall or ceiling. Laying wires in wall cable channels is convenient, functional and allows you to implement complex wiring diagrams that meet modern requirements for power supply of private houses.

Electrical design - highlights

Any complex installation work is preceded by design, including the installation of wiring in a wooden house. But first, it is necessary to coordinate the provision of electricity to housing with the organization providing electricity supply services, whose specialists must develop technical specifications - the basis for further design. At the same time, the total energy consumption and the set of necessary electrical equipment for introducing a power cable into the house are assessed.

For private households, according to approved standards, it is considered acceptable to consume electricity within 15 kW at a time, which corresponds to an installation at the input of 25 A. If consumption exceeds the indicated figure, it is necessary to install an additional electric current converter.

Design begins with marking the location of electricity consumers on the construction diagram. Some of them will be powered from the general network (lighting and appliances connected to regular sockets), others will be connected to the distribution panel via a separate cable. This is how devices with increased power consumption are connected (electric stoves, hot water boilers, electric heating boilers). Each of the powerful electricity consumers is connected through an individual circuit breaker.

Depending on the number of devices and their power that will presumably be powered from a particular room, the number of required sockets and the cross-section of the supply cable are calculated. In order to prevent overheating of the conductors, a cable with a core cross-section of at least 1.5 mm is used. Provide at least 2.5 mm to the sockets. The use of tees and electrical carriers is not recommended; it is advisable to install more power consumption points than the number of electrical appliances expected to be used.

Also, during the design, the locations of distribution boxes and their communication paths with lighting fixtures, switches and sockets are noted. In this case, the minimum distances from the laid cable to door and window openings (at least 10 cm), floor and ceiling are taken into account. The cable routing diagram, especially when installed hidden, will help in the future not to damage the wiring when carrying out various installation and finishing works.When designing electrical wiring, not only personal ideas about the convenience of the location of electrical points and cables are taken into account, but also requirements dictated by considerations of safety and expediency, which include the following rules:

  • It is unacceptable to connect power supply points along the shortest path - cables are laid only vertically and horizontally, forming direction transitions at right angles;
  • switches are installed in the range of 0.6-1.2 m from the floor surface, for sockets the permissible height range of 0.4-0.8 m is determined;
  • switches, sockets and distribution boxes must be freely accessible for use, inspection or repair work;
  • direct contact of passing wires with metal objects and with each other is excluded (the distance between adjacent cables should not be less than 50 mm).

The connection of copper and aluminum conductors, if any, is prohibited by twisting. To avoid rapid oxidation of such contacts, it is recommended to use special terminal blocks.

Wiring - widely used methods and diagrams

Installation of wiring in a wooden house begins with choosing a wiring diagram and method of laying cables. But first it is necessary to install external electrical equipment, which includes an electric meter and circuit breakers. Typically, the meter and the main machine are installed by specialists from the power supply organization, further wiring done by hired electricians or independently.

It is recommended to install additional circuit breakers, through one of which the lighting is powered, the other breaks the circuit going to the sockets, the third - for electrical appliances located outside the building . Individual machines are installed on cables that supply electricity to utility and technical buildings, as well as high-power electrical appliances installed in the house and powered using individual wires.

The main power cable is brought inside through a case mounted into a wooden wall and brought to the first junction box, where it connects to the next main wire going to other rooms. When installing open wiring in a wooden house, before routing the wires from the distribution boxes to the power consumption points, you need to install insulators (for the retro version) or lockable cases (boxes) in accordance with the electrical wiring diagram, designed to accommodate the appropriate number of cables. If the method of installing wires in boxes is chosen, the subsequent steps are performed in this order.

  1. 1. We put wires in cases fixed to the walls (fastening spacing 50-60 cm), one end of which is inserted into the distribution box, the other into the corresponding socket box. In the box we leave a cable reserve of up to 20 cm, in the socket box - about 10 cm. After laying the electrical wires, we close the box with a lid.
  2. 2. According to the wiring diagram and connection of electrical consumers in the box, we connect the wires. The easiest way is twisting followed by insulation. We clear all conductors from the braid by about 40 mm, twist them along the entire length of the protected conductors, and then insulate them with special caps.
  3. 3. More reliable way connecting wires - using terminal blocks of the appropriate cross-section. We strip the wires to about 7-8 mm, insert them into the corresponding connector of the block and tighten them with a screw. This connection method prevents sparking and oxidation of contacts.
  4. 4. Next, we connect the contacts of switches, sockets and lighting sources to the corresponding wires. We install sockets and switches in socket boxes and securely fix them with special unclenching “whiskers”.
  5. 5. Only after installing all elements of electrical equipment can the distribution boxes be integrated with each other and with the central power cable.

For wires supplying high-power electrical appliances, we lay separate boxes designed for one wire. The cable coming from an electric stove, boiler or other powerful electrical installations must be continuous and open only at an individual circuit breaker installed in the distribution panel. To install wires into the house for individual electrical appliances, you can use the same case as for the main cable of the main wiring. But at the same time, it is necessary to protect each conductor from each other with dielectric non-flammable material.

This is how it's done exposed wiring in wooden houses, and its installation is available for independent practical implementation. If you want to carry out wiring hidden in a building made of logs or timber, it is better to contact specialists, since this is a troublesome task, requires accurate calculations and involves a labor-intensive installation process with the installation of complex communication units.

Work related to electricity requires attention, compliance with rules and accuracy. Do-it-yourself electrical wiring in a wooden house requires even more attention: the material is very fire hazardous.

Therefore, when planning and installation, pay attention to the requirements and recommendations regulatory documents. If you have experience...

DIY wiring in a wooden house

Work related to electricity requires attention, compliance with rules and accuracy. Do-it-yourself electrical wiring in a wooden house requires even more attention: the material is very fire hazardous. Therefore, when planning and installation, pay attention to the requirements and recommendations of regulatory documents. If you do not have enough experience, it is very advisable to invite a competent electrician for a consultation before connecting, and even better before starting installation. He will be able to point out shortcomings and miscalculations to you.

House wiring diagram

According to current standards, when connecting electricity without a transformer, the power consumption for a private home should not exceed 15 kW. It is found by adding up the power of all electrical appliances that can be turned on at the same time. If the found figure is less than 15 kW, the input circuit breaker is set to 50 A. If the power is greater, another transformer is needed. Its parameters will be indicated to you in the project, since in this case you cannot do without it.

Where to install the input panel, requirements for the housing

Recently, representatives of energy supply organizations have been demanding that meters (and input machines, respectively) be installed on the street. This is done so that it is possible to control consumption even if the owners are not at home. But this requirement is not supported by anything, and, if you wish, you can install everything inside the house. But more often, in order not to argue with the inspectors, the requirements are fulfilled, and a machine and a meter are installed on the street.

For outdoor installation, the circuit breaker (AZ) and the meter must be in a sealed housing, protected from dust, dirt and moisture. The protection class for installation must be at least IP-55. To make it easier to monitor readings, there should be a window in the door of the electric meter box. For installation inside a wooden house, the requirements are somewhat lower: IP-44, but the housing must be metal.

Organization of entrance to the house

After the introductory circuit breaker, an electric meter is installed, then another RCD is installed - for an emergency shutdown of the power supply in the presence of a short circuit, and then the cable is connected to the electrical panel inside the house. The rating of the machine inside the house should be one step lower than that set outside. In this case, if there are problems, the machine in the house will work first and you will not have to climb the wall to the input machine installed there every time.

Single-pole circuit breakers are installed in the panel, to which wires are connected, diverging throughout the premises. They are mounted on DIN rails, their number depends on how many separate “branches” of power supply are required. To find out how many machines should be in your dashboard, count the number of required groups, adding two or three free machines “for development”. These will be the “branches”. Based on the quantity received, select the electrical panel according to its size.

We divide consumers into groups

When planning the electrical wiring diagram in a wooden house, all connection points are divided into separate groups (they are often called consumption groups). For example, all sockets on the ground floor are powered from one machine, a separate device is installed on the lighting fixtures in the house, and another one is installed on the street lighting. If some powerful electrical equipment will be used - a boiler, electric boiler, electric stove, etc. - it is advisable for them to conduct separate power supply branches and install personal automatic machines. Separate protection devices are also installed for power supply to outbuildings (if you do not want to draw separate inputs to them and install a separate meter, but only on the condition that the power of all electrical appliances does not exceed 15 kW).

From a safety point of view, it is better to make as many separate power branches as possible. This will increase the number of machines and increase the cost of the project, but will reduce the number of potentially dangerous places connections. It is in the places where conductors tap out that problems most often arise: the contacts oxidize, heat up, and then begin to spark. Therefore, it is better to make the number of connections as small as possible.

And, on last stage, it is advisable to draw a diagram of the electrical distribution throughout the premises on the house plan. In this case, it is easier to draw consumer groups in different colors. This way you can more fully imagine what the electrical wiring diagram in a wooden house will look like, and it will be easier to do it yourself. For example, everything may look like the photo below.

Types of electrical wiring in a wooden house

After installing the panel and installing all the necessary machines, you can begin wiring electrical cables in the house. There are three ways to lay an electrical cable in a wooden house:

Features of closed wiring in a wooden house

As you understand, closed wiring can be done at the construction stage or overhaul. Moreover, there are special features when laying it: all connections must be mounted in special metal boxes, to which there must be free access. They cannot be hidden under the trim, so their lids are matched to the color and/or they are tried to be placed in places that do not attract attention.

If hidden wiring in a wooden house is carried out not with a cable, but with insulated wires, the wall thickness of the metal pipes is regulated:

  • for copper wire with a cross section of up to 2.5 mm 2 the wall thickness can be any;
  • with a cross section of up to 4 mm 2, the thickness of the metal wall must be at least 2.8 mm;
  • if the conductors have a cross-section from 4.5 to 10 mm 2 the pipe must have a wall of at least 3.2 mm;
  • with a cross section from 10.2 to 16 mm 2 the wall should be no thinner than 3.5 mm.

When laying electrical cables, there are no requirements for the thickness of the walls of a metal pipe, therefore it is permissible to lay the cables (they have double and triple insulation) in a metal corrugation or, as they also say, in a metal hose. It's much more convenient and faster.

Laying a cable in a corrugated metal hose (metal hose) is much more convenient and requires less time and money

But in any case, since the wires will be hidden, access to them is extremely limited. Making changes to an existing network is troublesome and expensive. Therefore, before you begin installing closed electrical wiring in a wooden house, carefully check the diagram and do everything very carefully and scrupulously.

Rules for installing electrical wiring cable channels

When installing open electrical wiring or laying it in cable ducts, there are also rules. They relate to what distance from the floor, ceiling, corners and other structures they can be placed. All these standards are shown in the photo for greater clarity.

Selecting the cable cross-section and connecting it

The cross-section of the cable cores is selected depending on the planned load (in kW) and the core material. It is not at all necessary to do all the wiring with a cable with the same core. You can save money without compromising safety. To do this, a cross-section is selected for each section depending on the power of the devices that will be connected here. Their power consumption is summed up, about 20% of the reserve is added, and the cross section is selected based on this value in the table.

To connect the power supply in a wooden house, fire safety requirements are also added. The main thing is that the wire sheath must be non-flammable. Such wires have the letters “ng” in their names. To ensure the required degree of protection, double (VVG) or triple (NYM) cable insulation is also required.

To ensure that electrical wiring in a wooden house is done correctly with your own hands, it is best to use cables with multi-colored cores. Then you will definitely not confuse zero with phase or ground. Typically the colors are distributed like this:


If you buy a cable made in Europe, the colors are different:

  • “earth” - yellow-green;
  • “zero” - white;
  • "phase" - red.

Selection of sockets and switches

To ensure fire safety, sockets and switches with a metal mounting plate must be installed in a wooden house. First, it is mounted on the wall, then the external panel is installed. The use of plastic plates is permitted, but the plastic must be non-flammable and have an appropriate fire safety certificate.

Moreover, to safely connect most modern equipment, three-wire sockets with a grounding wire are required. Grounding is also required when connecting lighting, but this is often not done indoors. But for outdoor lighting, grounding is necessary: ​​here the operating conditions are much more complicated.

DIY electrical wiring in a wooden house: installation rules

In a wooden house, you must always remember that the material is flammable and in this case it is better to play it safe. Electrical wiring in a wooden house is done with your own hands in compliance with the basic rules:

  • First, the entire circuit is assembled and the functionality of each branch is checked (by a tester). We check each of the power supply lines for the absence of a short circuit to ground. Only then are the wires connected to the machine. We recommend that you immediately sign what is connected. Then it's easier to find faults. Having connected one line, turn on the power supply and connect the load. If there are no problems, great - you can continue. Turn off the machines (which goes to the already tested line and the input line), work with the next line. After all lines have been checked and connected (signed), the input machine is turned on. Then, gradually, one by one, the lines are turned on.
  • Installation of electrical wiring in a wooden house is carried out only in whole pieces of cable without connections or twists.
  • The wiring is done in stages. After laying a piece of cable, be sure to check the integrity of the insulation of the laid piece of cable. To do this, the conductors and insulation are “ringed” relative to the ground and conductors.
  • When cutting the cable, leave a margin of length - at least 15-20 cm. If the connection is incorrect, it will be possible to reconnect without over-tightening the cables.
  • Be sure to follow the colors of the wires.

Subject to these rules, electrical wiring in a wooden house, made independently, will be safe and reliable.

DIY electrical wiring in a wooden house

When developing an electrical wiring diagram for a log or timber cottage, one has to face many limitations and difficulties. To do it correctly, it is necessary to comply with a lot of SNiPs and PUE standards. Wiring in a wooden house must be absolutely safe from both an electrical and fire point of view. No matter what you treat wood with, it still remains a flammable material. Therefore, styling electrical wires in a building, it should be produced with the utmost care and in compliance with the relevant rules.

Basic requirements for wiring in a wooden house

All wooden private houses are characterized by an increased fire hazard. The requirements for installing electrical wiring in them differ from those that apply to buildings made of brick or concrete. It is not for nothing that problems in the home electrical network are one of the main causes of fires in wooden cottages.

When designing electrical wiring in a wooden house, it is better to relegate issues of interior aesthetics to the background, or even the third plan. The top priority here should be safety and once again safety. It is necessary, on the one hand, to minimize the likelihood of short circuits and heating of the wires, and on the other hand, to create a non-flammable barrier between the tree and potential sparks.

If you approach the design creatively, you can include interesting external electrical wiring into the interior

There are a lot of SNiPs and GOSTs that regulate the creation of an internal electrical network in a wooden building. But the main document is the PUE (Electrical Installation Rules). In the latest reaction, it was seriously tightened in the issue of organizing electrical wiring in rooms whose walls were built from wood. Therefore, if, when studying the norms, a conflict is revealed between different documents, then it is necessary to focus on the PUE.

Options for laying electrical wiring in a wooden house

You can install electrical wires in a wooden house:

  • open method;
  • using hidden technology (inside the walls);
  • with laying in special cable channels.

You can use VVG or PVS cables with the prefix “ng”. Only they have insulation that is not prone to the spread of fire. In this case, other cable products should be avoided.

In cable channels

Not all professional electricians now recommend using cable ducts in wooden houses. The wiring in them is not visible and does not spoil the interior with its appearance.

However, for electricity supply lines, ordinary plastic boxes and baseboards cannot be installed along wooden walls. They are too flammable and everything is heading towards the fact that this method will be completely prohibited by regulations. If you choose cable channels, then only special non-flammable ones.

It is easiest to lay electrical wiring in cable ducts; you just need to select the right elements

Outdoor

The external option involves laying wiring in a wooden house along the walls on ceramic insulators. Typically, a double-braided twisted cable is used for this. And everything in the end looks quite beautiful both in the photo and in reality.

However, there must be a distance of at least 10 mm between the wire and the wall of the house. Otherwise, an asbestos or iron gasket should be placed between them. But this will definitely not look elegant. This type of installation should only be used in utility rooms; it is not suitable for living rooms.

External electrical wiring looks beautiful, but in residential areas, especially if there are small children, it is better not to use

Hidden

Hidden electrical wiring in a wooden house is allowed only in metal pipes (copper or steel). The use of corrugations and any plastic channels is prohibited here. They are not able to completely stop the spread of fire. And in log or timber walls, even the slightest spark inside can lead to their ignition.

This option is difficult to do with your own hands and expensive. But the wires will definitely not be visible; they will all be laid inside the partitions and ceilings.

It is better to entrust the installation of hidden electrical wiring to specialists. A mistake can be very costly

Wiring installation

Installation of internal electrical wiring in a wooden house is carried out in seven stages:

  • Marking on the walls of wiring lines and installation locations for sockets, switches, junction boxes, etc.
  • Drilling holes for electrical installations and cable channels.
  • Assembling an input panel with protection and an electric meter.
  • Laying and connecting electrical wires using terminals or soldering (welding).
  • Connecting switches and sockets.
  • Checking the insulation resistance.
  • General check of the system for short circuits.

The given step-by-step instructions are standard and do not depend on the material of the walls and the individual characteristics of the electrical wiring diagram being created in a private house. However, wooden cottages have their own nuances:

The first is all the passages of electrical cables through wooden external walls, partitions and ceilings are made only using metal sleeves (tubes). Even if cable ducts and ceramic insulators are used for open installation, electrical wiring must pass through wood only with additional metal protection.

Sleeves for laying electrical wiring in different rooms

Second, it is recommended to avoid twisting the cores during connection. Such places are the most problematic in terms of safety and most often heat up. In a house made of logs or timber, the best and most reliable option for connecting wires will be a terminal one. You can also solder or weld them, but this is more difficult and takes longer.

Terminal connection of wires in the junction box

Third - if the electrical wiring is laid under the decor or suspended ceiling, then it must be mounted in metal pipes. Open laying is allowed only in uncovered places where the wires remain visible.

Wiring under suspended ceiling better to hide in cable channels

There is nothing particularly complicated. The main thing is to have skills in handling a screwdriver, drill and pliers. And then, in terms of complexity, independent electrical installation in your home is approximately the same as cleaning a chimney or building a heated greenhouse yourself without the involvement of hired workers.

Network connection and commissioning

After connecting the wiring, panel and sockets into a single network, it must be checked. For each line, an insulation resistance test must be carried out to ensure that the insulation resistance complies with the standards. Even a seemingly normal cable may have damage to the insulating braid that is invisible to the eye.

Without resistance testing to identify problem areas impossible in the home's electrical network. This work should be delegated to a professional electrician. It is worth doing it yourself only if you have the appropriate electrical knowledge and equipment.

A specialist should also be entrusted with the calculations of the cross-section of the cores and the RCD, and then invite a professional to perform a general check of the assembled electrical network before putting it into operation. There is no point in taking risks and experimenting with electricity.

Inputting electricity into the house

The wiring itself in a wooden house can be installed independently. However, the preparation of a proper electrical design and final inspection should be left to a competent electrician.

Connection to the general village network is made by electricians of the sales organization. They will once again check whether everything complies with the standards and technical conditions, and only then connect the cottage to the power supply. And here there is one point - if they discover that the in-house electrical network was assembled in violation of the rules, they will simply refuse the connection. Everything should be ready from the beginning for their arrival.

Options for connecting SIP to the intra-house network

Safety measures for a wooden house

Among the main errors in home electrical wiring in a wooden cottage are:

  • poor-quality connection of the cores (such contacts then begin to heat up);
  • using copper and aluminum wires simultaneously (connecting them directly is strictly prohibited);
  • non-use of metal sleeves and junction boxes;
  • use of cables that do not meet the requirements;
  • incorrect selection of core cross-sections and parameters of protective devices;
  • use of plastic corrugation when laying wires in wooden walls and for the decor.

Any of these mistakes leads to an increased risk of a fire in the cottage.

The use of plastic sleeves is prohibited

If there is even the slightest doubt about your own skills and knowledge, then electrical installation should be entrusted to a professional. With general construction everything is somewhat simpler.

For example, there are step-by-step instructions for arranging a pile foundation with your own hands in the form of bored piles. It is enough to follow it and the foundation will be reliable. With electrical wiring, everything is somewhat more complicated.

With electric installation work Also, do not forget about basic safety measures for their implementation. All tools used must have rubber-insulated handles, and the electrical network must be de-energized.

Conclusion

The owner himself can easily install the electrical network in the cottage. You just need to clearly understand that electrical wiring in a wooden house is not some nonsense. To properly design and assemble it, you must have the proper qualifications and certain experience. The slightest omissions will later lead to serious problems. It is important to approach the arrangement of this in-house engineering system with all seriousness.

See also a video about errors when laying electrical wiring in a wooden house

Read about our other materials:

Private buildings made of timber and logs are distinguished by their visual appeal, comfortable living and environmental friendliness. But they are classified as buildings with an increased fire hazard, which is due to the flammability of wood. Therefore, wiring in a wooden house is carried out taking into account special requirements. They are presented in the section Electrical equipment Building codes(SNiP) and Rules for the Construction of Electrical Installations (PUE).

Installation requirements and general work plan

If you strictly adhere to the provisions of the PUE and SNiP, you can actually arrange a reliable and safe power supply system for a wooden house with your own hands. First, you need to familiarize yourself with the key requirements of these rules and regulations:

  • A competent, scrupulous calculation of the cable cross-section is required. Non-flammable material is used to insulate them.
  • It is advisable to install exposed electrical wiring.
  • Hidden wiring is not recommended for wooden structures. If you have to use it, you should work with cables in a metal pipe or in another sheath.
  • A protection device (RCD) and a circuit breaker are installed and connected in the distribution panel.

Electrical wiring is divided into external and internal. The first one is laid on the street and brought to home network by underground wells and canals or by air (overhang).

External cables are usually made of wires with aluminum conductors, and only products with copper conductors are allowed to be used inside the home. Their connection is made in a special adapter called a sleeve. It goes from the electric meter on the outer wall of the building to the switchboard.

Wiring in a wooden house is laid in stages. Experienced electricians advise adhering to the following sequence of work:

  • The total power of the equipment that is planned to be installed in the home is calculated.
  • A power supply project is being prepared.
  • The selection and purchase of switches, sockets, wires, and technical devices is carried out.
  • Power is supplied to the building, the circuit breaker, electric meter and distribution panel(RShch).
  • The cable is routed throughout the house.
  • Lighting fixtures, sockets, switches are installed.

Lastly, the RCD is connected and a grounding system is installed. After this, the do-it-yourself wiring is tested for operability and operational safety.

Nuances of drawing up a power supply project for a wooden house

Work should begin by obtaining specifications from your local electricity supplier. Then they begin to calculate the total power of household appliances, lighting and other devices. This operation is easy to do yourself using the table below.

After the calculations, an electrical wiring diagram is created. The procedure is simple:

  • A technical plan for the house is being drawn up. It marks the installation points of electrical appliances, lamps, switches, sockets, and other equipment.
  • To connect the equipment, a suitable type of cable is selected.
  • The wiring diagram shows the places where the distribution boxes will be installed. One such device is usually used for two adjacent (adjacent) rooms in the house.
  • The plan indicates the power of each electrical appliance (taking into account the starting force for installations with its own engine).
  • Equipment that consumes a lot of energy (furnaces, heating boilers, water heaters) are combined into one group. A separate machine is used to connect them.
  • Less powerful devices (chandeliers, floor lamps, etc.) are collected in another group.

The diagram marks the distances from the line along which the cable is laid to all window and doorways and removing electrical points from the ceiling and floor surfaces. This is done so that later, if repairs are needed in the house, the likelihood of damage to the wiring is minimal.

During the design process, you should adhere to several important recommendations.Electrical experts advise working according to the following standards:

  • The cable is laid at the top or bottom of the wall with a distance of 0.2 m from the ceiling or floor.
  • The distribution board is installed in the hallway of the house at a height of 150–170 cm so that children cannot reach it.
  • Turns of internal wiring are made at an angle of 90°.
  • For reasons of aesthetics and ease of use, all switches are mounted at the same height (0.8–1.5 m). They are usually fixed on the side where the handle of the doors leading into the room is located.

Sockets can be installed at any height (PUE and SNiP do not stipulate this point). But the places for their installation should be thought out as competently as possible, taking into account the arrangement of large household appliances and furniture. Then, after the repair, you will not have to use extension cords to connect electrical equipment.

Selection of wires, sockets, switches - the table will help

The electrical network in a wooden house operates without accidents or failures if the cable cross-section is correctly determined, with the help of which lighting, special equipment and household appliances are connected. Many home craftsmen find this part of the work difficult. The table for selecting the diameter of copper cores for devices operating under certain loads allows you to cope with them.

Section, mm Voltage, V
380 220
power, kWt Current, A power, kWt Current, A
120 171,6 260 66,0 300
95 145,2 220 57,2 260
70 118,8 180 47,3 215
50 95,7 145 38,5 175
35 75,9 115 29,7 135
25 59,4 90 25,3 115
16 49,5 75 18,7 85
10 33,0 50 15,4 70
6 26,4 40 10,1 46
4 19,8 30 8,3 38
2,5 16,5 25 5,9 27
1,5 10,5 16 4,1 19

All electrical appliances have a technical passport or instructions for use. They indicate the loads they consume. Based on this information, it is easy to select the required cables.

The safest wiring in a wooden house is obtained by using NYM copper products. They are easy to install and process, have good strength, and are equipped with additional insulation. Their the only drawback- high price.

A cable marked VVGng is more affordable. Its insulation is carried out using PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic compound, which does not support combustion.

Switches and sockets are selected according to the type of electrical wiring (open or hidden), the magnitude (calculated) current, and the possibility of connecting them to a single-frame block. Cables with three cores and mandatory grounding are connected to these network elements. The latter ensures almost one hundred percent safety in the operation of household appliances.

Input wire and machine – how to choose the right one?

To determine the cross-section of the cable leading into the house, you need to calculate the total power (total rated load) of all available electrical devices and equipment. This is especially important if the wiring in a wooden house is being updated. That is, it is produced complete replacement auto switches and internal wiring.

If you need to install a new input cable on a log house or residential building made of logs, you should contact the energy supply organization. Its replacement is carried out before installation and sealing of the electricity meter.

If the building's network is designed for 380 V, a single-pole circuit breaker is installed at the input. For single-phase power supply (220 V), devices with 1 or two poles are used.

Experts advise choosing a circuit breaker with a rating that, at maximum loads, does not cut off the current supply to the home, but breaks the electrical circuit. This eliminates the risk of a short circuit.

It’s easy to decide on the type, characteristics and rating of the input circuit breaker (IA). First, the power of all electrical equipment in the house is taken. Using the formula P / U * 0.8, the maximum current indicator is calculated. Its value is multiplied by a special coefficient of 1.1 and the value at which the switch at the input is triggered is obtained (in most cases a 25 A fuse is used).

The appropriate type of VA is selected based on the short circuit current (SCC). The formula used is: I = 3260 * S (wire cross-section in millimeters) / L (cable length in meters).

The characteristics of the circuit breaker are determined by dividing the TKZ by the rated current. For individual housing construction, it is recommended to use devices of category C. They have proven themselves to be excellent when working in electrical networks with a mixed load.

The VA is mounted after the meter. These two devices are mounted in an electrical panel on a DIN rail along with RCDs and circuit breakers for individual groups of equipment, after which they begin to lay cables throughout the home.

Hidden and open wiring - features

Outside, the cable, as noted earlier, is mounted in metal pipes, which are buried in the ground or through the air. The first method is more expensive, but truly reliable.

Before internal wiring in the house, the installation points of the distribution board and boxes, switches, sockets, and lighting fixtures are marked. The control panel is fixed at the selected location. Then the following actions are performed:

  • An electricity meter is mounted in the switchboard housing.
  • A VA is placed on the DIN rail, to which the neutral and phase are connected.
  • The input of the input machine is connected to the terminals of the metering device.
  • Switches and voltage relays for RCDs and individual power groups are installed on the rail.
  • All terminals of electrical equipment are connected by a wire to one core.

They proceed directly to the wiring - hidden or open. The first is installed in cases where the decoration of the walls in the home is planned to be made as attractive and aesthetic as possible. It is ideal for newly built or completely renovated houses made of timber and rounded logs.

Hidden wiring involves placing cables in special non-flammable plastic or metal (aluminum, steel, copper) boxes. The latter are laid between the facing of the vertical surface and its base.

Wiring open type It is installed in houses that have been in use for a long time and when creating retro interiors in new buildings. It is done using:

  • Ceramic rollers that act as insulators. This method is optimal for homes with walls made of wooden logs.
  • Plastic channels for cables fixed on vertical bases. These mounting devices are available in different colors, which makes it possible to choose them for any cladding option.
  • PVC staples. This technique is rarely used in homes due to its unattractiveness. It is more suitable for wiring in technical, utility and utility rooms.
  • Corrugated pipes filled with cables to a maximum of 40%.
  • Special skirting boards equipped with a gutter. The latter has special fasteners for the wire.

Important! It is advisable to equip passages through walls from one room to another with fire-resistant metal sleeves. And stretch the cables through them. In this case, the likelihood of a fire due to faulty wiring is significantly reduced.

Popular methods of internal cable routing

Open wiring is usually carried out using cable channels. Step-by-step instructions for performing such an operation are given below:

  • The network laying line is marked (according to the existing design).
  • Remove the cover from the cable channel.
  • Attach the box to ceiling surface or a wall. Self-tapping screws are used for this. They are installed in increments of 50 cm. At the turns of the route, additional hardware is screwed in.
  • Distribution boxes are installed in the designated locations.
  • The electrical wiring is placed in the cable channels, the latter are covered with a lid, and the fasteners are snapped into place.

Important! A small amount of cable should be left at the installation points of switches and sockets. It is necessary to connect the specified elements.

The wires in the distribution boxes are connected to each other and to the terminals of sockets, circuit breakers, and switches. This part of the installation work is described in detail in the next section.

At hidden wiring The cable is often “hidden” in metal pipes. The work algorithm is simple:

  • They make grooves in the walls.
  • Install distribution boxes (so that access to them after facing the vertical bases is free).
  • Installing pipes. If necessary, they are pre-cut. The ends of the products are cleaned and all burrs are removed.
  • The pipes are secured with clamps.

The wiring is pulled through fixed metal channels. In distribution boxes, electrical conductors are twisted and insulated.

Briefly about methods of connecting wires and the intricacies of the procedure

The operation is performed by hand in one of three ways. A single internal wiring is created:

  • Twisted.
  • Self-clamping Wago terminals.
  • Special caps.

The first method is inexpensive and easy to implement. The insulator (4–5 cm) is removed from the ends of the cables. The wires are twisted together, soldered and wrapped with protective adhesive tape.

Wago technology involves removing 1 cm of insulation from the ends of the wires and connecting them using self-clamping terminals. The latter are selected according to the cross-sections of the cables used.

The third method requires the purchase of special caps, inside of which a conical spring is installed. The order of their use:

  • the wires are stripped and twisted;
  • cover the junction with the described product.

When the cap is screwed on, the spring firmly clamps the electrical cable. And the plastic shell plays the role of an insulator.

Nuance. The load capacity of the internal route being laid depends on the number of wire connections. The more there are, the less reliable the wiring is in operation.

Final stages of work - little things left

PUEs require that all household electrical equipment with a metal body (refrigerators and freezers, automatic washing machines, boilers, ovens) be grounded. This operation is easy to perform yourself:

  • Three reinforcing bars with a cross section of 3 and a length of 300 cm are cut.
  • A triangular ditch 0.3 m deep with sides 1 m is being dug in the courtyard of the house.
  • The rods are installed in the ground at the corners of the trench and connected to each other by welding and steel blanks.
  • An eye (loop) is attached to one of the rods. It is made of steel 10 mm thick.

The eyelet is connected in the electrical panel to the grounding conductor. It has a yellow-green insulating layer.

The residual current device is installed in the panel after the meter. It eliminates the risk of electric shock to a person if the latter breaks down on the body of household appliances. The RCD is selected based on two indicators:

  • Rated current. Its value is taken an order of magnitude higher than the characteristics of the circuit breaker installed in the circuit.
  • Leakage current. For residential premises with normal humidity, devices with a response threshold of 30 mA are purchased, for bathrooms, toilets and kitchens - 10 mA.

After installation of all elements, the wiring is checked for safety of use and operability by specialists from certified electrical centers and laboratories. They conduct comprehensive tests:

  • inspect the wiring for correct installation;
  • measure the resistance of the “zero-phase”, grounding circuit and insulation;
  • check the operation of RCDs and automatic machines.

The test results are recorded in the protocol. It must be presented to energy sales representatives who will come to seal the electric meter.

Despite the pursuit of modern technologies, in recent years some industries have returned to their roots. Most a shining example is the construction sector: people much more often give preference to the construction of country wooden houses. This is facilitated by a number of reasons, ranging from lightness and efficiency to the environmental friendliness of the final product.

Wood is a natural anti-allergenic material. Thanks to the latest innovations, 100% natural substances are used in the construction of such buildings. Wood has its drawbacks, and the main one is the increased level of fire danger. Therefore, wiring in a wooden house must comply with all recommendations, installation and operation rules. And it doesn’t matter whether you lay it yourself or turn to professional specialists for help.

What kind of electrical wiring is suitable for a wooden house?

Not a single modern residential building, whether it is made of wood, concrete or adobe blocks, can do without electricity. Depending on what building materials were used to construct the building, the organization of electrical wiring will have various features. The main nuance of wiring in a wooden house is the increased risk of fire and higher requirements for the quality of wiring.

Open or closed

There are two main types of electrical wiring: open and closed. In the first case, the cable is located in an open place: attached to the walls, laid on external shelves, and so on.

The process of laying cables using the open method in a wooden house can be done in one of two main ways:

  1. Using boxes, corrugated pipes or cable channels. This option is suitable for houses with flat walls, which, for example, are trimmed with clapboard. The key advantage of this approach is the availability of the cable, the possibility of prompt repair or replacement, and the installation of an additional branch. Since the wires are open, they are perfectly cooled, which eliminates the possibility of overheating or fire. For better ventilation the cavity of the cable channel should be filled with wires by 60% or less.
  2. For a wooden house made of rounded logs, cable installation using insulators is suitable. First, ceramic rollers, which are excellent dielectrics, are fixed, then cables are attached to them. This technology is outdated and rarely used even today. Ideally, multi-colored twisted pair cables should be used.

  1. Installation on brackets. Alternative method, which is suitable if it is impossible to lay the cable in boxes or fix it on insulators.
  2. Retro wiring that allows you to most effectively and unusually disguise the cable fixed on the walls and under the ceiling.

Concealed installation of electrical wiring is appropriate and desirable in all situations where the external walls, floor and ceiling of the house have not yet been covered finishing materials. For wooden houses, cables should be hidden in metal or corrugated pipes. The use of plastic cable ducts is strictly prohibited. The method requires large investments, but allows for high-quality and safe installation, hiding the cable from view.

It is impossible to say for sure whether hidden or open electrical wiring is better or worse for a wooden house. It all depends on individual preferences, operating conditions, the presence or absence of a suitable tool and other factors. For example, the walls in the house have already been finished, so you don’t want to tear down the lining to perform hidden installation. In such a case, the open installation method is chosen.

Basic requirements for electrical wiring in a wooden house

Above, we determined that wood is the most dangerous and flammable building material used as a basis for the construction of residential buildings.

We list the basic requirements that must be followed when organizing electrical wiring in a wooden house:

  1. Increased level of electrical and fire safety. Make sure that cables and wires are laid in such a way that will minimize the likelihood of overheating of the insulation and subsequent ignition, and will prevent the spread of open flame to other parts of the wooden structure. During the design process, full compliance must be achieved technical parameters And performance characteristics the wires and products used and the peak load for a specific section of the circuit. To reduce the likelihood of overheating, empty cavities are left in cable channels and metal corrugations, and the wire cross-section is taken with a margin of 20-30%. To increase safety, it is advisable to choose an open installation method, which allows you to monitor the condition of the wires throughout their entire service life, perform timely diagnostics, identifying and promptly eliminating damage.

  1. High quality insulation. Electrical shield must be reliably isolated from any wooden products. Ideally, you need to choose rooms with a partition made of non-combustible materials.
  2. Reliable guide. It is best to use three-core copper wires with high-quality non-flammable insulation. Avoid laying cables through PVC corrugation.
  3. Efficient automation. Each group of working devices in the electrical circuit must be supplemented with a circuit breaker. The operating threshold of this product depends on the permissible current load. Try not to overestimate these values, otherwise the conductor will overheat.

Regulations

All requirements and rules for installing electrical wiring in a wooden house are clearly stated in three documents:

  1. PUE, edition 7. Main document, which guides the process of designing electrical networks of residential buildings. Here you will find basic recommendations for selecting cables, distribution equipment, automatic protection devices and lighting devices.
  2. SNiP 3.05.06-85. Describes the organization of electrical wiring in old and new buildings. From the document you will learn the basic methods of connecting and inserting wires into living rooms.
  3. SNiP 31-02. Additional rules and recommendations that are important to consider when laying cables in a residential building.

These SNiPs contain many technical terms and parameters, so this language will be incomprehensible to an inexperienced person. Thus, it is enough to study the corresponding edition of the PUE.

Drawing up a diagram

Building an electrical wiring diagram – preparatory stage, prior to any cable installation or replacement work. Only a competent and technically correct project guarantees high-quality installation of a reliable and safe electrical circuit that complies with the rules and regulations.

When drawing up a diagram of future electrical wiring, follow a number of recommendations:

  1. Important electrical components, including panels, meters and sockets, must be placed in accessible places. You must be able to get to such a unit at any time in order to carry out prompt repairs or replacement, eliminating the likelihood of a fire or short circuit.
  2. Place the switches on open places so that they are not cluttered with furniture. This error was common in Soviet times, and today hidden switches can often be found in the houses of parents and grandparents. The ideal height for any switch is at least 50 cm from the floor.
  3. When choosing the location of future outlets, think in advance where all household appliances should be located. Try to install a number of outlets that will be sufficient to operate devices without extension cords. The height from the floor for sockets should be 25-50 cm. In theory, it is enough to have one socket for every 6 square meters. m. However, if the situation requires it, then their number can be increased.

  1. Twists and frequent kinks of the electrical cable are excluded. It is desirable that all the lines in the diagram be at right angles to the floor, ceiling and walls - horizontally or vertically. Bottom or top electrical wiring is used: the cable is placed at a distance of 15 cm from the floor or ceiling, respectively.
  2. It is important to use metal junction boxes for connecting wires. The use of plastic or wooden products is prohibited.

Preparing a home power supply project

Before you start designing wiring for a wooden house, you need to contact your electricity supplier to obtain technical specifications. It is from them that you need to start when doing this work. First, you should calculate the total power consumed by all electrical appliances in the house, including lighting sources.

Further development of the project is as follows:

  1. Build technical diagram residential building. Indicate on the plan all the places where sockets, switches and lighting sources will be located. Add electrical devices that require separate connections to the circuit.
  2. The type of cable is selected depending on the characteristics of the electrical point. For example, two-gang switches and grounded outlets require a three-wire wire.

  1. Indicate the location of all junction boxes. In a pair of adjacent rooms, you can use one common one.
  2. Add the power of all individual appliances to the plan. If the device is equipped with an electric motor, then the starting power of the unit should be indicated.
  3. Appliances are divided into different groups: one includes lighting products, the other includes powerful boilers, boilers and electric stoves. Switching must be carried out through differential automatic machines, which should be indicated in the diagram.
  4. Mark the distance between the cable and door/window openings, electrical points and floor/ceiling.

Important! Any rotation of the cable must be done at a right angle (90 degrees).

At the end of the work, the maximum power that will be required when turning on all electrical devices in the house is calculated. This allows you to determine the load level on the input machine.

Selecting cables and electrical devices

To select a cable, any table that indicates the ratio of wire cross-section to a specific load is suitable. You can use a special electrical reference book. The cable cross-section is selected depending on the power of electrical appliances and their number in a separate group. You can find out the level of consumed load from the equipment data sheet or by studying the label on the product (packaging). To determine the cross-section of the input cable, the powers of all electrical appliances are summed up, and a small margin of 20-30% is taken.

NYM brand copper wires are popular for wooden houses. This product has an additional insulating shell and is characterized by durability and ease of use. If you use an aluminum cable, try to avoid frequent kinks. In addition, it often breaks during the cutting process.

Three-core cables are used for sockets and lighting fixtures, increasing the safety of the equipment. Grounding is required when operating any powerful equipment, including street floodlights.

The choice of sockets and switches is based on the current load, the type of electrical wiring (open or hidden), the ability to switch the entire block and switch in one frame.

Selection of input cable and circuit breaker at the input

After calculating the rated load of the devices, select a suitable cross-section for the input cable. In the event of an upgrade of electrical wiring and the need to replace internal cables and circuit breakers to increase power, it is necessary to replace the input wire.

Having changed the wiring in the house, installing strong circuit breakers, you may encounter another problem: a lack of cross-sectional area for the input cable, which will subsequently cause a fire. It is prohibited to change the input cable yourself, so the only way out is to contact your electricity supplier with a corresponding request.

Three-phase electrical networks require the connection of a three-pole circuit breaker. Single-phase networks are more common and for them one- and two-pole differential circuit breakers are used to break the phase with the neutral.

Advice! When choosing a differential circuit breaker, consider a rated power that will be sufficient to break the circuit and prevent a short circuit, rather than a complete power outage in the house when the maximum load is reached.

Rating and type of machine for single-phase power supply

When choosing a circuit breaker, use the following formulas:

  1. The total power of all electrical appliances and the maximum permissible current load: I (max) = P/U*cosA, where cosФ is equal to 0.8. The resulting current value is corrected using a correction factor equal to 1.1. As a result, a current will be obtained, upon reaching which the device will operate. A 25 A circuit breaker is usually sufficient for the cable entry at home.
  2. To determine the type of machine, you must calculate the minimum value of the short circuit current. For a single-phase network with a voltage of 220 V, it is used simple formula: I (short circuit) = 3260 * S/L, where S is the cross-section of the wire in square millimeters, and L is its length in meters. This formula is relevant for an extended section with small cross-section wires.
  3. The ratio of short circuit current to maximum current is the most important parameter of a circuit breaker. For wooden houses, type C differential circuit breakers are more often chosen, suitable for mixed-load electrical networks.

The input circuit breaker for a private house is placed after the electric meter. This device, together with the metering device and the RCD, is fixed in a special panel mounted on a metal profile.

Installing electrical wiring in a wooden house with your own hands: step-by-step instructions

The process of installing electrical wiring in a wooden house is divided into several stages:

  • placement of power input cable;
  • installation of a distribution panel;
  • installation of cable lines;
  • fastening switches and sockets;
  • contact switching;
  • checking network functionality.

These works will require availability different instruments, including an electric drill with a hole saw, a screwdriver with various attachments, an indicator and rubber gloves for protection against electric shock.

Installation of distribution panel

The input cable from the nearest electrical pole is laid into the house. Any branches are excluded before it ends up in the main distribution panel.

The shield includes several important components:

  1. Plastic or metal body. For wooden houses, the second option is preferable. There are no strict regulations regarding the size of the box, so proceed from individual devices and make a reserve. Keep in mind that the electrical network may need to be upgraded in the future.
  2. Electricity meter with seal.
  3. Automatic switch at the input. A device with two or three poles is selected. The electricity supplier places a seal on this equipment.

  1. Additional single-pole circuit breakers mounted on DIN rails. The number of such devices is not regulated in any way. The home electrical network is divided into several sections, so a separate circuit breaker is installed for each. One zone can be allocated to illuminate the courtyard and buildings near a residential building, another - rooms, and so on. The power of the machine will be calculated individually for working area. The main condition for calculations is timely operation due to overload in weak areas. For example, if the permissible current load for an outlet is 15 A, then the machine should trip at the slightest excess of this value.
  2. The residual current device is expensive, and most homeowners ignore installing it. The device turns off the power supply when a leak is detected. This will prevent electric shock. Only a qualified specialist will be able to select a device with suitable technical and operational parameters.

Cabling

The wiring is hidden in cable ducts or under baseboards. The work consists of several stages. At the first stage, the wire is cut into segments, the number of which depends on the number of sockets and switches. The length of a separate wire is equal to the distance between the socket and switches with a margin of 15-20 cm.

Next, the installation of cable channels is carried out, which are attached strictly vertically or horizontally. To ensure the boxes are level, use a building level. At the end of the work electrical wire fits inside the cable channels, but do not rush to close them.

Electrical installation of distribution boxes

A junction box should be installed wherever the main cable branches to connect outlets or switches. The device is used to divide power lines and further distribute them to other parts of the room.

The cable is secured in the box using one of the following methods:

  1. Using PPE caps, which differ in size and color. To install, the end of the wire is stripped 30 mm, twisted, then threaded through the cap and twisted. The twisted ends of the two sections are hidden in the distribution box so as to prevent contact with other twists.
  2. Special vags. This product is selected depending on specific sizes. The devices differ in the number of holes for wiring and cross-section. For switching, the ends of the wires are stripped to 10-15 mm, after which they are placed in the holes until they click. The ends of the cables are run in different directions, excluding contact and short circuit.
  3. Twisted with electrical tape. After stripping the ends, the two wires are twisted together and then covered with electrical tape. The insulated twist is located inside the distribution box.

Installation of switches and sockets

Sockets and switches are attached directly to the wall. Before installation, aluminum or asbestos insulation is laid. The sockets are screwed as tightly and firmly as possible to prevent loosening. When connecting a three-core cable, the yellow-green wire is used for grounding.

Installation of lighting fixtures

Lighting fixtures in a private residential building are divided into three main categories:

  • built-in;
  • invoices;
  • street

It is important to use metal platforms for fastening wall lamps, sconces and similar ceiling products, which will increase fire safety. Switching the lamp to the network is carried out according to a simple scheme using yellow-green wires. Each product is equipped with contacts for connecting to a three-phase network.

How difficult is the job of replacing wiring?

Replacing wiring in a wooden house does not present any difficulties for experienced craftsmen. The process will be especially easy if an external gasket is used. After turning off the power supply at the input machine, all old cable lines are removed and a new wire of a suitable cross-section is laid in their place.

If there is hidden wiring in the house, it is absolutely not necessary to destroy all the walls. You can disconnect the old wiring from the input machine, attach a new cable to it and install it using the open method.

Grounding device and installation of RCD

For grounding, a PE bus is used, which is connected to a grounding device. It is installed in the ground near the wall of a residential building. Externally, such equipment consists of several metal sticks with a diameter of 1.5-2 cm and a length of up to 3 m, they are connected by a common metal strip.

To connect the grounding device and the bus, a single-core wire of the same cross-section as the input cable is suitable. After the installation is completed, the resistance of the grounding device is measured. In single-phase networks it should be equal to 8, three-phase - 4 Ohms.

Installation errors

The occurrence of fires in wooden houses is often associated with violations of safety rules during the installation or operation of electrical wiring.

We list the main mistakes that are made in both cases:

  1. Installation of hidden wiring under the ceiling. Often the electrical wire is placed in interfloor ceilings, forgetting about additional measures isolation. In this case, the cable is in close proximity to wooden surfaces. If the cross-section is incorrectly selected, the cable line will begin to overheat, which will gradually lead to a fire.
  2. Cable laying under the baseboard. There is little space underneath, which is not enough to create a “safe air barrier.” Because of this, the wire is constantly in contact with the wooden or plastic baseboard, which leads to overheating and fire. Gaps in the plinth should be at least 10-15 mm.

  1. The use of corrugated polyvinyl chloride pipes is strictly unacceptable when installing electrical wiring in wooden houses. Replace the products with standard metal or corrugated cable ducts.
  2. Cable placement in a groove without insulation. When choosing a hidden installation method, it is permissible to use prepared recesses - grooves. However, even in this case, it is not a bare cable that needs to be placed in the groove, but a metal corrugation or a steel tube.
  3. Installation boxes for sockets and switches must be made of metal. The use of plastic structures is unacceptable.

Fire protection measures

To ensure a high level of fire protection, a number of key factors must be taken into account:

  1. Select and install an RCD with suitable parameters.
  2. Install a modular-pin type grounding circuit and corresponding resistance depending on the number of phases in the network.
  3. Ensure the functionality of the system that equalizes potentials.
  4. Ensure continuity of grounding at each section of the circuit.
  5. Install only overhead sockets.
  6. Realize hidden installation using metal cable channels and pipes.

By following the listed rules, recommendations and standards, you can organize safe electrical wiring in a wooden house with your own hands or make sure of the competence of the specialists called. And this is very important, since the risk of fire in these residential buildings is much higher.

Electrical wiring in a wooden house must not only perform its functions, but also be safe, so increased demands are placed on the quality of its implementation. You can do electrical wiring in a wooden house with your own hands, but you must follow all installation rules.

The work must be divided into several stages:

  • Drawing up a project and calculating the total capacity of the equipment;
  • Selection of cables, electrical equipment, mounting elements by design load;
  • Entry into the house and connection of the input circuit breaker, electricity meter, installation of the distribution board;
  • Laying cables, distributing them point by point;
  • Installation of sockets, switches, lighting equipment;
  • Installation of grounding and RCD;
  • Testing and verification.

House power supply project

In order to properly design electrical wiring, it is necessary to establish the total power of the electrical equipment. Sequence of design work:

  1. Draw a house plan and indicate the location of all lighting fixtures, sockets, and equipment with individual connections.
  2. The drawing must indicate the maximum power of the devices, taking into account the starting currents of the electric motors.
  3. Lighting equipment is connected to separate power supply groups; the number of these groups depends on the size of the house and the power of the lighting fixtures. Typically, for a small house, all lamps can be connected to one group.
  4. It is also necessary to provide lighting for the courtyard area, and if the house is used as a summer house for temporary residence, it is more advisable to connect the courtyard lighting to a separate circuit breaker - this way, it will be possible to turn off the power to the house during departure without turning off the external lighting.
  5. Powerful household electrical appliances are connected to a separate power supply group, through a separate circuit breaker. Such devices include water heaters and electric boilers, as well as electric ovens, stoves, convectors - all equipment with high power consumption. For such electrical appliances it is necessary to lay a separate cable.

For each group, it is necessary to calculate the maximum power consumption by summing up all electrical appliances that can be connected to the network at the same time. It is also necessary to calculate the total power of the entire load to select an input circuit breaker.

Selection of cables and equipment

When designing power supply, cable selection is carried out complex calculations, but to do electrical wiring in a wooden house with your own hands, just use the table. For each power supply group, select a cable cross-section corresponding to the power consumption.

For wiring, they most often choose copper cable brand VVGng-LS or NYM. The first is distinguished by a lower price, and the second by an additional layer of insulation and greater reliability, as well as ease of cutting. Aluminum cable can also be used, but its cross-section increases, in addition, the cores of the aluminum cable are more brittle when bent, therefore, it is less reliable.

To connect sockets, you need a three-core cable with a grounding wire - some household appliances require mandatory protective grounding. For lighting according to the PUE, it is also necessary to use grounding, but in practice this rule is often neglected. However, if you plan to install high-power fixtures, such as a floodlight for yard lighting, it is highly recommended that all wiring be done correctly.

Wiring in a wooden house can be done both externally - in a cable channel, and hidden if the interior decoration involves wall cladding. Internal wiring must be performed in pipes or metal hoses, for fire protection purposes and to protect against accidental damage when drilling holes, for example.

The choice of sockets and switches is made according to several parameters:

  • According to the current for which they are designed;
  • By installation type: for hidden or external wiring;
  • Socket blocks are selected according to the number of places, and switches - according to the number of keys. Sometimes it is convenient to connect several switches into one block, for example, switches for a nearby bathroom and toilet.

Input of power supply and input machine

The selection of the input cable is made according to the maximum power of all electrical equipment in the house. Special attention should be paid to this when reconstructing electrical wiring. Having changed all the cables and increased the rating of the circuit breakers, we must not forget about the input cable. Its cross-section may be insufficient, and a fire will occur under heavy load. The input cable is changed, as a rule, with the involvement of the energy supplying organization simultaneously with the installation and sealing of the meter.

The input circuit breaker must reserve group circuit breakers and disconnect the house from the power supply in the event of a short circuit, but not operate at the maximum possible load. If the house is powered from a three-phase network, a three-pole circuit breaker is installed. For a single-phase network - single-pole or double-pole, where a phase and a zero are connected.

Selecting the rating and type of circuit breaker for a single-phase network:

  1. It is necessary to calculate the total power of all electrical appliances and calculate the maximum current using the formula I NOM = P / U·cosϕ. The resulting value I NOM is the calculated rated current of the network, it is multiplied by a factor of 1.1 and the rated current of the circuit breaker release is obtained. As a rule, circuit breakers with a rating of no more than 25 A are installed at the entrance to the house.
  2. To select the type of machine, you need to know the minimum short-circuit current. For a single-phase network ~220V, the short circuit current can be calculated using the simplified formula I short circuit = 3260 S/L, where S is the wire cross-section in mm 2, L is the cable length, m. In this case, the calculation is carried out for the longest group with the minimum cross-section cable.
  3. Next, you need to determine the multiple of the short-circuit current to the rated current, that is, calculate I SC / I NOM. The resulting value determines the characteristics of the switch. In private homes, circuit breakers with characteristic C are most often used.

An automatic input switch is usually installed after the meter. Installation before the meter is possible, but in this case prerequisite is its sealing.

Automatic switches of power supply groups, an electricity meter, as well as an input circuit breaker and an RCD are installed in the distribution panel. The body of the metal shield must be grounded. The equipment is installed on a DIN rail, after which it is wired in accordance with the diagram.

Laying cables, installing sockets and switches

Before laying the cable, it is necessary to determine the route, install distribution boxes and mark the installation locations of sockets, switches and lighting fixtures. The cable of the selected cross-section is laid in accordance with the installation plan using one of the methods indicated below.

Laying the cable in a metal hose or pipe performed if full plating is planned interior walls, otherwise the wiring will look unaesthetic. It is impossible to use plastic corrugated pipe for hidden wiring, since there is a possibility of accidental damage to it, which can lead to a fire inside the ceilings, which is very difficult to quickly eliminate.

Cable laying technology in a pipe:


External cable routing performed in a cable channel made of self-extinguishing plastic. Cable channel happens various sizes, and is a box closed with a lid with a latch. The color of the cable channel can be either white or imitating a wooden texture, so it looks quite aesthetically pleasing on log walls.

Technology for laying cables in a cable channel:


Grounding and RCD

Necessary for the operating conditions of most household appliances if their housing is made of metal. In a private house, grounding can be done independently.

For grounding, you will need three metal pins or corners 3 meters long, as well as cutting corners about a meter long, which need to be used to connect the pins. The grounding technology is as follows: dig a trench in the shape of an equilateral triangle with a side of 1 meter and a depth of at least 30 cm, drive three-meter pins or corners into the ground at the corners of the trench, and connect them together in short sections using welding. A hole is made in one of the corners, and a grounding conductor is attached using a bolt and nut, which is brought out into the distribution panel and connected to the grounding bus. All grounding conductors of the cables are connected to the same bus - they have yellow-green insulation.

RCD - residual current device - is necessary to protect a person from electric shock in the event of a current leak on the metal body of household appliances or in the event of damage to the insulation. The RCD reacts to current mismatches, detecting even the smallest leak. The RCD has two parameters by which it is selected: rated current and leakage current.

The rated current of the RCD is selected an order of magnitude higher than the current of the circuit breaker in this circuit. Leakage current - depending on the type of room and connected equipment. So, for a bathroom you need an RCD with a leakage current of 10 mA, and for other rooms a value of this parameter of 30 mA is sufficient. The RCD connection diagram is shown in the figure.

Electrical wiring tests

After installation, it is necessary to call electrical laboratory specialists so that they carry out the entire necessary set of measurements: insulation resistance, resistance of the grounding conductor and phase-zero loops, load the machines and check the RCD. After the tests, you will be given a protocol that will allow you to confirm the correctness of the electrical installation work to the energy supply organization - the protocol may be needed when sealing the electricity meter.

It is recommended to paste the wiring diagram with all amendments and comments on the inner surface of the wall of the switchboard - this will provide clarity in case of electrical wiring faults. The diagram must indicate which circuit breaker powers each group and what is connected to it.

Electrical wiring in a wooden house, carried out taking into account all recommendations, is completely safe and will last for a long time.

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