Open wiring in a wooden house. Hidden wiring in a wooden house: PUE What kind of wiring is used in a wooden house

Solid wood housing is considered the oldest Russian architectural tradition. Today, too, in the absence of a shortage of modern building materials, most owners of country estates prefer the construction of houses directly from wood, which is incomparable in terms of warmth and comfort.

However, no residential building can do without electrical power, and a wooden house is no exception. At the same time, in order to independently conduct electrical wiring in a wooden house correctly, it is important to know simple rules. By adhering to it, you will not jeopardize the health of your family and fully ensure the maximum safety of property.

Work methodology:

Determining the power of an electrical device and developing project documentation;
Selection of the required cable, sockets, devices;
Entering power into housing, arranging a circuit breaker, as well as connecting a shield, meter;
Installation of electrical devices, lighting devices;
RCD installation, grounding arrangement;
Conduct preventive testing.

Preparation of project documentation

To create a project, it is important to obtain guidance by contacting the appropriate organization. Then we calculate the power of electrical devices for the phased creation of an electrical circuit:

a technical plan of the building is being prepared. In the electrical wiring diagram in suburban housing, zones for the placement of sockets and other electrical elements with an individual connection are determined;
cable is selected for all electrical points;
the diagram indicates the installation points of junction boxes;
the possibility of all devices is noted;
lighting devices are connected exclusively to one line, while powerful devices are combined into another line;
the distance assumed from the line from which the cable will run to window and door openings, as well as the distance from electrical points to the floor and ceiling surfaces, is determined. In the future, this will prevent damage to the wiring during repairs.

Varieties of electrical wiring

There are several methods for laying electrical wiring in housing from a natural array:

Open type wiring is arranged on insulators. This method was in great demand in the past century, now rooms are again in fashion, equipped in retro style.

Electrical wiring in wires. This is also an open type of wiring that is accessible when necessary, only the wiring is carried out in trays. A variation of such wiring is in skirting boards.

Hidden electrical wiring. It is equipped in a wooden structure if there is a sheathing of the ceiling or wall surface. In this embodiment, the cables are arranged in a corrugated metal sleeve and spread around the perimeter of the house. The wiring is hidden behind the facing materials.

Closed type wiring features

This wiring can be arranged during the repair work or at the construction stage. When laying, there are certain features: each connecting node must be made in metal boxes with easy access. You can not hide them under the finish, since the covers are selected by shade, or placed in inconspicuous areas.

In the process of laying cables, there are no specific requirements for the size of the walls of steel pipes. therefore, it is permissible to lay them in a metal sleeve. This is much more convenient. However, since the wires are not visible to prying eyes, access to them is very limited.

Changing an existing network is considered costly and problematic. It is for this reason that before arranging a cable in a massive structure, carefully study the rules for installing electrical wiring and approach the issue responsibly.

Rules for installing wiring in a timber structure

When equipping a wooden structure, it is important not to forget that the material is combustible, so it is preferable to play it safe.

Wiring in a house from an array, as in the photo, it is not difficult to arrange it yourself, subject to the necessary rules:

First of all, a circuit is formed, the uninterrupted operation of the branches is checked, then it is connected to a special power supply panel.
Installation of wiring in a building from an array is carried out exclusively with solid cable pieces without various twists, as well as various connections.
The wiring is laid in stages with checking the quality of the cable insulation.
In the process of cutting the electrical cable, it is important to leave at least 15 centimeters of margin, so that if necessary, everything can be redone.
Be sure to follow the shade of the wire.

Adhering to these requirements, hand-made wiring in a wooden structure will be reliable and as durable as possible.

Photo of electrical wiring in a wooden house

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

Work must be divided into several stages:

Drawing up a project and calculation of the total capacity of the equipment;
Selection of cables, electrical equipment, mounting elements according to the design load;
Entering the house and connecting the introductory circuit breaker, electricity meter, installation of a switchboard;
Laying cables, distributing them by points;
Installation of sockets, switches, lighting equipment;
Installation of grounding and RCD;
Tests and verification.

House electrical project

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

Draw a plan of the house and indicate the location of all lighting fixtures, sockets, equipment with an individual connection.
On the drawing, it is necessary to indicate the maximum power of the devices, taking into account the starting currents of the electric motors.
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 devices. Usually for a small house, all the fixtures can be connected to one group.
It is also necessary to provide lighting for the courtyard area, and if the house is used as a summer residence for temporary residence, it is more expedient to connect the courtyard lighting to a separate circuit breaker - in this way, it will be possible to de-energize the house at the time of departure without turning off the external lighting.
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 furnaces, stoves, convectors - all equipment with a large power consumption. For such electrical appliances, a separate cable must be laid.

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 the introductory circuit breaker.

Selection of cables and equipment

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

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

To connect sockets, a three-core cable with a ground wire is required - 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 are planning to install high power fixtures, such as a spotlight to illuminate the yard, it is highly recommended that all wiring be done correctly.

Wiring in a wooden house can be carried out both externally - in a cable channel, and hidden if the interior decoration involves wall cladding. Internal wiring is necessarily carried out in pipes or metal hose, for fire-fighting 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 type of installation: for hidden or for external wiring;
Socket blocks are selected by the number of places, and switches - by the number of keys. Sometimes it is convenient to connect several switches into one block, for example, the switches of a bathroom and toilet located next to each other.

Input of power supply and introductory machine

The choice of the input cable is made according to the maximum power of all electrical equipment at home. 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 power supply organization simultaneously with the installation and sealing of the meter.

The introductory circuit breaker should back up the group machines 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 by a three-phase network, install a three-pole circuit breaker. For a single-phase network - single-pole or two-pole, where the phase and zero lead.

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

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 of 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 not more than 25 A are installed at the entrance to the house.
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 a minimum cross section cable.
Next, you need to determine the multiplicity of the nominal short-circuit current, that is, calculate I short circuit / I NOM. The resulting value determines the characteristic of the circuit breaker. In private homes, circuit breakers with characteristic C are most often used.

An automatic input switch is usually installed after the meter. It is possible to install up to the counter, but in this case, its sealing is a prerequisite.

Circuit breakers of power supply groups, an electricity meter, as well as an introductory machine and an RCD are installed in the switchboard. The body of the metal shield must be grounded. The equipment is installed on a DIN rail, after which they are mounted with a wire in accordance with the diagram.

Cable laying, installation of sockets and switches

Before laying the cable, it is necessary to determine the route, install junction boxes and mark the installation locations for sockets, switches and lighting fixtures. The cable of the selected section is laid in accordance with the laying plan in one of the following ways.

Cable laying in a metal hose or pipe perform in the event that a complete sheathing of the internal walls is planned, otherwise the wiring will look unaesthetic. It is impossible to use a 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. The cable channel comes in various sizes, and is a box that closes 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.

Cable laying technology in the cable channel:

Grounding and RCD

It is necessary according to the operating conditions of most household appliances if their body 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 trimming a corner about a meter long, with which you need to connect the pins. The grounding technology is as follows: they dig a trench in the form of an equilateral triangle with a side of 1 meter and a depth of at least 30 cm, three-meter pins or corners are driven into the ground at the corners of the trench, and they are connected together in short segments by welding. A hole is made in one of the corners, and with the help of a bolt and nut, a grounding conductor is fixed, which is led out to the switchboard and connected to the grounding bus. All grounding conductors of cables are connected to the same bus - they have yellow-green insulation.

RCD - a residual current device - is necessary to protect a person from electric shock in the event of a current leakage to the metal case of household appliances or if the insulation is damaged. The RCD responds to current mismatches, detecting even the smallest leakage. 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, an RCD with a leakage current of 10 mA is required, and for other rooms, the value of this parameter of 30 mA is sufficient. The RCD connection diagram is shown in the figure.

Wiring tests

After installation, it is necessary to call the specialists of the electrical laboratory so that they make 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 issued a protocol that will allow you to confirm the correctness of the electrical work before the power supply organization - the protocol may be needed when sealing the electricity meter.

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

Wiring in a wooden house, made with all the recommendations, is quite safe and will last a long time.

Private buildings made of timber and logs are distinguished by their external attractiveness, living comfort and environmental friendliness. But they are classified as buildings with increased fire hazard, due to the combustibility of wood. Therefore, wiring in a wooden house is carried out taking into account special requirements. They are set out in the section Electrical Equipment of the Building Regulations (SNiP) and the Rules for the Construction of Electrical Installations (PUE).

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Installation requirements and general work plan

If you strictly adhere to the provisions of the PUE and SNiP, it is really possible to equip 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-combustible material is used for their insulation.
It is advisable to lay open wiring.
Concealed 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.
In the switchboard, a protection device (RCD) and a circuit breaker are mounted and connected.

Wiring is divided into external and internal. The first is laid on the street and is connected to the home network through underground wells and channels or through the air (canopy).

External cables are usually made of wires with aluminum conductors, and only copper products are allowed to be used inside the dwelling. Their connection is carried out 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 are advised to adhere to the following sequence of work:

The total capacity of the equipment that is planned to be installed in the dwelling is calculated.
A power supply project is being prepared.
Selection and purchase of switches, sockets, wires, technical devices.
Power is being supplied to the building, a circuit breaker, an electric meter and a switchboard (PS) are connected.
The cable is bred around the house.
Mounted lighting fixtures, sockets, switches.

Lastly, the RCD is connected and the grounding system is equipped. After that, do-it-yourself wiring is tested for operability and safety of operation.

The nuances of drawing up a project for the energy supply of a wooden house

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

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

A house plan is being drawn up. It marks the installation points of electrical appliances, lamps, switches, sockets, and other equipment.
To connect the equipment, the appropriate type of cable is selected.
On the wiring diagram, the places where the junction boxes will be placed are marked. 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 appliances (chandeliers, floor lamps, and so on) are collected in another group.

The diagram shows the distances from the line along which the cable is laid to all window and door openings and the removal of electrical points from the ceiling and floor surfaces. This is done so that later, if it is necessary to carry out repairs in the house, the probability of damage to the wiring is minimal.

During the design process, several important recommendations should be followed. Electricians advise working according to the following standards:

Cable laying is carried out at the top or bottom of the wall with an indent of 0.2 m from the ceiling or floor.
The switchboard 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 from the side where the handle of the doors leading to the room is located.

Sockets are installed at any height (PUE and SNiP do not stipulate this point). But the places of their installation should be thought out as competently as possible, taking into account the layout of large household appliances and furniture. Then, after 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 works without accidents and failures if the cross-section of cables is correctly determined, with the help of which lighting, special equipment and household appliances are connected. For many home craftsmen, this part of the work causes difficulties. The table for selecting the diameter of copper conductors 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 that they consume. Based on this information, it is not difficult to select the required cables.

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

More affordable is the cable marked VVGng. 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 wiring (open or hidden), the magnitude of the (calculated) current, the possibility of their connection on a single-frame block. Cables with three cores and mandatory grounding are connected to these network elements. The latter provides almost one hundred percent safety of operation of household appliances.

Introductory wire and machine - how to choose the right one?

To determine the cross section of the cable leading to 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, a complete replacement of auto switches and internal wiring is carried out.

If it is necessary to install a new lead-in cable on a log house or a residential building made of logs, contact the power supply organization. Its replacement is carried out before the installation and sealing of the electricity meter.

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

Experts advise choosing an automatic machine with a rating that, at maximum loads, does not turn off the current supply to the dwelling, but breaks the electrical circuit. Thus, it eliminates the risk of a short circuit.

It is easy to decide on the type, characteristics and rating of the introductory machine (VA) on your own. First, the power of all electrical equipment in the house is taken. According to 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 is obtained at which the switch at the input operates (in most cases, a 25 A fuse is used).

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

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

VA is mounted after the counter. These two devices are mounted in an electrical panel on a DIN rail along with RCDs and automata for individual groups of equipment, after which they begin to lay cables around the dwelling.

Hidden and open wiring - features

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

Before the internal wiring in the house, the installation points of the switchboard and boxes, switches, sockets, and lighting fixtures are planned. The RSC 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 clamps of electrical equipment are connected by a wire to one core.

Proceed directly to the wiring - hidden or open. The first is equipped in cases where the wall decoration in the dwelling is planned to be made as attractive and aesthetic as possible. It is ideal for newly built or overhauled log houses.

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

Open-type electrical wiring is installed in long-used houses and when creating retro interiors in new buildings. It is done with:

Ceramic rollers that act as insulators. This method is optimal for dwellings with walls made of wooden logs.
Plastic channels for cable fixed on vertical bases. These mounting fixtures are available in different colors, which makes it possible to choose them for any type of skin.
PVC bracket. This technique is rarely used in homes because of its unattractiveness. It is more suitable for wiring in technical, utility and utility rooms.
Corrugated pipes filled with cables up to a maximum of 40%.
Special skirting boards equipped with a gutter. In the latter there are special fixators for the wire.

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

Popular Indoor Cable Routing Methods

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

The marking (according to the existing project) of the network laying line is being carried out.
Remove the cover from the cable channel.
Attach the box to the ceiling surface or wall. For this, self-tapping screws are used. Their installation is carried out in increments of 50 cm. At the turns of the route, additional hardware is screwed in.
Junction boxes are mounted in the designated places.
The wiring is placed in the cable channels, the latter are covered with a lid, and the fasteners are snapped into place.

Important! At the mounting points of switches and sockets, a small amount of cable should be left. It is required to connect the specified elements.

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

With hidden wiring, the cable is often "hidden" in metal pipes. The algorithm of work is simple:

They make strobes in the walls.
Distribution boxes are installed (so that access to them after facing the vertical bases is free).
Install pipes. If necessary, they are pre-cut. The ends of the products are cleaned, all burrs are removed from them.
Pipes are fastened with clamps.

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

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

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

twist.
Self-clamping Wago-terminals.
Special caps.

The first technique is inexpensive and available in implementation. The insulator (4–5 cm) is removed from the ends of the cables. The wires are twisted together, soldered and wrapped with a 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 sections of the cables used.

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

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

The spring, when screwing on the cap, firmly clamps the electrical cable. And the plastic shell acts as an insulator.

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

The final stages of work - little things remain

PUE require that all household electrical equipment with a metal case (refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, boilers, stoves) be grounded. This operation is easy to perform on your own:

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

The eye is connected in the electrical panel to the ground wire. It has a yellow-green insulating layer.

The residual current device is placed in the shield after the meter. It eliminates the risk of electric shock to a person during a breakdown of the latter on the housing of household appliances. RCD is selected according to two indicators:

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

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

inspect the wiring for correct installation;
measure the zero-phase resistance of the ground loop and insulation;
check the operation of the RCD and machines.

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

Despite the pursuit of modern technology, in recent years some industries are returning to their roots. The most striking example is the construction industry: people much more often prefer the construction of country wooden houses. A number of reasons contribute to this, ranging from lightness and economy to the environmental friendliness of the final product.

Wood is a natural anti-allergic 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 considered to be an increased level of fire danger. Therefore, wiring in a wooden house must comply with all recommendations, rules for installation and operation. And it does not matter if you lay it yourself or turn to professional specialists for help.

What 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 build the building, the organization of electrical wiring will have different features. The main nuance of wiring in a wooden house is an 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: it is attached to the walls, laid on the outer shelves, and so on.

The process of conducting the cable using the open method in a wooden house can be performed in one of two main ways:

With the use of boxes, corrugated pipes or cable channels. The option is appropriate for houses with flat walls, which, for example, are finished with clapboard. The key advantage of this approach is the availability of the cable, the possibility of prompt repair or replacement, and the arrangement of an additional branch. Since the wires are open, they cool perfectly, 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.
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 fixed to them. This technology is outdated and rarely used even today. Ideally multi-colored twisted pairs should be used.

Bracket installation. An alternative method that is suitable if it is not possible to lay the cable in ducts or fix it on insulators.
Retro wiring that allows you to most effectively and unusually mask the cable fixed on the walls and under the ceiling.

Hidden 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 with finishing materials. For wooden houses, cables should be hidden in metal or corrugated pipes. The use of plastic cable channels is strictly prohibited. The method requires large investments, but allows you to ensure high-quality and safe installation, hiding the cable from the eyes.

It is impossible to say unequivocally which is which: hidden or open wiring - for a wooden house it is better or worse. 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 rip off the wall paneling in order to do hidden installation. In such a case, the open-mounted 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:

Increased level of electrical and fire safety. Make sure that cables and wires are laid in a way that minimizes the chance of overheating of the insulation and subsequent ignition, and prevents the spread of open flame to the rest of the wooden structure. In the design process, it is necessary to achieve full compliance of the technical parameters and performance characteristics of the wires and products used with the peak load for a certain section of the circuit. To reduce the likelihood of overheating, empty cavities are left in the 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 the open laying method, which allows you to monitor the condition of the wires throughout the entire service life, perform timely diagnostics, identifying and promptly eliminating damage.

Quality insulation. The electrical panel must be securely isolated from any wooden products. Ideally, you need to choose rooms with a partition made of non-combustible materials.
Reliable conductor. It is best to use three-core copper wires with high-quality non-combustible insulation. Avoid laying cables through PVC corrugation.
Workable automation. Each group of working devices in the electrical circuit must be supplemented by an automatic switch. The trip threshold of this product depends on the current carrying capacity. 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 spelled out in three documents:

PUE, edition 7. The main document that guides the design of electrical networks of residential buildings. Here you will find basic recommendations for the selection of cable, distribution equipment, automatic protection devices and lighting devices.
SNiP 3.05.06-85. The organization of electrical wiring in old and new buildings is described. From the document you will learn the main ways of supplying and entering wires into living rooms.
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 not be understood by an inexperienced person. Thus, it is enough to study the corresponding edition of the PUE.

Charting

Building a wiring diagram is a preparatory stage preceding any work on installing or replacing a cable. 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:

Important electrical components, including shields, meters and sockets, should be placed in accessible places. You must be able to get close to such a node at any time in order to carry out prompt repairs or replacements, eliminating the possibility of a fire or short circuit.
Place the switches in open places so that they are not cluttered with furniture. Such a mistake was common in Soviet times, and today often hidden switches can be found in the homes of parents, grandparents. The ideal height for any switch is at least 50 cm from the floor.
When choosing the location of future outlets, consider in advance where all household appliances should be located. Try to install as many sockets as will be enough 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.

Twisting and frequent bends of the electric cable are excluded. It is desirable that all lines in the diagram be at right angles to the floor, ceiling and walls - horizontally or vertically. The bottom or top electrical wiring is used: the cable is placed at a distance of 15 cm from the floor or ceiling, respectively.
It is important to use metal junction boxes for switching wires. Operation of plastic or wooden products is unacceptable.

Preparing a home electrical project

Before starting the design of wiring for a wooden house, you need to contact the electricity supplier for technical specifications. It is from them that it is necessary to build on 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:

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

Specify the location of all junction boxes. In a pair of adjacent rooms, one common room can be used.
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 must be indicated.
Devices 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 automata, which should be indicated in the diagram.
Mark the distance between the cable and door/window openings, electrical outlets and the floor/ceiling.

Important! Any cable turn must be at right angles (90 degrees).

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

The choice of cable and electrical devices

For cable selection, any table is suitable, which indicates the ratio of the wire cross-section to a certain load. You can use a special electrical reference. 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 power of all electrical appliances is summed up, and a small margin of 20-30% is taken.

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

Three-core cables are used for sockets and lighting devices, which increase the safety of equipment. Grounding is required when operating any powerful equipment, including street spotlights.

The choice of sockets and switches is based on the current load, the type of electrical wiring (open or hidden), the possibility of switching the whole unit and the switch in one frame.

Selection of input cable and circuit breaker at the input

After calculating the rated load of the devices, a suitable cross-section for the input cable is selected. In the case of an upgrade of the electrical wiring and the need to replace the internal cables and automatic machines to increase the power, it is imperative to replace the input wire.

By changing the wiring in the house, installing strong machines, you may encounter another problem: a lack of cross-sectional reserve for the input cable, which will further provoke a fire. It is forbidden to change the input cable on your own, 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 they use one- and two-pole differential automata to break the phase with neutral.

Advice! When choosing a differential machine, consider such a rated power that will be sufficient to break the circuit and prevent a short circuit, and not completely turn off the power in the house when the maximum load is reached.

Rating and type of machine for single-phase power supply

When choosing a circuit breaker, the following formulas are used:

The total power of all electrical appliances and the maximum current load: I (max) \u003d P / U * cosA, where cosФ is equated to 0.8. The obtained current value is corrected using a correction factor equal to 1.1. As a result, a current will be obtained, upon reaching which this device will work. A 25 A circuit breaker is usually enough for cable entry at home.
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, a simple formula is used: I (kz) \u003d 3260 * S / L, where S is the wire cross-section in square millimeters, and L is its length in meters. This formula is relevant for an extended section with small wires.
The ratio of short-circuit current to maximum current is the most important parameter of a circuit breaker. For wooden houses, type C differential automata are more often chosen, suitable for mixed load electrical networks.

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

Do-it-yourself wiring installation in a wooden house: 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 switchboard;
installation of cable lines;
fixing switches and sockets;
switching contacts;
network health check.

These jobs will require a variety of tools, including an electric drill with a crown, a screwdriver with various nozzles, an indicator, and rubber gloves to protect against electric shock.

Switchboard installation

An introductory cable from the nearest electric pole is laid into the house. Any branches are excluded before it is in the main switchboard.

The shield consists of several important components:

Plastic or metal case. For wooden houses, the second option is preferable. There is no strict regulation regarding the size of the box, so proceed from individual fixtures and stock up. Keep in mind that in the future it may be necessary to upgrade the electrical network.
Electricity metering device with a seal.
Automatic switch at the input. A device with two or three poles is selected. The electricity supplier puts a seal on this equipment.

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 machine is installed for each. One zone can be allocated for lighting the courtyard and buildings near a residential building, the other for rooms, and so on. The power of the machine will be calculated individually for the working area. The main condition in the calculations is timely operation due to overload in weak areas. For example, if the permissible current load for the outlet is 15 A, then the machine should work at the slightest excess of this value.
Residual current devices are expensive and most homeowners ignore their installation. The device cuts 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

Wiring is hidden in cable channels or under skirting boards. The work consists of several stages. At the first, the wire is cut into segments, the number of which depends on the number of sockets and switches. The length of a single 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 mounted strictly vertically or horizontally. To ensure that the boxes are level, use the building level. At the end of the work, the electrical wire is placed inside the cable channels, but do not rush to close them.

Electrical installation of junction boxes

A junction box should be installed wherever the main cable branches to connect sockets or switches. The device is used to separate the power line and further distribution to other parts of the room.

In the box, the cable is attached using one of the following methods:

With the help of PPE caps, which differ in size and color. For installation, the end of the wire is cleaned by 30 mm, twisted, after which it is threaded through the cap and twisted. The twisted ends of the two segments are hidden in the distribution box so as to exclude contact with other twists.
Special Wags. This product is selected depending on the specific dimensions. Devices differ in the number of holes for wiring and cross section. For switching, the ends of the wires are stripped by 10-15 mm, after which they are placed in the holes until they click. The ends of the cables are allowed in different directions, excluding contact and short circuit.
Twisting with electrical tape. After stripping the ends, the two wires are twisted together and then covered with electrical tape. The insulated strand is located inside the junction 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 twisted 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 devices in a private residential building are divided into three main categories:

built-in;
invoices;
street.

It is important to use metal platforms for mounting 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 the 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 introductory machine, all old cable lines are removed and a new wire of a suitable cross section is laid in their place.

If the house has hidden wiring, it is not necessary to destroy all the walls. You can disconnect the old wiring from the introductory machine, connect a new cable to it and install it in an open way.

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.

A single-core wire of the same cross section as the input cable is suitable for switching the grounding device and the bus. After installation, the resistance of the grounding device is measured. In single-phase networks, it should be 8, three-phase - 4 ohms.

Mounting 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:

Installation of hidden wiring under the ceiling. Often, an electric wire is placed in interfloor ceilings, forgetting about additional insulation measures. In this case, the cable is in close proximity to wooden surfaces. In the case of an incorrectly selected section, the cable line will begin to overheat, which will gradually lead to a fire.
Cabling under the plinth. There is little space underneath that is not enough to create a "safe air barrier". Because of this, the wire is constantly in contact with a wooden or plastic plinth, which leads to overheating and fire. The gaps in the plinth should be at least 10-15 mm.

The use of corrugated PVC pipes is strictly unacceptable when installing electrical wiring in wooden houses. Replace products with metal standard or corrugated cable channels.
The location of the cable in the strobe without insulation. When choosing a hidden laying method, it is permissible to use prepared recesses - a strobe. However, even in this case, it is necessary to lay not a bare cable in the strobe, but a metal corrugation or a steel tube.
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 considered:

Select and install an RCD with suitable parameters.
Mount a grounding loop of a modular-pin type and appropriate resistance, depending on the number of phases in the network.
Ensure the operability of the potential equalization system.
Ensure the continuity of the ground in each section of the circuit.
Install only overhead sockets.
Carry out concealed installation using metal cable channels and pipes.

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

Nowadays, wooden houses are already the norm. Everyone wants to live in an environmentally friendly house, but at the same time, a modern person does not want to give up the conveniences of modernity. We are talking about lighting, the use of household appliances, computers, etc. All this will become possible only if you lay electrical wires inside the house, install switches and sockets, switchboards. When it comes to a wooden house, which is highly flammable and burning, special requirements are put forward for the installation of wiring, compliance with which is a guarantee of the safety of all residents. We will figure out how to properly install electrical wiring in a wooden house and what must be taken into account. The material will help you evaluate your strengths and decide whether it is possible to do all the work yourself or you will have to call a professional for help.

No. 1. Requirements for wiring in a wooden house

Wood is one of those types of materials that easily catch fire and burn well. can easily catch fire from a normal short circuit in the electrical circuit, so the process is to minimize the likelihood of a short circuit, and if it occurs, minimize the consequences. The following requirements are put forward for wiring in a wooden house: