Why can’t our compatriots (and not only residents of Russia) do without professionals in this service sector? What are the difficulties of electrical installation work? We will try to answer these and other questions in our article. I would like every reader to learn something new from it.
What types of electrical installation work are carried out at modern facilities?
Specialists are ready at any site (be it office building, multi-storey building, industrial building, etc.) to perform any, even the most complex look electrical installation work. Be it:
- Installation, replacement or repair of a meter, switchboard;
- Replacement of burnt or simply failed wiring, installation of new equipment;
- Commissioning of any modern sources of electricity (transformer, pole...);
- Installation of switches, sockets, additional accessories;
- Setting up electric lighting;
- Installation of video surveillance and alarm systems, network setup...
The list of types of work could take a long time. The main thing is that if you are interested in engineers, electricians and other specialists, immediately contact proven professionals; for this you need to visit the website. So that later you don’t have to redo anything, wasting energy, nerves, time, and extra money on it.
Features of work
Often the process electrical installation does not take place on the ground, which naturally complicates the work process. In order for specialists to be staffed while working at heights, organizations serving the population purchase ladders and stationary scaffolds, towers and hanging cradles, stepladders, supports and other equipment.
Of course, you have to prepare properly for electrical installation work. Paths for laying the cable are formed. Of course, grounding is done by craftsmen. Each stage of work must be controlled most carefully: there is no room for mistakes! Fortunately, today it is much easier to carry out electrical installation work than it was several decades ago. Now in use modern equipment, the proper quality tools are purchased. Mechanization in any case increases productivity. There simply cannot be any doubt about it. Always trust professionals in everything!
Have any of you ever wondered how people lived before the advent of electricity? When the only way to obtain light and heat there was fire, and all the mechanisms used were mostly manually driven. When the music was truly “live” and did not flow from the speakers. When food was kept exclusively in cellars and not in modern refrigerators. When it was impossible to simply plug a household appliance into the nearest outlet, just as it was impossible to flood the entire room with light by simply pressing a switch. Can you imagine? Personally, like probably most modern people, no.
Moreover, without electricity, not a single company, factory, or even small company or public institution. It is safe to say that electricity has made irreversible changes in our lives.
Electricity to every home!
However, to gain easy access to this magical energy, you should follow a number of steps, especially if you are renovating a new building or building your own country house, and only a piece of the input cable reminds of the presence of electricity.
And to install all electrical networks in all rooms, it is necessary to perform a whole complex of electrical installation work, consisting of many stages.
Let us note that working with wires, junction boxes, distribution panels and other attributes of electrical installation is quite a responsible and even, moreover, dangerous task. After all, even the diameter of the wire, its structure and material must be chosen within the same apartment. The fact is that electricity consumers ( household appliances) require different capacities and differ in their specific operation. And only specialized education and many years of experience can help perform all electrical installation work correctly and reliably.
And if, despite the complexity of the work, you decide to tackle this matter yourself, then you need to be extremely careful to avoid electric shock.
In addition, remember that modern hidden wiring is laid directly in the plaster. And if you choose the wrong cross-section of the wire, and this wiring burns out, then you will have to not only remember where this or that wire runs, but also dismantle part of the plaster from the wall, and this is a rather dirty and dusty job.
"A few hours of primitive times" or "electrical problems"
And even if all the electrical wiring in your apartment or house has been done a long time ago, there are situations when some part of it fails. This could be a problem with the machine, a short circuit of some contacts, a ground wire falling onto a phase, or other unexpected events. To the common man Those who do not have special knowledge and skills in the field of electrical installation are often unable to cope with the problem that has arisen - after all, it is much more difficult than screwing in a new plug. In this case, it is best to invite professionals to quickly and reliably eliminate the cause of the problem. For example, the Elektro Doka company offers on its website http://elektrodoka.ru/average all types of emergency repair work related to electrical work. In addition, the called specialist can give some recommendations to avoid similar problems in the future or even conduct an audit of the existing electrical system and give advice on repairing or replacing some of its components.
Stages of electrical installation work
If we consider electrical installation work “from scratch”, that is, in a new building, a new private house or major renovation, then the process must be carried out according to the following steps:
1. Technical specifications from the customer.
This is what the customer wants to see in his home. You can, for example, simply walk through the rooms and draw future sockets, switches, controls, etc. on the walls with a pencil. In addition, you need to list all planned household appliances high power that will be located indoors, for example, a water heater, electric oven or stove, air conditioner, etc. By the way, even at this stage, the help of an electrician is important, as it allows you to avoid unjustified expenses or bad decisions.
After receiving the task from the customer, the electrician draws up own project, which already includes places for conducting wires, installing junction boxes, connecting and separating sets of wires. At the same stage, all wire sections, circuit breakers, etc. are selected. This project is shown to the customer for approval.
3. Primary purchase of materials.
Of course, from this moment on, the electrician can already work independently, but it is recommended to go to the purchase of materials together with the electrician. And this is not a precaution. It’s just that in some situations when purchasing, there may be options to buy more expensive-better or cheaper-simpler, for example, a wire from different manufacturers. It will be much easier and faster for your employee to complete the purchase if you are nearby and make a decision right away.
4. Wire routing and organization of points.
At this stage, the wire is routed around the apartment, without yet connecting it to the source. By the way, wiring can be done in grooves, above suspended ceiling, under baseboards or external installation in boxes. Each method has its own advantages or disadvantages.
At the same stage it is mounted inner part distribution panel.
5. Final electrical work.
After plastering the walls and covering them with wallpaper (that is, with hidden wiring, the wires were hidden in the walls), the installation and connection of external sockets is carried out, as well as the arrangement of the distribution panel - the installation and connection of all machines, protection devices, and other elements.
The installation of lighting fixtures - chandeliers, sconces, lamps, connection of other stationary household appliances - is also carried out here. electric stove, water heater, etc.
Electrical installation rules are established Building codes and rules, Rules for installing electrical equipment and others regulatory documents. Failure to comply with them leads to serious negative consequences, poses a danger both to the installers themselves and to those operating the systems. There are general rules, designed for all types of work performed.
They concern:
- transportation, lifting, fastening, connecting and other actions necessary for installing electrical equipment;
- application of standard sets of tools, mechanisms and devices according to the nature of the work performed;
- use for creating supports exclusively of factory-made products that are ready for installation, not requiring modifications or complex assembly, coated with a protective layer.
The same requirements apply to lamps, equipment that performs the function of triggering and protection, to fasteners for trays, busbars, etc.;
- making a welding connection supporting structures with embedded elements, as provided for in the working drawings;
- the need to comply with the color designations defined in the design documentation;
- strict adherence to GOST and safety and fire safety standards.
Electrical installation rules prohibit:
- carrying out inspection or disassembly of electrical equipment at the installation stage, unless this is specifically provided for by the regulations;
- dismantling sealed equipment;
- installation of damaged or deformed cables and equipment.
In addition to the general ones, electrical installation rules relating to production have been developed. certain type works They are established by the same standards as the main ones and are mandatory.
Contact connection device
All connections of cables and wires with electrical equipment, with the provision for disassembly, are made in accordance with the relevant GOST 10434-82.
It contains a set of immutable provisions that must be followed, requiring:
- stock of cables and wires at the points of their connection for the possibility of re-fastening during repair or relocation of equipment;
- arrangement of electrical wiring and placement of equipment in such a way that all connections are in an access zone that allows inspection and repair, and the wires and cables in the branches do not experience mechanical stress;
- welding, with a minimum number of dismountable bolted or compression (plate) connections for busbars, including branches;
- terminating paper-insulated cables only with the help of current-carrying fittings to prevent loss of impregnation;
- strict adherence to the technology for connecting overhead line wires.
Standards are also provided for connecting copper and steel-copper ropes, as well as aluminum wires.
Requirements for electrical wiring installation
One of the stages of the device engineering systems— laying electrical wiring for power and lighting, assembly secondary circuits etc. These are responsible actions that are subject to electrical installation rules just like any other.
One of the features here is preparation, which involves creating passages through floor slabs and walls, as well as placing embedded hoses in concrete structures. Therefore, the standards include recommendations, the implementation of which will prevent the destruction of structural parts of the building due to incorrectly executed electrical holes and recesses.
The specifics of wiring seals in places where they pass through structures are also provided for, and the use of fireproof materials in fire barriers is regulated.
A separate part of the electrical installation rules is devoted to laying wiring on insulating supports, on trays, on steel rope, in boxes, steel and not metal pipes.
To connect electricity to the necessary devices, it is laid electrical wiring in a private house or apartment . It will provide power supply as lighting fixtures, and special equipment, for example, a washing machine or dishwasher.
The electrical wiring starts from the input panel of the apartment or house and is laid throughout the building. It is divided for the needs of lighting devices and for power electrical receivers, such as sockets and stationary household appliances. In general, it is good to group electrical wiring by floors and rooms, by purpose, for example, lighting group, socket group, technological devices. This ensures ease of use as well as proper protection of the devices. automatic switches with the corresponding characteristics.
What should be taken into account when electrical wiring and its installation? The first step is to develop the optimal configuration of the route, taking into account the location of electrical receivers, architectural features, as well as related utility networks. Depending on the type of walls and interior decoration The installation method will depend.
Wiring separation diagram
It can be open (rarely used and has more of a decorative function) or closed:
- Open laying method involves the use of rollers mounted on building structures or walls along which wires are laid.
- Private method - electrical wiring is hidden in wall and floor grooves, cable ducts, baseboards, as well as behind plasterboard or other finishing material. Wall chipping is a labor-intensive process, so this method of laying is one of the most expensive, in contrast to laying for finishing materials, for example behind drywall, where it is intended to use only corrugated pipe from PVC plastic compound and fastening elements.
In places with high fire hazard, it is necessary to carry out electrical wiring in metal pipes or metal hoses, for example in saunas, bathhouses and structures made of flammable materials. Depending on the chosen method how to do electrical wiring , the choice will depend necessary materials and components.
Materials for electrical wiring
The main component of any electrical wiring is a cable or wire, usually with copper conductors. Aluminum conductors are currently used quite rarely for electrical wiring of houses and apartments - this is due to their low throughput.
Cable for electrical work
Electrical cable can be single-core (rigid) or multi-core (flexible).
Single-core has a low cost, but is also less convenient to install. To perform hidden wiring In grooves, a cable or flat-section wire is often used, which allows the groove to be made less deep.
Also for electrical wiring you need:
- distribution boxes with terminal blocks for making branchings;
- mounting boxes for sockets, switches;
- corrugated PVC pipe, metal hose or other cable support systems (cable duct, rigid pipe);
- cable lugs if installation is carried out with flexible wire.
Connections in distribution boxes performed through terminal blocks, twists using special caps, and also by soldering (the most reliable method from the point of view of electrical contact).
Budget calculation
So, as we see, electrical wiring requires integrated approach when choosing components and materials, as well as taking into account many factors. In order to correctly design electrical wiring, and then, based on the design, determine cost of electrical wiring , you can use the services of design bureaus (companies) or ask your “electrician neighbor” to help (certain risks must be taken into account here), or you can try to do it yourself without going into details.
After spending a little time, the output will be the cost of materials, as well as estimate for electrical work based on averages market prices in your region.
Additional information is in the video below.
Everything a self-taught electrician needs to know. Self-instruction manual. Features of household lighting electrical network. Self-paced learning electrical installation (10+)
Electrician's tutorial - Basic knowledge and skills for performing electrical and electrical work
I'm sure I missed something. There may be various private electrical issues that I have not covered. Be sure to write questions in the article discussion. I will answer them if I can.
Safety precautions
If you have never carried out electrical installation work yourself, then you should not think that after reading this material, you will be able to do everything correctly, safely for yourself and future users. The article will help you understand how a household lighting network is structured and understand the basic principles of its installation. The first time electrical installation work should be carried out under the supervision of an experienced specialist. In any case, regardless of whether you have official clearance, you take responsibility for the life, health and safety of yourself and others.
Never work with high voltage alone. There should always be a person nearby who, in a critical situation, can turn off the power to the system, call emergency services and provide first aid.
Do not perform work under voltage. This is fun for seasoned professionals. Turn off the power to the network you will be working with, making sure that no one can accidentally turn on the electricity while you are doing the installation.
Do not rely on the fact that the wiring was done correctly before you. Get a phase sensor (indicator). This is a device similar to a screwdriver or an awl. He has a dipstick. If the probe touches a live wire, the indicator lights up. Make sure you know how to use this sensor correctly. There are subtleties. Some sensors only work correctly if you press a special contact on the handle with your finger. Before starting work, use the phase indicator to make sure that the wiring is de-energized. I have more than once encountered erroneously executed wiring options, when the machine at the input breaks only one wire, without ensuring complete de-energization of the network. This error is very dangerous, because by turning off the machine, you assume that the network is de-energized, but this is not the case. The phase sensor will immediately warn you of danger.
Main electrical faults
Experts say that there are only two types of faults in electrical engineering. There is no necessary reliable contact and there is an unnecessary one. Indeed, in electrical installation there are no cases when two network points must be connected by a certain resistance. They either must be connected or not connected.
Electrical connection diagrams
The diagram shows typical double-circuit wiring. To the object through the machine ( A2), RCD ( A3) and electric meter ( A4) the mains voltage of the lighting network is turned on ( O1). Next, this voltage is divided into two circuits - lighting and power. Both circuits have separate machines ( A4- lighting circuit, A5- power) to protect them from overloads and separate shutdown when repair work. The lighting circuit breaker is usually selected for a lower current strength than the power circuit breaker. Lamps are connected to the lighting circuit ( L1 - LN) and two sockets ( S1, S2) for connecting low-power loads, such as a computer or TV. These sockets are used during repair work on the power circuit to connect power tools. The power circuit is routed to power sockets ( S3 - SN).
In the diagrams, the connection point of the conductors is indicated by a dot. If the conductors cross each other, but there is no point, then this means that the conductors are not connected, they intersect without connection.
Parallel and serial connections
Electrical circuits can be connected in parallel and in series.
At sequential connection electric current, leaving one chain, enters another. Thus, the same current flows through all circuits connected in series.
At parallel connection, the electric current branches out into all circuits connected in parallel. Thus, the total current is equal to the sum of the currents in each circuit. But the circuits connected in parallel are supplied with the same voltage.
In the diagram shown, the input circuit breaker, RCD, counter and the rest of the circuit are connected in series. As a result, the machine can limit the current in the entire circuit, and the meter can measure the energy consumed. Both circuits and the loads in them are connected in parallel, which allows each load to be supplied with the mains voltage for which it is designed, regardless of other loads.
Here is the principle electrical diagram. There are also wiring diagrams. They indicate on the site plan where the wiring should go, where to install the panel, where to put sockets, switches and lighting fixtures. There are completely different designations. I am not an expert in these schemes. Look for information about them in other sources.
Unfortunately, errors are periodically found in articles; they are corrected, articles are supplemented, developed, and new ones are prepared. Subscribe to the news to stay informed.
If something is unclear, be sure to ask!
