Hidden wiring in a wooden house: features of the selection of components and installation

Due to the increased fire hazard of a wooden house, for quite a long time the preferred option for electrical wiring was external. But if you follow certain safety rules, then hidden wiring in a wooden house is not considered impossible and is increasingly used in design. We will understand what are the requirements for hidden wiring in a wooden house, what are its differences from open and hidden wiring in stone houses, what are its strengths, plus, we will consider how its installation is carried out and what errors may arise.

Hidden wiring in a wooden house is done immediately during the construction of the “box” Source snt-senezh.ru

Wiring Requirements

Wooden building materials have a lot of positive qualities and are the most popular. But, in addition, they are very fire hazardous. Therefore, a number of requirements for laying cables in a wooden house must be met:

Safety.

The choice of wiring is made in such a way as to prevent overheating of the wires, plus, the installation is done in metal pipes, so that even in the event of a cable fire, the open flame is not allowed to spread to adjacent wooden structures.

Design.

The technical characteristics and performance characteristics of the cable for wiring in a wooden house must be strictly calculated for the peak load of each specific section of the electrical network. To prevent heating of the wiring section, a safety margin of up to 30% is required. Plus, it is strongly recommended to plan hidden wiring when drawing up a house project.

Laying method.

Electrification can be carried out in an open or closed way. Both have positives and weak points. Hidden is considered safer, but much more labor-intensive during installation. For some, open electrical wiring in a wooden house is preferable because it makes it possible to easily and at any time have access to the electrical network for diagnostics or making minor changes.

Option for installing retro wiring in a wooden house using an open method Source ecomartver.ru

Insulation.

In addition to wiring, electrical switchboards (decoupling units) must also be insulated from contact with wooden surfaces. The ideal solution would be to place the electrical panel in a room with a partition made of non-combustible material.

Conductor.

Most often, it is recommended to use a three-core copper cable with flame retardant insulation.

Automation.

Each power supply group requires the installation of a separate circuit breaker. In this case, it is necessary to strictly monitor the compliance of current ratings with the calculated load on the site. A strong overestimation of currents is unacceptable, because this may cause the conductor to overheat.

Independent laying of power cables and installation of electrical wiring in a wooden house is strictly not recommended without sufficient experience. It is better if a qualified specialist does this. However, knowledge of the basic rules of electrification is mandatory for owners of private houses, because this makes it possible to carry out partial diagnostics of the network and monitor the quality of work carried out by hired electricians.

A professional electrician will always do the job faster and better Source wixstatic.com

The principle of installation and operation of electrical wiring

The hidden method of installing cables in recesses is expensive, and expensive compared to an open system, but it gives the appearance of the walls a neat appearance, and it also allows for further decorative finishing. At the same time, the cable is protected from mechanical action and is not susceptible to damage, thus its service life is much longer. To make underground wiring, a special armored cable is used, the conductors and cross-sections are determined depending on the load, power, and number of phases. For the cable, a trench is made 80 centimeters deep, a cushion of sand is poured about 20 centimeters, and then covered with earth, and identification marks are installed, after which the hole is filled completely.

The electric current flows through the input wire to the distribution board, and from there to all consumers. Such switchboards must have emergency switches that operate automatically, grounding elements, and other devices. This type of electrical wiring is done in multi-storey country houses.

In log houses, this type of work is carried out in metal pipes, according to the regulatory document. Hidden wiring allows you not to disturb the interior of the room, but, on the contrary, to make it diverse by using various finishing materials. All cable routes are placed in steel pipes, which are laid to the finish of the ceiling and floor. To route the wiring under the switch, vertical recesses are made into which the cable is placed.

Before carrying out work, the owner of the house must know exactly where the main electrical appliances will be located, which necessarily require an outlet. According to this scheme, all the work is done, otherwise, when moving electrical points, the design of the room can be disrupted. Therefore, first you need to draw up a plan where household appliances and switches will be located, and then start arranging boxes and drilling recesses.

In areas where it is planned to install switches or sockets, holes are made, they are cut with a drill with a special attachment, then boxes are mounted in which the main device system is placed. In order for the boxes to match the size of the switch, you need to know the types of all devices and their parameters.

It is also necessary to take into account that the electrical wiring, which is made of a corrugated pipe, is continuous, and therefore is considered quite airtight. This type of pipe is used for water supply or gas pipelines. Boxes, switches or sockets can be purchased in different shades that suit the design of the room, although the choice of such items is not very diverse. When purchasing all wiring components, it is necessary to consider not only the design, but also the quality of all parts.

Types and characteristics of wires

You should start by analyzing which cable to use for wiring in a wooden house - copper or aluminum. Both options can be used, but professionals prefer copper wires due to the following characteristics:

less susceptibility to corrosion;
better conductivity indicators;
greater strength.

Aluminum has only two advantages:

less weight;
low cost.

Otherwise, aluminum does not compete with copper due to its following properties:

rapid oxidation, which means worse conductivity and faster heating;
increased fragility, because several kinks in one place lead to wire breakage;
the properties of the material weaken at the point of contact and slip out of the screw terminals over time (periodic checks of the contacts will be required).

There is also an inexpensive composite material called aluminum-copper that is used to make wire cores. Such a product takes the best properties from both metals, but at the same time the quality indicators of each of them are significantly reduced.

Wires also differ in the number of cores - they can be multi-core or single-core. In turn, the cores can be single-wire or multi-wire.

Types of electrical wires Source elkomp.ru

The wires also differ in cross-sectional size and rated operating voltage. They are usually insulated with vinyl plastic, PVC or rubber, depending on the AC rating of the wire.

For additional resistance to mechanical damage, the wires are sometimes covered with a cotton braid. And if the likelihood of mechanical damage is practically guaranteed, then a galvanized steel braid is applied.

Despite the cheapness of aluminum wires, copper wiring is more popular because... home owners often prefer to pay tribute to reliability.

For open wiring, so-called “retro wiring” is also used, which combines functional and decorative solutions in the house, i.e. Electrical wiring in a wooden house is laid along the walls, but as attractively as possible, with elements of decorating the room.

Advantages and disadvantages of hidden electrical wiring

Life without electricity is unlikely to be comfortable. Electrical wiring is part of almost every modern home. However, when equipping a wooden house, you need to take into account that the use of electricity increases the likelihood of an accidental fire.

Installation of sockets and switches

There are regulatory documents whose requirements must be met when installing wiring. These include:

SNiP 3/01/01-85;
“Rules for the construction of electrical installations” (PUE);
SNiP III-4-80;
GOST R 50572.1-93;
SNiP 2.08.01(6.17).

When choosing a wiring installation method, you need to take into account the positive and negative aspects of such a decision.

How can you hide a box?

Hidden wiring has the following advantages:

With this installation method, there are no external parts that would disturb the design of the room.
When arranging furniture, there are no problems with determining its location. Sockets and switches recessed into the wooden wall do not interfere with the arrangement.
Since there are no strongly protruding parts on the wall, there are more opportunities for wallpapering the walls.
Since the hidden cable is mounted in a special tube, it can be easily replaced if necessary.
The wiring hidden in the wall is reliably protected from accidental mechanical damage.
Protruding parts of the electrical network and auxiliary devices do not collect dust.

Metal hoses of various diameters
However, despite the positive aspects, this solution has many disadvantages. The following are the main ones:

Since the wires are hidden, there is no way to control their quality. At the same time, microcracks that are not noticed in time can sometimes cause a short circuit.
If over time you have to make changes to the electrical wiring layout, then you will have to spend much more effort than in the case of open installation.
It is convenient to install hidden wiring during construction work. However, in the future this is accompanied by significant difficulties. At the same time, in an apartment that has already been lived in, the walls will have to be re-opened.
This method of performing work requires relatively high costs. In particular, there is a need to use additional specialized tools.

When deciding how to install, you need to take into account your preferences and your specific situation.

You may be interested in Description of wire clamps

Electrical wiring options in a wooden building

Wiring in a wooden house (cable routing) is carried out using the following methods:

Outdoor (open).

Electrical wiring is installed using special insulators. This is a fairly safe and economical method that does not require capital investments. The cable is routed directly along the planes of the walls and ceiling.

External wiring near the panel Source sense-life.com

Laying wiring in cable channels.

This method is also an open method. Special boxes are used, attached to the surfaces of the room, which visually hide the laid cable.

This also includes the fairly popular electric baseboard. Inside it there is a cavity in which the wires are fixed. This increases reliability and ease of installation.

Hidden (closed).

When metal (preferably copper) pipes in which the wiring will be laid are installed inside the walls. Of course, the pipes themselves must be installed during construction. This method is the most labor- and financially expensive. But it completely eliminates the possibility of mechanical impact and pressure on the cable, which is very important in wooden buildings, which often begin to “settle” over time. Accordingly, hidden electrical wiring in a wooden house is rightfully considered the most reliable and durable.

Hidden electrical wiring in a wooden house can be installed under the subfloor Source tildacdn.com

See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in electrical work of any complexity

No. 3. Open wiring in a wooden house

Laying electrical wires inside wooden walls is not only very dangerous, but also technically difficult. With the open method, the owner can fix the problem at any time, since access to the wires is always open, so this installation option has become more popular. Among the shortcomings, only unaesthetics are mentioned due to the visibility of the wires, but today even this disadvantage can be dealt with.

For open installation of wiring in wooden houses use:

cable channels, or electrical boxes. This is the most convenient and popular method. Such channels are relatively easy to install on a wooden surface, and if you choose the right color, they will be minimally noticeable. Manufacturers produce boxes with colors and patterns to match different types of wood. In terms of aesthetics, cost and ease of access to wires, this is the best option, but correctly calculating the number of required elements, turns, corners and plugs is not always easy;
electrical skirting board - the most modern option that allows you to achieve the most aesthetic results. It is equipped with core clamps;
rollers for insulation. These are small ceramic elements that are mounted on a surface and hold the wiring. All the wires will be visible, so in terms of aesthetics, this option is not the best, but it allows you to create a retro-style interior. This installation method is usually used in houses built from rounded logs;
special staples. This is the cheapest and simplest option, but it doesn’t look very good;
metal hose used for open wiring only in non-residential buildings, since the room becomes similar to a production one. No matter how hard you try, the corrugation will not lie perfectly, it will sag, and, moreover, collects dust.

Subtleties of hidden electrical wiring in wooden buildings

So, installation of hidden wiring is carried out during construction or major repairs. At the same time, there are some subtleties: the wires are laid inside metal pipes, or corrugations, and the installation of absolutely all connection units must be carried out in special metal boxes, with mandatory free access to them. It is strictly forbidden to hide them with decoration. Therefore, they are placed in inconspicuous places or they try to select covers that will not stand out from the interior and attract attention.

In the case when the installation of hidden wiring in a wooden building is carried out not with a cable, but with the help of insulated wires, then it is necessary to correctly select the thickness of the walls of the metal pipes in accordance with the regulations:

for copper wires with a cross-section of less than 2.5 mm, the thickness of the pipe does not matter;
when the wire cross-section reaches 4 mm, the metal wall must be at least 2.8 mm;
when the core cross-section is in the range of 4.5-10 mm, the wall is selected above 3.2 mm;
wire cross-sections in the range of 10.2-16 mm will require a pipe with a wall more than 3.5 mm thick.

Hidden wiring in a wooden house is laid only in metal pipes Source remontnik.ru
In the case of laying electrical cables, there are no strict standards for the size of pipe walls, because Double or triple insulation available. It is even allowed to install using metal corrugation (metal hose), which increases the convenience and speed of installation.

But it should be borne in mind that with this installation method, there will be practically no access to the wires. And making changes to the laid network will be expensive and extremely troublesome. So, before carrying out wiring in a wooden house in a hidden way, it is recommended to carefully check the wiring diagram and carry out all the work thoughtfully, with all care and scrupulousness.

Hidden wiring and rules for its installation

When installing hidden wiring, the following important points must be taken into account:

The diameter of the pipes used and the thickness of their walls depends on the parameters of the cables. If the cross-section of the copper wire is 2.5 mm2 or less, then you don’t have to think about the diameter of the pipe.
If the channel consists of separate elements, they are connected by welding or threading. And copper pipes - by flaring.
Protective structures are secured only with clamps.
To reduce damage to the log structure, it is better to lay the routes behind the baseboards and in the recesses of the openings.

Pipes should be laid at a slight slope. To ensure condensation drains.
If you use protective channels made of galvanized or stainless materials, you can eliminate the possibility of corrosion.
After pulling through the pipes, the insulation of the wires must be checked.

Layout diagram

Any work on laying or changing cables is preceded by preparatory actions, which include drawing up a wiring diagram. The competence and technical accuracy of the created project guarantees high-quality installation and safety of the electrical circuit, in accordance with all rules and regulations.

An example of an electrification scheme for a private house Source freelancehunt.com

When creating an electrical wiring diagram, it is recommended to take into account a number of nuances:

Important electrical components (panels, meters, sockets) are placed in easily accessible places so that it is possible to approach them at any time for prompt repair or replacement in order to prevent fire or short circuit.
The location of the switches is selected so that they remain in open areas, not cluttered with furniture. Failure to comply with this rule is inherent in Soviet buildings - and to this day, “hidden” switches can be found in the house of a mother or grandmother. The ideal height for any switch is considered to be a distance of over 50 cm from the floor level.
The location of sockets should be thoughtful, taking into account the location of all household appliances. The number of sockets should preferably correspond to the number of equipment, so that extension cords do not have to be used. According to the standard, one socket is enough for every 6 m². But if necessary, it is advisable to make more of them. Sockets are usually located at a height of 25-50 cm.

Option for the electrical wiring plan for the room, with a clear visualization of the location of sockets and lighting controls Source tehznatok.com

It is necessary to exclude possible twists or numerous kinks in the electrical cable . The lines must be laid parallel and perpendicular to the floor, ceiling or walls, i.e. only straight lines with right angles. As a rule, bottom or top electrical wiring is used, i.e. the laying is carried out 15 cm from the floor or ceiling.
Wire switching must be arranged in metal junction boxes. The use of plastic or wood products is prohibited.

Having thought through the location of household appliances in the house and outlining the wiring diagram, you can move on to the next stage.

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 different 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:

Using boxes, corrugated pipes or cable channels. This 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 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 cable channel cavity should be filled with wires 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 attached to them. This technology is outdated and rarely used even today. Ideally, multi-colored twisted pair cables should be used.

Installation on brackets. An alternative method that is suitable if it is impossible to lay the cable in boxes or fix it on insulators.
Retro wiring that allows you to most effectively and unusually disguise 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 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:

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, it is necessary to achieve full compliance of the technical parameters and operational 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 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.

High quality insulation. The electrical panel must be reliably isolated from any wooden products. Ideally, you need to choose rooms with a partition made of non-combustible materials.
Reliable guide. It is best to use three-core copper wires with high-quality non-flammable insulation. Avoid laying cables through PVC corrugation.
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:

PUE, edition 7. The main document that guides the design of electrical networks of residential buildings. Here you will find basic recommendations for selecting cables, distribution equipment, automatic protection devices and lighting devices.
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.
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

Construction of an electrical 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 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.
Place switches in open areas 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.
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.

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.
It is important to use metal junction boxes for connecting wires. The use of plastic or wooden products is prohibited.

We are preparing a home electrification project

When designing electrical wiring for a wooden building, you should contact your electricity supplier to obtain specifications. Further work is carried out based on these indicators. They start by calculating the total power consumed by all electrical appliances at home, taking into account lighting sources.

Example of technical conditions for connection to electrical networks Source chebo.pro

We select devices and cables

You can decide on the right cable without abstruse calculations, simply using the data from reference materials on electrical engineering. The selection of the core cross-section is carried out based on the expected load indicators.

The power consumption level of any equipment or devices is displayed in the technical specifications. passports or operating instructions. Based on these numbers, a wire with the required cross-section is selected for wiring in a wooden house. The input cable is also selected by summing up the power of available electrical devices.

Recommendation! A little specifics on the question of which wire is best to use for wiring in a wooden house. You need to choose a cable marked with the letters “NG”, i.e. “does not burn” or “LS” indicating reduced smoke emission. The internal wiring of a private house is usually laid with wires having a cross-section of 1.5 to 2.5 mm.

Cable laying rules

Electrical wiring in the house is very important for the normal and comfortable life of any modern person. That's more than lighting any building. Electrical wiring also makes it possible to operate many appliances that require it. It also helps keep the house warm, which is very important during cold seasons.

If you want to install electrical wiring in your home, it will be very important for you to know many rules and recommendations.

First, you should go through many authorities and collect all the necessary papers and permits. After this, you need to contact the electricity supply authorities and write a statement, outlining all your wishes regarding the electrical wiring of your home. Your application will not be considered if you do not indicate your approximate power consumption. In order for it to be calculated correctly, you should contact a professional in matters related to electricity. An electrician can easily provide this service. You will need to count the approximate number of electrical appliances that will constantly function in your home. After everything has been calculated, the electrician will make his calculations and give you a figure. However, it should be remembered that this figure should not be less than five kilowatts, just as it should not exceed ten kilowatts.

Within one or two months you will be able to obtain permission to install electrical wiring in your home. Next, you can begin work related to installing the electrical cable in your home. In order to avoid fines for improper installation of wiring or violation of electrical installation rules, be sure to seek help from a specialist. Hire an electrician to help you handle all the tasks ahead of you.

The electrician will also help you draw up the plan necessary for laying the electrical cable wiring. In this plan, you will indicate the desired number of sockets, the location of their installation, the location of the meter, the location for mounting ceiling lights and switches for them. And also, the electrician will have to indicate in this plan exactly where your electrical cable runs (in the case of hidden electrical wiring in the house.) Do not forget to monitor the work of the electrician. You should read and try to remember all electrical installation regulations. If something from his work causes you doubts, you have every right to inquire about the correctness of the actions performed by the employee.

Video description

Answers to the questions of which wire to use and what are the differences between single-core and stranded wires can be obtained by watching this video: The
input circuit breaker is selected so that the peak power load in the building does not cause a shutdown, plus 20-30% of the power reserve. Plus, the short circuit current is calculated, upon reaching which the circuit is guaranteed to break.

The selection of a machine for single-phase power supply occurs as follows:

The sum of the powers of all household electrical appliances is calculated and the maximum current indicator is determined using the formula IHOM=P/U*cosф, where cosф corresponds to 0.8. The result increases by 10% and the resulting current strength will become the indicator at which the machine will operate. Usually it does not exceed 25A.
Then the current level due to which the short circuit effect will occur is determined by applying the formula Isk=3260*S/L. Here S means the cross-sectional area of the wiring, and L means its length. This calculation is made on the longest section of the network with a minimum cross-section of cores.
Circuit breakers are characterized by the current strength at the moment of a short circuit, divided by the rated current strength. The electrical network of almost any private home belongs to networks with a mixed load. The ideal circuit breakers for them are type “C” devices.

Types of circuit breakers Source vse-e.com

Installation of machines and power supply

In accordance with the drawn up diagram, distribution boxes are installed, fixing points for switches, sockets and electrical devices are marked. The base of the electrical panel is mounted in the designated location with the following steps:

The counter is installed.
The automatic input device is mounted on the metal profile. Phase and zero are connected to it.
The terminals from the meter to the input machine are switched.
The wiring is laid in a wooden house in a cable channel and connected to the meter.
Automatic devices for all power consumption groups, RCDs and voltage relays are mounted on a metal profile or DIN rail.

Outside, cables for a wooden house are supplied by air or underground. The latter method will be cheaper, but its reliability will be lower. Input by air is made using self-supporting insulated wires. The main point that must be remembered is the arrangement of a fireproof sleeve at the point of entry into the building.

An example of connecting an electrical cable over the air Source fisenich.com

The underground connection is made through a metal pipe in order to protect the cable from the influence of environmental factors. The underground installation of electrical wiring to a wooden house must be coordinated with the energy company responsible for the site.

Connecting the power cable to the house underground Source emra.by

Features of the electrical panel

Externally, the distribution board is a plastic or metal (which is preferable) box with a door with fastenings for automatic machines and an electricity meter.

It has no size restrictions, and when a new box is installed, a little free space is always left for further connections.

Inside there is a meter (sealed), a main automatic shutdown device (RCD), which is also sealed, and single-pole circuit breakers for various groups of electrical wiring (lighting, socket, etc.)

Circuit breakers are mounted on the DIN rails provided for this purpose. The nominal value of the machines directly depends on the parameters of the connected line: if the permissible limit of the socket group is 16 A, then the machine must correspond to this value.

If you have automatic machines, installing an RCD is not necessary, but its installation should not be neglected. Additional protection is triggered when a leakage current appears. The RCD is manually turned off when it is necessary to cut off the flow of electricity into the house.

Despite the expensive cost of the equipment, responsible electricians insist on installing zone-based protection, which increases the safe use of the electrical network in a wooden house.

The nuances of connecting RCDs and circuit breakers in the panel are described in this article.

Subtleties when installing hidden wiring

First of all, you need to clearly understand which cable to choose for a wooden house. Regardless of choice, it must have a non-flammable insulating coating. In addition, it must be placed inside a corrugated metal sleeve or solid pipe.

The most important thing during installation is to carefully and in accordance with the diagram make holes and cuts for corrugations, cables, junction boxes, sockets, switches, etc.

Most often, hidden wiring is carried out 15-20 cm below the ceiling level, but electrical points are placed at the discretion of the master or owner in order to make them as convenient and accessible as possible. The wire is fastened in the corrugation using special clips and self-tapping screws. There is another advantage of hidden wiring - it does not interfere with subsequent finishing work in the room.

At all points that require the presence of distribution boxes, switches or sockets, “tails” of up to 15 cm are drawn out in order to then make wiring and connections.

Important! When installing hidden wiring in a wooden house, it is better to use cables with a larger cross-section than required by the external installation method, because There will be no natural cooling inside.

Step-by-step installation instructions

Electrical wiring is carried out in a certain order:

during the preparatory work, a wiring diagram is drawn up, the amount of materials that should be purchased for its installation is calculated;
cable entry into the building is installed;
an electrical panel is installed;
a ground loop is installed;
cable is laid;
junction boxes are installed;
the wall is drilled with a crown for switches and sockets, the top surface is sanded. Electrical points are installed;
lighting devices are installed;
Using a tester, the serviceability of electrical points and the working condition of the cable are checked.

Preparation of materials and tools

To properly carry out installation work in a timber or frame house, you will need a variety of tools:

an electric drill with a crown is necessary for drilling holes for distribution boxes, switches, sockets;
screwdriver with attachments;
staples;
self-tapping screws;
indicator screwdriver or tester;
rubber gloves to avoid electric shock.

The correct choice of cable and electrical devices will help prevent accidents and fires in a private home.

It is important to buy a cable with non-flammable insulation.

The wall of the overhead socket must also be made of non-combustible material. If the socket is built-in, then it is better to take a metal cup holder.

Electrical supply to the building

Electricity should be routed to a building in two ways: underground and using a self-supporting insulating wire from an overhead power line. The support for the panel room should be located at a distance of no more than 25 m from the house. The wire is inserted into a log house through a through hole in the wall, located at a slope towards the street. The cable is inserted in a steel sleeve to avoid ignition. In order not to spoil the insulation of the house, the gap between the sleeve and the wall is sealed with glass wool. After this, the outer cladding of the house is restored.

Option for entering the building

Arrangement and installation of an electrical panel

Before installing an electrical panel, it is important to know the basic rules for distributing electricity among consumer groups.

Household appliances with a power of more than 2 kW must have a 16 A circuit breaker in the switchboard. A whole cable with a diameter of 2.5 mm is laid from the line, without branches. Some ovens have high power, so the cable to them has a diameter of 4 mm, and the machine is 20 A. Electric stoves are protected by 32 A circuit breakers. The cable laid to them has a diameter of 6 mm.

One outlet line is allocated for each room in the distribution board. In the room there is a distribution box in which the branches from the sockets are hidden. The socket line cable has a diameter of 2.5 mm. Each room of the house is assigned its own lighting line with a 1.5 mm cable. The circuit breakers for them have a current of 10 A.

A description of the components of the shield will help you understand what devices should be located in it:

circuit breakers. Circuit breakers are designed for different groups of consumers and have different current strengths depending on the power of household appliances;
residual current devices - RCD. They serve to protect people from electric shock and fire. They are triggered in the event of a current leak, cutting off the voltage;
electricity metering devices. Electricity meters help determine the amount of electricity consumed;
voltage cut-off relay. This device saves you from power surges and prevents failure of electronic devices;
contact bars.

There are several stages of installing an electrical panel:

preparatory. At this stage, a niche for the shield is prepared and the wires are brought out. The workplace is prepared and the necessary lighting is provided. The power input cable is de-energized. The plugs are removed from the panel, contact bars and mounting brackets are installed. The electrical panel door is removed. The shield is hung on the wall. After checking that the niche has been prepared correctly, the shield is removed;
drawing up a diagram of the distribution panel;
The electrical panel should be assembled on a table. The devices are installed on a DiN rail - a metal strip 35 mm wide;
connecting wires. They are connected to the corresponding wires and buses;
The final stage. Checking the operation of the shield. Securing the door. Marking of machines.

Grounding

Designing networks for a wooden house includes a grounding device. In suburban areas, a modular-pin grounding method is used. It is installed around the perimeter of the house or mounted in a line. The good thing about the linear method is that it can be increased at any time. Grounding is arranged in the form of some kind of figure: polyhedron, triangle, rectangle. The circuit consists of vertically located pins. A hole up to 2 m is drilled with a hand drill. Then the first pin is driven into it. The second pin is inserted even deeper. But the ground electrode should not go deeper than 3 m, otherwise it may get stuck.

Then the grounding conductors are cut 20 cm below ground level, and a groove is dug to lay a horizontal steel strip. The steel strip is connected to the grounding conductors by welding. It is best to make not one grounding loop, but several, depending on the number of electrical appliances in the house. The grounding circuit is connected to the distribution board by a steel conductor with a diameter of 16 mm.

Cabling

To lay the cable, you need to cut it into separate sections. The number of segments depends on the number of sockets and switches. One segment is equal to the distance between the socket and the switch plus 15-20 cm. Then the cable channels are installed strictly according to the level. Electrical wiring is hidden inside them. If in the future it is planned to install a porch, then the cable is laid with a reserve so as not to build it up later when installing outdoor lighting.

Connecting wires and contacts

The rules for installing electrical wiring require connecting cables by welding, crimping, squeezing and soldering. The grips include PPE caps. They consist of two parts: a cap and a spring. There is a spring inside the polymer non-flammable material. It is treated with a special compound for better conductivity. On its inside you can see the notches that hold the wires. The wires are stripped to 2 cm, placed parallel to each other and inserted into the cap, twisting it clockwise.

Connection options

Installation of distribution boxes

A junction box is necessary for separating power lines and branching cables for connecting sockets and switches. Wires leading to electrical points are collected in a distribution box, which is tightly closed to prevent touching them. The lid is closed with locking clips.

The box contains terminal blocks. They are made of fireproof and moisture-proof metal. The metal is coated with an anti-corrosion agent.

The boxes are screwed to the wall with self-tapping screws and secured with support feet. Wires are inserted into spring terminals.

Installation of sockets and switches

Sockets are:

invoices. They can be applied to any wall surface. The outlet has another name. It is called external;
built-in They settle into landing nests inside the wall.

It is better to take the landing sockets from metal. They will protect your home from fire.

Outlets and switches must have a metal mounting plate that is attached to the wall. At the beginning of installation, the external socket is aligned and fixed to the wall. Then the mechanism and outer panel are mounted. It is possible to use a plastic plate, but it must be non-flammable and have a Fire Safety Certificate. A grounding wire is installed in the socket and switch.

You need to start installing a built-in socket with markings. After this, a hole is drilled with a crown. Then they make insulation from asbestos or aluminum and only then install it. Strip the wires of insulation and determine their length. It should not be more than 15-20 cm. The wires are connected to the working part. The socket box is inserted and secured with screws. The outer frame is installed. It is screwed on with self-tapping screws.

Electrical sockets are located at a distance of 30 cm-1 m from the floor covering. For every 6-10 m you need an outlet.

There are several ways to connect them:

sequential connection of sockets one after another. It is intended mainly for low-power electrical appliances;
for powerful household appliances, it is better to choose a parallel connection method, when each of them has its own wire from the junction box;
mixed. It combines both connection methods.

The most common light switches are single-key and two-key push-button products. The principle of operation of the switches is to close and open the electrical circuit when the button is switched.

First, they disassemble the new switch: remove the keys and decorative frame.
Insert the stripped wires into the switch terminals and tighten with bolts.
Pack the housing inside a metal cup, level it, and secure the housing with bolts.
Place a decorative frame and keys.

Installation of lighting fixtures

In a wooden house, overhead, built-in and street lighting devices are used. It is important that the installation of lamps takes place on metal platforms to ensure the fire safety of a wooden house. Street lighting devices must be grounded. Ceiling lamps are located at a distance of 70 cm from the ceiling. LED strips and lanterns and spotlights are used as street lighting. Neon porch lighting is an excellent option for highlighting the features of your home and its aesthetic qualities.

Decor element

Installation of grounding with a residual current device (RCD)

In addition to grounding the junction box, in order to ensure reliable protection of electrical appliances and household appliances, it is necessary to arrange a full-fledged grounding circuit.

Therefore you will need:

three-meter reinforcing rods with a cross-section of at least 30 cm in the amount of 3 pcs.;
a dug ditch in the shape of a triangle, about 50 cm deep and up to one and a half meters on a side;
reinforcement is driven into the ground at the vertices of the triangle;
the rods are connected to each other with a steel angle and fixed by welding;
the resulting triangle of one of the vertices is connected to the house by a trench (of the same depth), into which the same corner is placed and welded to the contour.

Directly next to the building, the corner is welded to a meter-long reinforcing rod. Ideally, after burial, a 30 cm piece of rod should remain on the surface. A copper cable from the distribution panel passing through the RCD is attached to the end of this rod. The normal cross-section of such a cable will be 2.5-4 mm.

Example of ground loop equipment Source remontnik.ru

Common mistakes during installation work

Statistics prove that fires in wooden buildings are most often caused by errors and violations that occur during the installation and use of electrical wiring. These are mainly the following shortcomings:

When installing in a hidden way, cables are laid under the ceiling without additional insulating measures. If the wire cross-section is chosen incorrectly, overheating and contact with the wooden surfaces of the interfloor ceilings occurs.
When laying cables under regular skirting boards. Space is limited, the cable is in contact with the body of a wooden or plastic baseboard. To lay wiring in this way, it is recommended to use special skirting boards of appropriate design and with the necessary clearances.
Rules for installing wiring in a wooden house prohibit the use of corrugated PVC pipes. Instead, it is necessary to use free cable channels or metal corrugations. Unfortunately, some home owners try to save money at this point.

Typical errors

Before moving on to their analysis, it should be understood that a short circuit (hereinafter referred to as a short circuit), which is the cause of a fire, practically always occurs due to a violation of the insulating coating. It can be caused by both mechanical damage to the wires (A Fig. 1) and connection to the line of a load higher than the calculated one (B Fig. 1).

Fig 1. A and B – causes, C – consequence

Now let’s consider the classic mistake of many would-be craftsmen, out of ignorance or for the purpose of an allocated budget, installing hidden wiring in a wooden house in corrugated PVC pipes, metal hoses or plastic boxes. Doing this is strictly prohibited!

Figure 2. Example of violation of the Electrical Regulations (hidden wiring on a combustible base using PVC corrugation)

Now we will explain why such installation is unacceptable for wooden buildings. Here are three arguments:

It cannot be guaranteed that the integrity of the insulation will not be compromised during the installation process. To do this, it is not at all necessary to make mistakes during installation, just a manufacturing defect, violation of the conditions of storage or transportation of the cable is enough. The very fact is that the possibility cannot be excluded. There have been cases when measuring instruments could not detect the presence of microcracks in the insulation.

Over time, under the influence of the load connected to the line, the insulation will begin to weaken in the problem area, which will sooner or later lead to a short circuit. The thickness of the walls of PVC pipes and ducts will not be enough to contain the released energy, and accordingly, a fire will occur. For clarity, its consequences are shown in Figure 2.

In addition to the above, we cannot discount uninvited guests, which are not uncommon for wooden structures; we are talking about rodents. Due to their destructive nature, they show increased interest in home communication lines.

The house mouse shows interest not only in products.
A plastic box or corrugation will not become a serious obstacle for mice, and especially rats. There is no need to explain the dangers of exposed wires.

In the voids made in the wooden base for wiring, wood dust accumulates over time. Sometimes a small spark is enough for it to ignite. Localizing such a fire is quite problematic, since it is hidden from view. But even after finding a place, gaining access to it and extinguishing the flame, it cannot be guaranteed that it did not continue to spread through the voids of the cable channel.

Another mistake that can cause a fire is incorrect connection of wires in the junction box. We are talking about the “twisting” practiced by many. There is an opinion that it is allowed if done correctly. If they tell you this, ask what standards you can read about how to do twisting correctly. The answer will be silence, since the PUE clearly states how the connection should be made.

PUE 6th edition, paragraph 2.1.21, verbatim
The reason for the ban is due to the fact that such a connection cannot guarantee reliable contact. As a result, the wires begin to heat up, the insulation is destroyed and a short circuit occurs.

Characteristic consequences of twisting

Test events

When testing electrical wiring, they use very precise electrical measuring instruments that have the appropriate certificates. Test activities consist of the following:

visual inspection;
measurements of resistance indicators on the surface of insulating coatings of wiring;
measurements of ground loop resistance indicators;
checking the correct operation in the phase-zero circuit;
testing of automation and RCD;
reading indicators in the “device-grounding” circuit.

Testing activities and commissioning of the electrical network are carried out by the governing body to which documents were submitted for permission to electrify the structure. After checking, the relevant specialist confirms the correct operation of the electrical wiring of the entire area. In fact, this is a guarantee that the work was performed with high quality, and allows the consumer to use the electrical network in full without any fear.

Carrying out electrical measurements and testing of the electrical network Source remstroy-blog.ru

Wiring test

Measuring voltage using a multimeter

To test electrical wiring, we use precision electrical measuring instruments certified for use in electrical laboratories. During the test the following work is carried out:

visual inspection;
resistance measurements on the insulating coating of the cable;
resistance measurement on the ground loop;
correct operation of the phase-zero circuit;
RCD and automation testing;
measuring readings in the device-grounding section.

Testing and commissioning of the electrical network is carried out by the governing body to which the application for electrification of the house was submitted. Upon completion of the inspection, the specialist confirms the correct operation of the electrical wiring in all areas. This guarantees that the specialists have done their work efficiently, and the consumer can use the electrical network without fear of damaging the equipment or causing harm to their health.

Let's remember the main thing

Although the material presented gives a general understanding of how to properly install electrical wiring in a wooden house, it is important to understand that all the work described is quite complex and dangerous. Most of what is described will require utmost attention and constant concentration, because... Working with electricity can be dangerous to health and life at any stage. Therefore, it is recommended to leave the installation of electrical wiring in a wooden house in the safe hands of a qualified specialist. After all, incorrect work at any stage can lead to irreparable consequences.

No. 4. Creating a Wiring Diagram

Installation of electrical wiring in a wooden house begins with the creation of a diagram that is agreed upon with Gosenergonadzor. It is necessary to indicate on it the places where all sockets, switches, as well as the panel and meter will be located . The diagram also shows the future location of the cable, indicating the distance from the floor, ceiling, window and door openings. It is better to take the house plan as a basis, where the exact parameters of all rooms are indicated.

To correctly draw up a diagram, follow these rules:

It is necessary to think in advance about the location of large household appliances, as well as the lighting scheme. This will eliminate problems with extension cords in the future;
determine the maximum power of devices;
create connection groups. The rules dictate that each room be provided with two branches of wiring: one for sockets, the second for lighting. Each powerful appliance (washing machine, boiler, etc.) is placed in a separate group - a separate cable must be laid for them. Residential lighting is another group, but it is often connected to a separate circuit breaker to be able to turn on the lighting when no one is home. For each group, the maximum load is calculated;
sockets can be located at any height. The main thing is that they are convenient to use, so consider the type and number of electrical appliances;
switches, as a rule, are located at a height of 80 or 150 cm. It is advisable that they are all at the same height;
the distribution panel is mounted at a height of 150 cm so that small children cannot reach it;
The wiring can only run vertically and horizontally, and turn at right angles.

When the scheme is agreed upon and the necessary power is allocated, you can move on.