Electrical box: general information about electrical distribution boards and installation features in an apartment or house

Repair or construction of any building involves laying new or replacing old wiring in order to ensure fire safety and the correct operation of all electrical devices. An important role here is played by the electric box, inside which the wires are located. It facilitates the maintenance of the entire system and prevents emergencies. If you have knowledge, it is possible to assemble and install the device yourself.

General information

The direct function of an electrical switchboard is to ensure the correct operation of equipment in an apartment or private house. However, the main purpose of the device is considered to be the correct distribution of energy and safety in the room. When the device is turned on, it receives a signal from an external source and transmits it to consumer groups.

Correct functioning of the device implies safety and prevention of short circuits in any part of the circuit. In large buildings and in production, several panels are installed, which work together and, if necessary, provide additional energy supply.

In addition, the device prevents electric shock to people and animals in direct contact with wires or cables. That is why you should take the assembly and installation of the electrical panel seriously., and in the absence of appropriate skills, it is better to entrust it to specialists.

Electricity distribution principles

Before assembling the electrical panel for the machines, it is necessary to determine the groups of consumers in the apartment or private house that need more energy. Only after this is it allowed to draw up a diagram, observing several important rules:

1. The most powerful consumers of electricity should be separated into separate groups in order to prevent overvoltage in the switchboard. Washing machines and dishwashers, ovens and electric stoves, water heaters belong to such groups, since their power usually exceeds 2 kW. Each such line must have an automatic machine. Electrical panels for them are also necessary, since they provide quick access in case of need to stop the operation of devices.
2. Dishwashers and washing machines, boilers and air conditioners must only be connected to a cable with a cross section of at least 2.5 mm. In the dashboard, each line must end with a 16A machine.
3. Some oven models require a 4 mm cable. In this case, a 16A machine will not work and must be set to at least 20A. Electric hobs or instantaneous water heaters are more powerful and require connection to a cable with a cross section of at least 6 mm and a 32A machine.
4. It is also recommended to output the socket lines separately for each room using a copper three-core cable with a cross-section of at least 2.5 mm. This will facilitate repair work in the event of a breakdown, since you can simply turn off the machine in one room and perform all the manipulations without completely disconnecting the apartment or house. In the event of an emergency, the machine will turn off on its own, which is very convenient when the owner is absent.
5. Lighting lines are recommended to be laid according to the same principle as sockets, with a separate one for each room. The machine is installed taking into account the number of lighting devices in the room, but usually a 10A device is sufficient.

Some owners of apartments or houses, in order to save money and materials when installing wiring, use switches that do not match the voltage, and instead of cables, they lay wires. Doing this is strongly discouraged as it increases the likelihood of spontaneous combustion.

Drawing up a diagram

Before laying the wiring and installing the electrical panel (apartment or in a private house), it is recommended to draw up a detailed diagram. Usually it is one-line and for a person with the appropriate knowledge, it will not be difficult to read it.

On the diagram, it is necessary to indicate the direction of cables and wires, the place of mounting sockets, switches and lighting devices. It is imperative to indicate the number of machines and their capacity. They are usually identified by the letter H, and residual current devices (RCDs) by the letters A or F. It is recommended to determine in advance the type of RCD that will correspond to the expected load on it.

There are two types of such devices on the market today: electronic and electronic-mechanical. The latter are of high cost. The differences in the operation of the devices are significant. For example, when carrying out repair work due to insulation damage, it is the electronic-mechanical models that will be more useful. They are able to operate even if the entire room is de-energized and indicate a problem.

Electronic RCDs are inoperative in the absence of power, and when trying to restore the power supply, problems in the form of a short circuit may arise. Depending on the type of current the following residual current devices are distinguished:

• AC - alternating sinusoidal current;
• A - pulsating constant in combination with alternating current;
• B - a combination of rectified, alternating and pulsating current.

The latter option is considered the most preferable, provides maximum protection, but is expensive, therefore it is rarely installed in apartments or private houses. The second type is reliable and is often chosen for residential premises. The first option is not recommended for anyone to purchase, since it is not made of such high quality and does not protect the system well from voltage surges and other problems.

When choosing a residual current device, it is recommended to consider the rated current and leakage. The first is a current that can pass through the contacts and not melt them. For example, when choosing a 25A machine, the RCD must have an indicator of at least 40A. If all the nuances are taken into account in advance, the wiring and assembly of the electrical panel is much easier.

Shield selection

After drawing up a diagram and taking into account all the features of the wiring, it is necessary to decide on the type of shield that will be used. The simplest option is considered to be a hinged model, which does not require the installation of a special niche and preliminary preparation of the wall. If installed on the street, this model can always be used; for premises it is chosen in the case when the wiring is laid in an open way, for example, in a wooden house.

Built-in models are used exclusively indoors, they are mounted in a pre-prepared niche in the wall. A prerequisite for the installation of such a shield is the laying of closed wiring. You should be aware that shields differ depending on the material.

Metal models can be built-in and mounted. The latter are especially popular because they can be installed outdoors and have a robust design. During installation, you can easily restrict the access of strangers by mounting a padlock. There are also variants, the front door of which has a transparent glass insert that allows you to read the meter reading.

Plastic products are considered the most popular today. They have a variety of designs and many models for outdoor or indoor installation, wall-mounted or recessed. These shields fit harmoniously into any design, safe and easy to install. The only drawback is that when choosing a model made of white plastic, you should prepare for the fact that after a while the material will turn yellow.

A wide selection of electrical panels allows anyone to purchase a suitable option. Russian products have an ideal ratio of price and quality, an interesting design can be selected among the devices from the Greek company Fotka. Particular attention should be paid to the complete set of the shield. It must have special rails for fixing the machines, cable holders, and a set of fasteners.

The last detail will help to carry out the installation without additional drilling of the walls. It is believed that you can always order additional parts from a good manufacturer if necessary.

Optional equipment

For a high-quality installation of an electrical panel, it is necessary to select the appropriate modular equipment. It is recommended to know the rules before starting installation work:

1. As a rule, experienced electricians prefer components manufactured by the same company as the shield. Each has its own company, whose products are liked more than others.
2. For different companies, additional components may differ in size, so problems often arise during installation. You can avoid this by purchasing products from one company.
3. To assemble the shield, you will need a special wire PV1 or PV3 3-4 meters long. It is imperative to separate the phase and zero by color.
4. End caps and combs are considered important as they help to interconnect modular devices.
5. When installing a group RCD, it is recommended to purchase zero busbars with fasteners or cross-modules. These parts will help save space in the dashboard and keep everything in order.
6. An important detail is the rail limiter, which allows the elements to move in a straight line when the need arises.
7. It is recommended that you purchase a sufficient number of plastic ties that will fix the wires in the shield. This will help you get to the right cord without any problems and keep them in order.

After choosing the model of the shield and purchasing all the components, it is allowed to proceed directly to the installation of the system.

DIY installation

Installation of a hinged-type electrical panel does not cause difficulties and even a beginner can cope with the task. The situation is different with models that are built into the wall. It is necessary to place the shield in a well-ventilated area, where free access will be provided to it. The humidity level in this place should not exceed 60%.

The top edge of the fixture should not be more than 180 cm from the floor, otherwise maintenance will be difficult. During installation, it is worth retreating from the doorways by at least 15 cm. In order to make a hole in the wall, you need to attach a shield to it and make a markup. After marking by means of special tools, a niche is made. In this case, it is necessary to periodically apply the box to it in order to determine the places that need to be corrected. When the hole is ready, you should install the shield in it, having previously attached the fasteners to it.

With the help of self-tapping screws or screws, the strips are attached to the wall. This makes the structure strong. Often, after completing these stages, it is found that the niche is larger in size than the flap and a distance remains. Usually it is filled with polyurethane foam or other solution for professional use. This procedure will add strength and eliminate the possibility of dismantling.

After installation, it is necessary to resolve the issue of removing the wires from the shield. For this, experts recommend purchasing high-quality models with removable covers. Even after the installation work, it will not be difficult to remove all the necessary cords. Attachments in this regard are simpler. Only in low-quality products there are no special holes for cables and wires, but buying them is strongly discouraged.

Thanks to the study of all the intricacies of the device and installation of the electrical panel, it is possible to independently install it in an apartment or house. In the absence of minimal knowledge and skills in this area, it is recommended to contact a specialist.