The box for electrical machines is used for household and industrial purposes, because it houses an electric meter, circuit breakers and other devices. The switchboard protects people from electric shock and allows you to protect the installed devices from various types of damage both indoors and outdoors.
Content
- General information and design of the electrical panel
- Choosing a location
- Build rules
- Important recommendations
General information and design of the electrical panel
Any box for electrical machines has its own necessary protection, which prevents from physical influences with current-carrying elements and does not allow the ingress of foreign objects on them that could cause a short circuit. And also the electrical panel has a rather simple design, outwardly, it resembles a box in which they are installed:
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electricity metering device; - internal overload and short circuit protection;
- manual switch for any of the lines.
The structure is made of metal or plastic. Each product has its own characteristics, as the plastic shield has increased resistance to external influences and does not conduct electricity. The metal cabinet has many modifications, which allows you to choose the required design.
Depending on what type of wiring is installed, shields for electricity meters and machines are divided into two types:
- Outer. Used for exposed wiring.
- Internal drawer for an electric meter. Required for hidden wiring.
The size of the shield depends on the number of modules that will be installed there. In addition to standard equipment in the control cabinet, includes:
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Electricity meter. Required for metering electricity consumption. - Circuit breaker. Protects electrical wiring.
- Residual current device.
- Electric wires.
After purchasing and checking all the components, you can install the electrical panel. During installation, it should be remembered that if the network is single-phase, a two-pole automatic machine is installed, and for a three-phase one - a three-pole one.
Choosing a location
The outdoor electrical box is mounted under a non-combustible base. The lower edge of the box cabinet must be at least 100 cm above the floor level, and the top should not exceed 180 cm. Decrease in the level is allowed if disabled or elderly people live in the dwelling.
Prohibited places for the installation of an electrical panel:
- near heating systems;
- in showers;
- outside the territory of the dwelling, with the exception of metering boards;
- in the bathroom;
- in the ventilation shaft;
- flight of stairs;
- loggias and balconies.
As a rule, a street box for an electric meter is installed next to the entrance to the room. The apartment is equipped with a structure near the front door. In panel houses, vestibule rooms are provided for the installation of the product.
Build rules
A certain amount of electrical cable must be connected to the junction box. It is better to sign them to save time. Each wire must be stripped of insulation and the phase conductor must be marked. Then, using self-tapping screws, fix the din rail and install the circuit breaker on top. When all the products are inside the dashboard, it is necessary to perform the following steps in stages:
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You need to connect zero cores to the din-rail, pre-adjusting them in length. The exception is products with installation through an RCD. - Install the machine. The upper terminals connect the input, and the lower ones the output.
- Connect the differential machine.
You need to know that before connecting the device, you need to get permission for independent connection from the controllers of the energy company. If the permission was not obtained, then they make the connection on their own. It should be remembered that after installing the meter, you need to mount a protective disconnecting device to it. After all, it protects the electrical box from short circuits and limits the permitted power.
Important recommendations
For assembly, it is necessary to use a multi-core cable PuV, but its analogue, PUGV, is also allowed, if the twisted wires at the end are covered with special ferrules. The cable insulation of these brands is made of non-combustible material, and is capable of retaining its properties at temperatures from minus 40 to 75 degrees. The service life of the products reaches 20 years.
To carry out the phase to the input of the machine, you need to use the "comb" as a distribution bus.
Electricity meter assembly tips:
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If the box is metal, it must be grounded. - The wire or cable must not be routed under the AB mount.
- The length of the cable reserve should be twice the height of the electrical panel, but not exceed 400 mm.
- When tightening the clamps, the applied force should be in the range of 2.5 - 3.5 Nm.
In addition, all wires must be marked, this requirement also applies to installed products. And on the door there should be a table indicating the purpose of each element.
