Weatherproof sockets: Select the type of water-resistant device

electrical hardware market is striking abundance of wiring accessories that can work well in specific operating conditions. Among these proposals appear waterproof socket. With their advantages and features should know before buying. Do you agree?

We offer reliable information about the specifics of the device and operation of the socket for rooms with high humidity levels and unstable. You will learn how to pick up the device according to the degree of protection, how to read the product label. We met with the leading manufacturers in the segment.

Detailed description of the sockets for operation in direct and indirect contact with water supplemented with diagrams, a selection of photos, illustrations, video presentations and assembly instructions.

Classification of electrical outlets

Rosette is a standardized plug connector for household tools and appliances, industrial plants and machinery.

to properly pick outlet for the premises, you must have at least an initial idea about the types of sockets and consider several factors when selecting outlets for premises.

Experts in the field of electrical wiring distinguish a large number of types and kinds of bush products that can be grouped into several classes:

1. On the mount type. Divided into overhead and hidden. The first widely used by the subsidiary, commercial and industrial applications. They are used for retro-wiring device in cottages from timber or logs. Second placed in areas where the focus is on the interior, namely the absence of any protruding elements on the walls of dwellings.
2. According to the number of connectors in the socket panel. The most common items to one, two or three connectors. There are products with a number of connectors of four or more units. On this depends the number of simultaneously connected and working devices in a room.
3. By type of plug-in connector. For separation on standard labeling group used in Latin letters. In the former Soviet Union countries in the course C, E and F. Although there are at least 13 different sockets plugs and sockets for them, respectively, in the world.

Speaking of accompanying factors also need to remember the mains voltage to which the socket mount 220 or 380 V. 220 is used for household appliances, and 380 are often used to power all kinds of installations, machines, machines, etc.

During the selection process, you can pay attention to the color palette of the finished product and in particular to pay attention to manufacturers. We strongly recommend not to buy cheap outlet - it indicates the presence in the construction of cheap materials that directly affect the safety and reliability of the product.

Features damp proof devices

As noted above, electrical accessories market a wide range of products sockets that fit virtually all technical requirements and even protection against moisture and dust.

These sockets have a special design: rugged protective valve cover, insulated tube, a contact group, and necessarily grounded.

Housing and cover these sockets are made of special heavy-duty polymer plastic that can withstand moisture and low temperatures. Terminals may also be made of plastic or high-strength ceramic.

The Contact Group and the "petals" made of earth-doped alloy steel and brass, that allows a safe and reliable connection with plug contacts of the electric connector instrument.

It is corrosion-resistant product is able to operate in the most extreme weather conditions, with a direct contact and droplets of water jet.

Typical water-resistant socket has a different form factor, practically, in most cases it includes a plug body recess and the cover. The recess protects the outlet side of the influence of water, and the lid - of a direct moisture outlet openings.

And yet, the body and cap protects outlet terminals from dust and other abrasive particles that may adversely affect the state of electrical contact between the mains supply and electric device.

For comparison, the degree of protection against moisture and dust with respect to the shell of some products using so-called parameter - Ingress Protection (IP).

The degree of protection shell

The protection sheath or housing of any device which has within it electrical components / elements is One of the main characteristics of the finished product according to IEC60529 international standards (DIN40050, GOST14254).

In any case, each household electrical appliance and industrial equipment must have a certain degree of protection shell which is defined by a standardized character code 4 IPHH where:

• IP - is the notion of the level of protection of the equipment;
• first numeric character X establishes the degree of protection against the penetration of dust and particles;
• second numeric character X establishes the degree of protection against moisture and water.

In addition, the labeling of equipment, there is another additional letter symbol that indicates the degree of human protection against access to hazardous parts and pieces of the same equipment. But in relation to waterproof sockets not in use.

For the first numeric character we have 7 layers of protection:

• 0 - no protection;
• 1-4 - protection against large objects (pieces of wire, cable parts, insulation residues, nuts, washers, screws) and organic particles (stones, earth, sand) with a diameter of more than 1 mm;
• 5 - protection against dust, there is a possibility of penetration of particles into the unit, which does not disturb its normal operation;
• 6 - protection against dust, particles do not penetrate inside the device.

For the second numeric character we have 9 levels of security, but we are only interested in options from 3 to 6:

• 3 and 4- splashguard and raindrops;
• 5 - protection against water jets, which does not disturb its normal operation;
• 6 - Protection against strong water jets, which does not violate its normal operation.

For moisture resistant sockets, which are installed indoors, there are some typical protecting shell markings, e.g., IP44 or IP45.

Moisture resistant to outdoor outlet open - IP54 / 55, but the most common and widely are used labeling class IP65 / 66, which are recommended to get to the outside application.

Application protected from moisture sockets

On the use of ordinary sockets issues hardly arise - where necessary, there is set.

But another thing is waterproof socket - outlets special class, which are used in special cases, namely:

• en-suite facilities, and bathrooms apartments (houses);
• beauty centers and fitness clubs, which provides water treatments, saunas, steam rooms, showers;
• swimming pools and leisure centers dolphinaria type, water parks, etc .;
• "Street" application (on the outside of buildings) and industrial facilities.

Bathroom classic apartments have long ceased to be archaic premises only with a sink and a cast-iron bath now a high-tech room where installed "stiralki", whirlpool, Jacuzzi, water heaters, electric hood and dryers.

Do not forget about the need for an outlet for hair dryer, curling iron, electric razor and more. The bathroom is also in need of such elementary things as electric hood and hand dryer after washing. All of this "good" must be powered from a reliable source - an electrical network via Weatherproof outlet.

Today's beauty salons, sports clubs provide more than a wide range of beauty and wellness services, which include water treatment.

To ensure the safe use of such services and moisture-proof socket, which is connected to an extensive list electrical appliances and equipment: from the dryer to the tubular electric heater (ten-a) for "heating" the stones in sauna.

About the need for moisture-proof sockets in the pool or water park, and there is no need to talk. Unable to normal, and most importantly security, including any liquid ring pump or other blowing unit to circulate the water in the tank desired strength or the presence of water flow the attraction.

A huge number of industrial equipment powered by the electrical network in the most extreme weather environments or to the presence of liquid inside the unit.

To exclude random or systematic adverse effect of moisture on the electrical connection between the network and power equipment, waterproof sockets commonly used with the maximum envelope of protection.

General safety rules

Clearly, for the safe use of household appliances and accessories you need to follow the trivial safety rules during connection, turn off the appliance to the outlet.

For example, before plugging in the plug, examine the cavity C wall socket and make sure that the outlet is not foreign objects, as well as no fumes and "dark" spots on the outlet surface and near it on the wall surface, where it is installed.

Next, inspect the appliance itself and the plug wire, check the absence of the bare part of the wire and darkening on the cable. In the case of the above factors, to abandon the use of the appliance, call a specialist. Or to check the problem, if there is the appropriate skills.

During shutdown the plug from the wall outlet, it is recommended to hold a free hand surface of the outer socket panel and gently pull the plug out of the socket. If sharp "pull" the plug, you can "snatch" terminals with sockets.

Everyone knows that water is an excellent material for the transfer of electric charge, hence the need to avoid any contact with moisture conductive network element, Kojima is power socket. Though the jack and protected from moisture, it does not mean that electricity is not able to affect human health.

If you find water near the outlet, it is strongly recommended to disable the power network throughout the room, for example, on the distribution brush, call a specialist.

Landmarks Bathroom Device Selection

Proceed directly to the very algorithm selection and Installation of water-resistant Rosetoto our bathrooms. As already noted, the classical current bathroom is the room where concentrated a sufficient number of electrical appliances and devices.

To not make the wrong choice of wiring products to consider:

1. Class sockets protection. Minimum - class IPX4, optimally - class IPX5 or IPX6, all of which is equal to and more than 7 to buy is not rational.
2. Design, color and shape. As the saying goes: "The taste and color of comrades there." Choosing a socket in the bathroom, you need to consider the size, shape, presence of lid, rear panel and the other to perfectly fit the product into the general surroundings of the room.
3. The number of connectors. The standard is the use of two multiblock socket connectors. One is used to connect large equipment (automatic washing machine, hydro-massage and other water-therapeutic system), the second - for the "small" electric household appliances (hair dryer, razor, dryer, cooker hood, additional room lights).
4. A separate machine. Installing moistureproof outlet in the bathroom, you need to provide a separate power supply line for them. In addition, all of these sockets to connect the unit via the emergency stop in the switchboard. Sockets must necessarily be grounded.

By wiring also has special requirements. Material power wires - copper cabling in the wall only in the presence of a special PVC-boxes.

It should be noted that the above reasoning can easily be applied to the selection and installation of damp proof sockets in the back room of the private home, basement storage, garage, etc. You can only eliminate a requirement and design in relation to the outer bezel "beauty" outlet.

Sockets for outdoor

If you are the owner of a private home, country house or usual 6 acres with a small car, then there is no need to talk about a variety of situations where "at hand" need a simple socket. In order to avoid the purchase of a 100-meter extension rationally set the desired number of outlets on the outside of an object.

Waterproof socket strips can be mounted almost anywhere: wall of the building, on a wooden arbor support for "Deck" mini-pools within a stone / brick fence supports on the outer side wall of a garage or other ancillary premises.

In such outlet sockets can easily connect virtually any power tools or special equipment, which is more economical in terms of energy consumption, unlike the devices on petrol and diesel engines.

For example, in the outlet include electric saw, electric shears, pruners, electric grill and oven, submersible pump and discharge the water / air compressor. We turn to passive recreation - in these sockets can be easily connected outrigger audio system, TV panel, and more.

Regardless of the purpose of exploitation "street" outlet, be sure to adhere to some comments on the choice of the place and the method of mounting an electrical connector:

• outlet is desirably set at any projection or visor;
• height from the ground at least 75-80 cm (consider possible level snow);
• outlet for cable is to be protectively earthed;
• eyeliner wire in the socket only from below - it will allow flowing water does not get inside the electrical equipment.

Inside the socket protective membranes, and the contact group made of bronze or some copper alloy must be provided. This "outdoor" water-resistant socket integrated in individual batchfile - this will protect the rest of the power supply in case of failure.

Conclusions and useful videos on the topic

A worthy example of the proper selection and installation of waterproof double outlet with the correct connection to a separate circuit breaker:

The following video is presented solely as familiarity with advanced technology in the production of wiring components:

Excellent characteristics of strength, reliability and security have a ready-made products from popular companies producing LEGRAND, SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC and BERKER.

It is also possible to purchase accessories from the Swedish ABB and German GIRA, but these firms cost a bit more expensive the use in the production process rather expensive materials, including bronze and gold metals.

We are looking forward to your stories about the choice of outlets for installation in bathrooms and swimming pools. Please write in the box at the bottom, under the text of the article. Here, ask questions and comment on the proposed material for the inspection.