Sheets of drywall - a fast, cheap and easiest way to align the curves of the walls and change the layout of the room. Their use as a finishing material in cosmetic repair and as a main wall for zoning space.
Sooner or later we have to face the problem of how to install the outlet in the drywall. All is done in three simple steps: preparation, installation Escutcheon and installation itself outlet.
The content of the article:
- Preparatory work prior to installation
- Safety at work with electric current
- How to choose a location for the outlet
- How to choose a wire marking
- Rules for wiring plasterboard
- Installing the Escutcheon in drywall
- The design of the mounting box
- How best to cut a hole
- How to install the electrical outlet
- Installation consignment model on the wall
- Useful videos on the topic
Preparatory work prior to installation
Mounting socket on drywall requires little training. This includes the choice of location, brand wire and its size, the wiring pad at the desired point and, above all, measures related to safety.
Only after these points you can start the installation Escutcheon and most sockets.
Safety at work with electric current
The first thing you need to know in starting any electrical work, even as simple as installing the socket in the wall of the drywall - it's safety.
TB rules will help you not feel the effect of electric current. There are actually a bit:
- Never start wiring work until you are sure that the de-energized network.
- Use tools with insulated handles (plastic, rubber, wood). If it's not, wrap the handle with tape available in several layers.
- Have a screwdriver indicator. Before we get into the outlet, check if it is an indicator of stress.
- Do not use broken, repaired, soldering and socket parts. Materials must be new and of good quality.
- Pick up the correct wire size.
If you follow these basic rules, work is safe.
How to choose a location for the outlet
Actually choose where to place the outlet, it is not so simple. You do not need to rely solely on the accepted standards. According to European standards, the ideal height of sockets - 30 cm above the floor level. This location is quite convenient, but there are exceptions, appliances, such as:
- fridge;
- Washer;
- TV set;
- boiler;
- air conditioning.
These devices require a different height for connection to electricity. Therefore, when planning the repair and electrical work, it is important to first consider where it will be located a large household appliances, but where are common outlet. So you do not have to pull the chain extenders to the air conditioner.
Under the washing machine is better to install a special water-resistant socket with a cover on a height of 100 cm. The same model is suitable for the water heater. Electricity and humidity - a dangerous combination, and this protection will make the use of household appliances safer.
Many refrigerators are equipped with very short cord connection and require output power at a height of 60-120 cm. All kitchen appliances, which is used from time to time and is placed on the work surface should be connected at the table level. Strangely kettle will pull the wire or the blender outlet to low on 15-centimeter height.
LCD screen TV requires special attention. If it is placed on the wall of the drywall, you need to pre-determine the exact point of attachment. The outlet must be hidden behind a screen, like an ugly black power cord. Agree, not very aesthetically pleasing Watching TV on the bracket, from which down or to the side pulled the wire to a power outlet.
The rest of the universal to the mains connection point should be located in places where they will not be blocked by furniture, such as a closet. An attention to detail that will be used and where, and distribute electrical appliances and sockets. So you count the number of single, double or triple the electrical connectors.
How to choose a wire marking
The main requirements that apply to the hidden wiring under plasterboard - fire safety. For this purpose:
- fireproof box;
- corrugated hose;
- incombustible tube;
- special cable with a double isolation.
A wire or protective tube is fastened to the wall by means of special clips. Where necessary, set boxes. Height raspredkorobok location above floor level - 20-25 cm.
Labeling is used most often, such a cable:
- NYM;
- VVGng - non-flammable;
- PVA.
Power wiring (to electric oven, a powerful water heater, room switchboard) laid cable NYM. Copper wires in isolation of melonapolnennoy rubber will not spread fire.
The remaining sockets are connected mostly cable VVGng. Its isolation is made of polyvinyl chloride, as a shell connecting individual wires. Marking "ng" means "non-flammable", which means it can be safely used when installing sockets in drywall.
PVA - flat multicore cable. Often used in the hidden wiring is not inferior to other types of security cables. PVC insulation sheath and protected from burning.
cable cross-sectional area should be selected based on the load. Ideally, you want to estimate the strength of the current, which will consume the appliance is connected to a specific outlet. Then the table to pick up the desired diameter of wire strands.
However, in practice in the socket, you can connect any appliance with no restrictions, and it must support the load. According to the standards for the residential wiring sufficiently 4 squares (4 mm2) copper wire, i.e. diameter should be 2.26 mm. If multi-core cable, each core area is summed up and it turns out the general section.
Rules for wiring plasterboard
Before you install the outlet, it is necessary to lay the cable connecting the switchboard to each connector. Make it in advance, even at the stage of finishing the construction of walls or Perestenko because after the drywall is fastened, lay hidden wiring is not possible.
There is 2 types of situations:
- plasterboard sutured plain wall;
- plasterboard and metal profiles built a separate structure - partition.
In the first case the electric cable laying is carried out on the wall, in the second - on the first sheet of drywall installed, before the sewn structure on the other side. It is important to respect the parallelism. You can save on a wire and lay it on the shortest path, that is, at an angle, diagonally and in general, in a free manner. Why is this method better not to use?
Making repairs, you probably thought of everything. But after a few years, you may need to install an additional switch, change the location of wall lights, hang on the wall painting in the end. And then randomly assembled wiring can be a serious problem. After all drill or a hammer can easily damage hidden cable and create a short circuit.
To avoid such surprises, we are sure to locate the wiring parallel to the floor, adding a few turns at a right angle. Circuit layout is better documented: draw a plan, drawing or simply take a photo on your phone. So, after a few years, you'll have no problems and concerns to drill the wall anywhere without affecting the wiring.
Installing the Escutcheon in drywall
For mounting socket on the wall of drywall you need to choose the right podrozetnik and install it. To begin, find out what special installation box for plasterboard is different from the standard for concrete. After that it should be properly set.
The design of the mounting box
Drywall - a versatile building material for walls and building partitions. It can be moisture-resistant (kitchen and bathroom) and a conventional walling - for the rest of the premises. The sheets are thin, fragile, can not be compared with concrete or brick walls. Because of this, a reasonable question arises: how are installing sockets in such a thin material?
This is done by means of the box frame. Drywall produce special Enclosures with fixation in a special way. They look like a plastic cup. The face of the screw 4 is located. Two of them are located above the rest. They need to fix the metal frame directly to the outlet itself.
Those that are slightly lower, the Installation Enclosures in drywall. At the bottom of the box frame are special locking mounting tabs. Their status is regulated by two screws. By turning the foot screws are increasingly pressed against the gypsum boards. Such an arrangement provides a strong plant Escutcheon and ensures that the outlet is not thrown out from the wall at the first opportunity.
The bottom of the box frame equipped with workpieces under the holes for wires of different diameters and configurations. Depending on the method of summing up the cable to the sleeve and its thickness, a suitable hole is cut using a knife. At this stage Escutcheon completely ready for installation.
How best to cut a hole
In addition to the glass and advance derived wiring you will need:
- electric drill;
- head-on drill bit;
- roulette;
- hacksaw;
- pencil.
The first step on a piece of drywall you need to draw a mark, where it will be located Escutcheon center. In order to accurately mark the point, cross draw. If the outlet is a double, the centers of all scheduled glasses immediately. In this case one horizontal line is marked required number of points at a distance of 72 mm.
Escutcheon standard diameter - 68 mm. Special attachment on a drill - a real salvation for the master, which is to the installation of sockets and switches in the drywall in large quantities. This crown has been desired diameter can be easily installed in any electric drill.
If you do not have the required diameter of the crown, will have to do with improvised materials. Then you need to draw a circle slightly larger box frame under the outlet and cut it into the drywall using a hacksaw or knife stationery. Make it neat probably will not work.
The second method - use a fine drill. The contour of the drawn circle drill a lot of small holes, until the resulting circle of drywall will not fall. This is faster than the operation with office knife, but the smooth, beautiful region, you still do not get it.
How to install the electrical outlet
Installation outlets in plasterboard begins with mounting the installation box. Print the wires through the slotted hole, place podrozetnik into the slot in the drywall and secure with locking tabs. To do this, tighten the appropriate bolts to the stop.
Take the socket and remove the plastic cover. To do this, use a screwdriver to unscrew the central bolt. The device standard socket flush you will see the terminal. They need to relax a little bit, so that you can connect to them the bare cable ends. Well screw terminals after connecting with wires. Poor contact may cause the heating wire.
Now the socket can be inserted in the Escutcheon. Fixing is carried out of the box frame mounting bolts. When the main part of the outlet fell into place, you can close the plastic bezel by inserting the central bolt into the hole.
Installation consignment model on the wall
Sometimes, instead of the usual outlet hidden wiring using an overhead outlet. They do not need to make holes in the walls and install Enclosures. And indeed the harness passes under the sheetrock, and on top.
This method is not very aesthetic. Waybill socket bulky, cable, pulling the walls do not add harmony to the room. But in some cases this is justified, for example, when the distance between the sheet of drywall and concrete wall is too small (less than 45 mm), and no punch.
In this case, the special fire-proof cable in a sturdy non-combustible shell. They can be just placed in a corrugated sleeve.
For wall mounted wiring clips and socket simply screwed to the drywall with screws, as the overlay. Another plus of this location - any time you can change the location of electrical appliances and sockets along with them.
Useful videos on the topic
If you are not fully aware of the installation process outlet for drywall, it is better to be safe and once again see the step by step directions, but in the video format. So you learn the basic installation steps and you will understand exactly what is where to cut, where to fasten and tighten.
Mounting the socket on the wall of plasterboard:
Install outlet for plasterboard partitions:
Installing the bill outlet:
Installing an electrical outlet on the drywall - one of the most common electrical problems faced by novice master during repair of an apartment or house. Observing all the safety regulations, following the step by step instructions and taking into account the subtleties and secrets that shared professional electricians, this work does not become a stumbling block for you.