In an old multi-apartment building, the internal power grid has long exhausted its resource. Even more modern homes are already in need of rewiring, as technological advances make more and more demands as load increases. The previous three kilowatts are no longer enough to fully satisfy modern household needs, so replacing wiring in Khrushchev is a rather urgent issue for many.
Where to start
When it is planned to replace the electrical wiring, it is advisable to carry out work in the entire apartment at once, no matter how difficult it may seem. Old wiring needs to be changed. If the wiring in Khrushchev is replaced with your own hands, then the material costs will be much lower. In addition, some parts of the old system can be used in work, this will reduce the amount of dusty and dirty work, accompanied by wall chasing.
Requirements for proper electrical wiring
Replacing wiring in Khrushchev includes some requirements:
- Meters, switches and sockets should be easily accessible at a height of 80-150 cm from the floor level, this parameter varies depending on who uses this device - a child or an adult.
- Sockets are mounted at a distance of 60-90 cm from the floor.
- Sockets and switches should not be closer than 50 cm to water and gas pipes.
- Standard calculation of the number of outlets - 1 piece per 6 square meters. m.
- In the kitchen, the number of outlets is calculated by the number of installed electrical appliances and their power.
- Installing an outlet in the bathroom and toilet is prohibited! For this case, an isolation transformer outside the room is used.
- Wires are arranged horizontally or vertically relative to the floor. In the first case, the distance between the elements must be at least 10 cm, twisting of the wires is not allowed. With a vertical arrangement, the wires are fixed at a distance of at least 10 cm from window and door openings.
- The cable wire is placed at a distance of 40 cm from the gas pipe.
- It is not allowed to connect aluminum and copper wires.
Wiring is carried out in special boxes, bare ends must be sealed with insulating materials.
Stages of work
Replacing wiring in Khrushchev is carried out in several stages:
- Drawing a schematic plan.
- Development of a drawing of a room with a designation of the route for laying wires.
- Distribution of wires. If you are interested in the question of how to hide the wiring in the wall, then read on.
- Installation of electrical equipment (RCD, switches, electric stove, ventilation system, lamps, sockets, etc.).
- Checking system performance and connection.
Diagramming
The first step in developing a schematic plan is to choose a wire laying method. There are two methods:
- Open option.
- Hidden wiring.
- Combined system.
After the method is determined, the preparation of a drawing of the room begins with the designation of the locations of household appliances, switches, lamps and sockets. For residential premises, sockets are installed with the calculation of one unit per 6 square meters. m, in the kitchen their number increases three times. This is due to the fact that a refrigerator and many other household appliances with high power are installed there. If the installation of an electric stove is provided, then a separate socket with a cable cross section of 4 square meters is installed for it. mm.
In order to correctly calculate the number of switches and sockets, it is necessary to accurately determine the total power of electrical appliances in the apartment. In the presence of products that consume a large amount of electricity, it is recommended to bring separate lines to them with a circuit breaker. After drawing on the diagram of the installation locations of sockets and switches, it is necessary to determine the location of the junction boxes. They should be easily accessible to humans.
Distribution into groups
The next step in drawing up a scheme for replacing wiring in Khrushchev is distribution by groups of electricity consumers. Most often, the distribution is carried out according to the following scheme:
- Sockets.
- Lighting.
- Power supply for the kitchen space.
- A separate group of powerful consumers of electricity - electric stove, refrigerator, air conditioner, etc.
- Dangerous group - outlets in the bathroom, taken outside and a washing machine.
In the group planning process, the installation of power cables is also calculated. The diagram indicates the route of the wires, their section type and material. After marking the installation locations of switches and sockets on the drawing, the literacy and accuracy of the entered data should be checked. When choosing a concealed wiring method, it is necessary to prepare the walls by drawing on the surface with a pencil or a cable route marker.
Required tools
For work on replacing wiring in a brick Khrushchev, you will need the following tools:
- Angle grinder.
- Punch.
- Sockets, pliers, screwdriver set, pliers and soldering tool.
- Various fasteners - clamps, terminals, brackets.
- Mounting knife.
- Spatula.
- Level.
Doubt about which cable to use for wiring in the apartment? We will talk about the types below, but as for the footage,then this parameter becomes known only after the exact mapping and measurement of the duration of the route. Experts recommend adding another 3-4 meters to the resulting length for allowances.
Required Materials
If you decide to replace the wiring in the apartment with your own hands, then the following materials will be required for work:
- Cable. Do not know which cable to use for wiring in the apartment? To install the lighting system, it is recommended to use wires of the VVG brand with a permissible cross section of 1.5 square meters. mm, for sockets - a three-core type with a cross section of 2.5 sq. mm.
- RCD and automata. A residual current device (RCD) is needed to protect the system from current leakage, and circuit breakers (automatic devices) prevent short circuits.
- Distributing boxes.
- Electric panel. The device should be selected depending on the number of circuit breakers and RCDs. If the circuit provides for a large number of elements, then a large electrical panel should be purchased. There are metal and plastic structures. Experts advise giving preference to the first option, as they are stronger and will last much longer.
- Connecting insulating products - clips, dowel-nail and electrical tape.
Installation of switchboard
In order to properly replace the wiring in the Khrushchev panel, you must start by installing a new electrical panel. If in new buildings for thema special niche is provided, equipped with a power cable, then there is nothing like this in Khrushchev. The shield in old houses is mounted in a hinged way anywhere. In Soviet-era apartments, the wire can only be run by drilling a hole and pulling the cable through it into the room.
The layout of the phases in the apartment shield is as follows: the upper part - zero terminals, in the center - circuit breakers, below - ground. The access cable is connected according to the scheme - the blue wire to the zero terminal, the yellow one to the ground, and the white one to the top contact of the machine.
Concealed electrical wiring
Hidden type of wiring involves laying the cable in strobes. Gates are pre-prepared holes (channels) in the surface of the wall. Don't know how to ditch walls? This is a rather laborious and messy process that requires special equipment - a wall chaser or a diamond-tipped puncher.
In some cases, wiring is laid on the floor, but this requires the removal of the floor covering.
The depth of the channels for the wires is determined by the layer of plaster, it should be borne in mind that it should be about 10 mm. Openings for distribution boxes and sockets with a special nozzle-crown. If it is possible to lay the cable in the voids of the ceilings of concrete slabs, then chasing can be dispensed with.
The distribution of wires with a certain cross section is carried out in accordance with a pre-prepared scheme. Toit was more convenient, the wires are pre-cut into "convenient" parts and fit.
In junction boxes, wires are connected using insulating elements. Next, the installation of switches and sockets.
The next step is to test the performance of the installed power supply system. If all branches are functioning, then it is necessary to invite an electrician to connect the system from the power board. After confirming the operability of the electrical wiring, it is possible to seal the walls with plaster and exterior finishes.
Wiring in cable ducts
This method is much less laborious and does not require an answer to the question of how to ditch the walls. If it is planned to lay wires in channels, then it is necessary to buy special boxes and plinths for connection with consumer groups.
Skirting boards are installed to the flooring in the appropriate places indicated in the diagram. Next, the wire is connected to the switches and sockets. With this method of wiring, surface-mounted sockets are used.
Conclusion
The final step in replacing the wiring, regardless of the method chosen, is to test the system with a multimeter with the ability to ring the electrical network. First, the wiring is checked and the possibility of an erroneous connection is excluded, after which each switch and socket is checked. The working circuit has the following form: zero, ground, phase. After that you canstart decorating the walls.
The presence of errors in the wiring diagram can lead to disastrous consequences, so if you doubt that you can do such a big job yourself, then it is better to turn to professionals.
