The socket is not only an obligatory functional element of electrical wiring, which serves to connect various electrical appliances, but also an important interior detail. Work and its neat appearance largely depend on the literacy of the installation of socket boxes. To perform the correct installation, you need to take into account some of the nuances in the work. First of all, you need to know the depth of the sockets.
Types of socket boxes
The socket box is selected based on the material of the wall it will be placed in. Therefore, there are the following types of products:
- Boxes designed to be installed in brick, concrete, and aerated concrete walls, they are fixed with mortar.
- For walls made of drywall, plywood, they have special fastening structures that are designed to be installed in the wall.
- Sockets for wires are round as standard, but there are oval and square products. The depth of the socket is importantthe fact that it allows you to put the necessary supply of wires inside it.
During installation, you need to choose the right size of the boxes. The standard size of this product is 45 x 68 mm, and the depth of the socket, respectively, will be 40 x 65 mm.
The most popular and safe boxes are made of special dielectric plastic. They are used in all types of structures, except for wooden ones. Metal sockets are designed for such buildings.
How to install a socket in a concrete wall
Work begins with marking the surface, after which it is necessary to make a hole for the socket. In concrete and brick structures, boxes for sockets are fastened with a mortar of gypsum or cement. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare this solution.
In order to make a hole in the surface, you need to take a drill and a special crown for concrete. After the work is completed, we remove the remains of concrete from the resulting place. With a brush, we clean the place for the socket from dust.
Now you need to fill the recess with the solution, put the box in it and fix it, bring the wires out through the special holes. The depth of the concrete socket usually ranges from 67 to 68 mm. Therefore, the depth of the recess in the wall must be 5 mm greater than the depth of the box, since the mortar space must be taken into account.
The mortar must be prepared before installing the box, as it hardens quickly.
Installing a socket in plasterboard walls
Installation of the box for sockets in drywall does not require the use of mortar, there are special fasteners on the products. To make a hole in the wall, you need a drill and a wood crown.
When everything is ready, put the socket in the wall, bring the wire into it, and install the box so that the bolts are parallel to the floor. Next, those bolts that are recessed must be tightened. The box is fixed in the wall, the other two bolts are needed to attach to the outlet box.
The depth of the drywall socket allows you to leave a supply of wire two diameters of this box. When folding these wires, they must be placed without creases, if the margin is 10 cm, then you can fold them in half, but so that they do not touch each other.
Most common box sizes
The most important characteristics on the basis of which the size of outlet boxes is determined are the diameter and depth. These dimensions correspond to the size of commercially available plugs and sockets.
The main sizes of diameter are 60, 64 and 68 mm. At the same time, the most popular is the diameter of the sockets in 68 mm.
At the same time, the depth of these products is 40-60 mm, it is chosen depending on the purpose. Some socket boxes are used as junction boxes. Then they take the deepest boxes, in addition to the wires, they also place the connecting terminals.
When choosing a socket, the depth of the socket is determined. The minimum value of thisindicator must be observed so that the wires in it are located compactly and without contact. This depth is 40mm.
Sizes of socket boxes
To do this, use a crown of the required diameter and depth. The crown material depends on the type of wall. Drilling the hole for the socket is done at high speed, which leads to the most accurate holes in the wall.
Currently, European-type sockets are often used, the depth of the standard socket is suitable for them - 45mm. The installation of this socket box is identical to all other installation methods, the same crown is used, which is selected depending on the wall device.
Maximum socket depth
Sometimes you have to face such a problem when the wall device has a crumbly structure or a multi-layer structure, such walls can consist of:
- plaster and board;
- clay and hardwood floors;
- bricks and boards.
This wall structure is most often found in old residential premises, the thickness of the first layer of the wall could reach 70 mm, followed by brickwork. Initially, an ordinary tin can was intended for such walls, with cut holes for wires, it was practically recessed into the wall, attached to a cement-lime mortar.
The installation of such socket boxes lasted more than a day, due to the expectation that the solution will harden and the socket box will be fixed incement. Only after that the socket was attached to the wall.
Soon plastic boxes for sockets came to replace tin cans. They are currently the most sought after.
The most important question is when to make holes for sockets
This question arises for many builders and repairmen. There is only one answer - the markup should be carried out before finishing work. Next, you need to make holes for the boxes, in the process of plastering they must be left in place.
After the wall is plastered, you can install boxes for sockets. This is if the installation is made in a concrete wall. When the box is already installed, you need to carefully cover up all the flaws on the outside so that the surface is even.
If the socket boxes need to be installed in a plasterboard wall, it is necessary to make markings, then holes for these boxes, and the boxes themselves can be installed after the wall is plastered.
In the event that the socket box needs to be installed on a ceramic tile surface, then before the tile is laid, it is necessary to make markings, then a recess for the socket. Wires are also laid by electricians before facing work.
After the tile is laid out, holes are made in the marked places with a diamond crown. During operation, the crown must be lowered into the water. After the recess is prepared, a solution is placed in it, then the wire is removed, and the box is fixed in the wall.
Conclusion
So, we have considered what should be the depthsocket boxes.
If the installation is done correctly, thanks to the installed boxes, the sockets will be firmly held in the wall and will not loosen during operation. The wall will remain intact, and its appearance will not be spoiled by cracks and broken rosettes.
