Household appliances in modern houses and apartments are usually used a lot. Therefore, the standard 1-2 outlets per room for property owners these days is beginning to be missed. Accordingly, in most cases, the owners of apartments and houses install additional connection sockets in their homes. Of course, such a procedure should be carried out in accordance with all the rules, observing certain standards. For example, during installation, one should, among other things, maintain certain distances between the sockets.
Why grouping
Place sockets in the house, of course, you can in different places. However, too many of them over the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe walls are likely to greatly spoil the appearance of the room. Therefore, in modern apartments, sockets in most cases simply have several pieces in one place. This allows you to keep the attractive appearance of the walls and make the connection sockets less noticeable. Also, this installation method makes the operation of sockets more convenient in the future. Indeed, most often various kinds of household appliances are located in apartments nearby each other.from a friend.
Group rules
About what distance between the sockets in the group should be chosen, let's talk a little lower. To begin with, let's figure out what, in fact, technologies can be used to install connection sockets in the block.
In the house in the same place, you can, of course, install several separate sockets, simply by placing the sockets close to each other at the same level from the floor. However, this method of installation of electricians is rarely used. When using this technology, it is most likely impossible to mount the connection sockets absolutely evenly and accurately.
Therefore, in most cases, before installation, electricians group the socket boxes into a single structure. Subsequently, such a block is simply mounted into the wall in one go. Similarly, installers achieve a neat appearance of the nests installed in the house. Sockets are usually assembled in groups of 2-5 pieces. For premises of industrial enterprises, blocks from a larger number of connection sockets can be used.
Installation rules
The distance between the sockets in the block should be such that using the connection sockets in the future was as convenient and safe as possible. But such groups themselves in the house, of course, need to be placed in accordance with certain requirements. For example, the regulations do not allow the installation of connection sockets closer than 50 cm to sinks and sinks. Also, such elements are not allowed to be installed at a distance of less than 60 cm from gas pipes.
Sockets are mounted in the house, usually at a height of 30-40 cm from the floor. Previously, such elements of a household network were most often installed higher - at a height of up to 90 cm. However, a whole group of sockets, unlike 1-2, mounted at such a height, is likely to spoil the appearance of the wall. The connection sockets installed closer to the floor are not so striking. In addition, it is more convenient to use sockets with such an installation in the future. The comfort of the apartment owners will not be hindered by wires stretched everywhere.
From the slopes of windows and doors, such groups are supposed to be installed in such a way that the distance from them to the first outlet is not less than 10-12 cm. It is better if it is the same in all rooms.
Groups can gather both from power outlets and from ordinary ones. It is impossible to combine these types in one frame, according to the regulations. Otherwise, powerful cables will interfere with normal outlets. It is also recommended to place power groups from ordinary sockets on one wall at a distance no further than the diameter of one socket. This is also necessary so that the power cables do not interfere with the normal connection sockets in the future.
What is a socket box
Connection sockets for electrical appliances are mounted into the wall in a special hollow case. Such an element is called a socket. The dimensions of this type of product are standard in our country. Their diameter is almost always 68 mm. The distance between the sockets at 68 mm will therefore also be standard.
Such cases are usually made of plastic. On the sides of each socket there are special mounting ears. By means of such elements, these hulls are assembled into groups. Also, socket boxes can be attached to each other according to the spike / groove system.
On sale today there are two main varieties of such cases: designed for installation in brick or concrete walls and used on drywall. The socket boxes of the latter type have special elements that allow them to be tightly fixed to the GKL. Also on sale in our time, you can sometimes find cases for recessed sockets. They differ from ordinary socket boxes only in their longer length.
What distance should be between the sockets
How to properly mount the socket housings in a group? These elements are connected in such a way that exactly 71 mm of free space remains between the centers of their axes. The housings are installed into the wall in special mounting sockets, previously made using a perforator and a special crown. The distance between the sockets of the standard sample should be 71 mm, and this is how the recesses in the wall for such elements are knocked out.
The diameter of nests built in concrete, brick or, for example, drywall can be different. Usually it is 68 mm plus 1-1.5 mm. In the gap between the socket and the walls of the nest, in this case, a gypsum mortar is subsequently clogged. After hardening, the latter firmly holds the socket housing in the wall. Too muchexperienced electricians do not recommend leaving a large gap for the solution. In this case, the sockets may subsequently fall out of the wall along with the solidified mixture.
What difficulties may arise during installation
As you can see, the technology of installing socket groups is extremely simple. However, in practice, when installing such elements, masters usually, unfortunately, have certain difficulties.
The distance between two sockets in a group is usually only 71mm. This, of course, is not too much. However, the close arrangement of elements still practically does not add rigidity to the blocks. Groups assembled from hulls usually bend in different directions.
Because of this, when mounted in sockets with a solution, the sockets begin to shift relative to each other. In addition, they can be very difficult to install on the same level with the plane of the wall. To make the group of sockets look neat and attractive in the future, experienced electricians advise beginners to use a special template during installation. You can make such a device with your own hands in just a few minutes.
How to make a pattern
The distance between the sockets for the group, therefore, should be equal to 71 mm. To mount the unit as accurately as possible, you need to purchase 1 aluminum corner 40x40 mm. To make a template, you will need a piece of such material about 60 cm long (depending on the number of sockets in the group). On one of the shelves of the corner segment exactly in the middle you need to draw a straight line.
Further along this line, holes are drilled for the fasteners of each socket. Use a 3 mm drill for this. At the next stage, all sockets should be connected into a group and attached to the corner on the back side with self-tapping screws. The length of such a template will have more than a row of nests knocked out in concrete or brick. Therefore, with its help, it will be possible to insert sockets in exact accordance with the plane of the wall.
How to drill nests
Seats for socket boxes, as already mentioned, are usually knocked out with a puncher and a special nozzle on it - crowns. First, on the wall, of course, you need to markup by drawing a circle under each socket. Next, the crown is attached to the wall and, first, at low speeds, and then at high speeds, the nests are knocked out.
If there is no special nozzle for a puncher in the house, sockets for sockets can be made in another way. To do this, according to the markup, a series of holes are first drilled as close to each other as possible. Then the nest itself is knocked out with a chisel.
How to markup correctly
This operation can be performed with an ordinary simple pencil. Under each circle on the wall, you first need to draw indicative horizontal and vertical lines. Next, using a compass, circles of a slightly larger diameter should be applied to the wall than the diameter of the sockets. Experienced craftsmen advise applying guide lines in such a way that they protrude beyond the circle. In this case, drilling the wall exactly according to the markup will be easier later.
Sometimes, when installing a group on a template, craftsmen do not even drill a hole for each socket. At the same time, one common long nest is simply made in the wall. After installing the sockets, it is simply sealed with plaster or cement putty.
How to install cases
Thus, the distance between the sockets mounted in the wall should be 71 mm. After the nests are punched, strobes are made in the wall under the leash. They are usually pierced with the help of a grinder. At the next stage, the cables themselves are laid in the strobes and brought out to the sockets for the sockets. At the next stage, the procedure should be as follows:
- sockets through the template are installed in the slots and aligned in level;
- template fixed on the wall;
- nests are covered with plaster or cement putty.
After hardening, you just need to unscrew the template from the wall and remove it from the sockets. Next, you can proceed to the installation of the actual sockets themselves.
How to install in drywall
On walls sheathed with plasterboard, the distance between the sockets should also be 71 mm. For obvious reasons, it will not work to fix the cases on putty on such material. However, the procedure for installing socket boxes on drywall is no different from mounting them in concrete or brick. That is, the masters in this case:
- first make markings on the wall;
- drill holes in the sheets with a diameter of 68mm plus 1-1.5mm;
- insert socket boxes into the holes and fix them on special fasteners available in their design.
Experienced craftsmen advise when installing drywall sheets to mount them on the reverse side in those places where sockets, sheets of plywood will be installed later. The distance between the centers of the sockets, as we found out, is usually small in a group. But drywall - the material is still quite fragile. Therefore, during installation and operation, the socket boxes can subsequently be broken out of the wall by negligence.
If there are sheets of plywood behind the drywall, the load when turning on / off electrical appliances on the sockets will be distributed over a large area. This, in turn, will prevent breakage. In any case, the distance between the sockets in drywall should be 71 mm. Installing in this way will also prolong the life of the connection jacks in the future.
