Improvement of the premises is not only the selection of design, furniture or equipment. It is also the wiring system. Most often, indoors use an open system. But sagging cables and wires do not look particularly attractive. This is exactly the task that the cable channel helps to solve.
What is it, scope
Cable channel is a plastic or metal box with a lid, in which wires and cables for various purposes are laid. In different sources, you can also find such names - cable channel, box, wire tray.
It is generally believed that cable channels have only a decorative function. But this is not entirely true. In addition to the aesthetic factor, cable ducts are very practical and have a protective function.
Use a decorative cable duct for outdoor wiring in dry heated rooms when it is not possible to carry out hidden (internal) wiring. Mount boxes as in householdconditions, and in industrial.
Advantages of decorative cable channels:
- no need to ditch the walls for installation, they are easily attached to any surface - walls, ceilings, floors inside and outside the building;
- workplace can be organized at any stage of the operation of the premises;
- installation is quick and with minimal time and effort, provided that routing systems and specially designed sockets and switches are used;
- neat appearance and a variety of shapes, sizes, colors make it easy to choose the right element for the design of the room;
- affordable price;
- electro and fire safety.
Types of cable channels
The variety of existing cable channels suggests a certain classification. They may differ by:
- material;
- color;
- assigned.
According to the material of manufacture, decorative cable channels for open wiring are plastic and metal. In turn, the latter are divided into aluminum and galvanized steel cable boxes.
Regarding the color schemes of decorative cable channels, there are a lot of them. The color of the box does not carry any real practical benefit, only a decorative function. In addition, the shade does not affect the characteristics of the cable channel in any way. The most common colors are white, light gray and decorative wood-like cable duct.
In addition, cable boxes are divided according to their purpose. This depends on the design of the product. According to this, cable channelsare:
- stairs;
- transparent;
- skirting;
- perforated;
- mini;
- outdoor;
- parapet;
- flexible;
- wire;
- corner;
- street.
Metal cable ducts
Metal cable ducts are durable and reliable. Steel boxes are resistant to fire and are commonly used to install public address and video surveillance systems. They perfectly protect against mechanical and electromagnetic influences. Aluminum cable channels have the same set of characteristics as steel ones. In addition, these boxes are lightweight, easy to care for and always look appropriate in a modern interior.
Advantages of metal decorative cable ducts:
- presence of a cover with a latch;
- UV and temperature resistant;
- protection against electromagnetic influence and mechanical damage;
- high level of fire safety;
- easy installation;
- various colors.
Plastic cable ducts, their advantages
Plastic products are considered a budget option and, compared to a metal counterpart, are less durable. Therefore, the use as a supporting structure must be extremely accurate and balanced. PVC boxes are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC compound) using special additives (for example, fire retardants). They give the cable channel the necessary plasticity, reducesmoke and do not support combustion.
Plastic cable channels are open and closed. An open box is used for wiring in industries with a small number of cables. Closed PVC boxes are often installed in household electrical wiring. They have an aesthetic appearance, various shapes and many colors.
Advantages of plastic boxes:
- the flexibility of the parts allows them to fit snugly to the surface, thus hiding various irregularities;
- does not require corrosion protection;
- have a light weight, which facilitates transportation, unloading - loading and other work;
- creates additional insulation as it does not conduct electricity;
- using lamination, a reliable imitation of wood, stone, metal is created;
- you can easily make a hole in the right places;
- possibility of multiple mounting and dismounting without causing any damage thanks to the snap-on cover;
- using various pigments, get a wide palette of colors;
- the ability to create products of complex shapes (for example, to solve a design idea) using extrusion technology.
Cable channels according to purpose
Electrical boxes differ in their design, based on their purpose.
Perhaps one of the most practical and convenient is the plinth cable channel. It perfectly hides cables and wires. An important advantage is that whenIf you need to repair the wiring, it will be enough to remove the decorative rail from the cable channel. The colors of such products can be different: white, gray, black, wood or metal imitation.
The floor cable duct differs from other products in its shape and installation method. On the one hand, such a box is flat, and on the other, rounded. Thanks to this type, the semicircular decorative cable channel looks very harmonious in the interior and does not interfere with movement. Such a product is usually made of aluminum or plastic with increased impact-resistant qualities. This type of cable duct can be an alternative to carriers and various extensions. Use when you need to run a wire to a device that is not located near the wall. The colors of the floor box do not differ in variety.
Parapet (main, wall) boxes are similar in design to skirting boards. The difference lies in the installation method. Basically, wall-mounted decorative cable channels are mounted above the floor level. Such systems have many different elements, which allows you to create a structure of any shape. Usually such products are installed in offices and enterprises. If you mount such boxes in private homes, then you need to carefully select the colors. The main colors of the main boxes are milky and white, but other colors are possible.
Cable channels of small size are called mini. This is a smaller version of the parapet boxes. When choosing a decorative cable channel for a TV, Internet or telephone, this product will be the best option. To decorate cornerparts of such structures, there is no need to use shaped parts. It is enough just to cut such a box at an angle (in most cases - 45o).
Corner cable ducts due to their structure has a rather narrow scope of use. Install them at the joints of the walls or ceiling. Still such products can be used as a plinth. A significant disadvantage over skirting products is that the cavity for wires is rather small, and the walls are thin and can be damaged during installation work.
LED trays are a kind of corner boxes. One side of such a product is made of transparent or translucent plastic. Use such cable channels for mounting on the corners of ceilings, the bottom panels of kitchen cabinets, the inside of furniture. It is important to know that such trays cannot be used for pulling wiring, only for lighting.
When arranging stretch or suspended ceilings, wire cable boxes are used. For all their practicality, they have a fairly low price. For fastening, you can limit yourself to just a few suspensions.
Typical sizes of decorative cable ducts
Size range and standards vary by manufacturer. The price also depends on these parameters. The length of the boxes is standard - 2 m. But the cross section can be different. The most commonly used products are 1212, 4040 and 10060 mm.
For a standard length, the dimensions of the section can be as follows (in mm):
- 1212;
- 1510;
- 1616;
- 2010;
- 2525;
- 3010;
- 4040;
- 6060;
- 8060;
- 10060;
- 150100.
For laying communication cables, a box with a cross section of 1212 mm is usually used. The most popular corner option is 4040mm.
When choosing the size, it is important to take into account the fact that the lock should be easy to open and close. In addition, there should be a small supply of free space inside. To connect the strips to each other, use special adapters. In addition, each profile has holes for mounting to a wall or other surface. Hole pitch - 0.5 m.
Decorative Solutions
Decorative cable ducts are often used by interior designers. Indeed, in addition to the practical function, the box can also be a decoration of the room. For example, a combination of LED strips and corner cable ducts can be used for zoning and decorating rooms. In the presence of suspended or stretch ceilings, decorative cable channels with a triangular section look great.
There are cable boxes made in the form of brass or bronze tubes. They are used to decorate the room in a retro style. Round cable boxes look quite impressive. But their installation, and the plant of cables and wires there, is a rather difficult task.
Colored cable boxes are selected according to the color palette of the interior. For business buildings and offices, it is better to prefer discreet gray shades. If a cable channel is needed for a residential area, thenit is better to give preference to a product with imitation wood or warm shades (beige, golden, brown).
Possible design options:
- using solid color cable channels, you can be sure that they will fit any interior;
- colored cable ducts will perfectly fit into the interiors of such styles as eclectic, fusion, pop art, kitsch, art deco, avant-garde and will be a good addition to any bright room decoration;
- for high-tech styles, minimalism, techno and any modern solutions fit metal boxes;
- wood grain cable tray is great for rustic style, as well as country, provence, english, rustic. In addition, it will be quite successful to supplement the space of a wooden house with such boxes.
Producers of decorative cable channels
The cost and quality of the product depends on the manufacturer. High quality cable channels are offered by many manufacturers. The main thing is to distinguish the original product from a fake. This can be done by asking the seller for the necessary documents for the products.
Most famous manufacturers:
- "DKS". Domestic manufacturer that produces 4 types of cable channels. Wall boxes are convenient, small in size and have a flat lid. Floor cable ducts are equipped with swivel parts, making it easy to connect to each other. In addition, DKS also produces mini-channels, which are presented in two colors: darkbrown and white.
- Hager. German manufacturer. The main reference point for the output is offices. But since the products are of high quality, cable boxes and other components are also used in residential premises. The modern design of the products offered allows them to be used in almost any interior. The manufacturer produces two series of boxes: tehalit. BR - trunk products and tehalit. LFF - universal elements.
- Schneider Electric. The manufacturer produces a series of electrical boxes Ultrac, which is represented by two types of products. Installation of sockets and switches takes place together with modular frames. Mini boxes have a U-shaped lid. In addition, the company produces products with self-adhesive tape, which greatly simplifies the installation process.
- "IEK". A domestic manufacturer that manufactures its products using modern equipment. Special additives used in production add unique properties to products (for example, plasticity). Production speci alty - main cable channels.
- Legrand. The manufacturer is distinguished by the presence of a diverse size range. Some instructions may be 22 cm wide. The case inside may have 1 to 3 sections. In the configuration, the cable box can have two types of partitions that differ from each other in the way of installation. Some of them are installed in a special groove, while others are flexible and glued to the wall.
How to choose?
First of all, you need to focus on the interior. The purpose is also important. So, for example, a plastic box is best suited for wiring electrical and communication cables. Wires made of steel and aluminum are used to install the cable of a video surveillance or burglar alarm system.
Plastic cable channel is easy to install and handle. It is best to hide the wiring in a plastic box with a lid that snaps on both sides. It is better to purchase a cable channel with thick walls - it lasts much longer than the thin-walled version.
In addition, there are differences in color. For offices and ceilings, a classic white box is most often purchased. Decorative "wood look" cable duct is usually used for floors, and colored cable ducts for walls.
And one more important point - the number of wires that fit in the box. You need to know this figure before buying.
Decorative cable channels are sold several meters long. They can be cut, angled or joined. This will not affect cable protection in any way.
If there are no special fire safety requirements in the room, then the use of combustible materials is available. If mechanical loads are provided (for example, floor), then high-strength materials should be preferred.
Manufacturers offer a wide range of cable channels, different in shape and size. When purchasing a product, you should rely on your own needs. But to make the choice easier, it is better to make a list of requirements in advance. It is important to consider the following criteria:
- size of cables and wires;
- aesthetic data;
- upgradable;
- need for additional protection;
- characteristics of the equipment that will be connected;
- nuances of laying the track.
A few installation tips
The order and features of the installation of electrical boxes depends on the presence of shaped elements in the design. If there are, the manufacturer will usually provide recommendations on the best possible location and required mounting space. For best results, it is recommended to follow these rules.
When installing a decorative cable channel for outdoor wiring, you must first draw its location on the wall and calculate in advance a convenient height for placing sockets, switches and other elements. And in order to make sure that the line is even, it is better to check with a building level. Next, the box itself is installed. For a smooth and even wall, you can use hot melt adhesive. If the wall is uneven, then it is best to use dowels or screws, depending on the type of surface. Decorative boxes can be mounted on a low-combustible or non-combustible base. It can be drywall, concrete, plaster or brick wall.
Decorative cable channel consists of base and cover. The number of wires in the cable channel is not standardized. Enough to close the lid easily. But in some situations there are limitations. For example, for separate placement of powerand low-voltage cables need a small gap, so it is important to choose the right size of their section.
When choosing the optimal section size, you need to focus on the purpose. Therefore, it is recommended to add 4-5 mm to this figure. Such a margin will not only prevent the entire system from igniting in the event of a short circuit, but also provides additional space for laying another wire or replacing (repairing) existing cables.
Conclusion
Summing up, it is easy to see that the cable channel is a very practical, functional and convenient product. In addition to ease of installation and affordable price, cable boxes have a wide palette of colors. This allows you to choose the right shade for any interior. Finding a decorative cable channel in Vladivostok, Moscow, Astrakhan, St. Petersburg and other cities will not be difficult. They are sold in all specialized stores in the country. In addition, there are a huge number of online stores that make it much easier to find a product. Buying online is usually cheaper. Some stores can fully pick up all the necessary equipment if you send the project in advance.
