Often, before starting repairs in an apartment, people ask for advice on installing socket boxes in concrete. Some hire professional craftsmen for this work, others try to do the installation with their own hands. It is believed that this work is difficult to do without special skills. For a successful installation, you need to know what diameter of the concrete socket is required. It is important to understand what types there are and how their installation differs.
Why choose a back box carefully?
When choosing socket boxes in concrete, you need to pay attention to their quality. Equally important is the correct installation of this element. The further operation of sockets in the house, as well as switches, depends on these parameters. If you correctly install the socket under concrete, switches and sockets will last a long time. If you install the junction box incorrectly, then there is a risk of not fully fixing the wires. They can break, resulting in a socketwill need to be repaired.
What are socket boxes made of?
Currently, people most often install concealed wiring in houses. Therefore, when carrying out repairs, the installation of a junction box is a mandatory step.
Most modern socket boxes are made of plastic. In the past, only metal boxes were installed. Polypropylene have a number of advantages:
- not susceptible to corrosion;
- plastic is more convenient to use;
- secure fixation;
- do not forget about the dielectric properties of plastic sockets.
What kinds of elements are there?
There are several types:
- Sockets in concrete are installed in the wall. For their installation, alabaster is required, as well as gypsum mortar. Diamond sockets for concrete are widely used in new buildings. Usually this type is produced in a standard size. The outer diameter of the concrete socket does not exceed 68 millimeters, and the distance between the axes is 71 millimeters. The length of the case can be minimal, it is 25 millimeters. The maximum value will be 80 millimeters. Socket boxes are widespread, the depth of which ranges from 40 to 45 millimeters. This size is used to install many sockets and switches. The advantage of this design is that you can arrange the wires in the form of a loop behind the device. If you need to replace the outlet, then the wire is simplyunwinds from the loop.
- There are also socket boxes in concrete with two docking points or without them at all.
- Installation boxes for drywall installation. They are fastened quite simply with the help of spacer legs. If you need to install several outlets, then the masters advise using special blocks. They already contain the required number of these elements. It is better to determine the dimensions of the concrete sockets in advance. This will help avoid mistakes in the future.
Can I buy universal back boxes?
In the assortment of many hardware stores you can often find universal mounting boxes. The description says that they can be installed both in a concrete wall and in a plasterboard wall. If you plan to use this device as a concrete socket, you will need to first remove the spacer tabs.
How to markup before installation?
Markup is an important step before starting work. You need to have a clear idea of \u200b\u200bwhere sockets and switches will be located in the house. You must select their number. When choosing, one should proceed from the convenience of residents and interior design. After you have decided on all the parameters, you need to proceed to mark the height, location of sockets and switches using a tape measure and a pencil. You can also use a ruler.
Most often, in residential premises, sockets are placed no lower than 30 centimeters from the floor. Switches must be mounted at a height of 90 centimeters from the floor. These parameters are considered generally accepted. This arrangement is convenient to operate.
How much indentation should be done before installing the switch and socket?
The switch is usually placed at a distance of at least ten centimeters from the edge of the box. In the kitchen, the socket can be installed no lower than 15 centimeters from the countertop.
After the person has decided on the place of the future outlet, you need to make a mark on the wall with a pencil. A mark will appear on the wall, which will exactly correspond to the center of the socket. Draw two lines from this point. They run at right angles. The lines should divide the plane into horizontal and vertical. This technique allows you to significantly save time when installing the socket. The main task is to carry out the installation correctly, because gypsum mortar or alabaster will be used further. In this case, it will be difficult to correct the errors.
How to properly drill a socket?
There are several ways to make a hole:
- You can use a crown for concrete under the socket. This method is notable for its efficiency. If a person wants to use this method, then he needs to purchase special crowns for concrete. They include victorious teeth. Their diameter is 70 mm. Crowns are ideal for drilling socket boxes - experts say. To make it easy to remove concrete, you need to use a specialwinning tip. Professionals advise to pre-make a hole with a conventional drill, and then expand it with special tips. The result is a hole with a depth of five to seven centimeters. When choosing a drill, pay attention to the diameter. It is better to choose tips ranging in size from six to eight millimeters. But most often they use diamond crowns for concrete for socket boxes. They are the most efficient and reliable.
- Perforator is acceptable. In addition, you can use an ordinary drill. This method is considered the most difficult. Usually they resort to it to install one outlet. With such a need, there is no need to buy special crowns. To correctly install the mounting box in the chosen way, it must first be attached to the wall. The selected place must be circled with a pencil. With a drill for concrete, it is necessary to make a hole in the center. After that, the perimeter of the circle is drilled. For further work you will need a chisel. They need to remove the concrete from the resulting niche. After this work, it is possible to install a socket.
- Can be done with an angle grinder. This method is considered the easiest. The disadvantage of this method is that a large amount of building dust is released. It is not necessary to use a disk that is too large, which can damage the surface of the wall, as it can cut off an extra piece. Then there will be a need to putty the surface.
How to lay the wire in the socket?
Before starting work, turn off the electricity in the apartment. Be sure to check how the ends of the wires are insulated. You will need to make a small strobe. You need to pass the wire through it so that it ends up in the future socket box. The strobe does not need to be “drowned” in the wall much, it is important to make a bevel relative to the niche. You need to make a hole in the mounting box. This will require a construction knife. Usually in the mounting boxes there are already blanks for future holes. Masters advise making holes in the back wall of the box. This arrangement of holes makes it easy to connect the outlet. The switch is connected in the same way.
When the cable enters the junction box, remove the top insulation. The individual cable cores are released. Usually, they are connected to the desired terminals. After carrying out the work, you need to fix the socket box well.
This completes the installation work. As you can see, you can install the socket box with your own hands, but for this you need to clearly follow the instructions.
