Often when carrying out repairs in an apartment, people are faced with the problem of installing sockets. Some are trying to independently carry out this phase of the work.
In order to competently carry out the installation process of the wall sockets, you need to know all the subtleties and nuances of the installation. It should be distinguished what are the types of sockets, in what sequence to carry out installation work. Information about this later in the article.
What are the types?
The socket is installed so that the socket or switch firmly snaps into place. This element provides high-quality fixation, prevents the occurrence of fires.
Podrozetniki can be divided into types, based on differences in the material of manufacture.
- Plastic Nowadays are in greatest demand. The main advantage of this material is that it is non-combustible. This type is widely used in wooden walls. It is used in rooms, the decoration of which is made of lining or timber. Such items are bought for installation in baths, as well as for country houses. The range of applications is very extensive. And the cost of plastic elements is not so great.
- Metal sockets have become much less common. Several years ago they were bought so that in case of fire they would not allow the fire to go beyond the limits of this element. It is important to understand that metal is a conductor of electricity and it is unacceptable to use this type of product due to safety precautions when working with electrical appliances. Demand for this type of undergrowth has fallen markedly.
- Wooden linings do not lose their relevance today. They are often used in the installation of electrical wiring, in the case of installing a wall outlet .
Which is better to choose? Experts advise resorting to the choice of plastic structures. This is the best option.
What are the design differences?
Products are distinguished by the nuances of the design. There are those that are installed in the walls of drywall, and there are special "glasses" for concrete. They differ in the presence of special legs that help in fixing the element in the wall.
Plastic sockets are widely used in concrete walls, as well as in brick. It is permissible to install them in aerated concrete walls, and in foam blocks. In each hole you need to put a small layer of alabaster, then the element will be firmly fixed.
Mounting differences
Sockets differ in the type of installation. They are divided into:
- Closed type. It is a glass that should have presser feet.
- Open type. Usually attached directly to the baseboard. Wiring in this case is under the baseboard.
What are the forms?
Socket boxes, also referred to as mounting boxes, can be of various shapes. Allocate:
- Round. They are in greatest demand among the population.
- Square. Use as necessary, based on the nuances of wiring. They fit a larger number of wires.
- Oval choose when they want to mount a double outlet or add a switch.
- In some cases, it becomes necessary to install a composite structure. You can install a whole block of outlets in it. You can put up to five glasses in one system. The depth of the glass is selected based on the given conditions. When wiring is bypassing the junction boxes, then deep glasses are selected. They concurrently will serve as a junction box.
Differences in size
Podrozetniki often vary in size. People who carry out installation work for the first time do not know which one to choose.
The standard undergrowth is usually available in size 68 × 45 centimeters. It is important to understand that its depth in this case is 40 centimeters. The inner diameter of the undergrowth will be 65 centimeters.
There are narrow products. Their depth is 25 centimeters. The size of such a mounting box can be up to 60 centimeters. In non-standard cases, they save the situation.
Square mounting boxes are available from each company in different sizes. The standard size is usually 70 by 70 centimeters, but it can also be 60 by 60 centimeters.
What to consider when choosing a product?
Installation of socket boxes should begin with the right choice of box. It is important to consider:
- The material of which the wall is made. If the design is solid, then you can fix the box using self-tapping screws. There are special holes for them.
- When the partition is made of drywall and hollow inside, it is better to fix the undersocket by adjusting the legs. Nowadays, you can buy a socket with two mounting options. Spacers will be more reliable on drywall than on a brick wall. Fixing in bricks will not be so reliable.
- What is the shape of the undergrowth, its dimensions. You need to check whether the socket is intended for installation in a round box or if you need a square type socket.
- A significant point will be the cross-sectional area of the wires that need to be connected to the desired outlet.
Tips from experienced electricians
To carry out the installation of socket boxes, professional electricians advise buying in reserve about twenty centimeters of wire. Such an emergency supply is needed for unforeseen repairs. There should always be a few extra centimeters. Experts explain this by the fact that when installing outlets, wires are always cut. The end of each wire is stripped. The supply of wires is reduced.
There are situations when there is a shortage of wires. In this case, it is necessary to increase the missing part by welding or solder the desired piece. Such methods are considered extreme, since the resulting wire will differ in quality and its characteristics.
In stock there should always be perfectly straight wires that will not have visible defects, such as creases. In a box, cords without insulation should not be allowed to touch each other.
What tools are needed for the operation?
Installing the outlet in the socket is considered a fairly simple procedure, if you know the basic subtleties of the process. Most of the time is spent drilling a wall. Moreover, the installation of sockets in a brick wall from the same manipulation in concrete is slightly different. The process is faster in a brick wall.
Before starting work, you must turn off the electricity in the apartment, you must follow safety precautions. Do not confuse the lever that disconnects one room from the general machine for the whole house. When disconnected, in addition to the phase, zero also breaks. Be sure to check if there is voltage, even if a person turned off the machine.
To install the outlet in the socket, it is important to prepare the tools in advance. To work, you will need:
- Phillips screwdriver and small level.
- You need to prepare pliers in advance.
- You will need to purchase GML sleeves.
- It is also worth stocking up with thermotubes and special press tongs.
- Do not do without a hammer drill and an electric drill. It is necessary to purchase putty and putty knives.
In each of the tools you can find a hammer, marker, chisel. All of these tools will be required for further action.
What should be the length of wire stripping?
When a person independently conducts stripping of the upper sheath of wires, then it does not need to be cleaned to the base of the socket. It is necessary to leave a margin of several millimeters. Then the wires will be protected from damage. Otherwise, they can be crushed by the edges of the socket.
The next step will be an incision made in a circular motion, and after it you need to do a longitudinal one. It turns out that the shell is easy to get out.
Which is better - to plaster, and then install the rosettes or vice versa?
Many people are faced with the question of which is better: installation of socket boxes before or after plastering. Electricians do both before and after the stage of surface plastering. Some argue that it is better to make a thick layer of plaster than to install the wall rosettes in a concrete wall.
Another part of the professionals advises first to ditch the walls, with the help of lighthouses to create a certain level and install the socket, and then to plaster. This method of installing the socket outlets requires more energy and time, but it involves the ability to immediately see the finished result. After it, it will not be necessary to plaster some sections again, to finish something.
The nuances of hidden wiring
In new homes, hidden wiring is often mounted. For her, a recess is specially made in the wall so that a flush-mounted socket box fits there.
It is necessary that the outlet merges with the horizon line or with the wall. If it sticks out, it will be very evident and spoil the design of the room.
If the outlet is installed deeper than the norm, then its strength will suffer. In order for the design to stand for a long time and be solid, it is necessary:
- Fasten the cable firmly inside the wall.
- The ends lead to the box and install inside it. It is important to remove the right amount of insulation from the ends of the wire.
- After that, the cable must be firmly fixed in the wall.
Safety precautions
Many people, when installing a switch in a socket, take into account only their wishes, which relate to the design of the room. They rarely take into account important safety requirements for working with electricity:
- It is necessary that there are high-quality and reliable contact connections. Electricity must pass through them with virtually no loss of voltage.
- It is necessary to check and control whether all cores are under insulation.
- It is necessary to restrict access to the room during work. Do not allow children and animals to bare wires .
- Do not stretch the wiring in the wall of wood. This is dangerous.
Is it safe to put the sock on the foam?
Often there is the question of whether it is possible to carry out the installation of the socket on the foam. Many note that this method is convenient when working. It’s not difficult to install a podrozetnik on foam, but no one can guarantee reliability and long service life. Therefore, it is better to refuse this method.
Nuances of mounting in a brick wall
The installation of a wall socket in a brick wall should be carried out according to the following rules:
- Do-it-yourself marking is applied to the surface. To do this, use markers and the construction level. The height of the outlets can be selected independently. The markup actions are simple, even a beginner can handle them. The center of the podrozetnik is marked with a cross, the cup holder leans against the wall, is surrounded by a marker.
- You need to drill a suitable hole. For this, a punch is used. Usually you need to drill a hole five centimeters deeper than the socket.
- Some drill a niche with a conventional drill. They work in a circle until the desired result is obtained. Using a chisel, you need to get the core.
- Many electricians prefer to make niches for sockets with a grinder. To do this, you need to purchase a diamond blade.
- Be sure to clean the hole from the inside. The next step will be to try on the undergrowth. It should fit easily in the resulting space. After that, you can make holes for the wires and put them inside.
- To fix the socket to the wall, you can independently prepare a solution of gypsum putty. To it you need to add only water and alabaster. It is important to make the right proportion. Then the solution will get the desired consistency.
- Using a spatula, a solution is applied and the undergrowth is attached. In order for the socket to “stand up” exactly in the future, it is necessary that the screws are parallel to the floor covering. Otherwise, the outlet cannot be installed correctly.
- It is necessary to smoothly cover the edges of the cup holder. The remains of the solution must be removed before they are dry. You can proceed to the next stage of electrical work only after the putty layer has dried.
What else to consider?
When the installation of podrozetniki in drywall occurs, professionals do not recommend making a putty solution, otherwise the design will be unreliable. In the process, you only need a glass that has special presser feet. They will help to securely fix the wires.
You need to make markings, and then cut the hole of the right size. Next, you can insert the socket. With screws, the box is securely fixed inside the wall of drywall. This work can easily be performed by a beginner in this business, who has never even worked with a chisel and a drill. Similar methods are used to install podrozetniki in concrete walls, in walls of aerated concrete, and in a structure of foam concrete.
Information in conclusion
So, we looked at how the installation of the sockets in the wall is performed. As you can see, this operation can be carried out independently. But you must always consider certain rules and requirements. It is important not to make any mistakes during the work.