What cross section should be the wire for the sockets?

We decided to change the wiring or just add new points and do not know where to start. First, you need to calculate the power of all devices and determine the cross-section of the wire for the outlets, after which you can throw the plan on a piece of paper, and then draw on the wall the places where the cables will pass and calculate their footage. But first you need to determine the state of the old wiring, whether it can be supplemented by connecting new branches. This option will be the most economical.

Upon inspection, you found that the conductors from the shield are in emergency condition or they are not designed for additional load, it is recommended to install new ones. Copper wires are more reliable and durable, well, first things first.

Calculation of future load

In order for everything to be correct, it is necessary to calculate how many devices will be powered in each room, this will determine what section to buy the wire. If the sum of all devices is up to 3 kW, then a conductor with a cross section of 2.5 mm will be sufficient²... For a kitchen where the equipment consumes a large amount of energy, it will be correct to stretch a separate branch with a cross-section of conductors for cables from 4 to 6 mm square, depending on what kind of stove and equipment you have.

As a result, a 2.5 mm wire will go from the shield to the sockets², to the kitchen and to the bathroom, if there is a water boiler there, the cables must be at least 4 mm square. A cross section of 1.5 mm is enough for lighting rooms.²... Do not forget about grounding, which must be mandatory on kitchen outlets and in the bathroom.

All devices are marked with the power consumption, the label can be found on the back or under the cover. If for some reason you did not find the sticker, then you can look it up in your passport or on the Internet. After calculating the power consumption, you should look at the table and select the wire of the required diameter.

What type and brand of conductor to choose for the outlet

When choosing a wire, you need to pay attention to the type and brand of conductors. On the construction market today you can find a large number of counterfeit products, so you need to be extremely careful, the safety of your home depends on it. Do not buy PUNP wire (universal flat wire) for mounting sockets, the following brands will be safer:

• VVG - PVC-based double insulated cable, not self-extinguishing. Suitable for outlets.
• VVGng - wires, insulated, PVC with double protection, the last in the abbreviation "ng" to say that the PVC insulation of the wire prevents combustion. It is recommended to use the cable in wooden rooms.
• VVGng-LS - in this case, halogen-free PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is used, which is not capable of emitting smoke. Such wires can be used in children's rooms and institutions; in case of a short circuit, children will not breathe in caustic smoke.
• NYM - (N) German quality (Y) PVC insulated (M) installation cable. An expensive analogue of VVGng from German developers.

Of course, these wires differ in price, but you don't need to save on safety. To better understand for which consumers, which wires to install, we will give an example:

• For washing machines, computers and other devices with low power, wires for VVG sockets with a cross section of 3 * 2.5 mm are suitable²... The number "3" indicates the number of wires in the winding.
• To connect electrical appliances with high power in a three-phase network, oven, pump, you must use VVG 5 * 2.5 mm².
• In a wooden house, it is recommended to connect to sockets VVGng 3 * 2.5 mm².
• There are various lamps and sconces for sockets, in this case the cross-section and number of wires for sockets can be 3 * 1.5 mm².

For more information on the selection of wires for sockets, see this video:

Preparing to lay the cable

Having calculated the power of each room, then it is necessary to select the necessary wires and interlocking machines according to the table. Looking ahead, it should be borne in mind that in the future, it is possible that some work will be carried out, for example, changing a chandelier or installing a stretch ceiling, all this requires turning off the light. To avoid blackout of the apartment, you should install your own machine on each site.

Drilling holes for sockets

When everything is marked out, counted and purchased, you can proceed to the main thing - chipping, drilling and connection. Some people will have a question - how many sockets to make in the room, and at what distance from the floor? Timely question and necessary, at least 3 outlets are recommended in each room, for convenience, and not nearby, but on each wall, so that there are no extra wires on the floor later. In the kitchen, as a rule, they are made double or triple and are located above the work tables, and for the refrigerator and stove from below at a distance of 30 cm from the floor. Switches according to the latest standard are installed at a distance of 80-90 cm. But for convenience, it is best at lower arm height.

Tool

In order not to fuss in the process of work, you should prepare the entire tool in one place in advance. For chipping and drilling, we need:

1. Roulette and alcohol marker.
2. Laser or bubble building level.
3. Perforator with a diamond core bit for concrete and a chisel tip.
4. Grinder with a diamond disc.
5. Gloves, overalls and respirator.

The marked lines are cut with a grinder, after which the cut pieces are knocked out with a perforator with a chisel fitted. If you get used to it, you can quickly get the job done. Then, at the planned place, using a level, the center of the rosette is marked and a niche is drilled out with a diamond bit. During operation, the tool must be kept level, otherwise the glass and the socket will stand crookedly. Do not forget about the junction boxes, which must also be built into the wall.

The final stage

The wire, laid in the strobe, is fixed in several ways, covered with plaster or with the help of special clamps that are inserted into the drilled hole, and then covered with plaster. At the ends, the wires should hang with a margin, in order to connect to the outlet and the junction box was convenient. The wires should be twisted tightly, then insulated.

All work must be done with precision, especially carefully you need to approach the connections, the wires must be clamped so that there is no gap between them, otherwise it will spark and heat up in problem areas.

When choosing outlets, pay attention to the method of fastening for wires. In imported models, you can find a device for clamping a stripped cable. Thanks to such an outlet, you will significantly save your time on installation, and most importantly, such a mount can carry heavy loads.For the bathroom, it is recommended to install an RCD with a leakage current of 10 mA.

The work does not seem difficult at first glance, but it will be difficult for a beginner to do everything right. Therefore, it is recommended to first prepare, for this you can watch the video and then try to do everything yourself. But if you are unsure and doubt your own abilities, then you should not take risks, today there are many good specialists who will do such work quickly and efficiently.