The location of the wires in the outlet. Wiring diagram in the junction box

Before you connect the outlet, you need to decide exactly how to connect it to the existing network. To do this, you need to accurately imagine how it will be used in the future: for one electrical appliance of low power or several devices.

Open and closed wiring

The difference between the methods and noticeable to the naked eye. Closed wiring is located inside the wall, for which grooves (strobes) are punched or cut in it, in which the connecting wire is hidden under a layer of putty. Open wiring is laid along the surface of the wall, on which it is held in special fasteners or laid in plastic guides - cable channels.

Accordingly, if you can see the wires that fit the outlet, then the wiring is open. Otherwise, closed wiring is used, for which walls were cut.

These two ways in which the socket is connected can be combined with each other - if the old points are connected in a closed way, then nothing prevents connecting a new one in an open way. There is no choice in only one case - in wooden houses, the socket can be connected exclusively in an open way, as well as the rest of the wiring.

Open wiring - advantages and disadvantages

To understand what open wiring is good for, an analogy with the most common extension cord (surge protector), which is essentially an additional branch of the mains, but is connected not to a junction box, but to an outlet, will help.

Advantages:

To install a new outlet, you do not have to cut the wall. This is especially true for those premises that have already been renovated.
For installation, no tools such as a wall chaser or puncher are needed.
In the event of a breakdown, you do not have to open the wall - all the wiring is in front of your eyes.
Mounting speed. Even after all the work has been completed, adding another point to the existing wiring is a matter of a few minutes.
If desired, you can quickly completely change the wiring - ideal for temporary connection schemes.

Flaws:

High probability of external influence on the wiring - children, pets, you can just accidentally catch it. This disadvantage is leveled by laying wires in cable channels.
Open wires spoil the entire interior of the room. True, it all depends on the design abilities of the owner of the room - cable channels will fit perfectly into modern design solutions, and if the room is made in retro style, then special wires and other accessories are produced for this.
The need to purchase special fasteners, even if cable channels are not used - in wooden houses, open wiring should be laid at a distance of 0.5-1 cm from the wall surface. Often wires are laid inside iron pipes - all these requirements are aimed at increasing the safety of using open electrical wiring.

As a result, this connection method justifies itself if, for some reason, it makes no sense to lay the wires to the outlet inside the wall. In addition to the fact that the wiring will be visible, there will be no differences in the operation of the outlet.

Hidden wiring - pros and cons

Despite some significant drawbacks, it is used almost everywhere - the advantages of its use still outweigh.

Advantages:

The wires to the outlet fit in the wall, so wallpaper is freely glued on the outside or other finishes are made.
Complies with all fire safety requirements (in concrete buildings) - even if a short circuit occurs, you can not be afraid of a fire from the wires in the wall.
Very low probability of damage to the wiring - it can only be damaged while drilling the walls.

Flaws:

For installation, you need to cut the walls.
Difficult to do repairs.
If the walls are finished, then after laying an additional outlet, you will have to redo it.

The disadvantages are leveled by preliminary calculations - if you plan in advance where and which block of sockets should be installed, then problems usually do not arise in the future.

Existing connection methods

Two or more outlets can be connected relative to each other and other circuit elements in only three ways: in series, in parallel or mixed connection. In other words, the first two methods are called connecting sockets with a loop and a star.

Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, which must be taken into account before deciding which socket connection scheme will be used in each specific case - it mainly depends on what cable is needed and its quantity.

No less attention should be paid to what wiring is already installed in the apartment - if the connected device is high power, then it is likely that to connect the outlet you will have to pull a new wire from the switchboard near the meter.

The most important rule that in all cases must be taken into account when connecting sockets into circuits is that each twist of wires among themselves is a weak link in the electrical circuit - the more there are, the higher the likelihood that the wiring will fail over time.

Parallel connection - star connection

The essence of the method is that several points are connected in one place, on which the entire load falls while simultaneously turning on electrical appliances in them. In practice, the parallel connection of sockets means that one main cable comes into the junction box of the room, from which the rest of the sockets are powered. The important point is that with this method, a separate wire goes to each point from the junction box.

The advantages of the method are obvious - each outlet works autonomously and if one of them fails, the rest will continue to work. The disadvantage is that if the central contact, from which all points are powered, burns out, then there will be no voltage in any of them, but this is also an advantage, since it will be known with a high degree of certainty where to look for a break.

The next drawback that distinguishes the parallel connection of sockets is the high consumption of wire, because a separate core must be laid from the central contacts to each point. The problem is partially solved by the fact that a wire of a larger cross section can be laid to the central contacts, and from it to the sockets a thinner core can be used, but in this case an already mixed connection is used.

Serial connection - daisy chain connection

To connect sockets with a loop means to connect them one after another, and instead of twisting the wires, the contacts of the sockets themselves are used. Those. phase and zero come to the first outlet, and from it the wires are transferred to the second, third, and so on - to the last point.

In its pure form, the connection of sockets with a loop is used only if it is necessary to connect a block of sockets or move the point a certain distance. In the latter case, the old outlet is not always removed - it is often left, because if there is a rearrangement, then it is not advisable to pick the wall again.

The next feature that distinguishes the connection of sockets with a loop is that powerful devices such as air conditioners, washing machines, microwaves and conventional electric ovens cannot be connected to them. This prohibition is dictated by a large number of connections that distinguish a daisy chain connection, and each of them is a weak link in the electrical circuit.

The connection of the socket block with a loop is described in detail in this video:

Mixed connection and grounding with daisy chain connection

To increase the reliability of the wiring when a series connection of sockets is used, you can use a mixed connection. Its essence is that the main cable comes to the junction box of the room, and then the farthest outlet is connected from it. Further, branches are made from this wire to the rest of the sockets, which are located between the far point and the junction box.

With this connection, the cable for wiring is saved, and the reliability of the network increases, since if one of the sockets fails, the rest will work (unless the twist near the main cable burns out).

ground connection through a branch, the twist is hidden in the socket

When a serial connection of sockets is used, therefore, grounding is also mandatory - if you simply run a ground wire from terminal to terminal, then if it burns out on one of them, the rest of the sockets remain unprotected. If you run one cable through all the sockets, but make a branch near each of them, then the reliability increases.

The most correct way to correctly connect the socket with a mixed connection, which is used in most cases, is to put the main wire under the ceiling and branch it down to the socket boxes. If the wiring section allows, then there are already several points connected to one descending wire with a cable.

The disadvantage of such a connection is the same as that of a serial connection - a large number of twists (plus, on each branch, you need to make a small junction box). In order not to think once again whether it is possible to include powerful electrical appliances in such sockets, it is necessary to carefully calculate the wiring, but it is better to use a parallel connection.

In this video, you can see how a mixed connection is made: the ground is connected through a branch, and the phase and zero are connected with a loop.

ring connection

A somewhat exotic connection scheme for the post-Soviet countries, but, undoubtedly, it has its own advantages. Its meaning is to lay a full circle of the main cable from the main electrical panel throughout the apartment, which will return to its beginning. In each room, tie-ins are made into it, which will be junction boxes, from which its own ring is laid already around the room, and from it branches already go to individual sockets or their loop groups.

In this case, if the wire burns out anywhere, then the next part of the wiring remains working, since the current will come to it from the other side of the ring. Thus, in terms of reliability, this method is practically no worse than a parallel connection. On the other hand, if the wiring burns out, then in any case it must be repaired, and the wire consumption is still higher than that of a standard connection.

How to choose the right way

Everything depends on the amount that you can afford to spend, the power of the device that will be connected to this outlet, as well as the presence or absence of decoration on the walls (the desire and the ability to spoil it).

In any case, the most reliable way to connect any outlet is a separate (parallel) connection directly to the main panel or junction box in the room (if the cable section allows). If the socket is planned only for connecting a TV or similar not very powerful devices, then a daisy chain connection is quite suitable.

If it is planned to conduct wiring in a new house or upgrade (replace) an old one in an apartment, then first of all, without undue modesty, you need to imagine what electrical appliances you would like to have - what can be connected to the network in principle. Based on this, it is already possible to calculate the required cross-section of wires and the way they are connected.

You don't know So you're here. This article provides detailed information on installation and connection, with photos and comments. Nothing complicated if you follow the step-by-step instructions, after reading which the question, will

completely exhausted.

So, you have an outlet that needs to be connected. In our case, the socket has a separate frame, and this is no longer an innovation, so almost all modern sockets are now manufactured, only the cheapest category of this product has a single frame. A separate frame is convenient because you can choose the original design of the socket, the color palette is simply huge. For example, a white key, a green frame or a brown one, whatever you like.

Before you start installing the outlet, you should have at least a general idea of \u200b\u200bits device. In this section, we will get acquainted with its design in detail. In the course of acquaintance we will carry out pre-installation preparation.

First of all, you need to remove the plastic protective frame, which in the operational mode protects the current-carrying parts of the mechanism from people touching them. To do this, unscrew the fixing screw of the cover, located in the center of the outlet.

Before us is the socket mechanism.

It has contact and spacer screws. The contact ones are designed to fix the cores of the wires in the terminal clamps, and the spacer ones are for fixing the socket mechanism in the socket box.

There are two types of socket outlets, with and without a grounding contact. In our example, a socket with a grounding contact is shown. What is grounding and what it is intended for is described in detail in the following article.

The socket has three contacts for connecting wire cores:

phase;
null;
ground contact.

Consider the location of the contacts on the socket mechanism. On the left and right on the mechanism there are two identical screw contacts, they are designed to connect the phase and neutral conductors of the wires.

In which of the contacts the phase will be connected, and in which zero it does not matter.

The middle contact is designed to connect the ground conductor. This contact has the form of a screw terminal connected to a metal strip that passes through the entire body of the mechanism and has hook-shaped roundings at the ends.

Two lateral screws located on the left and right are expansion screws, they set in motion metal paws, which, when the required position is reached, fix the mechanism in the socket. Also, for fixing the mechanism, special holes are provided located along the perimeter of the metal frame.

We pass to the installation site of the outlet, in which there must be a socket, two wires and electric current.

We connect the socket

Before carrying out all work on connecting the outlet to the wires, it is necessary to turn off the electricity suitable for this outlet. Disable. We check.

We carry out the check with the help of, having previously checked its performance on the outlet where the current is present. Alternately touch the voltage indicator, first one wire, then the other.

After making sure that there is no voltage, we proceed to connect the outlet.

Loosen the terminal screws. From the top end of the socket outlet there are holes for connecting wires. Two for each contact. The terminal screw drives the pressure plate, which fixes the wire in the clamp.

We prepare the wires. Using a knife, remove the required amount of insulation. As a rule, the average contact depth is no more than 7 mm.

We insert the wire into the contact. The bare part of the wire should not look out of the contact much, 2-3 mm will be the most. We fix the wire with the terminal screw. We check how well the wire is clamped in contact, pull the wire a little towards ourselves, swing it from left to right. If the wire remains motionless, the contact is good.

We clean the second wire and also insert it into contact, tighten it, check it.

If there is a ground wire in the socket, we connect it to the middle contact.

How to determine if your outlet is grounded? Well, firstly, there should be three wires in the outlet. In new homes, this wire should be yellow, with a green stripe. If all the wires are the same color, then you can only determine if you have a ground wire using a megger. We find the phase wire with the voltage indicator. Relative to him, we measure the remaining two. As a rule, on the ground, the readings should be less than 220 volts, and at zero 220 and above.

After connecting the wires, install the mechanism in the socket.

We set the outlet exactly horizontally and tighten the spacer screws. If the mechanism is not fixed, and this is possible, since the old sockets (iron) were made with a larger diameter than required for new sockets, then an additional installation of a new socket will be required.

Second option. Installing a socket with a socket replacement

Modern socket boxes are mainly manufactured with a standard diameter of 67 mm.

What we need to connect:

Material

socket - 1 pc.
socket box (required in some cases) - 1 pc.

Tool

flathead screwdriver
crosshead screwdriver
pliers
wire cutters
voltage indicator

A master who knows how to connect an outlet without errors will save residents from electric shock. This is the main thing, but not the only one. An incorrectly connected outlet will not provide adequate power to various devices. It will be inconvenient to use, absolutely unreliable and will not last long.

The information contained in this article can be read quickly. But valuable information about the features of working with a home electrical network will be useful for many years. Sockets, switches, circuit breakers and other fittings from time to time have to be repaired, reinstalled or installed in a new location. It is better to do this in such a way that the safety and reliability of the device is not in doubt.

The main components of the socket are a block assembly, protected from the back by a socket box, with an external one - a decorative box with a fixed screw. The box in most cases consists of a front panel and a frame. The socket box is used only for those sockets that will be installed on the wall, and not in the recess. The deck includes:

frame;
phase and zero contacts, into which the plug is connected;
terminals for connecting electrical wires;
ground contact;
movable or fixed legs for mounting in a box or on a flat surface.

Grounding is not provided for all sockets, in the simplest devices it is not. When screwing the screws, the movable legs are spread apart, being fixed on the walls of the plastic boxes. Double-tongue tabs hold the joint more securely, as they are sharper and penetrate deeper into the plastic.

If the terminals to which it is connected are screw, they should be lubricated before use, for which cold solder is used.

Common types of sockets

Connecting the outlet begins with its correct choice. There are hundreds of types and subspecies of sockets, they all differ from each other both in design and purpose. But there are not so many devices most common in everyday life, GOST 7396.1-89 recommends their use, depending on further operating conditions.

Type C 1a. Socket without grounding. In operating mode, it must withstand up to 10A DC, up to 16A AC and voltage up to 250 V. Such a socket can ensure the operation of simple devices that do without grounding;
Type C 2a. This outlet has two grounding prongs on the sides. The operating parameters are the same as those of the first type, but a high-power electrical appliance can already be connected to such an outlet. We are talking about washing machines, electric ovens, water heaters, water pumps and similar appliances;
Type C 3a. The same device as C 2a, but with pin type grounding;
Type C 5. Sockets of the Soviet period, well suited for equipment left over from the same time. Withstand up to 6A;
Type C6. The so-called euro-sockets with wider holes for the plug and a housing protruding above the wall. Suitable for electrical appliances with the appropriate plug.

Before installing sockets, you should select the cable. For options with grounding, it must be three-wire, without grounding - two-wire. Usually, a core with yellow insulation is intended for grounding, red or brown for phase wire, blue for zero. The cross section of the wire is selected depending on the upcoming load.

Moisture protection and dust protection are designated, for example, IP44. This marking indicates that a device is installed in the network that is protected from solid particles larger than 1 mm and from circular splashes.

It is undesirable to install sockets in the bathroom or in the bath, but it is often difficult to do without it. If there is no other way out, you need to pick up a waterproof device equipped with a special cover.

Wiring and socket installation method

Usually, to install an outlet in a concrete wall, it is planned to make a special channel (strobe), drill holes for the socket box, install the wire and box, and then install the outlet.

Installing sockets in drywall requires similar work, with the only difference being that you will have to make much less effort.

On wooden or adobe walls, the wiring is fixed in an open way, since it is unsafe to deepen it from the point of view of fire safety rules. A socket with a socket box is installed on such a wall. If we are talking about, for example, a steam room, then the installation of the wire must be carried out using special plastic boxes.

Connection type

How to properly connect the socket (sockets), based on the number and characteristics of electrical appliances that will be connected to them? First you need to select the type of connection. There are two of them:

"loop", or serial connection;
"star", or parallel connection.

"Loop" - the connection of each next outlet is actually from the previous one. This applies to zero, phase and ground. In this way it is convenient to assemble in one row, vertical or horizontal, up to five or more outlets. The disadvantage is that it is not recommended to connect powerful equipment to such sockets.

"Star" - with this socket connection scheme, it is connected directly to the junction box. It is done like this:

Using special caps, ordinary electrical tape or other devices, the required number of wires leading to sockets is connected to the power wire in the junction box;
Each outlet receives its wires from a junction box, which allows you to connect devices with high power consumption without risking the outlet itself;
To make such a connection, you should choose wires that are smaller in cross section and capabilities than the wire connected to the junction box. For example, if a 25A cable with a cross section of 2.5 sq. mm, it is possible to connect wires to 16A with a cross section of 1.5 sq. mm.

At what height to install sockets

The installation height of sockets is determined on the basis of purely practical considerations. User convenience, power cable length for heavy appliances (refrigerator, washing machine) and safety must be considered. Sockets break down from time to time and need to be replaced or repaired. When preparing the installation, you should keep this in mind.

The distance to sockets from the floor is usually from 30 to 80 cm. When installing at a low height, you should take care of the safety of children by choosing devices with special curtains. The upper point of the outlet location is not determined by the norms.

But you need to know that there should be at least 15 cm from the floor slab to the socket, and at least 10 cm from the edge of the window opening. atmospheric factors.

Installation process

We have one strict rule, which corresponds to the official safety standard. When performing any work on the network, you must turn off the power supply. Moreover, double control will not be superfluous: after the circuit breaker is turned off, from time to time it is necessary to check the wiring for the presence of current. Scrupulousness in this matter will help to avoid many troubles.

Stage one: preparatory work

The socket tends to be disassembled into parts, and this should be done at the preparatory stage. It is necessary to unscrew the housing, which is fastened with a fixed screw. If the outlet has a socket, you need to remove it as well. The bottom line is to gain access to the terminals to which the wires will be attached.

Here it should be clarified that not all sockets are removable. There are also those who are one with the block. In this case, the disassembly process is somewhat simplified.

If the outlet has to be mounted on top of a concrete wall, it is recommended to use plastic dowels. For them, it is necessary to pre-drill the wall according to the diameter of the dowel and the location of the mounting holes on the socket. If we are talking about a wooden wall, it is quite possible to get by with self-tapping screws.

Hidden installation of the outlet is somewhat more complicated. Under the socket box, you will have to drill a hole of the appropriate diameter and depth in a brick or concrete wall. A core drill for concrete, a hammer drill or an impact drill, a chisel and a hammer are useful for work. A round groove is cut with a core drill.

Everything that is inside this groove is removed using the tools mentioned above. The wire leading to the junction box will also have to be hidden under the plaster. To do this, you need to make a groove with a puncher, drill or wall chaser, if any.

It is also necessary to the power cable in the junction box.

Each master chooses his own method, but the most popular are three:

Use of PPE caps. The insulation from the wire should be removed by 3 cm, twisted with the power cable, put on the cap on top and screw it on;
The use of VAGO terminal blocks is more promising, since the process is simplified to the limit, and you can connect the required number of wires by creating several parallel lines. The wire is stripped one and a half centimeters and inserted into the terminal block. When installed correctly, a click is heard;
The same as in the first method, but instead of caps, electrical tape is used.

With all types of connection, it must be ensured that adjacent conductors do not come into contact with the cleaned parts. Otherwise, a short circuit will follow when turned on.

Step two: connecting the wires to the outlet

A double or triple cable must be connected to the socket terminals, arranging it so that all the wiring is separate inside the housing. The connection must be reliable, but contact of the cleaned parts of the conductors must not be allowed.

The overall insulation is removed. If the outlet is not a consignment note, experts recommend leaving up to 20 cm of cable for future use. The total insulation must be removed one and a half centimeters more;
There is nowhere to place a supply of wire in an overhead outlet, so the cable length should not be more than required. It is recommended to lead the general insulation into the socket housing by about half a centimeter if the wire is mounted on the wall without a box;
To connect the wires to the terminals, they must be stripped of insulation by about a centimeter;
The contact of the wire and the terminal should be as large and reliable as possible. It is recommended to twist the cleaned wiring into a ring and then clamp it with a screw to the contact pad. An aluminum or copper ring can be further flattened with a hammer;
The screws are tight, but not too tight. With excessive effort, you can damage the socket, which has a lot of fragile plastic elements.

Step three: connect the outlet

The socket box or socket box in the case of a surface-mounted socket was prepared in the previous steps. It remains only to fix the block, and then screw the decorative box.

The paws are screwed in turn, each by several turns, otherwise a distortion will inevitably occur. In this case, it is necessary to control the position of the block so that the line between the legs remains parallel to the floor line. The block itself should go deep into the box to the desired depth. Otherwise, the decorative box will also be installed unevenly. The paws are screwed to the stop. If the socket box is chosen correctly, the design will hold securely.

When the assembly is completed, it remains only to connect the circuit breakers and check the performance of the outlet. But you should not make a common mistake and turn on some household appliance first. Use a multimeter to check for voltage.

Important! To protect your home from fire, and relatives and friends from electric shock, the home master must constantly remember the safety rules in the process of work.

Conclusion

Replacing the outlet with your own hands is carried out in the same way as installing it, but some steps are skipped.

In private buildings and apartments of new development, the electrical wiring of which is made using three-wire wiring, the problem of grounding, as a rule, is easily solved. But not everyone knows how to connect a grounded outlet in old buildings.

In such houses, the electrical wiring is made in the form of a two-wire line, which makes the task somewhat more complicated. To solve it, you will need to take a number of additional steps. These operations are usually reduced to the organization of another (grounding) core, stretched from the apartment shield to the grounded access electrical panel.

Grounding Options

When carrying out electrical work that allows you to easily connect a grounded socket to the network, the following options are possible:

The insulation of the wires brought into the apartment for ease of connection is made in different colors. The ground wire is insulated in a mixed green/yellow color according to the standard, while the phase wire is usually sheathed in brown or red. The "zero" wire, in most cases, is made in blue or blue insulation.

If there are junction boxes in the apartment, the connection can be made directly to them (if there is a third grounding conductor, of course).

Connection order

Just before connecting a double socket with grounding, you will have to perform the following preparatory operations:

strip the ends of the wires supplying power to the outlet;
remove the decorative cover from the product to be mounted;
loosen the fixing bolts on the terminals to which the wires of the electrical wiring will subsequently be connected.

Further manipulations related to connecting the outlet, as a rule, come down to the following operations:

The ends of the wires, taken out of the plastic landing box, are brought to the contacts and tucked into the corresponding terminal holes. You can connect the phase and neutral wires without taking into account their functional purpose (that is, they can be interchanged). In contrast, the ground conductor must be connected to a terminal block with a special designation, which is a ground symbol.
After connecting the wires, the socket housing without a cover is attached with self-tapping screws to a plastic mounting box (socket box); at the same time, the supply wires are neatly tucked into its body.
Old-style socket products are equipped with special paws that allow you to fix its body by tightening the screws.
After fixing the socket in the socket, you should once again check the tightening of the bolts on the terminal blocks and only then install the decorative cover in place.

In conclusion, it is necessary to warn you that before carrying out the whole set of measures to connect the outlet, be sure to remove the power supply from the entire apartment. Such a shutdown is usually carried out by turning off the corresponding machine or unscrewing the plugs.

Video

In the following video you can see how a grounded socket is installed at a professional level:

Photo

Scheme

The schemes we have proposed will help you correctly connect the socket with grounding: