The choice of wire for lighting in the apartment. Electrical wiring for internal wiring: requirements

Several decades ago, wiring was performed from of aluminum wire, which after a lapse of years loses all its properties and can no longer perform its functions. Term of high-quality service of aluminum wiring  in a residential building is 20 years for open wiring and up to 30 years for hidden. For this period, vinyl insulation becomes very fragile, because of the wiping of wires, incidents of incomplete short circuits, which often lead to fires, may become more frequent. Also, the frequent cause of fires is that a place with a bad contact begins to spark, warm, oxidize. Better is a copper wire, but it can also lose its properties with time.

Another reason for the need to replace the wiring with a more serious and qualitative one is that in the past times the wires were connected by twisting, and this leads to a rapid deterioration of the wires. And before there were such powerful electrical appliances, so even the most reliable and suitable old wiring does not withstand a heavy load, requiring a replacement for a new one taking into account the power of all electrical appliances that will be used in an apartment or house.

It is best to do wiring using copper wire. For power sockets, a 2.5 mm 2 wire is suitable, and 1.5 mm 2 wire is sufficient to provide lighting. If large loads are planned, then it is best to select the wire cross section by the connected power. As a rule, electricians proceed from this calculation: a load of 1 kW would require 1.57 mm 2 of the cross section of the core. Knowing which devices will be connected to the network constantly, and which only sometimes, you can calculate the approximate value of the wire cross-section. For a copper wire, this is 8A per 1 mm 2, for a wire made of aluminum - 5A per 1 mm 2. That is, if the apartment has a powerful flow-through water heater of 5 kW, then to connect it you need a wire, calculated at least 25A, for a copper wire cross section of at least 3.2 mm 2.

  For the kitchen, experts advise making separate wiring, which will be displayed on a separate machine. The wire cross section should be at least 4 mm 2, and if an electric plate is to be used, a wire with a minimum cross section of 6 mm 2 is required. As a rule, in the kitchen there are two separate sockets under the refrigerator and a TV set, as well as a whole unit intended for connecting kitchen appliances (microwave oven, coffee grinder, juicer, etc.). A switch is also installed, which must break the phase wire.

Knowing, how to choose an electrical wiring for an apartment, you need to think about the grounding, which will provide electrical connection  equipment and instruments with earth, which is designed to protect against the dangerous effects of electric current. A protected room must have a ground loop that does not extend beyond this room. In this case, the ground loop should cover the whole room - that is, be closed.

In order to provide protection against electric shock during a contact with a faulty device, in European countries a RCD is used - a special protective shutdown device. This device is designed to monitor the leakage current from the circuit and turn off the voltage.

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When we come to the store, buy a cable for the wiring, then most often look at the price per meter. If you do not believe it, look at the storefronts in the building store where the couple is discussing which cable to purchase. Usually a woman tries to convince her husband that this cable is exactly the same, only costs not 100 rubles per meter, but 50. Why buy a more expensive cable? Let's understand, because in fact you can save by buying exactly what you need, unless of course there is a desire to knowingly put a "margin of safety".

The golden section, or the thicker, the better?

For starters, a few simple rules that are not only to know, but to apply in practice.

1. The entire line from up to the terminal devices (even with branching) should be of the same cross section, although the types of power cables may differ.
2. It is necessary to mark the cable in the form of color differences of veins.
3. For powerful consumers it is necessary to make separate lines.
4. Cable cross-section is a trade-off between losses in the line and protection, both lines and devices.

Now a little physics, in the context of so-called practical application in everyday life. Imagine that you have a pump that raises the pressure (the residents of skyscrapers will understand me), which provides a normal jet in the crane when the pressure in the highway drops. What happens if the pressure in the line becomes normal, 4 bar, and the pump does not shut down? That's right, he will increase the pressure until he breaks the pipe (or tear off the tap). The same will happen if the thick core in the terminal block is connected to the residential with a thinner one. When changing the current characteristic, the thick core of this "does not notice", but the thin can not stand. It will begin to heat up and eventually burn. And in the literal sense of the word, leading to a fire. Therefore, the question of how to choose the correct cross-section of the wire is not at all idle, and has no relation to saving money on wiring.

Once this question was sorted out, we return to the thickness of the vein, that is, the cross-section of the wire. We already said in other articles that the thinner the vein, the greater its resistance. Of course, the conductor material also matters, but the physical characteristic, namely the cross-sectional area of ​​the conductor, is much more important. For households with a voltage of 220V, veins with a cross-section up to 0.5 kV can be used. mm. However, it is best to simply look at the table of standards (this, by the way, GOST, which should be trusted).

Cable cross-section versus current characteristics

Table for    copper   wires:

Table for    aluminum   wires:

Let's start with how to choose the wire cross-section, according to the proposed table. Correctly? No, it's not right. We will start at the other end of the line, which we are going to create. This list is the correct approach to the correct solution, and in exactly the order that is indicated below.

1. Define the line type. For example, the lighting line in a standard apartment.
2. Determine the power that this line will consume. For example, we decided that 10 light bulbs in 100W is enough, then a peak power of 1000W (1kW).
3. The currents in this line. For household lighting it is not more than 30 Amperes.
4. Parameters (this is also an important point, otherwise there will be too many trips), current strength, type, etc.

It remains to arrange these data, and then look at the table. What do we get for this example?

If we choose copper cable, then the wire cross section is 1.5 square meters. mm., and the question of how to choose the wire cross section is not worth it. You can take a smaller section, but the difference in the price of the question will be less than 10%, and changing the cable in the line is time consuming and time consuming.

Yes, in this case the "strength" reserve will be almost 3.2 times the face value and even the peak, but believe me, this is not the whole truth.

More is not always better!

Let's say we decided to increase the safety margin of the line, for which we choose a cable cross-section of 2.5 square meters. mm. Considering that most terminals have their own switching capacity, this is almost safe for us, except for the extra expense of money, because we pay for the cable by the weight of the metal.

But the situation will change if we decide to "re-insure" even more and apply a 4-square-meter cable. mm., although the types of power cables of this thickness are no longer recommended for indoor wiring. Nevertheless, we chose this cable. What happens in this case is obvious. We will create a point of significant change in the resistance to the current in the place of attachment of the device (lamp, iron, etc., it does not matter). That is, we will manufacture by our own hands the commutation, which sooner or later from the temperature drops will lead to the ignition of both the device and the wiring. Why this can not be avoided is described above.

That's why it's not worthwhile to choose wiring for cables, which cable, even if "it's more expensive" is not an argument. That is the "Golden Section", because the cable should be optimal.

There is one more mistake - a terminal block, which includes an aluminum wire, and a copper one of the same cross section emerges. If you look at the table, it becomes clear where the error is. The cross-section of the copper core must correspond not to the cross section of the aluminum conductor, but to the resistance of the conductor. Recalculation can be made proportionally - so, for an aluminum wire in 4 square meters. mm. best suited copper section of 2.5 square meters. mm. Remember this! Material matters!

What besides cross-section?

In fact, we missed the rest, because the thickness of the core is not the most important thing in the cable, which consists of several veins. Moreover, the cable cross-section is a total value, since the core can be not single, but consist of a multitude of woven wires. Such veins are called stranded. This term sometimes leads to confusion and misunderstanding, because stranded cable  and the stranded veins create the very confusion. Professional electricians perfectly know the difference, because the vein is the vein. A cable is a cable that is rarely single-core, especially since cable labeling always tells you whether it's a single cable or just a single wire.

Do you follow the logic of this paragraph? Let's order to speak at least approximately the same language with professionals, and at the same time with the producers.

• A vein is a separate conductor, which can be either a single wire or consist of several wires woven into a bundle;
• Cable - a few veins, which are united by a common insulation, and the minimum number of veins - two;
• The wire is a separate conductor, also having insulation, which can consist of one "wire", or several, woven into a bundle.

Most often, a single wire is used for grounding, is distinguished by the quality of the copper used, and rarely consists of several "wires". Of course, we are talking about domestic appointments. The cable can contain both single wires and wattles, and this depends on the scope of use and the strength of the currents.

The veins are different, but the total cross-section of the stranded wire (sorry for the tautology) is more preferable than solid, if of course the switching is done reliably and correctly.

We hope you do not have any more questions about how to choose a wire cross-section, or did you have any doubts? If the questions are left, then we do not write such articles in vain. Insulation. Cable marking, purpose and application.

Marking and marking of cables

In order not to overpay, it is necessary to know the principles of designation, which can be seen on the storefront. It's not always the case that the consultant makes a clear explanation of how one cable marking differs from the other. The situation will be complicated by the presence of foreign markers, so a few simple rules that will help understand the purpose of the cable, at the same time realizing why such a big difference in price. By the way, I often came across a situation when the "consultant" simply could not explain what cable for wiring, and what for other purposes. This also should be borne in mind - the competence of personnel in building stores is now very far from ideal.

Let's start with Russian standards.

• KG - flexible cable;
• A - (the first letter) aluminum core, in its absence - lived copper by default. For cables from non-ferrous alloys, decoding of the alloy composition is used;
• B - the first letter, which, in the absence of the letter A, means a separate PVC insulation of the cores, but if B is the second letter, this means the PVC cable sheath;
• D - absence of a protective cover ("naked");
• NG - Not supporting Burning;
• Бб - armored;
• Шв - having an additional outer covering of insulation made of PVC sheath;
• l - lavsan ribbon;
• 2l - double lavsan tape;
• CIP - Self-supporting Insulated wire;
• PN - heating wire;
• C - steel core;
• PU - universal wire;
• Letters P or HNP - flat or Flexible Flat;
• 1-5 The number indicates the cable's flexibility class.

It is difficult without a specification to understand why there are so few letters in the marking, although the answer is simple - this is too specific a product, and we are interested in simpler versions.

If this is all clear, we will supplement the markings of foreign manufacturers:

• N - according to VDE;
• Y - PVC;
• H - halogen-free PVC;
• M - mounting cable;
• C - copper screen (Cu);
• RG - armor.

The letters of marking for domestic cables are taken from GOSTs. Specifically for cables with plastic insulation is used    GOST 16442-80 .

Will we try to decode the cable marking? Let's say we see a cable    ВВГнг 3х2,5 20м   . Before us is a copper (no letter A) cable of three cores, each section of 2.5 square meters. mm. Each core is insulated (B), the cable is insulated (second B) PVC insulated, flexible cable (D), not supporting combustion (ng). Great solution for internal wiring! By the way, this is so.

Let's have a harder task -    АВВГнг 2х4 50 m   . It is an aluminum cable, two cores, each of which is insulated, the cable is also insulated (two B), flexible (D) and not supporting combustion (ng).

Agree - it's very easy to understand, and even order on the Internet, because the standards are the same and the cable is not what you should go to the store, if the seller is ready to bring the goods home.

It remains to take into account the need to wrap the cable in the corrugated tube (for which the G index is the main thing) or to select the AP, it is possible without G. For laying in the box, remember the cross-section calculations, choose the bay of the required length and place the order.

With a huge number of different devices in a standard modern apartment, the quality work of home electric lines is very important.

When starting the installation, it is worthwhile to carefully approach the selection, laid in the floor or supporting walls.

It is necessary to take into account their material, section, and also where the lines are going to lead - in an apartment of a high-rise building or in a private cottage.

There are several classifications that should be used when choosing a cable for home lines. The first thing that catches your eye - number of cores. How are electrical products distributed according to this parameter?

Traditional materials for the creation of cables - copper and aluminum. The resistance of the first metal is less than that of the second one. This means that with an equal copper version it can pass a larger current, it is more powerful and more durable. But aluminum analogues are more profitable in price.

Important! Copper and aluminum are galvanic pairs, they can only be connected to each other through the terminal strip. Their twisting will certainly oxidize, which threatens with the loss of contact, the closure of the highway and even a fire. It is easier to choose an electric wire of the same type for all lines in the apartment.

Golden Section

So what kind of wire is needed for wiring in the apartment and which section is suitable for home roads? For the right choice  it is necessary to calculate all electrical appliances in the apartment. This value will tell you the appropriate cable parameters. Calculate it according to the formula, taking as a basis the power of the device P(data are specified in the technical documentation) as a divisible and voltage in the mains V (usually 220 V) as a divider.

Cross-sectional area measured in square millimeters. Each such "square" of a copper electrical cable can for a long period pass through itself a maximum of ten amperes when heated to permissible standards. Aluminum analog is inferior: its maximum is four to six amperes.

Imagine a device that requires a power of four kilowatts. With a standard voltage, the current equal to 18.18 amperes (4000 watts divide by 220). To power this device from the mains, you need copper wiring  section of at least 1.8 square millimeters.

For safety, it is better to increase this value by one and a half times. The ideal option for this device will be a copper cord with a cross section of two square millimeters. Option based on aluminum should be chosen two and a half times thicker.

At (in most modern apartments), indicated in the table data must be multiplied by 0.8. An open version, for example, assumes a wire with a cross section of at least four "squares" with high mechanical strength.

This video will help you decide which wire to choose for wiring in the apartment:

What will prompt the marking

It usually includes several letters and numbers, which denote:

Consider the most popular types and which wire is best used for wiring in the apartment:

• VVG  of copper can be flat or round. It is better to choose the improved options in terms of safety options - VVGng (non-combustible) or VVGng-LS (fire-resistant with reduced smoke emission).
• ABBG  - Aluminum flame resistant analog.
• NYM  - a round wire made of copper, single-core, with a low degree of flammability and smoke evolution.
• PVA  - Round stranded wire  Of copper for connecting household appliances and extension cords, sometimes - for internal lines of wiring in the apartment.
• SHVVP  - flat copper cable with multiwire conductor. Used to connect electronics and household appliances.

Wires also can be distinguished by color, which is important when. Black indicates an explosive, orange on PVS (but it can be white). The NYM cable is gray. ShVVP is usually white, but is also found in other shades.

Attention! Electrical products marked PBPP, PUVP, PPPP, PUGPP in the apartment should not be used due to increased fire hazard.

Lines in modern housing

The installation cable for entering the housing according to the cross-sectional area index should be a step larger than that required to maintain the housing itself powerful device   in the apartment. But it is not necessary to drive all the lines with such a wire. It will be more economical to connect it to the terminal block, and then output through the automatic machines the lines of the required cross-section.

In standard urban apartments for electric lines most often choose wires with conductors made of copper. For lighting, an electrical conductor with a cross section of one and a half "square" is suitable, for sockets - 2.5 "square". In rooms with a large number of household appliances and electronics, for example, in the kitchen, you should pull a wire with a cross-sectional area of ​​at least four square millimeters.

The backbone behind the plasterboard lining or the suspended ceiling must be made of a cable that does not support combustion with the "NG" marking, or even better "LS".

On the insulation of the wire it is better not to save and choose a double option. After all, when water breaks low-quality insulation can lead to a fire. And to damage such a wire during operation is very simple.

If you live in wooden house, then it is necessary to conduct open feed lines. You can only use it here non-combustible copper options. It is best to lay the wire in. Such plastic boxes now produce a variety of modifications and colors.

In conclusion, we suggest you watch a video in which the master will tell you what wires it is better to do wiring in the apartment:

Select electric cables that properly support the supply voltage in the apartment can be independently. But installation of electric lines should be entrusted to professionals. Working with electricity for an unprepared person is life threatening.

Any type of living space is equipped with electrical grids. The question is only in their difference. For the apartment are used some types, for the house - others. Wires for wiring before installing networks, should be carefully selected. Therefore, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with existing species  conductors and the rules of their selection for the purpose.

To supply modern housing conditions, it is customary to build three-phase networks, even withstand maximum load  from powerful consumers.

Power wires - a design with a copper or aluminum rod, often consists of several live conductors and has several layers of insulation. Wires of this type are used for outdoor power grids or for electricity to enter the house.

There are conductors of various types, but today people more often use copper or aluminum veins. The marking on the cables is marked in different letters.

• the first letter, which is often indicated on the wire sheath, indicates the conductor composition (copper or aluminum);
• the next by count, gives the designation of the conductor (it can be flat, control, mounting, etc.);
• the third letter defines the cable insulation (rubber, polyethylene, folded, kapron, etc.);
• the fourth letter designates the cable (asphalt, armored, flexible);
• numerous notations on the cable sheaths are often present. They denote the number of cores, the cross-sectional area and the rated mains voltage.

Important!  The absence of the first letter in the cable marking indicates a copper conductor, if there is no first digit in the designation, then the cable is single-core.

How to choose a wire for wiring?

There are three different types of material that are used to house electricity distribution. This includes cords, cables and wires. All these species are completely different and are used in certain conditions.

Buying electric wires, it is necessary to focus on their basis and the material from which it is executed. Considering for the purchase of aluminum, it should be remembered that it has a lower current conductivity than copper. Also, such veins rapidly oxidize and create a large resistance electric current. Therefore, this option is not suitable for long-term use. One of the advantages aluminum cable, its cheap cost is considered.

Copper conductors have more decent qualities and are less subject to oxidation. Resistant to multiple bends and other mechanical influences. Copper electrocommunications will last for more than a decade, and they will withstand higher power than the previous types.

To create or replacement of electrical wiring  for housing conditions are ideal for brands of cables: VVG, NUM, PVS, SHVVP. For more details on their features and purpose, see our previous article.

Cable for wiring: Determined with cross section

Whatever brand power cable for the distribution of electricity you have not chosen, you need to pay more attention to the cross section of conductors. This indicator is actually responsible for the load condition of the network. In other words, the larger the cross-section of the cable, the less loaded will be the wiring. When calculating the lighting system, it is advisable to choose a cable with a cross-section of 1.5 square meters. mm; For more powerful installations it is necessary to connect veins with a size of at least 2.5 square meters. mm.

Important!  To search for cables for your electrical network, it is better to call specialists, since an inexperienced installer can miss very important details.

Choosing the optimal value, it is important to take care of the stock, as in the case of expanding consumers, it is necessary that the wiring maintains them. If you still prefer aluminum conductors, remember that its thickness should be 1.5 times that of a copper one.

Cables for apartments: types and characteristics

For an apartment it is absolutely not necessary wiring  powerful cables, since such a housing consumes several times less power than a private house. However, here again the wiring should be carried out taking into account the stock and additions. Consider the types of wires that are currently used for wiring layouts  on the apartment.

Important!  If the question of choice electric cables  for domestic conditions is too acute, you need to take into account all possible factors in relation to future wiring.

We will pick up a cable for electroconducting

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If you independently install the cable in an apartment or house, it is important not only to correctly calculate the cross-section of the cable, but also to choose the most appropriate brand of cable. Today, manufacturers offer a variety of cable brands for home wiring. Let's try to figure out which cable is right for you.

Important!   Use a copper cable instead of aluminum, so you reduce the risk of fire and slow down the aging process of the cable.

The most popular and frequently asked cable for wiring individual lines in residential premises (sockets, chandeliers, switches, etc.). You can lay it both openly and closed (in stitches, cable channels, etc.)

Cable with non-combustible plastic sheath, thanks to which it is possible to lay several cables in one cable channel. This brand does not spread combustion, i.e. if one cable is ignited, the fire will not pass to the other. An open and closed gasket is allowed.

German analog cable VVGng. Unlike VVGng, NYM has a vulcanized aggregate that increases the fire resistance of the cable. NYM is more expensive than ВВГнг, therefore it is most often used for more powerful consumers, and also for connection to the floor panel.

Copper wire used for installations for voltage alternating current  450 V, constant - 750V. This wire is conveniently laid under plaster, in brickwork, concrete.

The wire is more flexible than the PUWB. Used if you need a gasket in "difficult" places.

Flat wire, the cheapest, but because of the low quality of the materials used, the wire itself is short-lived and overheated. To date, the PNPP has been discontinued, but it appears periodically on sale. Be careful!

Important!   When choosing the cable brand, consider the way of installation: inside the wall or outside. Inside the walls it is better to use cables with monolithic veins, for example, VVG or PUWB. Outside it is more expedient to use multiwire cables, since they are more flexible

Table 1

Comparison of cables for wiring in the apartment