Installation of hidden sockets and switches

Recommendation points

• Electric points in hidden wiring
• Installation of single electric points
• Group mounting of sockets and switches
• Hidden and built-in sockets
• Deferred use electropoints

In electrical installation, several concepts are combined at once under hidden electrical points. Today we on the site Our site will shed light on this definition: we will talk about the intricacies of installing hidden electrical wiring, built-in sockets and switches, as well as the tricks of planning a home electrical network.

Electric points in hidden wiring

There are two types of wiring. In one case, cables and wires are pulled along the surface of the walls in a formal sheath, such as a cable duct or corrugated tube. Otherwise, the wiring can be hidden in the thickness of the finishing, and sometimes the bearing layer of the wall. This method of laying and the type of electric points are called hidden.

This type of power grid has firmly taken root in housing construction: the wires do not spoil the appearance of the walls and do not complicate the decoration, and the panels of sockets and switches protrude above the wall plane to a minimum value, without interfering with the installation of furniture. However, the organization of hidden wiring is more complicated, the installation of electric points requires a special tool, besides, this installation method is suitable only for non-combustible bases.

Concealed rosettes are installed on the wall plane with a uniform decorative coating. PUE regulates the location of sockets only from the points of water intake and gas pipelines – no closer than 60 cm and 50 cm, respectively. All other values ​​are indicative. An unspoken standard is considered to be an indentation of at least 100 mm from corners and heating pipes and about 30-50 mm from door trims and other decorative trim elements.

The height of the points installation is arbitrary and is determined by their functional purpose. Switches are usually placed at the same height and on the same side of the door on which the door handles are located. The outlet for a vacuum cleaner is conveniently located 25-30 cm from the floor, for kitchen appliances – at the bottom of the apron, all others – about 40-45 cm above the floor covering. The order of the keys on the switches should correspond to the frequency of their use, the location and purpose of the lighting lines. Turning on is carried out by pressing the top, turning off – on the bottom. The ergonomics of the electrical network is a rather serious issue, it should be carefully considered when drawing up a communications project.

Installation of single electric points

Installation of electric points with hidden wiring is carried out in plastic installation boxes, in the common people called socket boxes. As a rule, it is a cup made of non-combustible PVC with a thickening on the side, the standard diameter of the product is 65 mm, the depth can reach 50 mm There are also non-standard boxes:

• up to 80 mm deep for cases when you need to hide several wire connections under the outlet;
• with a diameter of up to 80 mm – for the installation of electrical fittings with an overall hidden part, for example, dimmers.

Electric points can be installed in a single and in-line way. In the case of a single installation, it is enough to mark the center taking into account all the necessary indents, install a centering drill of a hollow crown in it and drill to a depth greater than that of the socket by 10-15 mm. The formed core is removed by blowing a chisel into the annular gap. For drywall or trim panels, simply drill a round hole with a core drill.

Fastening of socket outlets in solid walls is carried out with putty with alabaster, diluted with water to the consistency of liquid sour cream, or with special glue for socket outlets:

• the composition is applied in excess to the walls of the drilled niche;
• a box with wires inserted into it is pressed inside;
• the flange of the socket is pressed flush with the surface with a flat strip or the edge of a wide spatula.

In the false walls, special boxes are installed, designed for mechanical fastening. They have a pair of spacer lugs, which, before being inserted into the hole, are driven to the base, and then tightened by turning the screws.

All modern boxes for both hollow and solid walls are designed to mount the mechanisms of sockets and switches using two screws screwed into a plastic wall. The spacer lugs are intended for preliminary position adjustment, they are tightened last. When installing the socket outlets, you need to ensure that the screw holes are located on a common horizontal line. More details about installing a socket box Our site Soviets.ru already wrote.

Group mounting of sockets and switches

Row installation of electric points differs in the way of marking. It can be applied according to a special pattern, but more often craftsmen use a common decorative frame, in which the projections on the inner sides are located at the required pitch. This is the most optimal way: for different manufacturers, the distance between the centers may differ by 1–1.5 mm, which causes serious difficulties when mounting 4–5 points in a row.

For group installation, socket boxes are used, which have ears that, when docked, form a channel for laying wires between boxes. For proper installation in solid walls, certain skills will be required: you need to have time to press the assembly of the socket outlets and have time to adjust them before the glue mixture dries.

Hidden and built-in sockets

Sometimes it is impractical to mount a group of electric points into the wall, for example, when you need to install furniture closely. In such cases, built-in fittings are used. This can be a retractable column that rises when pressed above the plane of the table top. The column can have both sockets and various buttons, for example, to turn on local lighting. A more common option is a conventional double or triple rosette with a decorative cover, which, when closed, is flush with the surface of the furniture body.

Installation of such products is simple: a hole is drilled in the body in accordance with the installation dimensions, then the mechanism is installed in place and fastened either with screws or with a wide clamping nut. To connect, it is enough to connect a wire with a plug to the clamps, which is plugged into the nearest outlet, usually located hidden and close to the floor. Problems arise when it is necessary to connect a column with switches, in such cases a junction box is installed on the seamy side next to the mechanism, inside which all wire connections are hidden.

Deferred use electropoints

Overhaul in an apartment is done only once, while a good renovation project should cover as many practical nuances as possible. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to foresee absolutely all the subtleties. The composition of the family can change with the corresponding change in the explication of the premises, even a simple rearrangement of furniture can make serious adjustments to the procedure for using the living space.

The service life of a properly installed wiring reaches 30-50 years. When laying communications, it is advisable to take into account the possibility of changing the purpose of the premises in the future with the need to move sockets and switches to a more convenient place. There are several examples of this:

• A child, being a teenager during the period of renovation, grows up and moves into his own apartment, his room is assigned to an office or a guest room with a completely different layout;
• The loggia is subsequently joined, a work table is taken out into it, in the former place of which a television zone is organized;
• The bedroom is equipped with a dressing room, the bed is moved to a new place, night lighting is needed.

In this aspect, hidden electrical points are usually understood to mean installation boxes hidden under the finishing layer. They are walled in during the installation of a common electrical network, cables or a corrugated sheath with a pull-through wire are laid, in boxes and switchboards, space is left in advance for connections and protective devices.

In practice, this idea can be realized in two ways. For single points, it is recommended to purchase installation boxes with plugs. The installation of the box is carried out according to the standard scheme, but the sides are recessed into the depth of the finish by 1–2 mm. Thus, the cover of the socket is slightly recessed under the finishing finish. A little putty is applied on top of it with the addition of glue, under paint or wallpaper this area is visually indistinguishable.

If an unused electric point is installed in the row of conventional ones or the method with a plugged box is not suitable for some reason, you can install a decorative plug instead of the outlet. Similar products can be found in almost all collections of “clean” electrics, while they look absolutely neutral and are much cheaper than sockets and switches.