Installation work in the kitchen, taking into account the requirements of the power supply

Recommendation points

• Capacity calculation and wiring selection
• Electrical board
• Switches and sockets
• Signaling
• What to pay special attention to

A modern kitchen is very demanding on electricity supply, therefore, when drawing up a plan for its electrification, you need to take into account all the important features that distinguish this room from other rooms.

At first glance, it may seem that the kitchen does not much surpass other rooms in its power consumption, but if we take a calculator and calculate all the powers that it accounts for, we will see a clear preponderance. Therefore, special attention must be paid to the electrical safety of the kitchen, starting with the stage of choosing the wiring.

In addition, if in other rooms the sockets and the switch are mainly installed at a standard height from the floor, then here it is necessary to take into account the arrangement of furniture and electrical consumers. It is also necessary to distinguish between different categories of consumers, since the requirements for the wire cross-section and the maximum current for which the socket is designed depend on them. The kitchen belongs to damp rooms, therefore, special attention must be paid to protection against electric shock.

Capacity calculation and wiring selection

One of the main steps in kitchen design is determining the design power. The normal functioning of the entire kitchen will depend on how correctly it is calculated. To do this, it is necessary to determine the main consumers that will be installed. Usually the main load falls on an electric stove, refrigerator, kettle, microwave oven, dishwasher. The list of additional household appliances is endless. The power consumption value can be found in the electrical manual.

When installing wiring in the kitchen, a three-core cable is used (except for wiring for lighting). Here are some examples of suitable cross-sections for different types of kitchen equipment:

• electric stove – not less than 4 mm²
• electric oven – not less than 2.5 mm²
• lighting – 1.5 mm²
• kettle and dishwasher – more than 2.5 mm²

For those electrical appliances that are not on the list, the choice of the wire cross-section is made based on 1 kW per 1.57 mm copper conductor cross-section². If the wiring will be laid in the wall, then it is better to take a double-insulated cable (to protect against humidity, temperature surges, etc.).

Electrical board

It is recommended to divide all wiring in the kitchen into the following groups:

• lighting
• low-power household appliances
• power electrical appliances
• alarm, emergency lighting

To do this, it is advisable to install a separate shield in the kitchen, from which all sockets will be powered. An alternative to the electrical panel can be a junction box, in which all outlet lines and lighting will be connected. However, in this case, it will be impossible to disconnect each line separately, and their protection will be common. In case a breakdown occurs somewhere, you will have to completely turn off the electricity, which is quite inconvenient.

A circuit breaker is installed in the electrical panel that can withstand the rated rated current of the kitchen. It powers the machines with a lower rated current value, to which the outlet groups are connected. It is recommended to put a separate machine on the electric stove. For the lighting circuit, due to the low consumption of electrical energy, an automatic machine with a nominal value of 6 A will be enough.

The kitchen belongs to rooms with high humidity. Given this feature, instead of a conventional machine, you can put a differential circuit breaker for 10-30 A, which, in the event of a breakdown in the insulation of an electrical appliance, will protect a person from electric shock.

Switches and sockets

Having calculated the required number of outlets for the kitchen, you need to install them correctly. All kitchen outlets must be rated for at least 16 A and have a grounding contact. For fire safety in the kitchen, it is recommended to take outlets with a ceramic base. In order for the socket to last as long as possible, the lamellas must be spring-loaded and nickel-plated. The same applies to circuit breakers, except that the rated current may be lower..

According to the standards, the installation height of the socket is 30–40 mm from the floor. The switch is installed near the front door at a height of 80–90 cm from the floor and 10–15 cm from the door. When installing the lighting line, you must pay attention to the fact that the switch must open the phase wire. This is done so that there is no voltage on the contacts in the cartridge in the off state..

So that there are no long wires in the kitchen, and the load on them is minimal, the sockets are placed as close as possible to household consumers. Also, when installing the outlet, it is important to take into account the location of the kitchen unit itself, so that it does not restrict access to them..

If the question arises in the number of outlets, then keep in mind that it is better to have a couple of extra ones than to miss them. Ideally, each double socket is installed every 1.5-2 meters. Spare sockets can be placed on sections of the wall that will be covered by furniture.

For ventilation, a separate socket is also made, which is installed at a height of 5-6 cm from the top of the kitchen cabinet and 15-20 cm from the hood itself. It must not be blocked by the ventilation duct..

Where should the sockets not be placed? The sockets must not be installed behind appliances built into kitchen furniture, behind drawers. In no case should the sockets be installed above the stove or sink.!

Signaling

Considering that there is nothing eternal in our life, including water and gas pipelines, the issue of installing gas and water leakage sensors in the kitchen is urgent. They are powered from the mains (220 V), in this case, do not forget to provide a separate outlet, or from batteries (12 V). More expensive alarms can use cellular communication to inform the owner of an accident in the house. Better to spend money, but to protect yourself and other people from accidents.

What to pay special attention to

Please note that improper wiring can be dangerous not only for household electrical appliances, but also for your loved ones. The installation of electrical wiring in the kitchen must be carried out according to the plan that was developed before. It is based on two principles: electrical safety and practicality in use.

As for protective grounding, it is forbidden to lay it with one separate wire and combine it with a neutral working wire from different lines. The grounding wire must be continuous throughout its length to the outlets..