Pros and cons of open wiring. Which wiring is better, hidden or open - comparison of methods

Which wiring is better for an apartment?

There are two ways to bring electricity to an Ilyich light bulb or a modern LED - using hidden or open wiring. Each of these methods has its own disadvantages, and they are not without advantages. We will sort out their pros and cons, and see which wiring is best for different rooms, which will help the owner of the apartment to say out loud “let there be light.”

It would be more correct to pose the question not “which wiring in the apartment is better,” but which is more rational, but this does not change the essence. To the point.

Hidden wiring

Hidden wiring- This is a classic of the genre of home electrification. It’s not worth talking about this method for a long time, since it is well known to everyone since the age of 10, but briefly you can describe it like this:

1. - A groove is made in the wall or ceiling,
2. - The cable can also run through the voids of floors without gating,
3. - The gate goes from the distribution box to the end point (switch, socket),
4. - A wire is laid in the channel,
5. - The wire is fixed with gypsum plaster,
6. - The ends of the wire are connected to the box and the socket or switch.

Advantages of hidden wiring :

1. - External boxes do not spoil the interior,
2. - The cable is difficult to accidentally damage, for example, when moving furniture.

1. - Dirt when punching grooves,
2. “If the wire burns out, you’ll have to hammer into the wall again.”

Hidden wiring is always started before finishing begins, the grooves are sealed gypsum mixture and then they are puttied, painted, or other executions are performed on the walls and ceiling. If necessary, you can later find such wiring using a detector, so it is not necessary to draw exact network plans.

Open (external) wiring

Such wiring does not go inside the walls, but outside, hidden in cable channels. This method of electrifying an apartment is in some ways better, in others worse.

Description of open wiring stages :

1. - Between the distribution box and the end point of energy consumption, a cable channel is fixed on dowels and nails,
2. - The wire is placed in the channel, its cover is snapped on,
3. - The ends of the cable are connected into a single circuit.

Pros of external wiring :

1. - Minimum dirt during installation,
2. - The wire is easy to change,
3. - It’s easy to make a branch to another electrical point.

1. - Not everyone likes the look of cable channels,
2. - When remodeling an apartment, you can damage the box and the wire in it.

Comparison of methods

These wiring methods can only be compared taking into account the aesthetic taste of the apartment owner; if aesthetics are put aside in the chest of drawers and we consider the purely technical part, then:

1. - Walls made of soft material, for example, gas silicate, it is better to chisel - this can be done with a hammer drill and a common chisel,
2. - Running a box along the ceiling is not an ideal option for an apartment,
3. - The cable channel is best used for wiring in the hallway or kitchen along concrete walls,
4. - If preference is given to the open method, then choose the optimal box, taking into account the interior, color and size,
5. - In the nursery, you don’t see the box at the bottom - you don’t yet know all the design capabilities of your child.

Often hidden and open ways the wiring is combined - this is permissible, but the connection of wires from different materials(copper and aluminum) not directly the best option. With such a connection, the wires can burn out at the point of contact, and it’s good if this happens outside the wall. To connect wires made of different materials, use an adapter washer and make the connection in accessible location, for example, in a distribution box, and not deep in the groove.

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Open wiring is the easiest way to lay electrical lines. Unlike hidden ones, it is laid not in the thickness of building structures, but above their surface. IN modern houses it is used very rarely. At the same time, this method requires much less time and is not associated with such large labor costs as laying a closed type line. There is also no need for gating, due to which the integrity of the ceiling and walls is practically not compromised.

Unless you're planning on retro wiring your entire house, public method It is better to use only in certain areas, for example, when you need to slightly expand the line. Otherwise, a large number of wires, which are clearly visible to the naked eye, will spoil the interior.

Installation of exposed electrical wiring requires careful preparation. This installation method is associated with certain rules requiring strict compliance.

Requirements for installing open-type electrical wiring

Here are the basic rules that when laying open type electrical wiring in the apartment must be completed.

Neglecting them is a violation of electrical safety standards and can cause a short circuit and line failure. So:

• It is prohibited to lay the line under pipelines on which condensate accumulates.
• There should be no heat emitters near the cables.
• It is not recommended to use a simple pipeline to lay such a line. It is desirable that the cable has additional protection. Depending on the location of the wiring, it can be rigid or flexible, or shielded.
• If the conductor is laid in plumbing niches, then you should not use junction boxes if quick access to the power transmission line is not possible.
• Cable cores can only be connected to each other in special junction boxes.

It is necessary to ensure easy access to the cover of the latter. If the humidity in the room is high enough, gaskets are installed on the covers of the junction boxes to improve the tightness.

• The protective layer of the conductor must remain intact along its entire length, right up to the connection of the conductors to a socket, switch or electrical appliance.

• To fasten the cable, it is recommended to use plastic brackets selected according to the diameter of the conductor. The distance between the clamps should not be too large, otherwise the conductor will sag under its own weight. The staples must be placed on both sides of the wire, and it is also necessary to install clamps near the points of connection to electrical elements. If the cable is laid horizontally, then the staples should be located from one another at a distance of no more than 40 cm when attaching an unarmored conductor and 75 cm for a wire with an armored coating. If exposed electrical wiring is laid vertically, then the maximum interval between clamps should not exceed 1 m.
• When installing conventional conductors with protective coating in the horizontal direction, the interval between the staples should not be more than 25 cm, and in the vertical direction - 40 cm. The distance from the electrical element to the fastener closest to it should not exceed 10 cm.
• If the wire needs to be bent, the minimum bending radius should be 8 cm.
• If the line crosses a non-electrical pipeline, then the minimum interval between them should be 3 cm.

When laying a cable through a wall, it is recommended to use an insulating pipe to protect it along this section.

Features of installing an open type electrical line

The open method of installing electrical wiring is most often used when laying the wire over the baseboard, at the junction of walls with ceiling tiles, as well as in the corners of rooms. The conductor used must be perfectly straight.

If open wiring is laid in an apartment with suspended ceilings, then the cable should be attached to the walls. If there are a large number of wires, it is worth using throughput channels.

Just lead the electrical wire through suspended ceiling under no circumstances. The installation of connection and branch boxes must be done in such a way that access to them is not difficult.

An example of installing a socket with open wiring in the video:

Advantages and disadvantages of external wiring

Like any other method of laying communications, installing open electrical wiring has its pros and cons. Benefits include:

• Easy to install.
• Minimal damage to the integrity of the walls (ceiling).
• No need for additional equipment.

It has open wiring and its disadvantages. They are:

• Unattractive appearance.
• The need for accounting technical standards premises.
• The need for strict compliance with fire and electrical safety standards during installation.

Of course, external wiring in an apartment does not always look unpresentable. For example, a vintage line in retro style can be a great addition to the interior and give the house an old-world charm. But, firstly, the elements for such wiring are expensive, and secondly, it is worth installing it only if the design of the room is in the appropriate style.

An example of finished open electrical wiring laid in cable ducts in the video:

Installation of wiring in rigid pipes

IN Lately Many people are discovering installing external wiring using rigid plastic pipes. In this case, the cables are placed inside the pipelines, which are then fixed to the walls on special supports. To facilitate such installation, a large number of auxiliary devices have been developed (tees, cable sleeves, T-junctions).

The main advantage of this installation is high degree protection electrical conductors from exposure to water, as well as from mechanical damage.

In this regard, this installation method is most often used in cellars, garages and basements. But this does not mean that external electrical wiring cannot be laid in this way on summer cottage, in a city apartment or country house, since externally the insulating pipes look quite attractive.

Features of installing open electrical wiring in IRL pipes

When laying an electrical line in insulating pipes There are some important points to remember:

• Pipelines must be attached to the walls so that the distance between them is at least 80 cm, while electrical appliance or element to the nearest latch must be at least 10 cm.
• Cables can only be connected to each other at the terminals of electrical components or inside special junction boxes.

Connecting conductors in pipes is unacceptable.

• The bending radius of pipelines must be at least 6 times greater than their diameter.

For this type of installation, special fixing devices are provided. A list of them can be found both on the Internet and in specialized literature.

If for some reason you cannot buy special fasteners, you can use regular construction paper tape to install insulating pipes. To do this, you need to cut a piece of the required length from the skein and secure it to the surface. The end fastenings should be made at an angle and slightly away from you so that the tape does not sag. The pipe is then secured with ties along its entire length. Sometimes, if it is impossible to get special fasteners, fastening with punched paper tape can be a completely successful solution.

An example of installing a pipeline for electrical wiring in the video:

Necessary tools for installing wiring in pipes

This installation method does not require large quantity tools. To work you will need:

• Marking cord.
• Hammer (for working with concrete walls). This device will also require a drill of the required diameter.
• Plumb.
• Roulette.
• Hammer.
• Building level.
• Hacksaw for metal.

To connect in difficult areas, you will need two couplings, as well as a corrugation. The pipelines are installed in such a way that moisture does not accumulate inside them. Therefore you need to pay Special attention on the quality of the rubber seal, which is installed at the junction of the pipe and the electrical element.

It is advisable to use reinforced seals that match the diameter of the insulating pipe. When installing, the cuff should penetrate a small part of the electrical installation product.

If there is no sealing collar, it is recommended to insert the wire from below.

Advantages and disadvantages of the method

The advantages of installation electrical wiring in insulating pipes include:

• Easy to install.
• Additional protection of conductors from mechanical damage and moisture.
• Attractive appearance.

The disadvantages of this method are the following:

• It is necessary to accurately select the pipe size.
• Quite a few additional accessories are required.

In general, installing open wiring in pipes is a completely working method, which allows you to reliably protect cables from damage and give the line elegance.

Conclusion

In this material we talked about what open wiring is, what its features are and how it is installed. different ways. This information will help you decide on the type of wiring and, if necessary, install the power line yourself.

There are 3 types of electrical wiring installation, regardless of the cable laying conditions: open, closed and combined. Most in a simple way During installation the wiring is exposed. It is convenient in that it allows you to easily change and add cables to common nodes; any section of it is easily accessible for repairs and connecting new pantographs. In this case, there is no need to hammer into the walls in case of cable damage and the cause is eliminated, as with closed wiring. Typically, open cable routing is used in office premises, where it is often necessary to lay new cables and wires. The disadvantage of this method is its low aesthetics, and therefore open wiring in residential premises is very rarely carried out. However, in the individual residential sector, in the country house and in utility rooms, it is used quite often, especially since there are modern methods aesthetic solutions. Stores sell baseboards with cable channels, or you can purchase special PVC cable channels for any cable cross-section.

Laying electrical wires in protective channels is carried out in two ways:

1. Gasket with special fittings. At this method When installing open electrical wiring, special fittings are used, designed for the installation of electrical installation devices (switches and sockets), or a gasket with special fittings (insulation box system). Corners, bends, and separation of wires in the shape of the letter “T” are performed using fittings that allow you to correct errors and uneven walls. In this way it is easier to lay electrical wires and ensure reliable protection from mechanical damage.
2. Gasket without special fittings. In this case, changing the direction of the wire (angles) is done by cutting the boxes at an angle of 45 °. It must be remembered that the cuts are made carefully, with great care, without leaving any gap between the connections. This should provide electrical wires reliable protection. Installation without special fittings is possible only with minor updating of the electrical wiring.

This method of updating electrical wiring is suitable for quick implementation, does not cause significant damage, and is reliable. But the electrical wiring remains visible.

Open wiring flat wires of the APR, APPV, APRV types on combustible bases are carried out over a layer of sheet asbestos with a thickness of at least 3 mm, protruding from each side of the wire by at least 5 mm.

Asbestos gaskets are secured before the installation of wires with nails every 200 - 250 mm in a checkerboard pattern. When laying several groups of wires, the strip can be common, taking into account the distance between the wires of each group of at least 5 mm. To fasten the wires, strips of tin 10 mm wide and 0.3 - 0.5 mm thick are used, attached over a layer of asbestos. Between the metal strip and the wire, a gasket is placed from electrical insulating cardboard, protruding beyond the edges of the strip by 1.5-2 mm. When fastening the wire, the metal strip with the gasket should tightly grip the surface of the pre-tensioned wire. Bending flat wires in corners is performed by first cutting out the separating film between the wires at a length of 40-60 mm and taking them inside the corner (see figure).

Today, plastic products are sold for sale, designed for fastening flat wires of various cross-sections. They can replace tin strips. The convenience of using plastic clamps is that they can be secured with BMK-5K glue and nails.

In addition, the ends of the wires inserted into branch boxes or into boxes of installation devices are cut off with a margin of approximately 65-75 mm, which makes it possible to reconnect the cores and conveniently replace the socket or switch. The wires are inserted into the box so that the section of the dividing base cut into them does not come out of the box. The wire strands are connected in boxes; the exposed ends of the strands must be insulated with adhesive tape. The insulated ends of the wires are placed in boxes so that they do not touch each other. The ends of the wires at the entrance to the box are fixed on the wall at a distance of 50mm from the box.

Closed wiring- is considered the safest and is often used in residential areas. Its main drawback is the difficulty of accessing the wires. The cables are installed in hollowed-out grooves directly in the walls, and after laying the wires, these places are tightly cemented. Flat wires in walls, grooves or beards are fixed using the “freezing” method with alabaster. They can also be secured with special plastic clamps. Fastening wires with nails is strictly prohibited! Hidden wiring is the most common and safe to use, since it is located in the thickness of fireproof material (there are no mechanical impacts, air access to it is difficult). When laying under plaster on wooden wall A 3mm layer of asbestos is placed under the wires. Crossing flat wires with each other should be avoided. If crossing is necessary, the insulation of the wires in this place is reinforced with three to four layers of electrical tape. Hidden wires are brought to the surface of the ceiling walls (for connection to lamps) through insulating tubes or plastic tubes. When wiring is hidden, it is allowed to make branches of flat wires in the input boxes of switches, sockets or lamps.

If electrical wiring is carried out under a layer of drywall, then punch grooves in plasterboard not necessary. Since the gypsum board is mounted on the wall on a special profile, there is a void between the sheet itself and the base. In this case, it will be enough to drill several holes (30 to 40 mm in diameter) in the drywall along the route of the electrical wiring. Wire loops are pushed through the holes, with the help of which they are pulled from reverse side wires. When repairing wiring, a faulty wire is often used as a conductor.

Combined wiring wires presupposes the application of the same rules and fastening of the complete set of devices for the construction of electrical wiring. This installation method is used in rare cases and is more complex in terms of implementation.

When updating electrical wiring, professionals usually use this method. Its essence is as follows: a combination of laying electrical wires in insulating boxes and in walls in a hidden way. Parts of exposed wiring that are unsightly, e.g. for power supply lighting fixture, performed in a hidden way. In this case, insulating boxes are placed above the baseboards, around the door frames, and on top - along the junction lines of the ceiling and walls. All other wire branches are hidden.

After electrical installation work the final appearance of the room is quite presentable. Upon completion of painting, the insulation boxes are almost invisible against the background of the wall. This method of electrical wiring meets the standards in force for the installation of wires in walls and partitions, because gating is partially used.

Hidden wiring is:
- insulated wires laid in the voids of panel ceilings or in the wall, by means of gating.
Afterwards the wiring is plastered. What can you add about hidden wiring? The hidden leash is stationary, that is, its location is planned in advance with the connection of the consumer's electrician.

The wiring is calculated based on power consumption and its ability to withstand long-term permissible current.
Switches and sockets are installed in the wall in metal or plastic cups. The cups are installed followed by cementation into prepared holes made by drilling with a special bit.
Advantages of hidden wiring:
1. Wall surfaces are not cluttered with electrical wiring.
2. Switches and sockets protrude minimally from the surface of the walls.
3. Does not interfere with wallpapering, etc.
Disadvantages of hidden wiring:
1. The condition of the electrical wiring is not visible. Any electrical wiring has the ability to age. The insulation dries out, becomes rough and brittle due to the heating of the wires, which leads to its destruction.
Poor insulation results in a short circuit.
2. If you did the wiring in the house yourself, then you know its location in the walls. Let’s say several years have passed and you need to make holes in the wall to hang something. Without a device to detect wiring in the wall, doubt will arise whether or not I will hit the wiring.

There are many cases that you can tell about yourself. I decided to make a hole in the wall, but as luck would have it, the drill got into the wiring. Anyone who has experienced a short circuit has at least felt a heart in his right heel!

And to eliminate the consequences of a short circuit in the wall, under the plaster, you will have to chisel the walls, twist them, or even change the entire wire to the junction box.

3. I changed the layout of the house, rearranged the furniture, bought an electric stove, but the stove did not fit in the place where there was an outlet nearby.

How to get out of the situation, throw an extension cord or cut it again and lay new wiring.

What will happen in 5-10 years after such redevelopments with walls. All the walls will be covered in wires, some live, some de-energized.

Now guess, before you drill a hole in the wall, will you hit the wire or not...
4. During the operation of electrical wiring, switches and sockets have to be removed more than once. Produce Maintenance switches and sockets, stretch contacts.
It happens that the wires break and become short. You'll have to dig into the walls and build up the wires.
5. Hidden wiring is considered one of the most expensive, since the work is dusty, dirty and labor-intensive.

Hello, dear readers and guests of the Electrician's Notes website.

In the last article we learned about what electrical wiring exists, as well as their advantages and disadvantages. Today I will tell you about the features of installing open electrical wiring.

Open electrical wiring is laid along walls, ceilings and other building structures openly, not inside them. IN given time It is used extremely rarely, but it is one of the simplest laying methods.

Before you begin installing exposed electrical wiring with your own hands, read my following articles:

Advantages of open wiring:

• quick access to monitoring the condition of electrical wiring and its repair
• used in fire hazardous areas (or)

Disadvantages of open wiring:

• located in a prominent place
• does not match the decoration of the room and design

Several methods are used for attaching cables and wires to surfaces:

• on porcelain rollers or insulators (this was usually how electrical wiring was done in old apartments and houses)
• on staples
• in a corrugated pipe (metal hose and plastic corrugation)
• in plastic boxes (cable channel)
• on cable trays
• European skirting boards

Let's look at each fastening method in more detail.

Installation of exposed electrical wiring on porcelain rollers or insulators

At the beginning of the last century, this method of laying electrical wiring was used in old apartments and houses. Open electrical wiring was laid on porcelain (ceramic) rollers or insulators with twisted wire.

Currently, this laying method is again gaining popularity, especially for lovers of retro style design. This retro installation will give your apartment or house an individual, special style.

I also want to say about the disadvantages of this method.

Firstly, these are the costs of purchasing twisted copper wire and it is desirable that it be double insulated. For example, for these purposes a wire will do PVOP or GPVOp of the corresponding sections. True, its price is several times higher than that of the familiar VVGng.

Secondly, you will also have to spend money on purchasing expensive special accessories for retro style: ceramic rollers, sockets, switches, distribution boxes and so on.

Installation of exposed electrical wiring on brackets

Using this method, wires and cables are fastened with special plastic staples to the surface of the wall or ceiling. Most often, cables with double insulation of the VVGng brand (single-core copper, flame retardant) and triple insulation of the NYM brand are used.

If you use electrical wiring (universal flat wire) for installation, then you need to lay a metal or asbestos gasket between the surface and the wire. Moreover, the gasket should protrude 1 cm on each side of the wire.

Installing open electrical wiring on brackets is one of the cheapest installation methods, but it has one significant drawback- this is unaesthetic, especially when laying several cables in parallel.

The method of laying cables and wires in a corrugated pipe (corrugation) is the most common. One or more cables (wires) are pulled into the corrugation and secured to the surface using plastic clips or metal brackets.

Corrugated pipes are non-flammable materials (do not support combustion), and they also provide additional mechanical protection.

Let me give you an example of a gasket. The PVC corrugation is attached to the ceiling using plastic clips.

And here is an example of fastening corrugations using metal brackets.

From an aesthetic point of view, a corrugated pipe looks much better than a separate cable or wire on brackets. And also the corrugation fits perfectly on uneven surfaces.

Installation of open electrical wiring in cable ducts and plastic skirting boards

Plastic boxes (cable - channels) that do not support combustion are pre-attached to the surfaces of walls and ceilings. After attaching them, wires and cables are laid in them and closed with a lid. Installation of cable channels requires special skills and experience, because... The difficulty lies in installing them on uneven surfaces.

The advantage of cable channels is the quick and easy replacement of electrical wiring, as well as aesthetics, fittings and colors that allow you to match them to the color of the design and interior.

An analogue of cable channels are plastic European skirting boards. They are attached to the wall surface using clips or dowel nails.

P.S. Concluding the article about open wiring, I would like to note that in electrical installation conditions sometimes it is necessary to combine some of the listed methods of laying electrical wiring along different things reasons.