When performing repair and construction work, a correctly executed electrical wiring diagram in a wooden house is of great importance. This is primarily due to ensuring electrical and fire safety of such buildings during further operation. Wood is a flammable material, so there are a number of restrictions and technical conditions for laying wires and cables, installing electrical appliances and equipment. Exact fulfillment of all requirements will avoid fire and other negative consequences.
Electrical wiring diagram in a wooden house
The electrical wiring diagram, including for a wooden house, is drawn up even before the installation work begins. A typical project consists of a diagram of the planned wiring and the estimated amount of materials required. There are recommendations from experts that must be followed. For example, all switches, sockets, junction boxes, meters and other points of the electrical circuit must be located in places accessible for their maintenance and repair.
When deciding how to make electrical wiring in a wooden house with your own hands, you need to pay attention to the location of the switches. Their placement is carried out in such a way that they are not covered by cabinets, sliding doors and other objects. The minimum height from the floor level is 1 meter, however, modern standards allow installation at any height in terms of aesthetics and ease of use.
The placement of sockets on the diagram is planned in such a way that when all electrical appliances are turned on, no additional extension cords are required. Therefore, you need to think about the placement of household appliances and electrical equipment in advance. ranges from 25 to 40 cm, and on an area of 6 m2 there should be at least one of them. In the kitchen, the minimum number of sockets is 3 pcs. The distance of each of them from metal structures must be at least 50 cm.
When laying electrical wiring, all lines must be positioned strictly vertically or horizontally. The main line is located 15 cm below the ceiling and at a distance of 5 to 10 cm from the beams and cornices. Branches for sockets and switches are laid no closer than 15 cm from door and window openings. If the cable is routed from the bottom, its distance from the floor is at least 15 cm. Distribution boxes are used to connect the wires. In addition, it is necessary to provide a grounding connection and an RCD.
After drawing up the project, it is very easy to calculate the required amount of materials and equipment that will be installed in the premises.
Schemes for installing electrical wiring in a wooden house
The installation diagram is slightly different from the electrical wiring diagram. The installation locations of all devices and lines have already been determined; it remains to indicate the sequence of electrical installation work, that is, the order in which certain devices and equipment are connected.
Before starting work, you need to determine the power consumed by all electrical appliances turned on at the same time. If the obtained value is less than 15 kW, a 25 A input circuit breaker is installed. If this figure is exceeded, the installation of a transformer will additionally be required.
Next, the electric meter and input machines are installed. When installing these devices outdoors, a sealed housing is used, protected from the penetration of dirt, dust and moisture. To make it more convenient to take readings, the cabinet is equipped with a viewing window.
The counter is installed after the introductory machine. Then an RCD is installed that provides emergency shutdown of the current in the event of a short circuit. Next, the cable is connected to the electrical panel located inside the house. The rating of a machine located in the house is one step lower than that installed outside. In case of any violations, it will work first, eliminating the need to go outside to the input device.
In the home panel there are single-pole circuit breakers, from which wires spread throughout all rooms. The number of such machines corresponds to the number of consumer groups. For the possible connection of new consumers, 2-3 free machines are installed.
Consumption groups in wooden houses can have different purposes. For example, power is supplied to sockets through one machine, and to lighting fixtures through another. Powerful equipment - electric stoves, boilers, washing machines - is supplied with power from personal automatic machines. Separate groups include street lighting and power supply to outbuildings.
Separate power lines are the best way to ensure safe operation of your home network. Due to this, the number of potentially dangerous joints, where oxidation and heating of contacts most often occurs, is reduced. For ease of installation, each line in the diagram is marked with its own color indicating the order of laying.
The next stage will be the installation of wires and cables in the premises. In wooden houses, laying cable lines can be done in the following ways:
- External (open) wiring. It is laid using insulators. Currently, this method is again becoming popular with.
- . In fact, this is the same open wiring, only laid in special trays.
- Internal (hidden) wiring. Its installation is possible when it is planned to cover the surfaces of the ceiling and walls. For laying, metal corrugated hoses or metal pipes are used. The bend angles are 90, 120 or 135 degrees, which makes it possible to replace a damaged section of the cable without disturbing the finish. Metal boxes with free access to them are used for wire connections.
Next, in accordance with the diagram, the installation of sockets or switches is carried out. For wooden houses, there are special models with a metal mounting plate on which the external panel is installed. Plates made of non-flammable plastic certified by fire authorities can be used. For safety reasons, all outlets must have a ground wire.
Requirements for electrical wiring in a wooden house
Due to the high fire danger of wooden houses, compliance with the rules and requirements for the installation of electrical wiring is of particular relevance.
Compliance with safety requirements begins already when connecting a wooden house to a power line. This event must be carried out by the organization responsible for the supply of electricity. After completing all the necessary documentation, the meter is installed and a direct connection to the power supply is made. For these purposes, a flexible insulated wire is used, the integrity of the insulation is first checked.
As a rule, the meter is installed outside, and the distribution panel is installed inside the building. The cable connecting both points runs through a steel pipe through a hole punched in the wall. The entry height must be at least 2.75 m from the ground surface. Insulators and wires pass from the protruding part of the roof at a distance of at least 20 cm. The inlet pipe is protected from moisture penetration.
The beginning of the internal wiring in a wooden house is the distribution board. Dry places are selected for its installation. This type of equipment cannot be located in a bathroom, shower or toilet. The shield must have a fireproof base and be locked with a key. There should be no heating devices or equipment, gas, water supply or sewerage systems at a distance of 50 cm from it.
The already discussed methods of laying cables and wires in wooden houses are also subject to requirements for ensuring electrical and fire safety.
Hidden wiring can be done in several ways:
- An ordinary wire sheathed in flammable materials is laid on a fireproof lining, after which a layer of plaster 1 cm or more thick is applied to it.
- An ordinary wire with a sheath made of fire-resistant materials can simply be laid on a fireproof lining along its entire length without subsequent plastering.
- When using a wire in a metal corrugation, it can be laid on the structural elements of the building.
- In the case of using steel boxes fixed directly to structures, wires that do not have additional protection can be laid in them.
- When using fire-resistant plastic boxes, it is allowed to lay any wires in them, provided that a lining made of fireproof materials is installed under them. Subsequently, the box itself is covered with plaster, a layer thickness of 1 cm or more.
An indispensable condition for the use of metal boxes and corrugated hoses is their additional grounding throughout the entire area of laying cables and wires. The dimensions of the lining made of non-combustible materials are selected so that it protrudes beyond the dimensions of the box or corrugation by at least 1 cm.
Wiring in an open manner is in most cases performed using rollers. This method is simpler from a technical point of view and does not require as many materials as with hidden wiring. The only drawback is the appearance of such lines, which is successfully hidden thanks to original design solutions. For safety reasons, a lining made of non-combustible materials is laid along the entire length of the wires.
For open wiring, a shell made of non-combustible materials is used, which is laid directly on the structural elements. If pipes or fireproof boxes are used, then the presence of an additional sheath of wires is not necessary. There are separate technical requirements for external wiring of a wooden house laid directly on the street. First of all, this concerns the minimum distance from the ground to the line, which is 2.75 meters. The gap between the wire and the wall of the building must be at least 0.5 meters, and the distance from balconies and windows - 1.5 meters and above.
The main attention is paid to entering the building and protecting it from the ingress and accumulation of moisture. For this purpose, special seals are used to ensure reliable sealing.
Before wiring, it is necessary to determine the location of all consumers and determine the total power of household appliances and equipment. Compliance with all technical standards and requirements will ensure reliable and long-term operation of the home electrical network. At the same time, electrical and fire safety issues, especially relevant for wooden houses, will be resolved.
Drawing up a power supply project
In modern wooden country houses, a large number of household appliances and equipment with high energy consumption are installed. Most often these are electric boiler systems that provide hot water and space heating. Water supply, air conditioning and ventilation systems are also equipped with powerful pumps and other similar elements. In addition, every home has a variety of electronic household appliances that make household work easier and increase comfort for those living in the house.
Many owners of wooden houses install backup power sources in case of an emergency power outage. All these factors must be taken into account when designing future electrical installation work. Electrical wiring in wooden houses must be designed especially carefully. Poor quality wires and cables running along wooden walls very often lead to fires. Therefore, the design and subsequent installation must be carried out by qualified electrical engineers who have the necessary knowledge and practical skills to perform such work.
An electrical project has specific requirements. First of all, they affect the reliability of cable input, automatic protection against short circuits and voltage surges, contour protective grounding, etc. When drawing up a project, you need to correctly calculate the power consumption and evenly distribute all loads. In wooden houses, it is mandatory to install an RCD to cut off power consumption in emergency situations in the network.
When developing a project, not only the method of laying electrical wiring is determined, but also cabling and wiring products with the appropriate parameters. All materials used for design must be certified.
Electrician in a wooden house
Electricity has long become one of the most common benefits of civilization, and today it is difficult to imagine any home without it. Electrical installation in a wooden house made of timber is one of the mandatory types of work, but it is better to entrust the installation of wiring and connecting electrical appliances to professionals.
Working with electricity requires special knowledge, and if you don’t have it, unprofessional installation can be life-threatening. It is important to strictly adhere to fire safety rules when laying a network in the house.
Basic rules for laying electrical wiring
Installation of electrical wiring in a house made of timber begins with the development of a detailed project:
- it is necessary to decide on the method of introducing the cable into the house,
- connecting it to the distribution panel,
- as well as with the option of laying electrical wires around the house.
Wiring can be external or internal, both cases have their own nuances.
Important! Hidden wiring in a wooden house can only be laid in metal tubes that protect the house from fire. The same metal tubes should be used where the electrical cable enters the house from the street. According to fire safety rules, hidden installation in plastic corrugated pipes is unacceptable.
External wiring is laid using plastic cable ducts. Because they are visible, there is less risk of undetected damage. Electrical installation in a log house is carried out taking into account several important principles:
- It is necessary to calculate the load on the electrical network in advance. Decide what electrical appliances will be installed in the house and where they will be located. The number of RCDs depends on the number of powerful consumers: it is advisable to provide each large device with a separate protective device.
- It is necessary to think about the location of sockets and switches, and it is important that one section of the network does not bear too much load. This creates a risk of overheating, which will cause the machine to trip.
- Only copper cable is laid inside the house; it is recommended to choose wires with non-flammable insulation, which does not emit toxic substances when heated. Selecting suitable cable products today is not difficult, and it will reduce the risk of fire.
It is better to discuss the electrical installation project for a log house with a specialist. It is important to provide a reserve: over time, the number of electricity consumers may increase, and this will lead to an ever-increasing load on the network.
The sequence of laying electricity in a private house
Electrical installation of houses made of timber is a multi-stage process, during which the slightest negligence should not be allowed. The owner of the house will have to solve the following problems:
Wiring installation work can take a long time if third-party specialists are not involved. For hidden wiring you will have to ditch the walls, this is a long, hard job. Due to its labor-intensive nature, many homeowners prefer the open option, sacrificing aesthetics for ease of use and installation.
A pre-drawn diagram will significantly speed up and simplify the work of the master. You need to think about the placement of household appliances: heaters and hot water devices consume the most electricity, in addition, you will need to resolve the issue of the type, installation and location of lamps.
It is not advisable to install electrical wiring yourself in any case: a professional can give useful advice on the location of sockets and other electrical equipment, in addition, most companies issue a guarantee for the work of a specialist. This will ensure the reliability of the installation and the protection of the house from fire.
It must be remembered that it is advisable to regularly monitor the integrity of the wiring, and if any malfunctions occur, it is necessary to eliminate the identified defects as soon as possible before they cause a disaster.
Often, a home handyman is faced with the question of replacing or installing electrical wiring in a private home from scratch. And many in this case turn to professionals, spending money on their labor. But, although this is indeed quite difficult work, you should not underestimate your strength. Today we will figure out how complex electrical wiring is in a wooden house. The step-by-step instructions that will be presented below will help you make sure that “it is not the gods who burn the pots.” Well, first things first. First, you should understand the general rules, and only then take a deeper look at all the installation features.
Read in the article:
Features of installation, automation and modern protection capabilities
Installing electrical wiring in wooden houses is slightly different from performing similar work in concrete and brick buildings. The whole point is the fire danger of such structures, and therefore some rules must be followed. In our high-tech age, there are many automatic protection systems, but still, the old methods will not hurt. Of course, gaskets made of asbestos fabric and other non-flammable materials between the cable and a wooden wall are a thing of the past, but something similar when installing electric power. Wiring is still present in wooden houses.
For example, we can cite plastic boxes, which look quite aesthetically pleasing. But many people mistakenly believe that their function is purely decorative. In fact, such boxes prevent the spread of flame when the cable overheats due to a short circuit or overload on the line. But we will consider this topic later, but first, the main rule.
“When performing work such as wiring electricity in a wooden house, extreme care and compliance with safety rules are required. Remember that electric shock is very dangerous, and inattention to detail can lead to fire. There is no point in risking your life and the health of your loved ones.”
Well, in order to protect beginner home craftsmen, we will try not to miss a single detail, going through each step, each action of such work step by step.
Electrical wiring in a log house - features and methods
Wiring in a timber house can be done in two ways:
- open (external) way;
- hidden method.
It is necessary to understand that these methods differ not only in the visibility of the cables. They also affect the cross section (with a hidden section it should be larger).
Related article:
In our review we will look at the material of manufacture and their areas of application. And most importantly, what is it really needed for? Let's try to understand this issue as thoroughly as possible.
Let's try to understand what rules exist for installing wiring in log houses. What needs to be provided to avoid force majeure?
Wiring in a wooden house: electrical safety rules during work
As already mentioned, wood is a flammable material, and therefore special methods for installing electrical wiring are required here. After all, the safety of household members depends on this. Nowadays, the rules for installing electrical wiring in wooden houses provide for laying the cable in corrugated hoses made of plastic or metal, as well as plastic cable channels that prevent fire. In addition, wires with non-flammable insulation are also available for sale, the use of which is a priority in such work.
As for the documentation regulating the rules of electrical wiring in wooden houses, the PUE will help. It's probably worth deciphering here. PUE is the rules for the design of electrical installations. In fact, it is the main document in the work of any electrician. That's why it doesn't hurt to study it. It describes the basic standards for the construction of input panels, and also explains how to properly install wiring in a wooden house.
Where to start such work?
The importance of drawing up a wiring diagram in a wooden house with your own hands
The main difficulty for a novice electrician is drawing up an electrical diagram of all rooms. But at the same time, this is a very important stage. And if when installing open wiring, the circuit will only help in the work, then when installing hidden wiring, it can help out in the future. After all, without it, even hanging a picture will be difficult - there is a danger of cable breakdown.
Drawing up a diagram should begin with the layout of all rooms. This is done so that they do not end up behind large-sized furniture - because in this case there will be no sense from them. In addition, it is worth understanding that if lighting groups can be assembled from two or three rooms, then the outlet (power) lines need to be separated. In addition, for example, not one power group, but 2-3, can go to the kitchen. After all, each of the household appliances with high power (water heater or electric stove) must have a separate line.
At first it may seem that such a separation is unnecessary and you can take a cable with a large cross-section and run everything along one line, but this would be a huge mistake.
Important information! Division into groups makes it possible to use household appliances even if one of the lines burns out. In addition, if you need to repair the outlet, you will not have to turn off the lights or de-energize other devices. And the maintenance and inspection of electrical points, as well as the power input panel, is simplified.
An electrical circuit in wooden houses can be made with your own hands on any sheet of paper. It is not intended to be submitted to inspection organizations, although the inspector may find it useful before commissioning a home network. But, again, for informational purposes only. In this case, the input panel diagram will be drawn up later, after the installation inside the room has been completed. But the installation location of the power cabinet must be selected in advance. As for such a moment as the installation of electrical wiring in a wooden house, it must be thought out to the smallest detail, down to the most seemingly insignificant details.
Methods for laying wiring in wooden houses - what difficulties may arise
In order to lay a cable in a wooden house, you need to decide on the installation method. As already mentioned, there are two ways. So, provided that you plan to sheathe the walls from the inside, as well as plaster, the most convenient option would be to install hidden wiring. If the wiring in a wooden house is being laid after repairs and finishing, or if wall cladding is not planned at all, then it will be more convenient to have the cables located externally or openly. Now we will take a more specific look at each of these methods, and also try to understand what the advantages and disadvantages of each of them are.
The nuances of installing hidden wiring in a wooden house
Cables with non-flammable insulation are optimal for such work. But, in any case, they must be pulled into a corrugated sleeve made of metal or plastic. You will also need:
- wood crown;
- drill;
- fastening brackets (clips) according to the size of the corrugation;
- self-tapping screws
The main task, according to the diagram, is to drill in the walls using a drill with a crown, holes of the required diameter for distribution boxes, sockets and switches.
Important! A distribution box should be located above each switch. If necessary, holes are drilled above the sockets. You should also pay special attention to compliance with the diagram and the number of cable groups.
Hidden wiring in the house runs at a distance of 15-20 cm from the ceiling. As for the location of the electrical points, their height is at the discretion of the master. The wire, laid in a corrugation, is attached using plastic clips and screws to the wall in the recesses between the logs. Thus, hidden wiring in a log house will not interfere with subsequent finishing of the premises.
In each place where a distribution box, switch or socket will be installed, tails of about 10-15 cm are left for subsequent wiring and connection. It should be remembered that the internal wiring of a wooden house involves the use of cables with a larger cross-section than the external one, due to the lack of natural cooling.
Installation of open wiring in a wooden house - pros and cons
External electrical wiring in wooden houses is much easier to install. In this case, drilling for boxes and switches is not required. Having drawn the future routes in accordance with the diagram, it is necessary to secure the distribution boxes in the right places, and then fix the cable channel between them, into which the wires will later be laid. Also, switches with sockets do not require drilling.
The disadvantage of this method is that all the wires (or rather the cable channels in which they pass) are visible on the walls, which does not suit everyone. Well, the advantages of external wiring in wooden houses include simpler installation, as well as the use of cables of a smaller cross-section. In addition, in the event of a breakdown of wire insulation or another similar incident, repairs are much simpler. After all, external wiring in a wooden house allows its production without compromising the finish. To do this, you just need to open the cable channel and replace the damaged piece of wire from one junction box to another.
Installation of retro wiring in wooden houses - features of work
Nowadays, the retro style has become quite popular in all directions. This trend did not bypass electrical appliances, as well as wiring. And this style consists of the following. Along the drawn route, at regular intervals, mushroom-shaped ceramic insulators are attached to the wall, onto which a two-core cable twisted into a bundle is fixed. Otherwise, the installation of antique electrical wiring in wooden houses is no different from the open method.
When this method is used, the cable does not come into contact with the wooden surface, and therefore no additional fire protection is used. In order to most fully understand how such installation of retro wiring in a wooden house is carried out, we bring to your attention a small photo review of such work performed by home craftsmen.
When using this method, it makes sense to purchase lamps that have a more ancient shape. They are popularly called “Edison lamps”. The positive qualities of retro wiring in wooden houses include the extraordinary ambience that it creates. And even if it is not done professionally, the interior will liven up in any case.
Electrical wiring in a wooden house: step-by-step photo instructions for the work algorithm
Let's try to figure out in general terms how to proceed when installing electrical wiring in a wooden house.
| Photo example | Actions Performed |
|---|---|
 | First you should stock up on the tools and material shown in the photo. |
 | You also need a crown like this if you choose the method of hidden, internal wiring |
 | Approximately such a scheme should be drawn up in advance. This is exactly what we will be working on. |
 | You need to understand that several groups should come to the entrance panel, and because something like this diagram should already be in your head |
   | Wherever possible, we hide the wires under the floor, ceiling or behind wall cladding |
 | If this is not possible, then we use cable ducts and external distribution boxes |
 | If a non-flammable wire is used, it can be pulled without additional protection, but it’s better to be on the safe side. |
 | Now you need to drill holes for sockets and switches using a crown. |
 | We remove everything that remains inside using a chisel and hammer. |
  | You should especially be wary of damage to the core insulation during installation - this can lead to a short circuit when testing the power supply system of a wooden house |
 | This is what it should look like after the previous steps |
 | After this, we install plastic “cups” where sockets will be installed after the repair. |
 | If external wiring is selected, the end result should look something like this |
When installing wiring yourself in wooden houses, you need to monitor the quality of the connections. It is loose contacts that most often cause cables to heat up and catch fire. That is why, in order not to use a soldering iron when making tighter connections on twists, it is recommended to use special ones. Now let's look at connecting the junction box using similar devices.
| Photo example | Actions Performed |
|---|---|
 | The Vago connectors themselves look like this: |
 | They can be divided into self-clamping - disposable (applicable only to single-core wire) ... |
 | ...and reusable with a special retainer. Such terminal blocks can clamp both single-core and stranded flexible wires |
 | The clamping happens like this |
 | It is more convenient if the wires stick out longer from the junction box. This will allow you to install it without problems, and will also allow you to more conveniently service it in the future. |
 | And this is the end result. Doesn't it look quite aesthetically pleasing? |
Important advice! Don't underestimate the importance of cable color coding. The fact is that the colors greatly simplify installation.
You just need to remember:
- grounding – always yellow, green or yellow-green wire;
- blue or white-blue – always zero;
- all other colors refer to phase wires.
If you follow this simple rule, installation will be very simple, and you will never get tangled in cables at the stage of connecting the incoming electrical panel. And distribution boxes will not cause any difficulties or problems.
Having figured out the question of how to conduct wiring in a wooden house, however, you should not immediately run to the store for cables. There is another important issue that needs to be addressed. Again, a pre-drawn diagram will help with this.
The following steps must be taken. Having decided which devices will be connected to a particular line, you need to write down the total power of consumed devices for each group directly on the diagram. These steps will help you calculate the required cross-section of cables before wiring in a wooden house.
Which wire to use for wiring in the house - material of manufacture and cross-section
Many home craftsmen, having no experience in electrical installation, try to lay a cable with the largest possible cross-section, so as not to make a mistake. But such an approach is fundamentally wrong. And now we’ll figure out what the optimal cross-section of the wire is and what material for its manufacture is more acceptable.
Some may say that it is better to use aluminum cables for wiring in wooden houses. They are cheaper and quite easy to install. This may be true, but still, if you dig deeper, the savings are not entirely correct. The fact is that at a cost twice as high, copper cables have two undeniable advantages:
- The service life of copper is 50-60 years, while aluminum can hardly withstand 20. In addition, nowadays there are practically no natural aluminum cables, mostly an alloy, which lasts even less.
- Copper has less resistance, which means the cross-section of the aluminum wire will be larger for the same power consumed by the devices.
From this we can conclude that, taking into account the repeated replacement of wires after 20 years, no savings are achieved, but here we can only indicate the characteristics. It's up to everyone to decide personally.
For example, you can take a power consumption of 4 kW. To power such a device, an aluminum cable with a cross-section of 2.5 mm 2 is required. While copper is only 1.5 mm 2. From this we can already draw some conclusions. Below we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the table of wire cross-sections based on power and current load.
We hope that this data will help everyone decide what kind of wire they need for wiring in the house. Well, to make it easier to calculate the required cable cross-section, you can use a program that will calculate everything for you.
Calculator for calculating cable cross-section by power
What is attractive about the idea of building a wooden house? This is the ecological purity of materials that can provide a comfortable and healthy microclimate in the premises of the home and, of course, the desire of homeowners to follow the traditions of Russian architecture. The modern building materials market allows you to build a house made of profiled and laminated timber, as well as rounded logs. In contrast to all the advantages inherent in houses made of wood, a problem arises with the arrangement of electrical wiring. The option of open wiring laid in cable channels does not always meet the requirements of an attractive interior design; the homeowner is faced with the question of how to make hidden electrical wiring in a wooden house with his own hands. We will talk about this further.
Advantages of hidden wiring
The undeniable advantages of installing hidden wiring in a wooden house are:
- The absence of cable channels on the walls, which adversely affect the appearance of the room and significantly complicate the process of applying wallpaper.
- Minimizing the risk of mechanical damage to cables and electrical wiring.
- Possibility of replacing the cable laid in the pipe.
- High degree of electrical fire safety, provided that installation work is carried out correctly in accordance with the requirements of regulatory documents.
Special safety requirements
Hidden installation of electrical wiring in a wooden house is very complex and requires strict compliance with fire safety standards, requirements and compliance with GOST R 50571.1-2009. A person who does not have electrical installation experience should not try to do this work with their own hands. The homeowner who has invited specialists to arrange the installation needs to know the basic provisions about installation methods in order to control the progress of the work and in no case take this material as step-by-step instructions.
When designing a home's electrical network, the main emphasis is on ensuring fire safety, even if this goes against the aesthetic component. The finished project must be agreed upon with specialists. The hidden wiring diagram should provide for a minimum of turns of the electric main. Considering the high probability of fire in wooden structures, the wiring must be laid in such a way that even a tiny section of the power line does not come into contact with wood. The cable must be laid in steel or copper pipes. It is allowed to lay electrical wiring in a corrugated metal hose, as well as in PVC corrugation, provided they are protected with plaster or asbestos gasket.
The diameter of the pipe is selected taking into account the fact that the hidden electrical wiring installed in it should occupy 40% of its internal cavity. The thickness of its walls must correspond to the cross-section of the current-carrying conductors in accordance with VSN 370-93 or SP 31.110-2003 table. 14.1. Pulling an electric main through pipes can cause mechanical damage to its shell, so after each such operation it is necessary to carry out. Special requirements are imposed on the brand of cable; its shell must be made of non-flammable three-layer material, and the marking of domestic samples must contain the letter symbols “ng-LS”. For example, VVGng-LS. The imported analogue is the NYMng-LS cable.
Pipes must be securely joined by threading, welding or soldering. Places for interroom transitions, as well as installation points for wiring elements, should be equipped with metal boxes or glasses, wrapped in asbestos and secured with alabaster plaster. We talked about this in more detail in a separate article.
Installation features
The most labor-intensive operation when laying hidden electrical wiring in a wooden house is installing pipes in the body of the wall. The process is quite labor-intensive, requiring the greatest possible accuracy and precision. To carry out this work, special practical skills and special high-tech tools will be required.
To install insulating pipes into walls, drilling will be required in both horizontal and vertical directions. Vertical holes are drilled during the process of laying the frame, horizontal holes are drilled when the walls are already erected. After the pipes are fixed in the body of the wooden walls, a wire is inserted into them, which will serve as a conductor for pulling the wire. The seats are carefully cut out to fit the dimensions of the wiring elements, and insulating metal boxes are attached to them.
An alternative option is wiring over the ceiling. Is it possible to avoid such a labor-intensive process associated with installing pipes into walls? Many homeowners, when installing hidden electrical systems in a wooden house, practice laying wiring along the ceiling in the attic. The fire safety requirements for this method of electrical installation remain the same; the electrical main in the attic is insulated with metal pipes or trays, only descents to switches and sockets are made through grooves or vertical drillings in the walls, as shown in the photo below:
Another option is hidden wiring in the plaster. You can take the simplest route and lay the electrical wiring between the layers of plaster. The method is primitive and inexpensive, but not very safe. Plaster actively absorbs moisture and also cracks over time, causing it to lose its insulating properties.
Useful information
For laying hidden wiring in wood, experts recommend, developed in Germany, with three-layer insulation made of non-flammable material. You can also use the domestic cable VVGng-LS.
Using copper pipes will cost much more, but they are much easier to bend and set to the desired profile. Depending on the situation, you can use a combination of hidden and open wiring.
Installing a socket in a wooden wall
Common mistakes
Now you know how hidden electrical wiring can be done in a wooden house with your own hands. We hope that our installation tips, as well as the rules and requirements provided, helped you understand the essence of the work!
Materials
A log house or a cottage made of timber: any building made of wood, regardless of the impregnation of the material with fire retardants, is fire hazardous, and many owners wonder whether it is necessary hidden wiring in a wooden house.
Is hidden wiring possible in a wooden house?
In an apartment in a high-rise building, in order to lay an electrical network in the premises, concrete walls are subjected to gating, that is, shallow grooves are made. With brick it is often easier to do this, simply hiding the wiring under a thick layer of plaster. In buildings made of logs or beams, things are somewhat more complicated. Even the best quality cable can easily burn out due to an accidental short circuit, which is why there is a high probability of a fire. Of course, there is an optimal solution - to lay the network so that all the wires are visible. But many will find this option unaesthetic.
Is hidden electrical wiring acceptable in a wooden house? Quite if you use special channels that should fit into the walls. The main requirement is to prevent the cable from coming into contact with the wood.. The fact is that even without short circuits, the metal core hidden in the insulation tends to heat up when there is a high load on the network, which occurs when several household appliances are turned on. Care must be taken in advance to ensure that wooden walls do not heat up from the wiring, and this is achieved with the help of special boxes, sleeves or pipes laid in the walls.
Selecting a channel for pulling the cable
So, in order to hide all the wires in the thickness of the walls, you will have to hollow out recesses, grooves, cavities, through holes, and so on in logs or beams. However, as already mentioned, even an insulated cable should not come into contact with the wood. As a precaution, many use metal hoses, which are completely unsuitable for this purpose (due to poor thermal insulation properties); they are intended for pulling external networks. For laying cables inside wooden walls, special metal tubes are used, in extreme cases - non-flammable or plastic, which tend to fade without external intervention. Let's consider both options.
Metal cable ducts are preferable for the simple reason that they are not at all susceptible to fire. In addition, you should take into account the shrinkage of the walls, due to which plastic pipes, unlike copper pipes, are easily deformed. On the other hand, the channels must bend in the corners, in which case, if you are working with copper, you need to be patient. The fact is that first a wire is pulled into the tube, after which it should be carefully bent using a special pipe bending device. In this case, the bend must have a certain radius, otherwise there is a risk of damage to the cable.
Plastic channels are less preferable, although they are more cost-effective and allow you to save a lot of money when laying the electrical network. It is best to just place them in grooves knocked out at the ends of the logs that limit the doorway; in extreme cases, use them to pull wires through walls. It is better not to insert plastic tubes into the thickness of the partitions between rooms, remembering the shrinkage of the crowns. The grooves with cable channels are closed with plugs cut from a board or block, which are subsequently covered with platbands or masked using a special putty for wood, followed by sanding the surface, as well as stain and varnish.
What is the easiest way to hide the electrical network in a log house?
It is best to do room wiring not along the walls, but either under the flooring or under the ceiling cladding. Since such placement of cables is considered hidden, we lay copper tubes along the joists (or under them, if on the ceiling), connecting them in special junction boxes, which in no case should come into contact with the wood. It is advisable to separate such highway intersections from the sheathing with asbestos or metal sheets. In the wall, at the end of each groove for a network branch, we hollow out a recess for the installation box, on top of which a socket or switch is attached. The diameter of the pipe and the thickness of its wall are selected depending on the cross-section of the wire.
Twists of wires, even covered with junction boxes, must be insulated with caps, especially in places where wood is located in close proximity. If you plan to cover the walls with clapboard, you can run cable ducts directly along their surface without gouging out grooves. It is in this case that non-flammable plastic pipes are most appropriate, and, regardless of the material, the wires should be completely hidden in them, especially at the junction with junction boxes. As an option, a combined scheme is possible, when the lines are hidden in metal gutters and pipes under the cladding of walls, floors and ceilings, and the point-to-point distribution is done half-open, in boxes.
Open wiring in a wooden house as part of the design
It is not at all necessary to hide the cables if the walls are not planned to be hidden under lathing and then finished with plaster or under wallpaper. It will go perfectly with log partitions between rooms; in a wooden house this solution can become part of the design. However, if you think that the electrical network, stretched along the walls and ceiling, will not be combined with paintings and rugs, it can be placed in plastic boxes that will fit into any environment.
It is also allowed to lay cables in special channels of decorative skirting boards, which is convenient during European-quality renovation, when you do not want to make the apartment look like an office using boxes. Some homeowners use plastic corrugated tubes, which are flexible, but do not protect the wiring at all and are not aesthetically pleasing. In non-residential premises, cables are often installed using metal brackets; this option is appropriate in a bathroom or bathhouse, as well as in a workshop, garage, cellar or barn.
An external power supply is convenient because it is easy to find and correct damage caused by a short circuit or for any other reason.
The most interesting is the open one, made in a “retro” style, when insulated copper wires twisted into a pigtail are stretched directly along the wall, secured with ceramic insulators. In stores you can often find models of sockets and switches in the style of the 30-40s, with massive cases (although the sockets will almost certainly have a grounding contact). The only condition for organizing such a network is to maintain a gap of 10 millimeters between the cable and the wall. However, this type also has disadvantages, in particular: children have open access to the wires (what if they want to cut them with scissors), as well as the high cost and shortage of ceramic rollers for fastening two-core twisting.
