It is quite a real task to install an electrical panel with your own hands with minimal knowledge of wiring and electricity. You just need to study in detail and carefully the instructions for connecting machines in the switchgear and do everything strictly according to it.
The worst, what can happen if the wires are broken incorrectly is a short circuit, which can lead to the most undesirable consequences. From these consequences, on the idea, should deprive the general automatic machine, which must be in the chain before, than the guard is mounted.
If we are talking about the floor panel of a city house or individual, located in the apartment, then the true protector will be a circuit breaker. It can be a three-phase switch or single-phase - it all depends on the wiring diagram in the house.
Everything is more complicated when working with the wiring of a private house. In this situation, you must be protected by a machine gun, located in the transformer box, from which the line is extended to you. Sometimes there are intermediate transformers, which can be seen on the pylons in rural areas. They are often supplemented with protective fuses, preventing the failure of the transformer in the event of accidents on the line.
But if you know exactly the rules of automatic connection in the shield, accidents can be avoided. At the same time you will have the only unpleasant and somewhat dangerous job - to connect the assembled device "hot", that is, to the wires, under voltage. Or you will need to call electricity, which will remove the voltage from the line, during installation.
But first let's understand the stages of installation and connection.
grounding device
In many respects the electric scheme of a floor board depends on the house. Usually, in a private house, if there are no plans to connect such powerful devices, as three-phase boilers, then a single-phase line is started. These are two wires: zero and phase. In the internal wiring it is accepted to dilute the phase wire with a conductor in brown insulation, and zero - in blue.
If the wire is three-core, then the third vein is usually painted ??in yellow with a green stripe. This bright conductor is used for grounding. It is never wound into a machine gun inside the shield. The ground conductor must be continuous, therefore, special conductive pads are used in switchgear, which are installed next to the machines, to conduct a grounding conductor through them and safely bring to that floor, where it connects to the ground bus. Usually, this or the first floor, or basement, or basement.
How to connect phase and neutral wires
The phase conductor must be connected to the circuit breaker. The neutral conductor does not always have to pass through the circuit breaker, but there are cases, when the use of a bipolar circuit breaker is recommended, and then the phase passes through it, and zero - each wire through its own section.
Simultaneous disconnection of phase and zero is justified especially in those situations, when a three-phase voltage is introduced into a house or non-residential building. In such situations there is more risk, that one of the phases may close with zero. This is a short circuit mode, to which the machine must respond, which protects this phase. But in those fractions of a second, while it will work, overvoltage will occur in the other two phases. That is, instead of proper 220 Everyone can be there 380 B is the voltage difference between the two phases in a normal three-phase connection.
No household appliance is designed for this voltage, and the more powerful it is, the greater the current it passes, and the greater the likelihood of overheating. There, where the low-power device will immediately blow the fuse, powerful equipment will still "endure" a heavy load for some time, and during this time the switching power supply or the transformer can fail. Therefore, such a technique, like boilers, dishwashers and washing machines are best protected with bipolar machines, which cut two chains at once.
Keep in mind, that the skew of the phases is harmful to the source, which feeds the building. Generator, transformer booth, substation - all this will soon deteriorate. For such purposes, there are special three-phase machines, which in case of a large skew or an accident on one of the phases can turn off all three phases at once. For more responsible circuits, it is recommended to connect a four-phase circuit breaker, which also de-energizes the neutral wire.
Installation of a board with automatic machines
so, consider several options.
- The first option. It is necessary to make the device in the house, where all three phases are wound. Most of them are houses with elevators. Electricians professionals recommend using all three phases for different apartments. Therefore, the introductory machine will be three-phase. As a rule, entrance machines are usually installed in the panel at the top left. From it wires will already disperse on apartment automatic machines. If three apartments are connected to the board, it is best to feed each apartment with its own phase: so we do not run the risk of overloading any of the shoulders. Next we need to find out, what is the mains connection in each of the apartments.
- The second option is the distribution of premises. In older homes, wiring was usually divided into two parts: lighting and sockets. so, only two machines were used for each apartment.
In modern houses try to install the two-phase automatic machine or at least the separate single-phase on "power equipment". Equipment, in turn, can be divided into the following categories:
- washing machines;
- dishwashers;
- electric stoves;
- other powerful appliances.
To do this, a separate wire is made to the device, which usually contains zero, phase and ground. That is, for each apartment there are three machines and one grounding conductor. Single-pole machines are used for sockets and lighting, therefore zero will have to be connected to special pads.
For example, you can consider a single-pole connection option. What does it mean? That is, only the phase will pass through the circuit breaker. Such a machine has one contact for phase input, the other is for output. As you know, the introductory contact is located at the top, while the output - below.
Before connecting, it is necessary to be convinced of marking near the top contact, that it is really designed to power the conductor. To connect this wire - it must have brown or black insulation, it must be stripped of this insulation on 7-10 mm. The wire is inserted into the hole in the upper end of the machine and clamped with a screw, located on the front of the case.
The output wire is fastened in the same way from the lower end. This is exactly the wire, who enters the apartment. Here, too, it is important to monitor the labeling of conductors, so as not to happen, that the switch in the chandelier will break zero, and not the phase. That is the conductor, coming out of the machine, for the apartment should not be zero. While the apartment is without electricity, you can open the nearest switch and call the tester wire from it before entering the apartment. If the tester shows conductivity, then this wire inside your apartment is disconnected as a phase.
However, the connection of the machine in the shield can hide another pitfall: if more than one phase is separated on the floor, and at least two, then they should not be confused, that in the apartment there was no difference between sockets and chandeliers 380 V! No matter how many machines you have in the apartment, everything must be connected to the same phase.
wiring
Experienced electricians use a little trick, when you need to connect several machines and make no mistake with the introductory phase. For this purpose it is necessary to take one conductor and to clean on it not only its termination, but also to make intermediate cleaned places in this way, so that each of them could come into contact with the machine.
Ideally, if the machines are on a DIN rail next to each other, then you can measure these distances simply by attaching the conductor so, so that its transitional part from one machine to another forms a loop. It will allow the wire to come out of the case vertically.
The cleaned place should have length, twice as big, than at the end of the wire, because we have to make a small loop out of it, which should connect the machine. You will need to put a heat-shrinkable tube on this loop or wrap the place tightly with insulating tape, where the insulation ends. This will give our wire rigidity.
Then the loop must be inserted into the contact hole of the machine and tighten firmly. There should be a number of circuit breakers according to the number of circuit breakers. But we will be sure, that the phase is separated correctly - the same for the apartment.
A little about mechanics
Dealing with the question of that, how to properly connect the machine, remained unresolved, how to install it. If a new shield is planned, then, probably, will have to put there first DIN-rail.
Each circuit breaker of modern design has a special clamp for mounting on the same rail. The checkpoint has the same fastening, which is used for the grounding conductor. By the way, the latch of such earthing conductor is not made as a separate plastic element, and as an elastic part of the body. It is very convenient, as there is no risk of losing small, but a very important detail.
In case it is not possible to find a through element, then the ground connection can be performed by twisting. However, for fidelity, the wires can be soldered with a soldering iron and put on a heat-shrinkable tube as insulation. This is quite justified. Do not forget, that the shields still "walk" phase and neutral conductors. In the absence of a heat-shrinkable tube, it is quite possible to use insulating tape. This will be no less protection against any surprises.
By the way, that's something to keep in mind, as well as connection, and even grounding cannot be done that way, to twist together copper and aluminum wires. These two metals form electroplating pairs, which leads to their oxidation and violation of the conductivity between them. If it turns out, that it is not possible to connect them through a bushing or a block with steel contacts, then you can solder each of the wires and carefully solder the connection.
Hot work
Frequent cases and situations, performance of works on connection of automatic machines in force majeure situations. A great example of this situation, prevailing, there is a burnout or failure of the machine. Most often you have to connect a new circuit breaker then, when the shield is energized. What you need to know for such work?
- The first rule is not to panic and not to hurry.
- The second rule is to use a special screwdriver-indicator.
Consider everything in detail. If it is not possible to turn off the access panel, then from the "victim" machine gun, then you need to follow the steps below:
- Remove food, that is, disconnect the input wire from it.
- Wear sunglasses, to protect your eyes from sparks, electroprotective rubber gloves.
- Arm yourself with an indicator screwdriver and a regular screwdriver with an insulating handle.
- For clothes with short sleeves, put something on it with long sleeves.
- Now carefully, without touching any metal objects in the shield, as at accident on them the phase can "sit", unscrew the lead contact screw with one hand, with the other hand the wire is removed and bent so, so that it does not touch any metal surface.
It is forbidden to take this wire for the bare part!
Sparks during such a shutdown are normal. The wires simply need to be removed from the contact confidently and quickly at a distance, which is not pierced by a spark.
Before you connect something, it is necessary to take the indicator screw-driver and to investigate the parts of a board concerning the presence of pressure concerning the apartment. If not, then you can install and connect a new machine.
If several phases enter the switchgear, Of course, they can also be disabled. However, this will lead to, that you will leave the neighbors without electricity. Therefore, the connection of a new circuit breaker will have to perform with a view to that, that there is one or two more phases in the shield.
Circuit power supply conductor, which you so skillfully disconnected from the damaged machine, with any other phase or with zero will lead to overvoltage and real fireworks of sparks, from which clothes and glasses should be protected just in case.
What do you need a partner
As you know, so many safety precautions must be taken when working with electricity, as much as possible. Another practical piece of advice from experts is to repair power lines with a partner.
Man, elected to this role, it is possible, will not understand anything in electrical circuits. However, he must know clearly, What shall I do, if someone is energized: pull a person by his clothes, without touching his body, from the wire, under voltage.
It is desirable to unbutton that jacket beforehand, which is worn, for hand protection, before connecting to the switchboard. This is vital. The point is, a free part is formed on the back, for which you can pull a person in case of electric shock. It will be convenient for the partner to grab it. Your partner should also be remembered, how to call an ambulance or rescue service.
The help of a partner can be invaluable in this case, when the shield is located high. He will be able to submit or receive tools. So, you do not have to constantly go down and up again from the stool or ladder.
Safety above all
Summing up all the above, I must say, you must never forget about safety when working with electricity. Neglecting at least one of them can lead to serious health problems, and sometimes fatal.
People, poorly insulated from the ground, and may touch the phase when touched. Electricity will pass through the whole body and go to the ground. Cases are quite frequent, when a person dies from the action of electricity, passing through the heart.
The ground conductor is safe and can be safely picked up. But here you need to do it with caution and check it in advance for the absence of breaks in the wiring and electrical panel.
That is why it is vital to buy overalls, rubberized tool and use insulating materials to work with electrical wires.