How to replace old electrical wiring in your home. Replacing wiring in an apartment: drawing up a diagram and algorithm of work How to change electrical wiring in an apartment with your own hands

Then you need to turn off the power and route the wires across the terminal blocks. Afterwards, it is necessary to carry out another check for short circuits with the circuit breakers turned off and then with the circuit breakers turned on, after which you can connect the main circuit breaker.

Safety regulations

All work is performed with tools with insulated handles and wearing rubberized gloves.. To groove walls at height, it is best to use a sawhorse or a stepladder with a horizontal stop. An ordinary stepladder is not reliable enough.

Replacing electrical wiring with your own hands is a rather complicated task, but doable, if you know how to draw up and read electrical diagrams. Otherwise, it’s better not to take risks and contact professional electricians.

In conclusion, we suggest watching a video review on how to choose the right material and do the wiring yourself:

During major renovations, many decide to immediately change the wiring in the apartment. There are many reasons for this. Firstly, if your house was built a long time ago, then the entire electrical network that was laid in it is already outdated, both physically and morally. Secondly, previously, mainly aluminum wires were used for wiring in Khrushchev or Stalinist houses, and this metal, as is known, is highly susceptible to corrosion and becomes very fragile during operation. Thirdly, modern electrics are characterized by high power household appliances. About 20-30 years ago, each apartment was projected to have a load of about 3 kW; now this figure has increased significantly.

So, as you can see, replacing wiring is not a whim or a whim, but an urgent necessity. Let us consider in detail how to carry out this process, where to start, which part of the old wiring must be changed, and in which cases it can be left.

Main stages

You need to decide right away whether you can replace the wiring in the apartment with your own hands or whether you will invite professional electricians. Keep in mind that when overhauling a residential property, work related to electricity is the most complex and voluminous part.

Accordingly, material costs will be high. If you have no restrictions on funds, then it is better to invite specialists.

Replacing electrical wiring in an apartment with your own hands is based on three main components.

• Definitely all aluminum wires must be replaced with copper ones. We have already mentioned that the metal is susceptible to corrosion, moreover, it has a soft structure, it is squeezed out from under the screw terminals, its soldering is a complex and expensive process, and aluminum strands weaken over time. All this can ultimately lead to unreliable contact connections.
• It will be necessary to switch from the previously used scheme with a solidly grounded neutral (TN-C) to a scheme with protective grounding of consumers (TN-C-S). Electricity supply according to the previous TN-C scheme was used in the Soviet Union involuntarily, because mass electrification was underway, the electrical networks were very extensive and, in addition, there was an acute shortage of non-ferrous metals. Since the late 90s, the transition to power supply according to the TN–C–S scheme began, which ensures safe operation of consumers regardless of the general condition of the network.

• It will be necessary to install a group connection of consumers using separate branches, whereas previously branched wiring from the main apartment panel through distribution boxes was used.

According to the new scheme, you will have a separate branch from the common panel, made as a single piece of cable, for each group of consumers.

Drawing up a diagram

At the initial stage, all work will be of a theoretical nature, that is, it will be necessary to clearly determine the scheme and the amount of materials.

Before changing the wiring in the apartment, draw up a diagram showing the layout of the living space. It will be most convenient to take it from the technical passport and redraw it on paper in a box.

An example of drawing up a diagram and further editing on video:

In this drawing, show where all large-sized furniture will be located (so as not to plan the installation of sockets behind it) and household appliances (in this case, on the contrary, sockets should be mounted next to each other). Determine the installation location of the switches; as a rule, they are mounted near front door into the room. Mark where you will need sockets, except for the installation locations of the stationary household appliances(refrigerator, oven, air conditioner), that is, it is advisable to decide in advance where you will place or hang the TV, stereo system, computer.

Draw the locations of lighting elements - sconces, bedside lamps, floor lamps.

Keep in mind that powerful household appliances such as a hot water boiler, electric stove, washing or Dishwasher, “warm floor”, should be connected to the electrical network not through sockets, but by a separate line from an individual circuit breaker.

Transferring the layout plan to the walls

Now transfer the drawn up diagram to the walls of your apartment, you will still be doing renovations, so you can still draw on the wall surfaces. Mark the installation locations of sockets, switches, lighting fixtures and distribution boxes (they are usually installed at the entrance to the room). There are no strict sizes for their placement, but try to adhere to the following recommendations:

• Switches are located at a height of 0.8 to 1.5 m from the floor level.
• The same parameter for sockets varies from 0.3 to 1 m, here everything will depend on your interior. The main thing is that you feel comfortable using them later.

• In the bathroom, it is advisable to do without installing sockets. If there is an urgent need for this, then it must be connected through a residual current device (RCD). The distance from the socket to the bathroom elements (sink, bathtub, shower) must be at least 0.6 m.
• Distribution boxes are placed at a distance of 15-20 cm from the ceiling surface. Do not forget to take this into account if in the future you plan to lower the ceiling (make it suspended or from plasterboard sheets).

From boxes to switching devices, draw the routes for laying wires.

These routes must be strictly vertical or horizontal; no zigzags or oblique lines are allowed; do not try to save on materials like this.

Necessary materials

Now, based on all the work done, you can determine the amount of materials you will need to change the wiring in the house. Count how many junction boxes, sockets and switches you have marked. If the wiring is of a hidden type, then you will also need a socket box for each switching device. Measure the amount of wire needed along the drawn routing routes using a tape measure. Be sure to take it with a margin for cutting at the joints (6-10% of the total length).

To do the wiring yourself, choose a three-core wire or copper cable. A cross-section of 1.5 mm 2 will be sufficient for a lighting network, for socket groups - 2.5 mm 2, for powerful electrical consumers - 4 mm 2.

We advise you to purchase a high-quality German conductor marked NYM, with polyvinyl chloride insulation. Among domestic cable products, the VVG brand conductor is in greatest demand. Also, for laying conductors you will need a corrugated pipe, and in the case of an open type of wiring, cable channels. It is better to buy metal corrugation, since in the event of an emergency, polyvinyl chloride can decompose and release toxic substances.

Selecting cables and machines on video:

It is imperative to protect the home electrical network from overloads, short circuits and current leaks, so you cannot do without automation. It will be necessary to install RCDs and circuit breakers (or combined options - differential circuit breakers). They are selected by rated current depending on the load that will be present on the protected line. Let us give you an example of approximately what machines will be needed for an ordinary three-room apartment:

• general input circuit breaker - 40 A;
• for the socket group - 25 A;
• for lighting - 16 A;
• for powerful consumers - 32 A.

When choosing machines, give preference to the leaders in the electrical products market - Legrand and ABB.

There are two types of distribution boxes and they differ from each other only in design.

Boxes square and rectangular shape more spacious, and round ones are much more convenient to install.

Drilling a round hole in the wall for such a box is much easier than drilling a square or rectangular niche.

Be sure to choose sockets with grounding. If there are small children in the house, you will need special devices with protective curtains (so that the child cannot pick around with foreign objects inside). Pay special attention to the rated current for which the switching device is designed, otherwise problems may arise when connecting powerful consumers.

Tools

Before you change the wiring in your apartment, you will need to stock up not only on materials, but also on a fairly large number of tools. If you don’t have all the necessary equipment, then it might make sense to turn to professionals. Check out the list of everything you will need to install new wiring, and then make a decision for yourself.

The ideal option is to rent a power tool.

1. A hammer drill and a set of drill bits for concrete (as well as a concrete drill, a core drill and a chisel). This tool is necessary for installing holes for sockets, switches and boxes.
2. Level, plumb line and cord for marking the laying of wires.
3. A grinder (and a stone circle for it) or a wall chaser for making grooves in the walls for wires.
4. A spatula and plaster (or alabaster) for filling the grooves after the wires are laid in them.
5. A mounting knife or a special device for removing the insulating layer on wires (stripper).
6. Pliers, a set of flat and Phillips screwdrivers, side cutters.
7. Soldering iron with solder and rosin for connecting wires.
8. Indicator screwdriver for determining phase and zero.
9. Long carry. During repair work, you will use a temporary structure to power the power tool, and its length should be sufficient to reach the most remote rooms and corners.

Removing old wiring

Replacing the electrical wiring in an apartment with your own hands begins, first of all, with completely de-energizing the room. Turn off the input circuit breaker for the apartment and make sure that there is no voltage.

The easiest way to dismantle old wiring is to start with switches and sockets; remove them, thereby freeing the ends of the wires. Open the covers of the distribution boxes and disconnect all switching units. Now, carefully pulling the old cable, release it from the putty grooves. A special device will help you find wires in wall surfaces - a hidden wiring indicator; some even use a metal detector in this case.

If in some place it is not possible to dismantle the cable, then don’t try too hard, don’t destroy the walls. Leave the problem area of ​​the wiring in the old furrow, just carefully insulate its ends on both sides.

Installation of new wiring

It’s worth saying right away that it is not recommended to partially change the wiring. If you decide to renovate again, then do it everywhere. The only case when it is allowed to replace only part of the home electrical network is if a wire has broken somewhere and needs to be repaired.

And now the process of installing the new wiring itself. Perhaps in some of the rooms the path of the wire from the box to the sockets and switches will remain the same. This is good, you won’t need to drill new grooves.

In the case when you planned to do everything completely differently, start with the holes for switching devices and distribution boxes, and make grooves between them for laying wires.

Note! Since you have already dismantled the old wiring and are just installing new wiring, there will be no voltage in the apartment at all. To connect a power tool, use a temporary shed that can be thrown from the input panel, or negotiate with your neighbors to supply power from them through a carrier.

Cut the necessary pieces of conductors and corrugated pipe. Tighten the wires into the corrugation and place them in the grooves made. Don't forget to leave ends on both sides for connection. Install the socket boxes into the holes made, tighten the wires into them and now you can fix them with alabaster mortar.

The grooves do not need to be covered with a continuous layer of alabaster; it is enough to grab them every half meter.

Connect the wires to sockets and switches, install switching devices in sub-sockets. Now make all the necessary connections in distribution boxes.

Keep in mind! If you want to make lighting on a balcony or loggia, then you don’t need to pull a whole branch there; the lamps are connected through the sockets of neighboring rooms.

Be sure to test the new electrical wiring before starting finishing work in the apartment.

If there are doubts between partial and complete replacement of electrical wiring, then the answer can be found in the video:

We explained to you how to replace the old wiring; there are no particular difficulties here. Those who have at least once done electrical work and are well versed in electrical engineering can handle it on their own. But sometimes it’s better not to take risks, and at least consult with professionals.

The wiring of apartments in houses built in the 60s of the last century was calculated taking into account a load of up to 1 kW for cities whose population did not exceed a million inhabitants, and 1.5 kW for cities with more than a million inhabitants.

It is impossible to imagine a modern apartment without a microwave, water heater, refrigerator, air conditioner whose power often exceeds 1.5 kW, not to mention fireplaces, warm floors or modern electric stoves, the power of which reaches 10 kW.

As you can see, the limits of modern load on electrical wiring, compared to what it was half a century ago, have increased several times. Moreover, the warranty period for the operation of electrical wiring does not exceed 20 years - then its insulation begins to deteriorate, which can cause a fire in the electrical wiring.

Previously, single-insulated aluminum wire (SIW) was predominantly used for electrical wiring in homes, because aluminum is much cheaper than copper. Aluminum wiring, compared to copper wiring, can withstand continuous current loads much worse. Very often, modern standards do not allow the use of aluminum wiring due to its fragility and low reliability.

Incorrect operation of electrical wiring, when its rated power is exceeded, leads to a significant reduction in its service life, and can also cause a short circuit.

Electrical wiring plan or diagram

Before replacing electrical wiring, it is necessary to draw up a scale drawing or diagram of the apartment, on which to mark the installation points of switches, sockets, and lighting fixtures.

It is much more convenient when all consumers are divided into groups:

• - lighting;
• - sockets;
• - electric stove;
• - bathroom.

A separate cable must be laid from the distribution board to each group. Such a scheme, in the event of failure of one of the groups, ensures the operation of the others. At the same time, you can save on the wire: the thicker it is, the more expensive it is. If you run one thick cable, then branches will have to be made in junction boxes, and a large number of connections reduces the reliability of the wiring.

You should not connect all the wiring to one group. It is recommended to connect the bathroom with a separate line, since it is a room with a high probability of electric shock. It is better to equip this line with a difavtomatic device or an RCD.

How to choose a machine?

In addition to the RCD, it is recommended replacement of input machines in the distribution board. When choosing automatic switches, you must use the rule: for lighting, a type B circuit breaker with a rating of 10 A is installed, for sockets - 16 A.

The type of machine is determined based on the nature of the load. Powerful electric motors are not installed in apartments, so general-purpose machines are chosen.

How to choose wires?

Wires are the heart of electrical wiring. In most cases, the old wiring in our apartments is aluminum. In any case, you need to make replacement of electrical wiring to a new one (preferably copper), because over time the wiring insulation cracks, while the aluminum wires themselves quickly oxidize, they are very fragile when bending.

Instead of aluminum, it is necessary to install copper wires, which have a much lower resistivity (they conduct current much better). Also, copper wires are more flexible and easier to install (they are easily soldered).

So, it is necessary to determine what brand of wire will be used to install the electrical wiring of the apartment. Very common wire for these purposes is VVG brand wire, as well as non-flammable VVG NG wire.

Sockets must be powered with a three-wire cable (phase, neutral, protective grounding) cross section no less 2.5mm2. Lighting can be powered two-core wire VVG cross-section 1.5 mm2. The wiring for the electric stove is laid with a three-core cable, the cross-section of which must be at least 4 mm2.

The wires are connected in several ways:

• - twisting;
• - using terminals;
• - soldering.

The traditional way to connect wires is twisting, but not everyone can make such a connection efficiently.

A connection using soldering is much more reliable, but this process is too long.

The use of terminal strips is a compromise between twisting and soldering.

How to remove old wiring?

First of all, you need to turn off the package switch in the panel to de-energize the apartment. Only after this can you dismantle the devices and old wires.

Dismantling the wires should begin from the junction boxes. Usually their covers are located on the walls under the ceiling. When opening them, you need to find the input wire - it needs to be cut and insulated.

Laying new wiring

After removing the old wiring, you can start laying new ones. Typically used in apartments hidden wiring, under which it is necessary to make grooves in the walls using a hammer drill or a disk tool.

Distribution boxes, switches and sockets are installed in recesses in the wall of appropriate sizes. They are easiest to make using special drill bits.

You can also drill holes in a pre-planned circle, and then refine the recess using a chisel. There is no need to give these holes the ideal shape - plaster will fix everything.

Before making recesses for sockets and switches, you need to think about the height of their installation. Switches are usually installed at a height of about one meter, and sockets - 30 cm from the floor level. However, no standards stipulate the height of their installation; the main thing here is the convenience of the inhabitants of the home.

Checking the quality of work performed

After laying electrical wiring and fastening in the wall channels, it is necessary to check the mounted line for short circuits. For this, a combination instrument, often called a tester, is usually used.

Only after checking that there is no short circuit in the wiring can the line be connected to voltage. After this, the functionality of all lamps and sockets is checked using the same tester or phase indicator. Upon completion of the verification work, the channels can be sealed with plaster mortar. Replacement of electrical wiring in the apartment is ready.

Replacing wiring in an apartment is a fairly common event. The need for this process is most often determined by the fact that old cables include an aluminum core that is not adapted to modern power. Such systems are not always able to withstand the loads placed on them by a large number of electrical appliances. Before replacing the electrical wiring, you need to familiarize yourself with the sequence of work and recommendations for each item.

In what cases is it necessary to replace electrical wiring in an apartment?

Most often, this operation is performed if the electrical system does not meet modern requirements. Today, the load on the network has increased several times, since almost every family uses powerful electrical appliances (washing machine, boiler, etc.).

Until recently, cables in electrical systems included aluminum cores. Although this metal is a good conductor, it has many disadvantages. For example, it has poor resistance to corrosion. And also during operation, changes occur in the structure of aluminum itself. Wearing metal increases the likelihood of a fire resulting from a short circuit.

The service life of aluminum wiring does not exceed 15 years, while copper cables can be used for up to 30 years. From a safety point of view, copper wires are the most acceptable. The most common problems with old electrical networks made of aluminum:

• neutrals are solidly grounded (instead of protective);
• outdated cable routing method;
• lack of circuit breakers;
• minimum number of sockets.

You should think about replacing the electrical system in an apartment when the old system has been in operation for more than 20 years, as well as when signs of network wear are detected. Among these criteria, we can highlight those that are easiest to detect. For example, sparking sockets are a warning that you should not turn a blind eye to.

Note! The problem can be solved in two ways. The first one is partial replacement electrical wiring. However, this option is recommended only if it is necessary to eliminate a break in the network. In other situations, experts advise complete replacement systems.

Other signs indicating a system malfunction are all sorts of breakdowns of sockets and switches. Often, when electrical appliances fail, you can smell the smell of burnt insulating material. In this case, it is also necessary to replace the wiring.

How much does it cost to change the wiring in an apartment? The cost of replacing an electrical system primarily depends on the size of the living space. The following factors are also very important: number of rooms, layout, number of electrical appliances that will be used after renovation. Minimum cost replacement of electrical wiring for one-room apartments is 15,000 rubles. For two-room dwellings the price is slightly higher - 20,000 rubles.

How to conduct wiring in an apartment: two popular ways

Today, electricians use two methods of installing electrical wiring indoors: external and internal. All subsequent work depends on the choice of the desired option, so you need to familiarize yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of each of these methods.

The internal method of laying electrical wiring is also called hidden. It involves the arrangement of cables and other elements of the electrical network in special channels (grooves). To organize them, a hammer drill is used. The main advantage of this installation option is that the usable area of ​​the apartment is saved. And also the installed system does not affect appearance premises.

Another advantage of hidden wiring in a house or apartment is that there is no need to organize cable protection from mechanical damage. The location of the wires inside the walls allows you to increase the degree of tolerance for load and overload of the system.

However, this method of laying cables also has its disadvantages. First of all, it is worth noting that the hidden method involves a large amount of work. The complexity of this option leads to the fact that when laying it yourself, the open method is often chosen. Problems with cables installed in walls are more difficult to diagnose. Repair individual elements The electrical network in this case is a rather complex undertaking.

The open method of do-it-yourself wiring involves pulling cables through baseboards or installing special external boxes (channels). There are other options for laying the electrical network outside the walls, but for private construction their use is not advisable.

The main advantage of the external method is the relatively simple implementation of installation tasks. And also (unlike the hidden network) open system easier to diagnose, which makes it easy to identify the problem and fix it as soon as possible. Thus, electrical repairs in an apartment are simplified if they are carried out outside the walls and other surfaces.

Helpful information! Among other things, open wiring allows you to make changes to it as needed. For example, if desired, it will not be difficult to extend an additional line for new equipment.

This method also has some disadvantages. Cable channels laid on the surface can serve as an obstacle when installing furniture. Another disadvantage of this option for laying wires is the restrictions on their number during baseboard installation. Boxes take up useful space in the apartment and do not always look appropriate in the interior of the premises.

When installing open wiring, experts recommend paying attention Special attention protection of cables from mechanical damage. It is also important to follow the rules fire safety and ensure that each wire is provided with reliable insulation.

How to draw up a wiring diagram in an apartment

Before you start replacing the wiring in the room, you need to select the maximum suitable scheme electricity. This document is compiled taking into account the location of all network elements. It indicates sockets, switches, lighting fixtures located in each room. The diagram must necessarily contain paths (lines) corresponding to the places where the cables are laid.

When drawing up an apartment wiring diagram, you will need to calculate the following parameters:

• required power (for each room separately);
• power reserve (for each room);
• power of household electrical appliances.

The diagram is the most important document when installing new electrical equipment in a home. When compiling it, every little detail is important. Therefore, experts advise to be careful when creating this drawing.

The diagram should include information on the number of sockets and switches, as well as their location. The places where important electrical appliances will be installed must be marked on the drawing. Installation points are selected depending on the individual characteristics of the apartment or private house.

The location of the lamps and their number are also indicated when drawing up the electrical wiring diagram of a house or apartment. It is important to remember that shortcomings made when creating this document lead to a lack of necessary elements of the electrical network or, conversely, to an excess of them. And the worst outcome in this case is a faulty system.

The location of all individual elements of the electrical network, as well as the placement of household appliances, should be selected as competently as possible. Sockets, switches and devices that produce light should not interfere with other components of the interior (for example, furniture).

The choice of wiring type is made depending on the individual characteristics of the room. This is influenced by the following factors: number of rooms, layout, number and power of household electrical appliances. For the most powerful equipment, as a rule, installation of a separate line is provided.

Features of drawing up an electrical wiring diagram

It is recommended to pay special attention to drawing up a bathroom layout. In this situation, electrical appliances are located in close proximity to a water source, so you need to be careful and follow safety rules. In this case, the placement of sockets is carried out taking into account that the distance to the water source is at least 100 cm.

For each wiring group, a separate power cable is laid, coming directly from the electrical panel

Note! It is important to remember that for the convenience of drawing up a diagram, it is recommended to divide all the electrical equipment in the home into separate groups (for example, wiring leading to lighting devices or household appliances). This will allow you to draw up a diagram as competently and concisely as possible and avoid confusion when installing electrics in the house with your own hands.

For each group, a separate power cable is laid, coming directly from the electrical panel. This installation option allows you to properly distribute the load throughout the apartment. In addition to the lighting and electrical groups, it is traditional to lay separate branches for the bathroom and kitchen area.

Each individual group usually has different power ratings. Therefore, to connect the bathtub and toilet, a cable with a cross-section that differs from the size of the wire intended for household appliances can be used. Dividing wiring into groups has the following advantages: cost savings (due to selection optimal size cables for each line) and the independence of one branch from another. Such autonomy allows, if one group fails, to use others without any harm to the system as a whole.

Do-it-yourself replacement of wiring in an apartment: necessary tools

Before starting work on dismantling the old wiring, you need to calculate the materials that will be required to organize the system and purchase them. It is also necessary to prepare tools to perform all types of work. Let's take a closer look at what tools you will need to replace electricity in your home.

Related article:

Drawing up a wiring diagram. Installation of electrical appliances and cables. Programs for drawing up diagrams.

First of all, you need to prepare a hammer drill. This device is needed to dismantle old wiring and organize new channels (if necessary). To work, you will need to purchase several attachments for gating. concrete walls with a cross section of 16-20 mm, a crown drill of 90-100 mm and a chisel of 25-30 mm.

To connect wires, you need to prepare soldering equipment. The power of the device in this case should be at least 40 W. For installation of electrical wiring in the home you will need tools: a grinder with a stone wheel, pliers, side cutters, a set of screwdrivers, building level, cord, flashlight and knife. For finishing you need to buy a spatula. In addition, you should acquire instruments for checking electrical circuit readings, such as a multitester and a phase indicator.

Replacing wiring in an apartment: calculation of materials

Calculation of wires is quite simple. The most common way to determine the exact amount of cable required to connect an electrical network element is to measure the distance to it from the panel. To do this you need to use a regular tape measure. It is important to remember that during manual measurements, all surface irregularities, protrusions and depressions are taken into account.

After calculating the wiring in an apartment or private house, it is advisable to add another 10-15% of the cable to the resulting figure. The stock is needed to meet installation needs, since during operation there is always a certain amount of spoiled material.

Note! The cable must be laid at right angles only. Thus, the wires are mounted horizontally or vertically. Diagonal lines are not recommended as they are much more difficult to organize. Knowing how to do the wiring in the house with your own hands, it is much easier to draw up a plan for future work.

There is another option for calculating the materials needed to organize an electrical network in a home. It is simpler, but at the same time less accurate, because generalized values ​​are used when calculating. To carry out such a calculation, you need to find out the area of ​​the apartment and multiply this figure by 2. The resulting number is approximate, but this calculation is used quite often. In this case, two-thirds of the wires will be used to lay outlet lines, and one-third will be used to connect lighting fixtures.

After calculating the amount of cable, other elements of the electrical system should be calculated. To install the network, you will need to buy at least 3 sections of terminal blocks, and they must include 10 contacts each. Experts do not recommend buying parts with a polyethylene body. This is due to the fact that this material does not have high technical characteristics and the required degree of protection.

In order to answer the question of how to conduct wiring in a house, it is recommended to watch training videos that can easily be found on the Internet. It is important to determine what and how the cables will be secured in the system. The option for fixing the wires depends on the personal preferences of the master. Experts note that it is more convenient and reliable in this case to use clamping plates. In turn, screw fastenings are less functional.

When choosing socket boxes, you need to pay attention to whether these elements are equipped with external protrusions to enhance adhesion to alabaster. VVG and PUNP cables are best suited for wiring. You will also need to buy an inlet shield, corrugated tubes and insulating material.

Replacing wiring in the house with your own hands: dismantling the old line

Before you begin laying new wiring, you will need to dismantle the old system. This work is carried out taking into account safety rules, so rubber gloves should be purchased as a precaution. The first thing you need to do to dismantle the electrical network is to turn off the power to your house or apartment.

Then all wires are checked using a phase indicator. If the device does not register voltage, you can proceed directly to dismantling the line. Most often, it is in old-style buildings that the wiring is replaced. In Khrushchev buildings, old wiring diagrams cannot cope with modern voltage levels. This not only risks interruptions in the operation of the power grid, but also poses a direct threat to the lives of residents, since a fire may occur in a faulty system.

Helpful information! Each element of the system is first checked with a phase indicator - and only after that it is allowed to begin removing it.

First, sockets and switches are dismantled. You don’t have to remove the old cables at all, leaving them in the walls, but in this case you need to disconnect them from the network. If you still decide to remove old wiring from the walls, then you will need to buy a tester. This device is used to detect old cables. Then the places where they are laid are tapped, followed by the removal of the wires.

How to change the wiring in an apartment: features of hidden installation

As mentioned above, the installation of a hidden system is carried out inside the walls. If necessary, the cables can be placed in the floor or covered with plasterboard boxes. Today, a very popular option is to hide the cables behind a suspended ceiling.

The most difficult way is to organize channels in the walls. The amount of “dirty” work in this case increases several times. Laying wiring in an apartment along the floor has some advantages. For example, this option allows you not to go around the walls. However, installing electrical cables in the floor requires dismantling the old covering and completely replacing it with a new one. Before installing the wiring yourself, experts recommend that you familiarize yourself with step by step instructions for carrying out work.

First of all, you will need to make channels in the walls into which the electrical wiring will be laid. To do this, it is customary to use a special tool - a wall chaser. If you don't have one, a regular hammer drill will do. As a result of such work, a lot of dust rises in the room, so it is necessary to take protective measures by wearing glasses and a respirator.

When choosing the optimal depth for channels, you should remember one important rule: the thickness of the plaster applied on top of them should not exceed 10 mm. As for the width of the grooves, there are no restrictions in this case. If it is possible to install electrical wiring in the house with your own hands in the ceilings, then you should give preference to this method. This will simplify the process of installing a new network.

At the second stage, it is necessary to prepare holes for sockets. In this case, a hammer drill is used. To work, you will need to equip it with a crown-shaped attachment. It is used to create niches for distribution boxes. Next, the cables are laid in pre-prepared grooves. During this process, you must strictly follow the diagram drawn up before starting the installation of the electrical network.

Then you need to connect the wires in the junction boxes. For this purpose, connecting clamps (PPEs) are used, which also perform an insulating function. Then switches and sockets are installed. After installing electrical appliances, wires are connected to their contacts. At this stage, the wiring in the apartment is completed. Control of the work performed is carried out using a special tester.

The final stage includes two points: activating the electricity supply from the panel and sealing the channels with cables. If the wiring was laid in plasterboard structures, then it must be protected using corrugated tubes, which are attached to the surfaces using clips.

Installation of electrical wiring in the house: public method

The open method of wiring electrical wiring into a home involves the use of special plastic boxes. This method is less complicated, so it is often used when installing electricity yourself. In order to answer the question of how to make wiring in a house using an open method, you should familiarize yourself in more detail with the algorithm of actions.

First you need to fix the skirting boards. If the voids of these elements are used as a wiring box, then they must be indicated in the diagram before starting actual work. At the second stage, it is necessary to lay boxes from the baseboards to electrical appliances (sockets, switches). Next, the cables are pulled through them.

Replacing wiring in a panel house or Khrushchev house is done in the same way. It should be remembered that the boxes must have sufficient physical properties to withstand mechanical stress.

Note! Low-quality channels are not always able to protect wires from damage, which can lead to an emergency situation in the room.

Then you need to install the external junction boxes and connect the cables inside them. Connecting wires, as in the case of closed lines, is performed using PPE. Next, you need to mount sockets and switches and connect cables to them. At the final stage, all network elements are checked using a tester.

Thus, there are several signs by which you can easily determine whether your electrical wiring needs to be replaced. Self-installation of this system will save money. However, it is not recommended if you do not have special knowledge and skills in this area.

If you are planning to carry out a major renovation of your apartment, you need to change the wiring. In houses that were built a long time ago, the wiring is not designed for modern use. During the construction of old structures, specialists could not even think that in addition to the basic electrical appliances that were used at that time, people would use many other equipment. It turns out that the throughput of the old wiring is less than the power of all electrical appliances that is consumed. In addition, the service life of the wiring is about 30 years. But if you want to ensure uninterrupted voltage and extend the life of electrical appliances, you should not wait until the wiring is 30 years old. You can replace the electrical wiring yourself.

Choosing the right cable

Most people, when starting to draw up a diagram and work plan, are faced with the problem of what type of wires to choose. Wires are divided into several types. Basic:

• aluminum
• copper

Of course, it is best to buy copper ones. They are durable and reliable, and also have a longer service life. All specialists in the construction of both panel and other houses use only copper wires. When sockets or switches are connected, the core of aluminum cables is easy to break; with a multi-core copper cable, such an unpleasant situation is impossible. In addition, copper cable has good throughput.

Installation diagram of sockets and switches

Before laying electrical wiring, you need to carefully work on the location of sockets and switches in the house. It is with the help of the diagram that the wiring in the apartment will be carried out. For example, if you know in advance where you will put the computer, you can run a separate cable there, which will allow you to power all computer devices that have increased power consumption. The same applies to other powerful equipment.

How to distribute the number of sockets:

• living room. In the living room, it is recommended to install 5 sockets with a common frame (or whatever is convenient for you) for connecting video and audio equipment, two sockets near the sofa and one socket each where you need additional power sources
• bedroom. The sockets here should be near the sleeping place, the desktop, if there is one. The rest are optional
• corridor. A double socket will suffice here
• bathroom. The number of sockets depends on what electrical appliances you will use here. On average, one or two sockets are enough
• kitchen. Near cutting table It is worth installing from three to five sockets. Place the rest as needed.

According to standard regulations, sockets in the house should be located at a distance 30 cm from the floor, and the switches are on 85 cm.

Removing old wiring

So, after you have drawn up a diagram of the placement of all sockets and switches in the apartment, you can begin to dismantle the old wiring. This process can be done with your own hands. It depends on how the old wiring was installed. Before doing all the work yourself, you need to disconnect the wiring from the meter in the apartment. If the electrical wiring was placed in channels, then dismantling the old wiring and installing new wiring is carried out in parallel. You need to wind a new one to one side of the old cable, then you need to get the other end of the old wiring. That is, you won’t need to hammer into walls and create unnecessary problems. But if the new wiring diagram of the house does not correspond to the old wiring, then grooves will need to be made in the walls.

When, When electrical wiring is embedded in the wall, the first thing you need to do is find out in which part of the house it is laid. You can find it by noticing grooves embedded in the walls, or by using a special device. You can also study the house diagram. Once you have determined its location according to the diagram, you can change the electrical wiring.

Correctly changing the electrical wiring at home with your own hands

To avoid unexpected trips to the store when laying a new cable, you need to stock up on all the tools and materials in advance. So, to replace the electrical wiring you need:

• hammer drill
• Bulgarian
• soldering iron
• building level
• led screwdriver
• spatula, putty, electrical tape
• cord, screwdrivers, side cutters, flashlight
• new wires

When we have everything necessary to replace the electrical wiring in the apartment, we begin the process itself. We make markings on the wall in the place where the new electrical wiring will be laid. Then, using a hammer drill and a grinder, you need to make grooves - ideal for walls panel house. It is best to lay the wiring in corrugation; this will not only increase the level of safety, but will also facilitate the process of replacing electrical wiring in the future. After the grooves have been made, you need to lay a cable from the meter to the distribution boxes. We place the cable in the corrugation and place them in the grooves. From the distribution boxes we lay the cable to the socket, switches and lighting fixtures. In this case, it is worth looking carefully at the diagram. Then we connect the cable branches with the main one in distribution boxes. This must be done with a special terminal block, which will ensure high quality and safety. When all the work in the distribution boxes is completed, you need to start connecting the power supply to the apartment.

Completion of wiring replacement work

The final stage of replacing the wiring is connecting the apartment's wiring to the meter. In this case, if you do not have basic knowledge in this area, you should not do the work yourself; it is better to call an electrician. The old meter and machines need to be replaced. When all the work is completed, we connect the apartment wiring to the machine and turn on the machines. If the machine is not knocked out, it means that you were able to change the wiring in the apartment with your own hands without incident. All that remains is to check the sockets and switches to see if they work.

As you can see, changing the wiring yourself is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. Often people, when they read the entire work procedure, get scared and call specialists. Replacing the wiring yourself will cost several times less than with the help of specialists. But if you are not confident in your abilities, it is better not to take risks.