Before the work is completed, it is necessary to familiarize yourself, at least in general terms, with the main provisions of the "Electrical Installation Rules" (PUE), which spells out all the requirements for the design and installation of electrical wiring in buildings for various purposes.
Optimal design is the key to success and security
At the initial stage, according to the information received, it is necessary to draw up a general sketch of the garage room, its walls and ceiling, indicating the sizes and the expected placement points of the input electrical panel, junction boxes, sockets, switches and lighting fixtures. In this case, the location of stationary equipment (workbench, welding machine, etc.) and the features of the building structure are taken into account.
The next stage is the transfer of the plan to the area: with chalk, they draw on the construction elements the places of installation of electrical equipment and consumers, the routes of supply wires and cables. When choosing a place to install a distribution switchboard, you should consider how to conduct light into the garage from the power supply line. Garage cooperatives are characterized by their own extensive power network, there will not be any special problems with connection, but for a stand-alone building, it will be necessary to lay an air or underground supply line.
Types of installation
There are two ways to install light in the garage - using open or hidden wiring. The second option is typical for concrete and brick buildings. It involves the use of technological voids of walls, floor slabs for laying cable products, or placing it under a layer of plaster in specially made channels - gates.
At the same time, the shield, sockets and switches also cut into the base, which is associated with high labor costs and the need to purchase or rent a specialized tool (chipper, professional puncher). Therefore, the light in the garage with their own hands is often mounted in an open way, i.e. on the surface of building elements.
Selection of electrical materials and tools
The main materials for the implementation of the project:
- Introductory electrical panel containing a meter and protective automation.
- Electric wires, cables and protective covers (cable channel, corrugated pipe or metal sleeves and trays).
- Junction boxes, switches, sockets and lamps for general and local lighting.
When choosing a wire cross-section, the power of consumers should be taken into account and be guided by the following table:
Correspondence of the connected load to the conductor cross section| Conductor cross section (mm 2 ) | copper / load (kW) | aluminum / load (kW) |
| 1,5 | 4.1 | - |
| 2,5 | 5.9 | 4.4 |
| 4.0 | 8.3 | 6.1 |
| 6.0 | 10.1 | 7.9 |
| 10.0 | 15.4 | 11.0 |
| 16.0 | 18.7 | 13,2 |
It is preferable to use copper wires with insulation that does not support combustion (marking ends with the index "ng"). In addition, copper compares favorably with aluminum in its greater resistance to physical influences and deformations, extended service life, and good electrical conductivity during surface oxidation. In the case of combined use, in no case can conductors of dissimilar metals be connected by the "twist" method. For this, terminal blocks with screw locks or WAGO type clamps are designed.
Of the tools can not do without a sharp knife, nippers or side cutters, pliers, screwdrivers, electric drills. The availability of a cordless screwdriver will greatly facilitate the work. And since the garage is without light, an electric extension cord and a portable lamp will be required for comfortable operation.
Switchboard. electrical safety
How to make light in the garage so that the working and staying conditions in it are not only comfortable, but also safe? This mainly depends on the correct configuration and connection of the input distribution switchboard.
The best place for its location is near the entrance gate. If necessary, it will be convenient to completely de-energize the structure. To prevent all kinds of emergency situations, the shield is capable of including:
- Individual metering device (IPU, electric meter). It captures the amount of electricity consumed.
- Circuit Breakers (AB). Protect the power system from overloads and high short circuit currents. The main AV, designed for maximum load (from 16 to 50 A), is mounted in front of the ISP, the rest - in front of each group of consumers.
- Residual current devices (RCD). Disconnect the circuit when a person comes in contact with a damaged insulation coating or live parts and exceeds a certain limit of the leakage current (30mA). It is mounted immediately after the electric meter. AB and RCDs successfully replace differential machines combining the functions of these two devices in one housing.
Additionally, the electrical panel is equipped with a step-down transformer, voltage control relay, zero and grounding buses.
In conditions of high humidity and an abundance of metal surfaces, the risk of electric shock increases sharply. Therefore, special attention should be paid to grounding, since it is precisely it that reliably guarantees the operability of protective devices. A
metal strip is laid along the perimeter of the floor or the lower part of the walls of the garage
, to which electrodes driven into the ground (for example, 3-4 pieces of an angular profile with a minimum length of 2 m), stationary power consumers, a
bench work bench and a grounding bus in the distribution cabinet are connected with flexible copper conductors. In exceptional cases, the function of the electrodes can be performed by the reinforcement of the concrete foundation of the structure.
Wiring. Connection of sockets and switches
Cable routes (cable channels, corrugated pipes with wires, strobes) should be parallel to the ceiling at a distance of 15-20 cm from it. Power and lighting lines are powered from different machines and are maintained separately. Junction boxes are mounted at branch points.
The descents are perpendicular to the floor, taking into account the fact that the height of the switches is not more than 150-170 cm, sockets - 60-80 cm (the exception is the sockets above the workbench: they are mounted directly above the countertop). With an open installation method, overhead devices are mounted on the surface with screws or dowels for quick installation. When hidden, they are mounted in metal burrows pre-buried and fixed with cement mortar (gypsum or alabaster).
Lighting requirements. Location of fixtures
During the day, certain adjustments to the illumination of the room are made by sunlight. In the garage, additional lighting is carried out through window openings or gates, but it must be assumed that the car will have to be repaired in the dark.
The most significant indicators of lighting are efficiency and uniformity. And although fluorescent lamps have been popular with car owners for many years, LED lamps are worth buying in the garage. Their price is gradually reduced, and the quality of the light flux is constantly growing.
Another important principle is the modularity of lighting. The light in the garage is usually divided into general and local. Additional lights are needed above the desk, shelves, machine tools and the doorway. Good illumination of the surrounding area will greatly facilitate parking at night.
Electrical equipment of a viewing hole
The inspection pit will turn any garage into a full-fledged auto repair shop.
There will be no problems with the light and electrical safety of this repair zone if the supply voltage is not higher than 36 V. For this purpose, a step-down transformer (380; 220V / 36; 24; 12V) is used, which can be placed in the input
distribution panel. Luminaires having a sealed design (IP65 and above) and protective grilles are installed in niches along the walls of the inspection pit.
A portable lamp of the appropriate voltage will also be useful for illuminating darkened and inaccessible places of the car. To operate the power tool, use a socket installed outside the pit, equipped with a residual current device.
At the final stage of work, before connecting the light in the garage to the supply voltage, it is worth checking once again that the switch boxes are correctly connected, make sure that there are no bare wires.
Ventilation and heating systems
Effective natural ventilation will prevent the active development of car body corrosion, but with frequent welding or painting work in the garage, forced air circulation is necessary. It is better to power the exhaust fan motor from a separate circuit breaker and lay a separate line to it.
Directly from the shield receive power and heating devices. For fire safety in garages, the use of improvised devices and air heaters with open heating elements is prohibited.
A few words about automation
Automated garage systems (control of entry gates, maintaining microclimate, etc.) make the life of motorists convenient and comfortable, but require a backup power source.
Such may be a gasoline or diesel generator with automatic start. When the voltage disappears in the public network, the engine starts up, and the switching equipment switches the automation and light in the garage to power from the generator.