Is it difficult to put into practice a wiring diagram in a garage? Every homemaster who has at his disposal a similar room (under the house) or a building will be interested in a similar question. Even if we are talking about a garage cooperative, electrification ends with connecting the input cable to the meter. Further wiring of the electric network lies with the owner himself.
You can call a professional electrician, which will require a certain fee. And depending on the complexity of the work, their cost can be quite high. However, if you have the basic skills that all electricians have, wiring can be done independently. But how to do that?
Do it yourself
Most likely, many of you were holding pliers or pliers in your hands. And if so, then there is nothing to fear. In addition, if concepts such as PUE and PUGNP are already familiar or at least do not cause concern, then it will not be so difficult to make electrical wiring in the garage on your own. Although certain nuances are present. But, in fact, the material of the article is dedicated to this - the electrification of the garage.
And, then, because you do not need to design a whole car service with lifts and other necessary equipment. At the same time, there is no need to replace a single bulb, socket or switch. Wiring in the garage is not an easy task, but it is also not the most difficult. All work involves several stages:
- Installation of protective equipment against electric shock.
- Cable routing.
- Connecting light sources.
- Outlet distribution.
But the most important thing is to observe safety precautions!
Features of garage wiring
Many people have a garage, and in this room or building there is a need to connect various devices powered by mains and power tools. And for this you need a certain number of outlets. In addition, you can not do without additional lighting. In other words, in any case, without the proper electrics in the garage in any way, even in the absence of a car. After all, a garage is also a good workshop, since not all work can be done in an apartment or house.
Carrying out electrical wiring in the garage is noticeably different from this work in an apartment or private house. It has its own characteristics and differences that must be taken into account at the design stage. It is also important what kind of devices will be used during operation - a welding machine, a washing unit, etc.
With the garage cooperative, the initial stage has already been done, which cannot be said about your site - you need to conduct an external cable branch from the central power line. And if you can make wiring in the garage yourself, then you can’t do without a specialist to connect to a shared network.
In addition, it is better to fork out a little more so that an experienced electrician checks the quality of the wiring, especially paying attention to the connections. The amount in this case is unlikely to be high, but there will be certain guarantees. Personal security is the most expensive!
Charting
Before starting work on conducting electricians in the garage, you need to draw up a diagram. And the further operation of the garage depends on how well it is thought out. At the same time, it must be indicated on it where the power cable is inserted into the room where the electrical panel is located, the location of all consumers, including light sources.
Make a diagram according to certain requirements:
- Channels for wires on the walls should pass only horizontally or vertically. Turns are made exclusively at right angles.
- The wiring should be located at a distance of 100-150 mm from the ceiling and 150 mm from the heating pipes. This will avoid mechanical damage.
- The switch should be mounted 100-150 mm from the door frame and 1.5 meters from the floor.
- Outlets in the garage should be located 600 mm from the floor. Moreover, their number is determined as follows: one element per 6 m 2 or every 4000 mm.
- If there is a viewing hole or a basement in the garage, then the switch and socket should be located outside this zone. This is due to increased humidity.
- On the line of lighting and sockets, it is recommended to install separate machines and RCDs. If there is a need to repair the outlet, light will be present.
- To illuminate the inspection pit, 12-volt lamps are needed (sometimes one is enough). In this regard, it is necessary to include a step-down transformer in the circuit. It will be installed in the shield, in the same place as the switch.
In addition, in a garage, a three-phase electrical network should be installed, since the "grandfather" single-phase is no longer able to cope with the loads. But if you need the usual 220 V, then you should choose the correct cable section. Then the loads from the welding machine and other powerful device can not be afraid.
If you have a construction plan, the organization of electricians in the garage with your own hands will go noticeably more comfortable. This document has exact dimensions, which will allow you to competently create a wiring project.
Electrical devices
A garage is the place where various mechanical work is usually performed, and for this, appropriate equipment is needed. It's about electrical appliances. Agree, in many cases it is difficult to do without the help of a welding machine and a number of other devices. Moreover, it is not necessary to store a car in the garage, some adapt the room to other household needs. Therefore, over time, a certain minimum power tool accumulates.
In this regard, when developing a wiring diagram, the total power should be taken into account, which, in fact, has already been mentioned. To solve the problem of how to conduct electricity in the garage, the following is a list of the most commonly used appliances with an indication of their approximate power:
- charger (it certainly is in every garage) - 0.2 kW;
- jigsaw - 0.6 kW;
- angle grinder, electric drill, sharpener - 1 kW;
- high pressure washer - 2 kW;
- semi-automatic welding machine - 2.5 kW;
- heat gun - 3 kW.
As you can see, nothing heavy duty, as it happens on an industrial scale, is usually not used. Consequently, the cross-section of conductors of 4 mm 2 and automatic machines at 25 A will be quite enough.
Mounting the electrical panel
It is with the switchgear that the installation of electrical wiring in the garage begins. It can be placed inside, and after it put a circuit breaker, or outside. In the latter case, the input automaton will serve as the report point.
At the same time, it can also be connected in front of the electricity meter in the garage, only in this case it is sealed together with the meter. Only after that it will not be possible to change the input configuration. Therefore, the wiring diagram must be developed taking into account the location.
The electrical panel itself should be located in close proximity to the entry point. And the shorter the cable length to the first circuit breaker, the higher the level of security. All switching is desirable to be located within one box. But an exception can be made if the meter does not correspond to the dimensions of the distribution panel.
All circuit breakers should be marked - do not rely on your own memory, as it is not always permanent. If the shield is made of metal, then you must take care of its grounding.
Outlet Network
How to conduct wiring in the garage? The requirements section above listed at what distance sockets and switches should be installed. Here we will take a closer look at how you can optimally organize the outlet network. In this case, the general rule is as follows: the duty outlet should be located near the input shield, and the rest should be in the area of work. In this case, each group should start up to a separate machine. Then, if necessary, the entire garage will not be de-energized.
In order to save money, you should divide the network into groups depending on the power of the devices used. For example, the outlet for connecting the battery charger does not need a wire with a large cross section. The same goes for a soldering iron or vacuum cleaner.
Sockets for connecting a welding machine, grinder and other powerful equipment should be placed near the gate, since these devices are used on the street. As for stationary electrical equipment (drilling, grinding machines, etc.), they can be connected, bypassing sockets, through separate starting machines.
Also, when developing a wiring diagram in a garage, a number of recommendations should be taken into account:
- In the basement you do not need to place 220 V sockets. But if there is a need for this, then its execution should be outdoor to protect it from moisture.
- The electrical wiring of outlets and lighting should be separate - in different corrugations and along different lines.
- Since work is usually carried out at floor level, sockets for power tools should be located lower than in residential premises.
- When choosing the places for securing outlets, one should take into account the possibility of damage to them (car bumper, door, if it reaches the wall).
- If the garage is metal, then the sockets are located on areas of dielectric, which must be resistant to high temperatures. Use plywood is not worth it, because it burns and absorbs moisture.
If the room is cramped, then when using numerous portable extension cords, you can get confused in the wires. And it also reduces the level of security, therefore it is better to fix the module stationary.
Features of lighting in the garage
When developing a wiring diagram in a garage, the need for high-quality lighting should be taken into account.
At the same time, it can be divided into two functional groups:
- Standby light - it should provide uniform illumination of the entire room, especially in the entrance area. Moreover, high power is not needed, but a separate line is needed - so that in the event of a power outage, the emergency lighting works. It is only forbidden to combine this line with the power supply of the inspection pit or basement.
- Work areas - here you can optimally position individual lights with switches. Performing work in different places, you can provide yourself with light where you need it. In addition, the remaining lamps will be extinguished, which saves energy.
In addition, when choosing lighting fixtures, shadows from existing shelves, racks and a standing car should be taken into account. That is, the independent wiring of the electrical wiring in the garage is reduced to combining directed and diffusing light sources for various purposes. For example, it is better to place a lamp with a lampshade above a workbench, while a flat diffusing lamp will be relevant for general lighting.
The viewing pit also does not require powerful lamps, but at the same time, lighting should be sufficient to see where to step, or to search for fallen objects. Because of too much light, the eyes will quickly begin to tire. It is better to place flat long lamps here. And if there are niches in the walls, lighting can be arranged in them.
Necessary materials
After the electrical wiring diagram has been drawn up, you should deal with the selection of materials. First of all, you need to determine the amount of cable. The wiring will go both inside and out - from the pole to the electric meter. In addition, if you plan to lay the cable in the corrugation, you should purchase the required number of fasteners.
First you need to choose the cross section of the cores - for the external network it should be at least 10 mm 2 . It is better to use copper conductors than aluminum wires. Firstly, it is necessary to choose a much larger cross section. Secondly, aluminum is less elastic than copper, and for this reason is subject to frequent mechanical damage.
For the correct calculation of the cross section of internal wiring, it is necessary to take into account the total power of all used electrical devices. The resulting figure should be multiplied by a factor of 1.2 (power reserve of 20%). For sockets, cores with a cross section of at least 4 mm 2 are desirable. As for the switches, then 1.5 mm 2 will be enough for them.
Now you have to choose the cable length. Since it will take several segments (from the outlet to the panel, from the switch to the lamp, etc.), it should be taken with a good margin. For each connection, an additional 10-15 cm is required. In this case, if the wiring is decided to be done in an open way, it is convenient to lay the wires in special 20x10 cable channels.
It is necessary to determine the exact number of outlets - there must be at least two of them. An extension cord will be connected to one, and the other will serve for stationary equipment. The same applies to switches - 2: one for the main lighting, the other for turning on the lights of the inspection hole.
External input wiring device
This stage must be entrusted to a specialist, since it will not work independently. There are several ways to lay the input cable - air and underground.
Air - less time-consuming and costly, so it is better to choose it. A special SIP wire is used here. At the same time, the distance between the garage and the street post should be considered. And if it exceeds 25 meters, there is a need for an intermediate support.
Laying the cable in the corrugation with the open method of wiring installation has its own characteristics, but the air way of connecting the input power cable also implies some requirements. In particular, we are talking about observing a certain height:
- above the road - at least 5-6 meters;
- above the pedestrian zone - at least 3.75 meters;
- entering the garage - at least 2.75 meters.
At the same time, the last requirement creates certain difficulties, because the garage is a low building. And if you run the cable through the roof, there may be problems with the arrangement of waterproofing, there is a high risk of mechanical damage, etc. Therefore, it is recommended to enter the cable by means of a steel pipe slightly bent at the top (in the people - “gander”).
Underground laying of the power cable will require much more costs, because you need to dig a trench. However, in some cases this may be the best solution. In addition, VBBSHV armored copper cable is already used here.
At the entrance to the garage, a metal pipe is placed in the foundation hole through which a wire will be inserted inside the garage. Moreover, its diameter should be twice as large as that of the power cable. Further, it is already connected to the shield.
Now it’s worth choosing one of two options for wiring in the garage:
Consider them below in a little more detail.
Hidden wiring
In this case, strobes are made into which the cable is laid and secured with plastic clamps or metal brackets. The old "grandfather" method has proven itself well - the use of alabaster. The solution needs to grab the track in increments of 250-300 mm.
Further, in the same hidden way, the installation of junction boxes, the connection of sockets and switches are performed. After all connections are completed, you should ring the wiring with a multimeter for operability. It is worthwhile to carefully consider this stage of work and not use the usual twists. This is especially true for compounds of dissimilar metals (aluminum and copper). Special terminal blocks are available for sale that are inexpensive.
While still open, you should take a picture of the wiring diagram in the garage on the walls. This will allow, if necessary, to quickly find a faulty network section. In addition, if you subsequently need to hang a shelf, then such a photo will be useful - you can avoid unwanted penetration of wiring. And only after that it is possible to perform plastering of all the strobes.
Outdoor installation
If the hidden method of wiring is relevant for brick and concrete buildings, then open wiring is more suitable for wooden or metal garages. This technique is simpler - no need to crush the wall for wires and boxes. And, actually, how can this be done on a metal surface ?!
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In conclusion
As you can understand, the implementation of a simple wiring diagram in a garage in practice is not so simple, and rather time-consuming. At the same time, there is also no high complexity here, and therefore any beginner electrician can cope with the work. Only the main thing is to devote most of the time to drawing up the circuit of the electric network. As we know, a lot depends on this - the choice of cable length and other factors.
Well, in conclusion, it can be noted that the time, effort and money spent will definitely be worth it. Indeed, in the final analysis, if everything is done correctly, one can get full satisfaction from the work done by one’s own hands.