The electrical panel plays an extremely important role in the organization of the energy economy. And this applies not only to large industrial workshops and enterprises. A high-quality electrical panel in the apartment, with good and reliable automation, will prevent the occurrence of a fire as a result of a short circuit. Such equipment must meet the most stringent quality standards, as people's lives depend on its reliability and reliability. The box must have the necessary margin of safety, so that when struck, the automatic equipment is not damaged. That is why it is necessary to take a very responsible approach to the selection of such equipment and not to save on its quality when completely replacing the electrical wiring in the apartment. This article will tell you what types of shields are currently on the market, how to assemble an electric shroud, and how to choose the right equipment.
General description and purpose
During the construction of new buildings, as well as during the overhaul of the old residential (and not only) fund, the electrical panel must be installed without fail. And not so long ago, the standards were less stringent, and it was enough to install only a junction box. The tightening is primarily due to security concerns. The power consumption of the average apartment is growing from year to year, and this despite the fact that manufacturers of household appliances produce more and more economical appliances and devices. In this situation, the network sometimes experiences critical loads. This may result in a fire. During overloads, an electrical panel (more precisely, its automation) opens the network, which prevents a catastrophe.
In addition, the installation of such a shield will turn off the power in certain sections of the circuit. Such a need arises, for example, when replacing switches or sockets. It would seem that this is not so important. In fact, this is not so: a power outage can lead to the failure of expensive equipment. And if a refrigerator or a laptop may be at risk in an apartment, then production rates are much higher: from getting a defect to breaking a precision and very expensive imported machine.
Modern technology has advanced quite significantly. And today, the electrical panel can not only prevent ignition of the insulation of the current-carrying wire, but also save a person’s life by instantly opening the circuit in case of electric shock.
Kinds
The shield can be installed on the landing (on the floor), as well as in a specific apartment. He may also be responsible for the safety of the entire structure. Therefore, shields are classified as follows:
- The main distribution panel. It is the leading link in the entire energy system. Such equipment is mounted at transformer substations, as well as close to workshops of energy-intensive industries (foundry, rolling, thermal shops, electric arc remelting, etc.). This unit can not be confused with an electric panel in the apartment: it has very impressive dimensions.
- Introductory switchgear. He is responsible for the power supply of the apartment building, business center, shopping center of other premises. It is installed directly at the input of the power cable. This device distributes energy to apartment electrical panels. There is a meter to account for the electricity consumed by the whole house. It also includes automation tools that de-energize the facility in case of emergency situations and stress on the system.
- Emergency backup input. Such a device is installed relatively rarely and only, perhaps, at strategically important facilities and in ambulance hospitals. The installation of this type of electrical panel provides backup power in the event of a breakdown in the main power lines or failure of transformer and other equipment. Emergency reserve input requires a large cash outlay for implementation. That is why it is rarely used.
- Storey shield. Provides uninterrupted power for apartments on one floor of the entrance. It is traditionally used as an electric panel under the counter and automatic machines from 2 to 6 stairwell apartments. Also found application in office centers and administrative buildings.
- Apartment electrical panel. It is mounted, as a rule, in the hallway, and is responsible for the safe operation of wiring in the apartment. It has no electricity metering devices (meters). It is used exclusively for machines. An electrical panel of this type was not previously provided for by design documentation. For this reason, it is absent in old houses. However, the presence of such a shield will protect the housing, so people are increasingly on their own initiative to install such shields in their apartments.
Flap assembly sequence
First of all, it is necessary to fix a special rail inside the box, on which the equipment will be installed. This rail externally is a perforated metal plate. To cut the lengths of the required length, you should use a hacksaw for metal.
Then you need to fix the so-called terminal blocks. They are designed to connect the neutral wires. For old apartments, one terminal block will be enough, for modern apartments, you will need to install two elements.
It was the turn of installing automation (switches). Mounting modern appliances is quite simple. It will take only a few minutes.
After installing the machines, a counter is usually mounted (if necessary). Counters, especially modern ones, are rather complex devices. Therefore, their installation is carried out by the corresponding service according to preliminary applications. A specialist of this organization will draw up all the necessary documents and put a seal on the device.
The next step is to connect the introductory machine. It is recommended that the phase line be drawn from below.
When carrying out work, all safety requirements for electrical installation work and the requirements of the manufacturer of the products must be precisely followed.
Classification of electrical panels by installation method
Shields can also be classified by installation method. So, they distinguish external (they are also called overhead) shields, built-in shields, as well as floor shields. The location and method of mounting the electrical panel play a very important role. They depend on many factors: the material of the walls and partitions, the purpose of the shield, its dimensions, etc.
Outer shields
Installing shields of this type is relatively simple. Therefore, this type is the most popular solution when equipping apartments (and other facilities). They seek to place such shields in secluded places, since they may not fit into the interior of the apartment and make an unpleasant impression, introduce disharmony. Outwardly, it resembles a box nailed to a wall and bulging outward. But in some cases, experienced electricians recommend installing these types of shields. This applies to wooden houses and is dictated by security considerations.
Basically, such shields have a plastic case. You can see on sale and metal shields of the external type, but the price of such equipment is much higher for obvious reasons.
Recessed shields
The electric built-in dashboard looks more harmonious and does not protrude from the wall. But in order to mount the box, it will be necessary to make a recess in the wall. And it is quite expensive, noisy and dusty. And besides, it is not always feasible in prefabricated houses. The complexity of installation is supplemented by the problems of connecting wires. For these reasons, such a solution is rarely used when repairing and replacing wiring. But when constructing new buildings, niches for such shields are provided at the design stage, which greatly facilitates the installation of the box and installation work.
Floor shields
As a rule, they have large dimensions, as a result of which fastening to the walls is impractical. In an apartment of a multi-storey building, such a shield can hardly be found. But in production this is not uncommon. Also, such devices are used as control units of complex technological equipment (CNC machines, thermal and chemical-thermal treatment plants, and others).
Installation of a hinged shield
To install this type of shield, remove the front panel. The rear wall has four holes for screws. If there are no holes (and this sometimes comes across), then they must be done independently. To do this, you can use both a hand drill and a bench drill. In no case should you drill all four holes in the wall at once. First you need to mark and drill one. After this operation, the box is screwed to the wall by one screw and aligned horizontally using a standard building level. And after that, you can make markings and drill the remaining three holes. The base is screwed onto all four screws to the wall.
There is a special hole in the housing for cable entry. But if necessary, you can cut a hole in an arbitrary section of the contour. For these purposes, use a grinder.
Installation of built-in flap
To install such a shield, it is necessary to break a niche in the wall for the box. It is hard work. It is especially problematic to work with a concrete wall. Before starting work, it is necessary to carefully study all the documentation available for the apartment, so as not to accidentally damage the pipes or wiring hidden in the wall.
Dimensions are performed with a minimum margin of 2 millimeters (both around the perimeter and deep into the niche).
The contour of the future niche is outlined by a grinder. Next, you need to drill the concrete along the perimeter to make the maximum number of blind holes to the depth of the cabinet.
It remains only to knock out a section of the wall. But this is the most laborious and difficult part.
Where can I install the shield
The place where the shield will be fixed cannot be chosen spontaneously or based on personal ideas about aesthetics and beauty. The primary concern is security. Room design and style are secondary. So, the electric shield should be located as far as possible from explosive substances and potential sources of ignition. It is also necessary to ensure easy accessibility of the device. If necessary, the repairman must gain access to the control panel in the shortest possible time, without committing unnecessary manipulations. An important factor is the illumination. It is desirable that the light level allows you to control the automation of the shield without the use of additional lighting devices.
Case Materials
There are only two options for manufacturing the switchboard housing - steel or plastic.
Metal, as you know, has the ability to deform under the influence of a load, while plastic is very brittle and breaks when a certain amount of force is achieved. Thus, the electric plastic shield has significantly lower performance compared to metal counterparts. But the metal case also has a number of disadvantages: high weight, rough appearance. Plastic is more technologically advanced than steel sheet. From this material, elegant products can easily be obtained. For these reasons, plastic electrical panels are installed mainly in apartments, and metal ones - in production halls and garages. At the same time, one should not chase cheapness and acquire cheap Chinese counterparts, since after a short operation the latter turn yellow and look just awful.
This is true for apartment shields. The main switchboards, emergency inlets, floor shields and others are made exclusively of metal.
Existing Flap Designs
By design, shields can be classified as follows: modular, accounting and accounting and distribution.
The name of the modular shields speaks for itself - they can carry out the installation of various modules. Inside, such shields have special rails with holes on which the elements are attached. Closed by a metal door with a locking mechanism. Basically, shields of this type are used to assemble control units for specific needs.
Accounts are called special electrical shields under the counter, which is mounted on a rail or to the wall. In addition, there are places for fastening automation.
Accounting and distribution panels provide an additional possibility of mounting protective devices on several branches. In addition, there is a special compartment for switching equipment.
Useful hints and tips for installing the shield
When purchasing a shield, in no case do you need to immediately take the cheapest option. This is usually a trap. Unscrupulous manufacturers use materials of poor quality in order to reduce the cost of their products. Such electrical panels quickly fail and crack at the slightest load. In addition, there are questions regarding fire safety (such plastic is most likely to erupt from the slightest spark).
Experts strongly recommend providing for the future the possibility of installing additional equipment in the shield. So when expanding the network there will be no need to purchase and install new devices. It is much easier to connect an additional module than to disassemble and assemble the entire circuit.
Be sure to sign each of the machines. This will save you from many troubles in the future both during repair and preventive maintenance of equipment. As a rule, when you buy an electric shield, special stickers are included for this purpose.
If financial opportunities allow, then preference when choosing a shield should be given to well-known brands. This guarantees the quality of the products and their normal operation throughout the entire life cycle.
If small children live in the apartment, then the door to the electrical panel is equipped with a key lock.