At the time of the Soviets, people did not think about equipping opening electrical panels. The usual platform on which the batch switch, the meter for electricity and a couple of fuses, in common people called plugs, was quite enough was all enough. Moreover, the vast majority of them installed "bugs" - jumpers made of copper wire. Now the security requirements have become completely different, traffic jams are a thing of the past, giving way to circuit breakers and other equipment designed to protect people. Today's article will tell about the schemes of apartment shields assembled in our time.
Small introduction
Home craftsmen, even those who have completed the entire electrical installation in the apartment with their own hands, often fail before assembling the electrical cabinet, preferring to pay for the work of professional electricians. However, it is not a fact that a real specialist will work, and not one that is popularly called "six-volt". In addition, a similar scheme for connecting an apartment panel is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance. The main thing here is to understand the principle. In addition, if the wiring in the apartment is completed, there is no need to perform complex calculations on the basis of the automation values. This can be done by cross-section of wires suitable for the shield.
How to start the assembly of the electrical cabinet
First of all, the home master needs to determine the number of circuit breakers, RCDs and their nominal value. This is done quite simply, because all the wires are in front of the eyes. It is best to take a piece of paper and outline a rough layout of the modules on a DIN rail. This will help determine what will be mounted - residual current circuit breakers (RCD) or residual current circuit breakers (AEDT). Here the matter is in the free space inside the box. After all, an RCD with an automatic machine occupies 3 modular places, and an AEDT - only 2. Sometimes, it is this factor that becomes decisive. The layout of the dashboard with an RCD will be slightly different - it is more difficult to switch.
Number of phases suitable for the introductory cabinet
Most often, apartments are powered by 220 V, but in private houses it may well be 380 V. When connected to a single-phase circuit, the layout of the apartment panel will be simpler, but not by much. If you wish, you can deal with a system of 380 V. But if it comes to apartments, then it will be considered exactly the scheme for one phase.
When planning the location of modular elements, it is worthwhile to provide a double place at the entrance, in front of the meter. It is necessary to install an opening circuit breaker. Many may ask why you need a place for 2 modules. Despite the fact that a dashboard diagram for a single-phase system is being compiled, the input circuit breaker provides for the breakdown of two conductors - phase and zero.
Location of protective automation elements: initial assembly
Having a sketch of the future electrical cabinet on hand, you can begin to prepare it. It is necessary to place all protective automation in the correct sequence on the DIN rail. Do not forget about 2 buses for neutral and ground wires.
Consider an example of an electric apartment shield circuit, namely the location of the protection elements in it in the presence of two DIN rails (from left to right, starting from the top):
- Introductory bipolar machine.
- Electricity metering device.
- Main differential circuit breaker or residual current device.
- AVDT or RCD, going to separate groups.
The lower DIN rail is fully engaged in circuit breakers distributed in groups.
Switching the electrical panel
The assembly of the housing shield diagram with difavtomatami or protective shutdown devices should begin from the input, gradually moving towards the outgoing lines. At the same time, power is not supplied to the cabinet - this is done in the last turn. An electric metering device is connected from the input, then a common AVDT or RCD, and after that the wiring is made into groups.
Helpful information! Initially, the contacts of the automation should not be pulled much - there is a high probability of an error during switching, and it is not worth it to tear down the fixing screws again. After the assembly is completed, you must again check everything carefully. If the switching is satisfactory, the fixing screws can be extended. The view below shows a similar assembly.
Rules for installing residual current circuit breakers
Many home masters are mistaken precisely at this stage. What can I say, even experienced electricians sometimes incorrectly connect such devices. It should be remembered that if an RCD is present in the circuit of the apartment panel, the contact of the ground and ground wires cannot be allowed. If this happens, then during operation, the protective shutdown device will periodically causelessly operate, which does not add to the comfort of living.
For correct operation, the zero wire coming from the bus to each of the RCDs is then sent specifically to its own separate group. If you mix it up and send it to another line, leaving the phase on your own, the residual current circuit breaker will constantly operate, as in the case of neutral contact with grounding. This is due to the occurrence of a potential difference on the RCD coils.
Main power and cabinet test
Rechecking the circuit again and extending the contacts, it is necessary to carefully lay all the wires - this will help subsequently in the maintenance of the cabinet, access to equipment will be simplified. After that, you can start connecting the power cable, however, remember that if this is a private house, the owner does not have the right to take food from the pole - this work is performed by a specialist in the energy sales company, who installs a cabinet with feeder switch. Here it is necessary to be fed from him.
At the moment the power cable is inserted into the electrical cabinet, there should be no voltage on it. By connecting it to the machine, it is necessary to tightly stretch the contacts, turn on all the automation and only after that apply voltage. In this case, according to the disconnected machine, it will become clear on which of the lines there is a malfunction. There should not be any loads on outlets at this time. Now it remains only to click on all RCDs in turn the "TEST" button. Devices should trip by detecting leakage current. If everything is in order, you can call a specialist of the electricity supplier company or RES housing and communal services to check the connection diagram of the apartment panel with a meter and seal the meter.
A few tips for maintaining the electrical panel
If there is free space left in the electrical cabinet, it makes sense to install a simple outlet in it. It can come in handy if you need to connect some equipment nearby or even carry it normally during the repair process. Power is supplied to it from the main AVDT or RCD. In no case should you connect it to the introductory machine. Such actions will be regarded by the controller of energy supervision as the theft of electricity, which is fraught with a very large fine.
After the electrical cabinet has been put into operation (after 1-2 weeks), carefully tighten all the fixing screws of the contacts again. Such audits should be done 2 times a year. This eliminates heating as a result of oxidation and weakening of contacts. All work must be done only with a tool with intact insulation, even if they are carried out with the voltage removed. Automation may fail, and in this case, a crack in the handle of a screwdriver will quite possibly cost a life.
As for the drawn diagram of the housing shield. It should not be thrown away. This sketch can help to significantly reduce future troubleshooting time when it occurs. The same applies to cabling schemes for an apartment or a private house.
Useful advice for those who decide to call a professional electrician for repair and are not sure of their qualifications. In this case, you just need to pay attention to the tool with which it is going to work. If the handles of pliers or screwdrivers are rewound with electrical tape, you should not trust him. A good specialist keeps the tool in perfect condition, checking it every morning before work, as prescribed by safety rules and will never use a damaged one.
How to simplify the subsequent maintenance of the shield: recommendations of specialists
In order to make it easier in the future to understand what is going and where (over time this installation will be erased from memory), in addition to the signed machines, it makes sense to transfer the switching circuit of the electric cabinet to its door and glue it with adhesive tape on top. So she will always be in front of the voices, and it will be easier for the invited specialist to deal with the problem if it arises. In addition, you can hang a tag with a number on each wire, and decrypt the numbers on a swarm of doors.
In the production of switching, it is necessary to observe the color coding. If this is not done, after some six months the home master himself will not be able to figure out the intricacies of cables. It’s also dangerous. After all, looking at the yellow-green wire, everyone knows that it is not dangerous, this is grounding. And if he is energized? The consequences can be very dire.
To summarize the information presented
It is not difficult to draw up and assemble a diagram of a housing shield and this does not require special education or experience, although they are welcome. The main thing in such work is accuracy and attention to detail. After all, even what seems insignificant can subsequently cause a lot of trouble. Well, if you take the work seriously, it will not be as complicated as it seemed at the beginning. And satisfaction from what has been done, from the fact that everything turned out as planned, is priceless.