During the time of the Soviets, people did not think about the equipment of introductory electrical panels. The usual platform was enough for everyone, on which a packet switch, an electricity meter and a couple of fuses, commonly called plugs, were mounted. At the same time, the vast majority of them had “bugs” installed inside them - jumpers made of copper wire. Now safety 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, collected in our time.
Small introduction
Home masters, even those who did all the wiring in the apartment with their own hands, often give in to assembling the electrical cabinet, preferring to pay for the work of professional electricians. Howeverit’s not a fact that a real specialist will work, and not one that is popularly called “six-volt”. In addition, such a scheme for connecting an apartment shield 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 make complex calculations on the ratings of automation. This can be done according to the cross section of the wires suitable for the shield.
How to get started with electrical cabinet assembly
First of all, the home master needs to decide on the number of circuit breakers, RCDs and their rating. This is done quite simply, because all the wires are in front of your eyes. It is best to take a sheet of paper and sketch out a rough layout of modules on a DIN rail. This will help determine what will be mounted - residual current devices (RCDs) or residual current circuit breakers (RCBOs). It's all about the free space inside the box. After all, an RCD with an automatic device takes 3 modular places, and an RCBO takes only 2. Sometimes this very factor becomes decisive. The scheme of the apartment shield with an RCD will be slightly different - it is more difficult to switch.
Number of phases suitable for inlet 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 apartment shield circuit will be simpler, but not much. If you wish, you can deal with the 380 V system. But if we are talking aboutapartments, then the scheme for one phase will be considered.
When planning the location of modular elements, it is worth considering a double entry point, in front of the electricity meter. It is necessary to install an introductory circuit breaker. Many may ask why space is needed for 2 modules. Despite the fact that an apartment shield is being drawn up for a single-phase system, the introductory machine provides for a break in two conductors - phase and zero.
Location of elements of protective automation: primary assembly
Having a sketch of the future electrical cabinet in hand, you can start preparing it. It is necessary to place all protective automatics on the DIN rail in the correct sequence. Do not forget about 2 tires for zero and ground wires.
Consider an example of a diagram of an electrical apartment shield, namely the location of protection elements in it in the presence of two DIN rails (from left to right, starting from the top):
- Introductory two-pole machine.
- Electricity meter.
- Main differential circuit breaker or residual current device.
- RCBO or RCD going to separate groups.
The bottom DIN rail is fully occupied by circuit breakers divided into groups.
Electric panel switching
Assembling the circuit of the apartment shield with difautomats or residual current devicesyou should start from the input, gradually moving towards the outgoing lines. At the same time, power is not supplied to the cabinet - this is done as a last resort. An electricity meter is connected from the input, then a common RCBO or RCD, and after that the wiring is made into groups.
Useful information! Initially, it is not worth pulling the automation contacts too much - there is a high probability of an error during switching, and you should not tear off the fixing screws once again. After the assembly is completed, everything must be carefully checked again. If the commutation is satisfactory, you can tighten the fixing screws. The view below shows a similar assembly.
Rules for installation of residual current devices
Many home masters make mistakes at this stage. What can I say, even experienced electricians sometimes incorrectly switch such devices. It should be remembered that if an RCD is present in the apartment shield circuit, contact between the neutral and ground wires should not be allowed. If this happens, then during operation, the protective shutdown device will periodically work for no reason, which will not add any comfort to living.
For correct operation, the neutral wire coming from the bus to each of the RCDs is then sent to its own separate group. If you mix it up and send it to another line, leaving the phase on its own, the residual current device will constantly work, as in the case of neutral contact with ground. This is due to the occurrence of a potential difference on the RCD coils.
Main power supply and cabinet testing
After rechecking the circuit again and stretching the contacts, it is necessary to carefully lay all the wires - this will help later in maintaining the cabinet, access to the equipment will be simplified. After that, you can start connecting the power cable, however, it should be remembered that if this is a private house, then the owner does not have the right to take power from the pole - this work is performed by a specialist from the energy sales company, who installs a cabinet with feeder switch. That's from him and you need to be powered.
There should be no voltage on the power cable at the moment of entering the power cable into the electrical cabinet. Having connected it to the machine, it is necessary to tightly stretch the contacts, turn on all the automation and only then apply voltage. In this case, it will become clear from the disconnected machine which of the lines has a malfunction. There should be no load on the sockets at this time. Now it remains only to press the "TEST" button on all RCDs in turn. The devices should operate by detecting the leakage current. If everything is in order, you can call a specialist from an electricity supplier company or a RES housing and communal services to check the connection diagram of the apartment panel with a meter and seal the meter.
Some tips for maintaining the electrical panel
If there is free space left in the electrical cabinet, it makes sense to install a simple socket in it. It can come in handy if needed.connecting any equipment nearby or even ordinary carrying during repairs. Power is supplied to it from the main RCBO or RCD. In no case should you connect it to the introductory machine. Such actions will be regarded by the energy supervisor as theft of electricity, which is fraught with a very large fine.
After the electrical cabinet is put into operation (after 1-2 weeks), all the fixing screws of the contacts should be tightened thoroughly again. Such audits should be carried out at intervals of 2 times a year. This will eliminate heat from oxidation and loose contacts. All work must be carried out only with a tool with intact insulation, even if they are performed with the voltage removed. Automation can fail, and in this case, a crack in the handle of a screwdriver will quite possibly cost a life.
As for the painted scheme of the apartment shield. It shouldn't be thrown away. This sketch can help to significantly reduce the troubleshooting time in the future, if it occurs. The same applies to wiring diagrams for an apartment or a private house.
Useful advice for those who decide to call a professional electrician for repairs and are not sure of his qualifications. In this case, you just need to pay attention to the tool with which he is going to work. If the handles of pliers or screwdrivers are wrapped with electrical tape, you should not trust him. A good specialist keeps the instrument in perfect condition, checking it every morningbefore work as prescribed by safety regulations and will never use damaged.
How to simplify the subsequent maintenance of the shield: recommendations from experts
In order to make it easier to understand in the future what is going 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 electrical cabinet to its door and glue it on top with adhesive tape. 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 decipher the numbers on the same door.
When making switching, color marking must be observed. If this is not done, after some six months the home master himself will not be able to figure out the intricacies of cables. Besides, it's dangerous. After all, looking at the yellow-green wire, everyone knows that it is not dangerous, it is grounding. What if he gets stressed? The consequences can be very dire.
Summarize the above information
It is not difficult to draw up and assemble a diagram of an apartment 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 later cause a lot of trouble. Well, if you approach the work seriously, then it will not be as difficult as it seemed at first. And satisfaction fromdone, from the fact that everything turned out as intended - is priceless.
