Wiring needs reliable protection in order to protect people from short circuits and fire. Previously, traffic jams were used for these purposes, but today they use automatic switches - "automatic machines". In an apartment or house, as a rule, there are several such machines. In this case, the most important one should be next to the counter.
In pursuit of safety, people put ten or more machines in their homes. Is it correct? How to calculate the optimal number of switches in a house or apartment?
How many machines can be installed in an apartment?
It is necessary to proceed from the purpose for which the machines are installed in the apartment. If residents are trying to save money, then there is no need to put a dozen switches. There is a certain rule that the machines must be evenly divided into light and sockets. This will be enough.
If nothing prevents you from putting a switch on each room, it is better to do this. In this case, residents will be able to de-energize one room, if necessary, while the light will continue to burn in the other.
Separately, it should be said about the bathrooms and boiler rooms. They need to install an RCD. It is allowed to put an RCD on the entire living space in order to save on the purchase of materials and consumables.
Sockets, section and circuit breakers
I propose to consider using examples how many machines need to be installed in a house / apartment:
- 1. For the kitchen, you will need a separate thick copper wire (with a cross section of at least 4 square millimeters), as well as a 32 Ampere machine.
- 2. For wiring sockets in the rooms, you will also need a copper cable, but already thinner - 2.5 square millimeters in cross-section. The machine is suitable for 25 Amperes.
- 3. Lighting requires 1.5mm copper wire and 16A circuit breaker.
It is recommended to divide all lighting into two groups, using separate wires for this. For example, living rooms should be connected to one machine, and a bathroom, corridor, storage room - to another.
It is not prohibited to use a separate machine for each room. It all depends on the budget of the owners. The main thing during installation is to remember which wire and switch are suitable for what.
What is the minimum number of switches to be installed in an apartment / house
Previously, two plugs were placed on the meter. Few installed individual switches. But over time, the requirements for the PUE have changed. There is a certain minimum, but first of all, you need to take care of safety. The more switches, the better. Their choice must be approached with knowledge of the matter.
It should be recalled that some electrical appliances require separate machines. We are talking about heating boilers, washing machines, electric stoves, etc.
It is not advisable to stop the choice on cheap machines that are produced by dubious firms. The brands Eaton and Moeller have earned a good reputation.
Rules for choosing machines for amperage
When choosing an automatic machine, you need to take into account the current strength. In the case of copper wiring, the indicators are as follows:
- 6 mm wire and an automatic machine with a nominal value of 63 (40) Amperes;
- 4 mm wire and an automatic machine with a nominal value of 40 (32) Amperes;
- 2.5 mm wire and an automatic machine with a nominal value of 25 (20) Amperes;
- 1.5 mm wire and an automatic machine with a nominal value of 16 (10) Amperes.
The figure without brackets is the rated current of the circuit breaker, the figure in brackets is the maximum current value.
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