Ways of fastening cables and wires. Fastening and fixing for cable

I greet you friends and readers of the site "Electrician in the House". Today, the life of a modern person cannot be imagined without modern technologies, such as the Internet, television, mobile phones, and home appliances. All these devices fill our lives with comfort and coziness. As you know, all electrical appliances have one thing in common - they need mains power.

The network, in turn, is a web of wires and cables placed along the structures of buildings (walls and ceilings) and connected through protection devices.

For the safe operation of electrical wiring, the cable during installation must be securely and correctly fixed to these structures, so in today's article we will analyze such a question as what devices and technologies are used in this case.

Although the question seems trivial at first glance, people often come to me asking for advice on which method is best? It all depends on the situation and how the wiring is installed. Today there are a lot of methods and methods from all kinds of dowels, clamps and clips to banal homemade wire fasteners. Let's look at all the pros and cons of each of them.

The most practical cable tie

As I said, depending on the method of installation of electrical wiring, the attachment of the cable to a particular base also depends.

If the wiring is hidden, then it is important to securely fix the wires in the strobe so that they do not interfere with future finishing and plastering of the walls.

For open wiring, they try to choose methods and accessories that are less visible to the eye and do not attract attention.

Also, the fastening of the cable depends on the methods of finishing in the room. For example, if the ceilings in the apartment are suspended or suspended, and the cable runs go exactly along the ceiling, then there is no need to make strobes on it and cover up the wires in them (they will hide under the decorative trim anyway).

What tools will be needed to securely fasten the cable to the wall? The surfaces that you have to work with can be made of concrete, brick, wood, so the minimum set of tools is a puncher, drill or screwdriver.

dowel cable tie

Such fasteners are designed to fix a single cable. Fastening the cable dowel with a clamp is very simple. To do this, we just need a puncher and a concrete drill with a diameter of 6 mm. First, a hole is drilled in the concrete to the required depth (depending on the length of the dowel itself), then the clamp is opened and the cable is laid into it, after which the clamp is pushed into the hole.

Notches are made on the sides of the clamp at an angle, which prevents it from falling out of the wall. If the size of the drill and collar are chosen correctly, then the dowel will never fall out of the hole.

dowel cable tie can be in two versions: for flat and round cables.

The positive aspects are low cost, quick installation method, reliable fixation (you can be sure that the cable will not break under its own weight).

Using the dowel clamp, the cable can be fastened to concrete, brick, foam block, decorative stone. Suitable for both open and hidden fixing of wires.

Mounting platform for cable fixing

The made in the form of a square platform. May be square or more oblong. I prefer the second option as they are more durable. Inside there is a mounting hole for mounting. Sometimes in stores you can find the abbreviation as PMO ( platform with mounting hole).

Installation is also not difficult. To begin with, a hole is drilled in concrete with a diameter of 6 mm, an ordinary dowel is inserted into it and the platform is attached to the base (wall or ceiling) with a self-tapping screw.

Then we take an ordinary nylon tie and fasten the cable to the site with it. This method allows fix multiple wires and cables to one site. This means that fewer holes need to be drilled, which accordingly speeds up the installation process.

A positive aspect is ease of use, quick installation, the ability to attach several cables to the site at the same time.

Dowel for bandage

In appearance, it has something in common between a dowel and a self-tapping screw. Made from plastic. The mounting head is equipped with a hole through which the cable tie can be inserted and the cable fixed.

The principle of installation is similar to the previous methods. We drill a hole with a diameter of 6 mm and hammer a bandage into it. Then we pass a screed through the hole and tie a cable or a group of cables.

To be honest, I have not tried to fix the cable to the wall with such a bandage, so I can’t say anything about them.

Dowel cable tie

Dowel coupler or as it is also called a clamp with a dowel is a convenient and versatile device. The device consists of two elements assembled into one: a dowel and a clamp (tie). This simplifies the installation process.

In order to assemble this type of fastener, it is necessary to compress the two halves of the dowel and fix them with a special latch lock.

The dowel screed is ready for installation.

The dowel itself is fixed in the wall plastic peg, which acts as a self-tapping screw. The installation process is also quite simple. We drill a hole in a concrete or brick wall, then insert a screed dowel into it and hammer in the spacer peg. Everything - fasteners are securely fixed.

Now we tighten the screed and tie the wires.

Cable tie with hole

In addition to conventional nylon ties cable ties have one addition, the latter have an additional screw hole for attaching it to the surface of walls and ceilings. The cost of such fasteners is commensurate with the cost of conventional dowel clamps. When installing, remember that the tie does not open after tightening.

Fastening the cable to the wall with hole ties is also quite simple. We drill a hole in the wall, insert the dowel, take a self-tapping screw and fix the screed to the base.

After that, you can tie a wire or a group of wires with a clamp. The disadvantage of this method is the inability to shift or release the wires, for this you need to tear off the screed and install a new one.

Cable clamp

Cable clamps are available in plastic and metal.

Plastic cable clamp

As a rule, it is applied to open installation of single cables. The plastic bracket is equipped with a fixing nail, therefore it is suitable for mounting on soft surfaces such as wood, chipboard, plastic (you cannot drive such a carnation into concrete).

During my practice, I often saw this method of fastening television and telephone cables. Providers are very fond of using plastic brackets for fastening an Internet cable.

In general, if the repair has already been completed and you need to carefully lay the cable over the baseboard, this is an ideal option - simple and cheap.

Metal clips for cable fastening

Typically, this method is used for fastening of cables laid in a metal sleeve. Metal brackets have a hole for fasteners on one or both sides. The size of the brackets can be selected depending on the diameter of the metal hose. Excellent resistance to mechanical stress, suitable for "holding" heavy cables.

The advantage is "reusability". You can easily replace, shift, add-remove the cable, just unscrew the screw.

Cable clips

Such a cable fastener is suitable if the wiring is carried out in corrugated or plastic PVC pipes.

If the laying of cable routes for electrical wiring is carried out on a concrete wall, then the clips are mounted on a dowel. If the surface is made of wood, then the clips can be fastened on ordinary wood screws.

The size of the clips is selected in accordance with the diameter of the corrugation or plastic pipes. This method of cable fasteners has one plus - the clips can be assembled into a single unit. If you look closely, there are special grooves (locks) on the side of the clip. With their help, the clips are securely joined to each other. Thus, several cable routes can be laid side by side at the same time, and the wiring will be even and neat.

Homemade cable fasteners

When there is no suitable clamp at hand, pads or staples can be made homemade cable ties. Enough to be smart. And ingenuity, as you know, our man is much.

What materials will be needed to make homemade fasteners? Single-core or two-core wire (preferably PPV) and self-tapping dowel.

It is necessary to cut pieces of wire 5-7 cm each and thread a self-tapping screw in the middle of the cut pieces. If the wire is single-core, simply wrap the dowel cap.

It is necessary to use a wire with a solid core (a stranded core will not give you the need for rigid fixation).

There are several advantages of such fasteners:

- ease of installation;
- you can tie up one or more cables at the same time;
- the possibility of reusable use (you can quickly unfasten or bandage this mount);
- cheapness.

This is what it looks like homemade cable attachment to the wall. As you can see, nothing complicated. By the way, instead of a wire, you can use any material, for example, a thin galvanized tape.

That's all dear friends, not all installation methods were mentioned here, but only the main ones. Perhaps some of you have used methods in your practice that were not mentioned in this article, please share with me and all readers will be interested to know.

If you need to organize any construction work, then you should not worry about choosing the right materials or tools, as the modern market is filled with everything necessary for such a purpose. This also applies to fasteners for various wires that form an electrical wiring diagram.

But not everyone knows which fasteners for wires are better, and we will try to help lovers of self-performing various installation work figure it out. Although, more advanced craftsmen will also be interested to get acquainted with some ways to create high-quality wire fastening.

Now let's figure out how to profitably lay and fix electrical wires in the room so that you can easily create wall plaster, repair used strobes without interference from communications.

To do this, you need to remember only two rules:

It is necessary to lay wires in the optimal places of the room so that they have access and they do not interfere with any construction work;
High-quality fasteners for various types of wiring will be required to ensure the durability of the communications created.

Next, consider the various types of fasteners that provide durable wiring in any room. The installation process may seem very simple, and it really is! But only if everything is done correctly based on knowledge of the electrician.

You should look at the photo of the wire fasteners to navigate their appearance, as this will minimize the possibility of erroneously purchasing the wrong fastener.

The fact is that many of them are very similar, but designed for different purposes. And they may not be suitable for the intended wiring option if they are not intended for this option.

What fasteners can be used for electrical wiring?

Their list is quite extensive, but we will highlight the most popular types of wire fasteners related to open and closed versions. Let's start with hidden installation:

Dowel clamps

Dowel clamps are considered the most popular, as they are distinguished by their simplified use and low price.

But it is not difficult to get confused in them because of the abundance of different species that differ in functional features and external form.

The simplest version is considered to be the "bracket". It is proposed on the basis of plastic and has notches at the ends, which have a width of about 8 mm. The size along with the shape can be chosen according to the need to create a quality fastener.

But the fixation is not very reliable, since this fastener does not have a spacer. Because of this, such types are not used for wiring on the ceiling.

But the dowel clamps for fasteners have a spacer part and are considered a more reliable product for the formation of high-quality wiring. The design is based on a plastic rod for use with a hammer so that the fastener can be driven deep into a pre-created socket.

What is the difference:

Withstand loads up to 8 kg, which is enough for home electrical wiring;
Power cables, smooth-walled versions of pipes and corrugations based on a diameter of up to 32 mm can be fixed using the clamp.

Important: This type of fastener can only be used once, so we recommend that you correctly mark the points for its installation.

installation site

The version called “installation pad” is considered a hybrid option, since it includes the capabilities of the two considered fasteners. Externally, it is offered in the form of a dowel based on a mounting head with an input for creating a plastic or metal tie. Made with nylon or polypropylene

If a strong base was used, then it is distinguished by reliable fixation in the wall, which is due to the special shape of the rod. Due to this, it is possible to qualitatively fix one cable or several wiring lines.

Important: If it will be used outdoors, make sure it has UV protection. This will be written in the instructions for the product.

What is the difference between fasteners for surface mounting?

They are applied after the created repair, if the electrician was not carried out before its completion. This type of mounting hardware is simple, but will require an increased level of attention and care as the wires will be left open to the eye and can ruin the design. Consider the main types:

Wires hidden in channels are used most often, since this option is distinguished by reliability, aesthetic beauty and low cost. Externally, it is offered in the form of a tube with a rectangular shape and a removable outer part. It can be fixed to the wall using various fasteners: screws, self-tapping screws or nails.

After high-quality mounting, wires are placed in the internal cavity, which are covered with a lid. The market offers many different surface colors of the product, allowing it to fit into any interiors.

Clips are used if the wiring is covered with polymer corrugation. But this type is distinguished by a sloppy form and is rarely used in residential premises, but on the basis of enterprises, shops and other institutions of this type it is often used. Due to the special qualities of additional insulation, it is excellent for mounting outdoors.

But sometimes it happens that on the basis of the room it is difficult to use one of the popular types of fastening. In this case, it is necessary to rely on special fasteners. These include metal tape and aluminum tape.

Photo of wire fasteners

The cable is fastened to the wall in different ways: with clamps, brackets, etc. The choice of the appropriate option is made taking into account the purpose of the room, operating conditions. Take into account the type of material from which the wall is built. Different fasteners are designed to fix a cable that differs in characteristics (with insulation, without a box, stranded, etc.).

It is a mistake to believe that the wiring can be fixed on any flat surface. Bearing structures and partitions are built from materials that differ in properties:

thin, soft;
dense;
solid.

Wall surfaces made of porous materials (foam, aerated concrete) are considered soft. This group also includes drywall, plastic, fiberboard. These materials are able to withstand a moderate load, deform under the influence of strong pressure. To prevent the destruction of the entire structure, you should choose methods for attaching the cable to the wall, based on the use of fasteners that have an extended middle / end part. These can be dowels of different types.

The group of dense materials includes chipboard, wood, gypsum. Surfaces covered with plaster are also durable. The top layer of the material has a dense structure. If the question is how to fix the cable on such a wall, consider 2 options: nails, self-tapping screws.

The first one is less reliable. Such fasteners can be dispensed with if it is used as a temporary measure or if the area will not be used in the future. Due to mobility, the strength of fixing the nail in the wall decreases. To fix the screws, pre-make holes of a smaller diameter. However, this measure is used only if fasteners are difficult to install.

Hard materials: concrete, brick. Dowels are attached to such walls, and then screw holders (brackets, clamps, ties, etc.). When you need to install the cable on a brick, concrete wall, the diameter of the hole must match the size of the dowel. In other cases, the difference should be 1 mm.

Corrugated cable, pipe or cable channel

If open wiring is performed, this method is preferred. This is due to the fact that the wires are hidden in a corrugation or pipe, a special channel made in the form of a box. Due to the use of a closed design, the safety of cable operation is increased. However, this method is much less commonly used for laying large bundles of wire.

Cable channels

Existing varieties are made from:

galvanized steel;
plastic;
aluminum.

The cable channel can be made in the form of a rectangular box, the outer surface of some products has a radius. Such varieties are often installed along the wall: on the floor or instead of a baseboard. Other types of cable channel:

trunk;
parapet.

The first of the options is designed for laying wire over significant distances. These boxes are larger. Parapet analogues are installed in offices in order to protect against damage. They have a flattened shape, due to which such boxes are less likely to touch when moving. To install the cable channel, dowels and screws are used, as well as liquid nails.

Fastening with clips

This method is often used in open wiring. It is designed for fast cable attachment. The wires are fixed with clips with a small step. Such fasteners are installed more often on the wall than on the ceiling, since some varieties are characterized by an open design. The wires won't stay in them. Fasteners of this type have the form of arches, a closed or open circuit, installed using nails, self-tapping screws.

Clips are selected according to the type of material: metal, plastic. There are holes on the arms, thanks to which the fasteners are fixed on the wall. In this case, dowel clips or a variant with a hole for a nail are used. Such elements are most suitable for mounting bundles of wires.

There is another option for fixing this product with an adhesive single-sided tape. Fastening the wire to the wall in this case does not require drilling the surface. The type of clips is selected taking into account the type of base material.

exposed wires

Cable fastening is carried out with a certain step. The wiring remains open. For comparison, if the cable is laid in a strobe, you can completely hide it. However, open wire is much easier to maintain. In this case, detachable and one-piece fasteners are used. If you plan to increase the number of cores, use the first of the types.

Metal bracket

Such cable fasteners can have 1 or 2 lugs. It is fixed on the wall with nails, self-tapping screws. This type of product is used when laying the cable in a metal sleeve. Supports heavy wires. The bracket is selected taking into account the diameter of the metal sleeve.

Dowel-screed

If you are interested in the question of how to fix the cable using such products, you should know that a dowel is first inserted into the wall. It is equipped with a special lock on a flexible plastic band. For fastening, detachable and one-piece fasteners can be used. The disadvantage of this method is the lack of a rigid fixation of the structure, since the dowel is simply connected to a flexible tape.

Ties with a platform

This option is outwardly similar to the previously considered counterpart. However, in this case, the dowel has a platform, due to which such an element is firmly fixed in the wall. If a flexible cable tie with a hole for a self-tapping screw is used for fastening, it is not necessary to use a separate dowel. This method involves the need to install self-tapping screws with a certain step.

Dowel clamp

Outwardly, it simultaneously resembles a dowel and a collar. For fixing in the wall, notches are provided located at the ends of the fastener. First, the cable is tied, and you can attach the wire to the wall by laying a kind of dowel in a pre-made hole. The product is held thanks to the notches - they do not allow the clamp to slip out.

Dowel type bases

Outwardly, they resemble a dowel and a self-tapping screw, they have a hole for installing a plastic tie. Flexible elements are purchased separately. First, a hole is made in the wall. Then a fastener is installed, and the head with the hole should be located on the wall surface. At the last stage, using a removable tie, the cable is fastened.

insulators

This mounting option is used when laying a cable in a wooden house. It is also sometimes used as decoration. First, an insulator is installed on the wall surface (a ceramic barrel with a hole for a nail or screw in the center). Then a twisted wire is pulled between such elements.

Homemade fasteners

If the cable is laid in hidden areas, you can use self-made elements: they are created using self-tapping screws and dowels, and old wiring or metal flexible plates are used as a platform for fixing the wires. After installing the fasteners, strapping is performed. In this case, the free ends of the flexible platform or the old wire are connected to each other after laying the cable in the loop.

The growth in the number of consumers in residential buildings, as well as in public buildings, dictates the need to replace wires with an increase in energy consumption and lay new internal electrical networks.

Until recently, it was believed that the maximum electricity consumption for one family could be limited by a 6 A or 10 A automatic machine. Very little time passed, and a whole line of new household appliances appeared, which required setting current limits of 16 A or 25 A. Today, in many in residential buildings they install external electric meters, they put automatic machines for 40 and 63 A.

An increase in the number of consumers also requires updating the wiring, as well as laying new wires indoors. Electrical appliances are located in different rooms, and you need to conduct energy to them by organizing the fastening of the wire to the wall.

It is customary to separate two types of electrical wiring inside the building:

hidden wiring is created inside the wall or under a layer of plaster;
open wiring provides for the presence of a wire on the wall, fixed in various ways.

Creating hidden electrical wiring

The term itself implies the placement of electrical wires inside the wall. They are hidden in different ways. In this case, much depends on the type of wall, and how it is created. The walls of a residential building are:

brick, there are different options here: solid masonry, hollow masonry, combined or multilayer;
from reinforced concrete panels;
wooden from a log or a bar;
sip panels;
monolithic concrete;
frame and panel structures.

In each case, it is necessary to solve the issues of fasteners for wiring, taking into account the features of the wall.

Hidden wiring in a brick wall

When attaching a wire to a brick wall, you need to solve the following tasks:

drill a groove where the electrical cable will be laid
attach the cable inside, distributing it according to the project;
hide the groove using quick-setting mortars.

In the presence of a perforator with an appropriate working body, the issue of gating is solved simply.

Lines are drawn on the wall along which it is necessary to form a strobe (channel or groove in the wall).
The vibration effect of the perforator blade destroys the bricks in the right places.
An angle grinder (grinder) with a disc for sawing a stone refines the section of the strobe to the desired size.

Tip # 1. When strobing, you need to use personal protective equipment: a respirator and goggles (protective transparent mask).

Tip # 2. Periodic humidification of the air in the work area causes dust to settle faster.

An important issue is the fastening of cables. Here are the possible options:

non-replaceable cables - they are fixed with terminals or special metal brackets. Some specialists do it even easier, small carnations are hammered inside the channel, and wires are attached to them to the wall using a cable tie. You can simply fix the position of the cable with a wire;
replaceable cables are laid inside the cable channels. Smooth plastic pipes or corrugated pipelines are used here. Pipes are fixed in strobes with clips or staples.

Important! It is preferable to fix replaceable cables to the wall, they can be replaced without damaging the walls.

If a new house is being built, then it is possible to provide for the laying of plastic pipes for hidden electrical wiring at the construction stage. It is especially convenient to lay cable channels between layers of masonry or in voids in well masonry filled with insulation. In order to easily pull the cable through in the future, a soft steel wire with a diameter of 2 ... 3 mm is pulled inside the plastic pipes. Later, at the stage of attaching the wires to the walls, they are attached to the wire and stretched to distributors, sockets, lighting fixtures and switches.

Tip # 3. If it is necessary to lay the cable through the wall, it is advisable to use an auxiliary metal or plastic pipe of a suitable diameter. This guarantees the protection of wires from mechanical damage during finishing work.

An example of wiring in a brick house is shown in this video:

Concealed wiring in reinforced concrete panels

At enterprises producing reinforced concrete wall panels, the production of panels with cable channels laid inside in the form of corrugated pipes is necessarily organized. They are more expensive than conventional panels, but some rise in price at the construction stage is offset by the convenience of hidden wiring in the wall. To attach the wires, you do not need to ditch the walls, it remains only to attach to the wires, and then stretch the wires in the required direction.

Tip # 4. Sometimes it becomes necessary to push a soft wire through the cable channel if it is not there or the wires have burned out. In this case, a cable with a diameter of 3 mm is used. Its end is soldered so that it does not “furry”. Then they are pushed into a tube with a diameter of 6 ... 10 mm and sent to the cable channel. Then push through with simultaneous scrolling. So you can drag up to 3-4 m of the cable, and then attach wires to it and lay the power grid.

Hidden wiring in a monolithic wall

Monolithic walls made of lightweight concrete are one of the ways to quickly erect buildings. A feature of monolithic structures is the use of fixed formwork and regular reinforcement of the future wall. At the construction stage, competent developers use plastic pipes that are installed before pouring. It is convenient to use special fittings here: elbows and tees - for the output of cables in the right places on the wall. Lay the wire, and wrap the ends on both sides with electrical tape of different colors. Focusing on color, it is easy to lay certain wires to the desired consumer.

If the cable channels are not laid, then the channels are sawn in a fixed formwork. The cable is laid in the formed groove, fixed with a cable tie or a metal bracket, and the groove is sealed with alabaster mortar. This somewhat breaks the structure of the wall.

Tip # 5. To restore the structure of the wall surface, therefore, reinforcing meshes are glued to the grooves before final finishing.

In wooden, frame-panel and sip-panel houses, hidden wiring is usually not done. It is better to organize open cable laying here in order to safely operate the building in the future.

Creating exposed wiring

Open wiring is carried out with wires twisted into a bundle. To fix the wire on the wall, ceramic insulators are installed, and then the twist is attached, putting them on top of the insulator. Currently, the vintage style has become one of the fashion trends, so the method implemented at the dawn of the appearance of the Ilyich light bulb is again being used in construction practice.

The real exposed wiring is hidden in the cable ducts. The industry has mastered several sizes of plastic channels, which are a long box. One or more cables can be laid inside. From above the cable channel is closed by a snap-on cover.

To lay the cable channel, several steps are sequentially performed.

According to the project, the direction of laying the channel is drawn on the wall.
Remove the cover from the channel.
Using self-tapping screws, the cable channel is fixed to the wall. The distance between the screws is recommended no more than 60 cm horizontally and up to 90 cm vertically.
Connect channels to each other. If necessary, cut holes in the walls with a construction knife. The necessary channels are joined to them.
The wire is laid inside, it is fastened with a cable tie so that it is compact and does not go beyond.
Close the lids. They try to fit the joint so as to make it less noticeable.
At the ends of the channels, junction boxes or fittings are installed (turned off or sockets).

Tip # 6. To make the cable channel seem monolithic, shift the junction points of the covers and the channels themselves.

The features of wiring in cable channels are described in this video:

Open wiring in office premises can be performed without cable channels. The wires are laid along the brackets, which, after being fixed on the wall or ceiling, are attracted to the surface. Of course, such a mount is unaesthetic, but it securely fixes the cable in the right place.

Tip # 7. In the absence of purchased products, staples are sometimes cut from plastic bottles or metal cans from drinks. The strength of such brackets is sufficient to hold the wires in the right place.

You can hide the wiring in the house using plastic skirting boards. They have a cavity closed by a lid. The main purpose is to fix the baseboard to the wall. An additional purpose is to attach the wire and lay it to the right place.

In the construction markets, you can find skirting boards with large cross-section channels. Wire harnesses are laid in them, distributing them indoors. This method of laying the electrical network is convenient for placing TV or home Internet wires.

Tip # 8. If you need protection from interference, use shielded wires, then they will not interfere with each other.

In any house, you can conveniently perform a competent fastening of the wire to the wall in order to safely operate household and other electrical appliances in the future.

Masters "with gray hair at the temples" remember how open wiring was done thirty years ago, they saw what changes took place in technology fifteen years ago and can compare it with modern methods of laying open wiring. In order for you to have something to compare with and make it easier to make decisions, we will make a brief overview of all the existing and existing methods.

It is now so beautifully called, but before it was the only option for open wiring. It was used not only in the bath, but also in residential premises. The wires were fixed on porcelain insulator rollers.

For such wiring, electrical wires must be only single-core, the cups are fixed at a distance of no more than ten centimeters, plus one at each turn. The wires had to be twisted, and this is a long and tedious task. In addition, white insulation became dusty and dirty for a short time, various spider bugs very often settled in it for permanent residence.

Today, open wiring by the described method is mounted only by great lovers of antiquity, who do not know what it will look like in a few years.

Better yet, the electrical cables were hidden in plastic pipes, which looked much better on the walls. In addition, plastic pipes served as additional protection against mechanical damage.

Disadvantages - the complexity of installation and routine maintenance. Electricians still remember how difficult it was to pull cables through pipes, especially if there were turns.

Often the pipes were cut, and after pulling the cables, they were connected with couplings. Another significant drawback is the great difficulty during the production of repair work. Due to the low cost, open wiring in plastic pipes is still used quite often today.

Open wiring in the cable channel

According to most professional electricians - the best option for open wiring. In essence, it can be called open only by the technology of laying cables; in appearance, it bears little resemblance to the usual options; rather, it can be called semi-open.

Manufacturers produce a huge number of options both in terms of the number of cables and the method of fixation, overall dimensions and the availability of additional fittings. The advantages include ease of installation, durability, safety of operation, versatility of use, the presence of numerous special additional fittings. Additional elements solve issues with internal and external corners, turns, connections of sockets, switches, mounting boxes, etc.

It is on this type of open wiring that we will dwell in the article. Before directly considering the issues of fixing cable channels, you should learn a little about their varieties and technical capabilities.

Cable channel prices

cable channel

Types and features of channels

Cable channels are classified according to several important features.

Characteristic	Description	Illustration
By location.	They can be floor, parapet, plinth and trunk. The appearance of each category is maximally adapted to the installation site, it may resemble profile moldings.
By color performance.	There are light, dark and with imitation of natural wood.
By linear dimensions.	Designed for one, two, three or more cables. External dimensions range from 40×25 mm to 100×60 mm. May have sharp or rounded corners and oversized lids. There are options with high covers, their shelves cover the internal elements of the channel along the entire height - it gives the impression of a monolithic product. This not only improves the appearance of the wiring, but also increases its security from the negative influence of external factors.
By the number of locks - with one or two locks.	Two locks more securely hold the lid from spontaneous opening, exclude the possibility of deformation of the lid.
According to the material of manufacture.	Plastic, steel and aluminum. Aluminum ones are covered with plastic wrap for various types of wood, they are perfectly combined with existing interiors of the premises, but for the price they are considered the most expensive option. Plastics do not support open combustion, it is allowed to use such channels for laying cables with voltage up to 1000 V.
According to the degree of protection against dust and moisture.	Separate brands of plastic channels have a degree of protection IP55, which allows them to be used in open areas and in rooms with high levels of humidity, protects against multidirectional splashes of water. For a bath, this is a very important characteristic.

Video - How to choose and install a cable channel

The main parameters when choosing a cable channel are the cross section and the number of cables that are planned to be laid in the network. Of course, you need to pay attention to the appearance, try to choose an option that would harmonize as much as possible with the existing interior of the bathhouse.

Stages of wiring in a cable duct

Step 1. Draw a plan for the placement of electrical networks, appliances and equipment.

Estimate several options, consider the possibility of increasing the power and the number of electrical fittings. Depending on the maximum total power of all consumers of electrical energy, select the cable diameter. To facilitate the choice, be guided by table No. 1.

Experienced electricians do not keep all the values in their heads, they only remember that 1 mm2 of a copper cable section is designed for 1.3 kW of power at a voltage of 220 V, and 1 mm2 of an aluminum cable holds only 0.5 kW at the same voltage. What follows is simple arithmetic. If a section of 2.5 mm2 is indicated on the sheath of a copper cable, then it can be used to connect current consumers with a total power of 2.5 × 1.3 = 3.25 kV. Always round up and use this cable for 3.0kW.

Practical advice. For a bath, it is quite enough to buy an ordinary plastic box with dimensions of 40 × 25 mm, a cable that can withstand power up to 10 kW easily enters it. In the implementation there are boxes made under the ceiling plinth or floor plinth. A great solution, but it needs to be thought out even before finishing the walls or floor. We recommend that the central wiring be mounted above the floor, and the outlets for lighting fixtures, mounting boxes, sockets and switches should be made from below. But this is an amateur, you can use other options for installing electrical wiring.

You should have drawn both a general electrical wiring diagram starting from the inlet switchboard, and a separate diagram for each bath room.

Choose fasteners depending on the material of the walls. Self-tapping screws are needed for wood, special hardware for drywall and dowels for brick.

Each manufacturer of cable channels produces a wide range of additional elements: internal and external corners, triangles, plugs, connectors, mounting boxes, sockets, switches, etc. Carefully calculate the nomenclature and the total quantity, we advise you to take a few pieces in stock. They cost a penny, it will end up being much cheaper than going to the store again to purchase the missing items.

Step 2 Make a markup. For example, we will take a bathhouse, in which the walls are already fully sheathed and flooring is laid. There remains only one option for open wiring in cable channels - over the walls. It is better to do the wiring near the floor, in this case it is much easier to drill holes and fix the cable channel. Working under the ceiling all the time with outstretched arms is tiring and uncomfortable. Moreover, you will have to hold a rather heavy drill and a screwdriver in your hands.

Experienced electricians on the walls make markings only for mounting boxes, switches and sockets, cable channels are installed immediately without drawing preliminary lines. They take a section of the channel, put it against the wall, set the level from above (or from the side) and adjust the spatial position. Then, with one hand, they hold the box, and with the other hand they drill holes in the bottom for the hardware with a drill. This is quite difficult, you need not only to have experience, but also to be able to optimally organize the installation process. We will tell you how to make detailed markup for beginners, this will help to avoid annoying mistakes.

Hardware prices

set of hardware

How to mark up cable channels

You need to have a water level, a blued rope, a ruler and a pencil.

Do not be afraid to use blue - broken lines will be covered with a cable channel. Start marking from the switchboard, while at the same time take into account not only the characteristics of the cables and the placement of sockets, mounting boxes, switches, etc., but also the layout and purpose of the premises.

The markings and calculations are completed, you can proceed with the installation.

Step 3 Fastening cable channels. Mounting methods depend on the material of the walls and the material of the finishing sheathing. Let's consider each option in detail.

Prices for building level

construction level

Fastening cable channels to plasterboard boards

Gypsum boards consist of two layers of paper with gypsum in between. The material is relatively new and is very popular among professional construction companies - it is easy to work with, it is very technological, etc. But consumers cannot say so many good words about this material - the strength of gypsum boards is beyond all criticism. Remove paper from drywall and it will crumble, any tangible force on drywall does not remain without visible damage to the surface. Accordingly, it is rather problematic to attach cable channels to such material. It makes no sense to use screws (albeit special ones). It is necessary to “overdo it” a little while screwing, as the thread in the plaster will scroll and the fastening strength will approach zero.

On such walls, we recommend using only plastic cable channels, the use of aluminum is highly undesirable. You need to fix the plastic with liquid nails, in the most critical places you can additionally use special screws.

Practical advice. Due to the fact that gypsum boards have a decorative finish, it must be tested for adhesion with liquid nails. Not all types of paints and not all types of wallpaper are suitable for gluing. First, in some secluded place, glue a small piece of a plastic box and check the strength of the bonding in a day. Everything is fine - you can use this technology.

Apply liquid nails to the box from the back in a thin layer, the application strip should be wavy to increase the adhesion area. There should be just enough glue so that during the pressing of the cable channels it does not protrude beyond their perimeter. To increase the reliability of fastening, you can additionally fix it with self-tapping screws.

Fastening cable channels to brick walls

A complex and time-consuming option, you must use dowels. The advantage of dowels is high reliability, but in our case, no tangible physical stress on the channels is expected, the advantage becomes unnecessary, and large labor costs remain. How to fix cable channels on dowels?

Put the cut blank of the channel in place of fixation, drill holes in the bottom with a drill for metal at a distance of 15 ÷ 20 centimeters. Drill holes carefully, only the end of the drill needs to be deepened into the wall. In this way, markings for installing dowels on the channel and wall are simultaneously made.
Take away the channel, change the drill to the winning one, switch the drill from drilling mode to punching mode. Use a drill to make holes for the dowels.

Important. Drill carefully, select the correct diameter of the drill. It should be a few tenths of a millimeter smaller than the diameter of the plastic element of the dowel. This element should enter the hole with little effort.
Put the plastic cable channel in place, align the holes in it and the wall, insert the plastic elements of the dowels, hammer in the metal dowels.

If the wall is uneven, then choose places for drilling holes in convex sections, so you can avoid visible deformation of the cable channel. Wrong - not a problem. Most metal dowels are threaded, you can unscrew them a little, loosen the pressure against the wall and thereby correct the deformation that has appeared.

In all places where individual sections of cable channels are cut or joined, additional elements to be connected must be fixed. This is a general rule for all methods of fixing cable channels.

Professional installers use an air gun and special nails to fix cable ducts to brick or concrete surfaces. But a pneumatic nail gun is expensive equipment; it is not advisable to purchase it for one bath.

Air nailer prices

pneumatic nail gun

Fastening cable channels to wooden walls

For baths - the most common option, fastening is carried out with screws, the length of the screws is approximately 1.5 ÷ 2 centimeters. You can first drill holes in the cable channel on a flat plane at a distance of up to twenty centimeters, and then use them for fixing. It's easier, but longer. If there is a practice of performing construction work, then self-tapping screws can be screwed simultaneously into the bottom of the channel cable and the wall.

Problems may arise during the laying of open wiring on walls upholstered with clapboard. The boards of the lining have a profile, the screws should be fastened carefully. If the self-tapping screw hit the convex section of the profile - excellent, you can fully tighten it. If you have to screw the self-tapping screw into the concave part of the profile, do not tighten the self-tapping screw to the stop, make sure that it does not violate the linearity of the plastic channel.

We have already advised buying special additional elements for passing external and internal corners, wiring at right angles, tees, etc. All joints can be cut at right angles, the cut may not be perfectly even. Overhead elements will close problem areas, the connection will be beautiful, work will be significantly accelerated. You can cut a plastic cable channel with a hacksaw for metal, special assembly scissors or a circular grinder (grinder) with a metal disc.

And what to do if for some reason there are no additional elements, how to cut the channel so that the connection is not striking?

First, use standard long channels, do not rush to cut them into pieces. You should always have all the segments at hand, among them you can choose the one you need in length and not touch the whole one. It will be necessary for this to shift the outlet a few centimeters in one direction or another - there is nothing to worry about.

If you need to store the purchased cable channels for a long time, then put them on a flat plane, do not let them get direct sunlight. Over time, all plastics under the influence of sunlight darken and lose their plasticity. Do not believe the manufacturers' advertisements about "complete resistance" to UV rays thanks to modern technologies, various innovative additives do not completely protect plastic from such influences, but only slow down the physical aging process.

Mounted cable channel

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