Open wiring in retro style

Some time ago, it was that the wiring was made - insulators were broken against the wall, twisted wires were mounted. Then the fashion went to the hidden wiring. Everyone tried to hide the wires as much as much as possible, leaving only the framework of the sockets and switches outside, and it is also as less visible as possible. But the latest trendy trends again revive the open type of wiring. He fits greatly into the Loft style, looks wonderful in wooden houses from the log. In the swarms of retro-wiring it looks exactly better than using plastic cable channels. And the inner wiring in the wooden walls is very complicated, almost impossible at the expense.

With some styles, retro wiring is combined perfectly

The reasons for which the outer wiring is chosen

The first reason is clear - aesthetic considerations. The second is technical difficulties when performing hidden wiring in a log houses. According to the requirements of PUE in combustible structures (wooden walls), the wiring laying can be carried out only in the deaf (without perforation) metal boxes. The second option is in non-combustible plaster. Moreover, the conductor must be surrounded by 1 cm layer. To put it mildly, it is difficult.

Competently made retro wiring serves as an interior decoration

The problem in the installation of the wiring cable in metal boxes is not only that it will have to do deep shoes. The main difficulty is that the wooden house changes its height all the time. Even after the main shrinkage was held, there are changes and they are of seasonal in nature - in wet periods of the wall becomes higher, in dry settles. The difference in height can be up to 5-7 cm per floor. Since metal boxes do not pull, it becomes a serious problem. In general, it turns out that the open wiring is easier to do. Well, since the wires will stretch over, then you can make a decoration that it turns out if you competently make retro-wiring.

From the point of view of fire safety, it fully complies with the requirements: mounted at a distance of 12-18 mm from combustible walls, relies on ceramic or metal (non-combustible) insulators. The wire for laying is used twisted with reduced fuel ability. So there is no problem from this side.

If you withstand everything in a single style, it looks very good

Sockets, switches, dispensers (mounting) boxes can be used ordinary - plastic. But to look everything in organic, it makes sense to put porcelain or metal and also in the "Retro" stool. They also meet safety requirements, as made from non-aggravated material.

Materials for retro wiring

For the retro-wiring device, a special twisted cord and insulators are needed (rollers). The remaining components are dispensed boxes, switches and sockets for savings can be taken ordinary plastic. It is important that they meet the requirements: they must have the rear walls from non-combustible materials. That is, you can take those that are allowed to mount on the combined walls.

Twisted cable

Twisted cord for retro wiring is made on the basis of a stranded copper conductor, which is packaged in PVC insulation. There are two such shells. A textile shell is applied over the second. This is usually a technical silk that is saturated with antiperships (reduce flammability). There may be a braid of cotton.

Twisted Cable for Retro Wiring

Types of cables

Cables are from 2, 3 or 4 conductors. To perform retro wiring to all the rules, you will need a twisted cable of three wires: one conductor will be phase, second - zero (neutral), the third - protective ("earth").

Twisted cables are available with a cross section of 2.5 mm2 and 2.5 mm2. There are no big sections. When developing a scheme, it is necessary to take into account and design wiring by the type of radial layout. On the sockets take a cable with a cross section of 2.5 mm2, you can "hang" 2-4 pieces. But the total power of the connected devices should not exceed 3 kW, and the value of the current consumed should not be more than 16 A. Here you have to twist, especially in the kitchen, where many powerful household appliances are included. But for the kitchen, they often choose a tile as finishing, and it is put on a stucco wall aligned. On the tile of twisted cord it will not look for sure, so it makes sense to make a hidden wiring.

Article on the topic: How to make stencils for the ceiling with your own hands?

The lighting takes a twisted cable with a cross section of 1.5 mm2, on one line maximum load 2 kW or 10 A current consumed. For this lighting, it is usually more than enough even into two rooms - you can include 20 pieces of stove lamps, and housekeeping or LED and more.

The retro-wiring cord must be chosen not so much in appearance as in quality indicators

Manufacturers

Value cable manufacturers for retro wiring offer a fairly wide palette of braid colors to choose from. There are no problems with this. Today there is a cable of European and Russian production. European is more expensive at about 20-30%. The most famous Italian companies Gambarelli, Cordon Dor, Fontini Garby. Of these three manufacturers, Gambarelli is the best wire. He is the toughest, well falls on insulators. But these cables stand quite a few: the meter 3 * 1.5 costs about 2-4 $, and 3 * 2.5 will cost $ 3-5 per meter. There is a German manufacturer of replikata, and many others, but they have no offices in Russia, it is necessary to order on the "native" site. True, the order along with the delivery costs almost 2 times cheaper than the purchase of a similar product "on the spot." So it is worthwhile.

Retro Elektroke Retro Estate and Domestic Production

There are also Russian manufacturers: Factory of Electric Goods "Gusev", Villaris (Russian-Spanish), Gemini Electro, Bironi. Here prices are much more modest: the price per meter of the three-core twisted cable 3 * 1.5 - from 87 rubles (it is about $ 1.3), with a thicker residential - 2.5 mm2 - 121 rubles / m (about $ 1.8) .

How to save

Even if you take a relatively inexpensive wire for retro-wiring of Russian production, the amount in the end comes out a lot of one. The lines turn out a lot, because the sockets must be pulled each separately from the shield. It turns out a solid metra. To save, you can weigh the cable independently from the corresponding cord. There are two options:

BPVL. Wire on-board, copper stranded. Each veins is tinned. Shell - PVC Plates, on top of which lacquered hb winding. It happens different colors, but since this is a technical wire, not designer, you need to watch which colors are in stores. The price of a meter of wire with a cross section of 2.5 mm2 (Podolskkabel) - about 8 rubles (at a dollar 65-66 rubles). Even taking into account the fact that on one cable you need 3 veins, and it will take 25-30% long for a twist, it turns out that the homemade will cost a little more than 31 rubles. True, it is necessary to take into account the temporary costs of "weaving".

Wire of BPVL from which can weave the retro cable
RKGM. Copper stranded wire in two-layer silicone rubber isolation, on top of which braid from fiberglass with impregnation with a silicon composition is covered with varnish. It is good. It is a wire in that it maintains temperatures up to 180 ° C, but the bad - the presence of fiberglass and lack of color. It can be white or gray. It costs more - one meter by cross section of 2.5 mm2 - from 30 rubles / m. So here the cost of the meter of the finished product is 117 rubles, which is quite comparable to ready-made Russian products. But such a cable has a significantly greater margin of safety. But as far as he is in demand - the question.

This is the Wire RGCM

In addition to saving, this option is good in that, if necessary, you can weigh the larger diameter cord. These wires are 4 and by 6 mm2. So you can hold. The second plus - you can not just point the cord, and there is something, even an ordinary braid. True, the cord consumption will be greater, but the view exactly turns out vintage.

Weave better at the place - cut off a piece of the desired length. After adding 20-30% goes to a twist (1.2-1.3 meters of the cord is 1.2-1.3 meters of the finished cable). Posted at the top, further twist to the installation site of the first insulator clockwise. They walked around the insulator, and then twist in the opposite direction - counterclockwise and so on. What is good this option? It is not necessary to suffer with the brave ends, they are spinning by the "automatic", and, when shrinking a wooden house, you can remove the wiring from the insulator, making several turns, eliminate the cable sagging.

Insulators

Under the fixation of the twisted cable, insulators or rollers are needed. Make them from ceramics, they can be painted in different color. The base diameter may have 18-22 mm, height - from 18 to 24 mm. The upper part is two sizes: narrow and wide.

If the cable will be used from two wires, you can take those with a narrow top if the wires are three - more convenient with wide. Otherwise no requirements and restrictions.

The upper part may be narrow or wide

To install fasteners through the entire insulator there is a through hole. Depending on the size of the insulator, it is necessary to choose a screw for a tree or a dowel for stone or concrete walls. The fastener color is selected depending on the color of the ceramics, and in length - it should go into the wall at least 2/3. So you have to look for long and thin. Some manufacturers sell fasteners complete. Very convenient and greatly saves time.

Sockets, Switches and Putting Boxes

As already said, you can use conventional sockets / switches, but the retro wiring itself looks somewhat strange. The main chic is just in these strange and unusual things, which just give the whole check the same charm.

Very interesting series of the Russian firm Bironi (Biron)

There is a retro electrician on the market again from Europe, there are Russian production. If, about the registration, domestic producers are little inferior to, then the quality of the electrical part is better all the same European products. You can also find such products of Chinese production. Here again, in appearance, it may be not bad in appearance, but the quality of contacts is how lucky (actually, as usual).

However, there are usually ceramic sockets and Russian-made switches. Too high difference in price. One ceramic unit of sockets / switches from Europe costs from 20-30 € (there is also much more expensive). Russian-made switches are from 1000 rubles (about 14 €).

When installing, you can, as in the photo, use frames or lining. They also have in a rather wide range. You can choose them in the tone of the walls, you can buy ugly and on-site to arrange as you want. In principle, you can do without them, but only in a brusade house.

Long dispensing box for retro wiring

Also there are cut boxes from ceramics. They are usually round, but have relatively small sizes. Only the Spanish company Llinas has long porcelain mounting boxes. In the same way, by the way, smaller prices for the rest of the products are about 30% (if compared with medium-s), and the quality is quite decent.

Device rules

In general, it is necessary to comply with the general rules for laying wiring:

Each branch is done in the mounting (dispensary) box;
From the box the line is descended vertically down;
The minimum rosette / switch distance from the door jam or window slope is 10 cm;
Distance from communications (water supply, gas pipeline, heating) - at least 50 cm;

According to modern standards, the height of the installation of sockets and switches is not normalized, as well as the wiring from the machine can go under the ceiling or in the floor. Many do not like a large number of wires that will have to pull in sight. In each room, at a minimum, under the ceiling there must be two separate tracks - to lighting and on the electrical outlet. Already such an abundance of wires is difficult to make attractive. Therefore, some owners prefer to hide eyeliner behind the finish ceiling. There, the usual cable of a suitable cross section, is powered by the machine installed on the house shield. The cutting box is installed immediately under the ceiling (not a violation, but it is inconvenient), it is lowered down with a twisted wire to switch or socket.

Open retro wiring rules

But these were general rules. Now, in fact, how to mount a twisted electrocabylor. First install insulators. The maximum distance between them is 80 cm, optimal - about 50-60 cm, in some cases it is necessary to make 30 cm. If we talk about the house from the log, the insulators are installed for retro wiring into each second crown. This is the best option.

As shown in the figure above, the socket or switch set approximately 50 cm from the last isolator. This distance can be done a little less, but it is better not to increase - the wire can be saved. It, of course, you can cut and connect again, but I do not always want to be hurt.

Norms of placement of insulators from the old book

In the photo above, it is shown at what distance from each other to install insulators when you turn the wiring. These are norms from the old textbook, but they are most likely relevant now.

Retro wiring in the interior

In general, to look good wiring well, you must try to very much. After all, everything is in sight, all the flaws are striking. If retro wiring is done in a wooden house, then a trail remains from each incorrectly twisted screw, which is difficult to disguise. Therefore, before starting work, draw everything on the plan, transfer all the marking on the walls and only then start. If you are not sure whether you placed the sockets / switches correctly, do not know whether they will look like this in this place, try to fix the cord under the ceiling (at least on the greasy tape, at least very thin carnations). So it will be possible with a greater probability to imagine how everyone will look together.

Combined option - in pipes and without

Another moment. If the wooden house still "sits down", the wires stretch. If the log house has already been standing or complicated from the glued bar and the shrinkage should not be expected, it is better not to pull the wire. They should not be saved, but also be too strained. In general, good luck! And for inspiration, some photo of how you can make retro wiring.

Photo interior

It is always better to see a few already "ready-made" premises. It is easier to understand what exactly you like, and what is not, to make a preliminary idea of how everything can look.

An example of a wiring from below - the cable goes under the finishing floor in the metal box, only twisted cords are climed by the walls to the place of installation of sockets and switches.

Color of peavern can be contrasting with respect to the wall, but it should also be present in other details of the interior

It looks good and on the wallpaper, so retro wiring can be done in the apartment, but the style must match ....

This is an option with plastic mounting boxes and switches.

Retro wiring can be made in pipes. The usual cable is laid in them.

It looks like retro wiring from pipes in the interior

How can you organize a double rosette in a narrow simpleness between windows

In the kitchen wiring in retro style also looks quite organic

Collections of sockets / switches in retro style

Often, on the idea of designing the entire premises can push a specific thing. If we are talking about special electrical installation products in retro style, then such a thing can even be a socket or switch. Some collections and interesting models of different manufacturers will lay out below. They are different in design, perhaps you will like something.