Sockets in the bathroom

Not so long ago, the sockets in the bathroom were banned, as the Soviet bathrooms had a small area, and the sockets with protection against dropping were not found. And household appliances were not available on sale so much to equip the house with additional power points. What can I say, because even the wiring of aluminum wire in old houses shows a lot. It just is not designed for a lot of powerful modern devices. Now the time has come when our life has become much easier, thanks to a variety of household appliances. We have not erased manually for a long time and do not dry the hair at the open oven. But that all these actions were safe, the sockets in the bathroom must comply with all safety standards. About what should be rosettes, will go further speech in this article.

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Sockets for bathroom: a must or a whim?

• Modern bathrooms in new buildings are quite spacious, equipped with shower cabins, hydromassage bathrooms, boilers, hoods, electric towel warmers and other devices that make life more comfortable. Therefore, there was a need for sockets in this room, because using an extension cord in this case is not only inconvenient, but also unsafe.
• In addition to the electric power consumers listed, we also use a hair dryer, electric shaver, curling iron, epilator, and, of course, washing machines in this room. For example, it is not recommended to connect the same high power stylus to the network via an extension cord. Therefore, you need to mount the outlet here.
• There are apartments with small bathrooms, in which a wash basin, a bathroom and a small stiralka can be placed. If you are accustomed to dry hair in a room near a mirror, do not use a depilator and a razor, and connect a washing machine of a small power through an extension cord, then in such a situation you can do without an outlet.

So the question is whether or not to install the outlet in the bathroom, everyone decides by himself, based on the size of his room and the frequency of using electrical appliances.

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Where can I place the outlet in the bathroom?

If you decide that the socket in the bathroom is needed unambiguously, then you can not mount it anywhere. Be sure to follow certain rules. You must act according to the rules of electrical installation.

Important! Bathroom differs from other rooms in that there is high humidity and there is a possibility of splashing water. Therefore, when installing sockets, you need to take into account many nuances.

Distance from moisture sources to the

outlet Electricians divide the bathroom into four zones:

• The first two( zone "0" and zone "1") are not recommended for the installation of sockets. This space, where there is a bathroom, shower, washbasin. That is, the places where water pours and splashes in large quantities. In the zone "1" only the water heater can be installed.
• In the "2" zone, lighting and ventilation may be located.
• But in the "3" zone it is already possible to install the sockets, but, of course, only those that have protection against water ingress.

Important! Speaking more in detail, the distance from water sources( bath, shower, wash basin, bidet) should be more than 60 cm. The further, the better. The reason for this placement is not necessary to explain, it is clear to all.

Height of the outlet in the bathroom

Now about what should be the height of the outlet in the bathroom above the floor. It should be located at a height of 1 m from the floor and above.

Important! The best option is the height of the location of 1.3 m from the floor.

The height of the outlet for the washing machine should be the same. Very often it is placed above the washing unit. This is convenient, and the height you need. But why not be lower?

• Condensation is often collected on walls, especially in the cold season. And the closer to the floor, the more brooks of collected water. This, in the first place.
• Secondly - in the bathroom can happen "flood" because of a malfunction of household appliances or sewage. Therefore, the higher the socket is from the floor, the safer.
• Well, in the third place, let's not deny that it's inconvenient to switch on a socket placed low, especially for older people.

Important! Speaking about condensate, it is also worth knowing that the outlet in the bathroom can not be placed on the wall that adjoins the entrance or street, because it is the coldest. Most of it is collected by moisture due to temperature changes. Due to the increased condensation on such a wall, the sockets can not be installed.

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Which sockets are allowed in the bathroom?

Sockets for the bathroom must meet some important requirements.

Water Resistance

First of all, it is necessary to choose a watertight outlet for the bathroom in the store. They are divided by the degree of protection( IP).

For bathroom recommended model IPX 4. This outlet has the following properties:

• It is protected from splashes and abundant water flows thanks to a special lid on the outside.

Important! Sometimes there are "shutters" that automatically close the sockets for contacts after removing the plug from the outlet.

• In addition, they are equipped with dense rubber rings in the inner part, which prevents the penetration of moisture inside.

Earthing

Also such an outlet must have an additional earthing contact. The socket with three-core wiring should have a ground connection( protective TN-S) connected.

Important! In older homes, grounding can be a bunch of cogs in the body of the flap( ground loop).The RCD and protective transformer can work without it, but the level of protection will be lower.

Power

Now from the moisture-proof sockets we choose those that suit us in terms of power. It depends on the devices that you will connect:

• For a washing machine you need a more powerful outlet - for 16 A.
• If you only include a hairdryer or electric shaver, then it will be enough for a device with 8 A.

Important! It should be taken into account the fact that if you plug in a low-power outlet, for example, a washing machine or any other powerful device, it can melt, which in most cases entails a short circuit.

• If you have a large bathroom with a boiler, washing machine, electric towel warmer, plus you regularly use a hairdryer, curling iron and other appliances, it makes sense to install several outlets.

Important! The main thing - remember that according to safety rules, there should not be any extension cords in the bathroom.

In general, before buying, you should sum up the possible "consumers" of electricity and choose the sockets in the bathroom in the right amount( you can install monoblocks) and the required capacity.

Manufacturer

In the electrical department, pay attention to the products of the following brands:

• Legrand;
• Schneider Electric;
• Lezard;
• Makel.

Important! The products of these brands are distinguished by worthy quality and reliability.

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Installing the sockets in the bathroom

When installing the outlet in the bathroom, we advise you to contact a professional electrician. He will carry out installation with knowledge of the case, considering all the dangers and difficulties.

Important! If you have only theoretical knowledge, but have never had an affair with an electrician in practice, then do not take any risks. Even the most detailed instructions may not protect you from errors and electric shock.

If, nevertheless, you have had this kind of experience, then the scheme of actions for installing the outlet in the bathroom is presented.

Required Inventory

For safe and fast installation of the outlet you may need:

• Phillips screwdriver;
• voltage indicator;
• round pliers;
• level;
• drill with impact mode and nozzle to it;
• stripper( for a tidy insulation from the wire) or a knife;
• socket( sockets, candy bar from several outlets);
• copper cable of the required length with a cross section of 2.5 square meters.mm;
• alabaster.

Preparing for the installation of the sockets:

• If you started the global repair, it is better to double-check all the wiring of the apartment, as in the old houses used to lay an aluminum cable that is not designed for heavy loads. If at you such case, replace it on copper, differently - you can not simultaneously include some household devices, for example, стиралку and an iron.

Important! How to properly install electrical installations, what requirements to adhere to, written in the PUE.According to this document, the socket for the bathroom must be grounded, waterproof and connected to the network via an RCD, a differential automaton or a separation transformer.

• Use a three-core copper cable with a cross section of 2.5 mm2.
• For the bathroom, make a separate line by installing its protective circuit breaker on it, as well as the RCD.

Important! The RCD is a protective shutdown device. Ideally, it should be installed on all wiring in the bathroom. The RCD constantly compares the current supplied to the electrical appliance and the current flowing from the appliance. If a difference of about 30 mA occurs between them( dangerous to humans), then the device cuts off the voltage. Since the RCD works very quickly, the leakage current flowing through the damaged insulation or the human body does not have time to cause harm. The RCD rating must not be higher than the nominal value of the machine.

How to install the sockets in the bathroom:

1. Make the necessary calculations, measurements and mark the location of the future outlet.
2. Bring the necessary wires to the bathroom. Using a drill with a special cutting attachment or a perforator, cut out a circular hole for the jar.
3. Next, smooth the wall from the hole to the ceiling and there, punch through the hole to pull the wire out of the bathroom to the outside.

Important! It should be noted that the bath is recommended for hidden wiring. But if for some reason you have laid open, then the wire can not be hidden in metal sleeves or fixed with metal clips. In addition, even if the wiring is hidden, all twists, terminal blocks and other wiring connections must be outside the bathroom. They should not even be tiled.

1. Insert the receptacle into the cutout hole and secure with alabaster. Strip the wires from the insulation with a stripper or knife. In it, start a three-wire wire, lay it on the rod, take it out of the bathroom and also fix it with alabaster.
2. Install the outlet into the receptacle and secure the casing with the fixing screws.
3. Connect the cable from the bathroom to the main electrical wiring( flap or junction box) using a separate circuit breaker.

Important! An automatic switch is needed, first of all, for such powerful electrical appliances as a washing machine and a water heating tank. If the plans are to use only a hair dryer and a depilator, then the installation of the machine is not necessary.

1. Verify the correctness of the work done and supply electricity.

Important! To ensure that the outlets serve for many years and do not loosen, always observe the following rule: when removing the plug of the appliance - hold the socket by hand.

In some cases, without an outlet in the bathroom simply can not do. To ensure that it does not pose a threat to the safety of your life and the lives of all family members, the rosette should be chosen very carefully, adhering to all the rules and rules described in this article. Responsible should also apply to the installation of sockets in the bathroom. It is best to entrust this to an experienced electrician. Then in the bathroom it will be possible to use all the necessary household appliances without fear for one's health.