Junction box on the wall. Search and replacement in the wall of the junction box

Many do not know what is needed junction box   or as it is often called soldering or branching.

  In any apartment of an apartment or a private house   all electrical wiring originates from an electrical panel in which electrical cables are connected one by one to the automaton. As a rule, 3 automatic machines are installed on the apartment, without regard to a separate one, on the electric stove (if it is available).

If you have 3 circuit breakers, then from the electrical panel in your apartment will go 3 pairs of wires or electric cables. They will supply all the sockets and lighting in your house. At what these three lines will be distributed. For example, one - for living rooms, the second - for the kitchen, the third - for a bathroom, a bathroom or a corridor. This is done with the objectives:

1. First of all, that would distribute the load. One typical line with a 16 amp machine can be connected to electric consumers with a power of no more than 3.5 Kilowatt, otherwise it will knock out a circuit breaker. Accordingly, we will be able to connect 3 times the power of household appliances and other electricity consumers to the three groups of outlets.
2. Secondly,   in case of a fault in one line, You can use sockets and lighting in rooms connected to other lines.

From the shield to the room or several there is one power cable, and there are many outlets in it. Yes, there are light switches, lamps or chandeliers. That's why we need a soldering box. All electric wires or cables from sockets, switches, lamps or chandeliers converge into it.

In the box, all wires or cores of electrical cables are connected   according to a certain scheme. The scheme of the disconnection in.

On one group there may be several tap-off   boxes, which are combined with each other by a power supply jumper. Only wires or cable on an electric cooker   is laid from the electrical panel directly to the appropriate outlet, because the electric stove is a powerful electric consumer. It is equipped with a 32 or 40 A submachine gun, and wires are laid with a copper conductor cross-section of at least 4, more often 6 square millimeters.

How to find a soldering box for electrical wiring.

Sometimes it is necessary to find a junction box, for example when troubleshooting a wiring or if you need to add an outlet in the room. But many people repair the apartment by plastering the boxes with plaster, putty or wallpaper. As a result, it is difficult to find a branch box if necessary. Yes, I agree that her lid does not look at the background of the finish. But it is necessary to take into account that at any time you may need access to it. I advise before you start decorating in the premises, take a tape measure and put a binding on the layout of the room, because in 5-10 years you do not remember where they are.

If you do not have a scheme or you bought an apartment, then you will have to search for your own hanging boxes. This is how I do it:

I recommend that you familiarize yourself with what will help you to learn the principles of wiring. Always take precautions. Remember that 220 volts in a home electrical network is dangerous for human life!

How to make a hinged box.

Faults in junction boxes occur   due to poor quality wiring or as a result of the wear of the wiring. Especially, often this is typical for aluminum wiring.

Nov 24 2016

First, let's look at the terms. Under the distributive or, as it is also called, a dropping box is meant a local node for switching wiring through branches.

We are accustomed to seeing them in the form of a circular hole shape, more often near the ceiling (so that no one can get in by chance). In a typical apartment for every one or two rooms are on a junction box.

Search for them would not be difficult, do not try to disguise the owner of this scare wallpaper. That's because of this and sometimes you have to puzzle over how to find and replace the junction box.

How the junction box is designed

In old houses, the junction box differs little from the junkets.

This is a circular form in the wall, covered mostly with whitish (from dust gray) or blue plastic caps of a distinctive type (see photo).

Inside there are twists, and according to current standards, terminal blocks of various types are often mounted. The lid is kept weak enough, sometimes even drops out itself, so access problems are usually not observed. And inside ... usually a nightmare:

• Distribution boxes of the old release are usually metal. Not that it was dangerous, but everything is possible and a short to the case.
• Inside the twist of the most unimaginable form. Deal with this can not every electrician.
• In view of such connections, the junction boxes are the place with an increased probability of ignition.

There is nothing surprising after this, that many people come to mind the replacement of the junction box.

In this case, the process will be relatively easy. It is only necessary to unwind all the twists, carefully pull the wires into the line, then remove the housing of the old junction box from the wall.

Problems begin when a metal channel from a concrete wall enters directly into the interior. It can not be sawed off, so you need to operate the crowbar carefully so as not to damage the plaster.

Some channels go deep, because they are cast in a monolith with a wall, while others are simply punched by a shot cutter. Therefore, there is a chance at the dismantling of the junction box to open part of the facial finish.

These facts need to be taken into account, and the preliminary examination of the work place will help to establish them

Please note that the owners could hide the junction box somewhere behind the homemade mezzanine and other decor elements. The wiring is not always simple.

Let's say that in many rooms the junction box is in sight, and you can roughly understand what goes and where, but there are other options, which we'll talk about later.

The hinged (overhead) version of the junction box in the apartments is usually not used. But it is convenient everywhere, where there is no need to maintain aesthetics.

The installation process is very simple: on dowel-nails or self-tapping screws (in the case of a wood base). Places of fasteners are usually located in the corners (not a fact).

The cable glands are designed in such a way that the cone is cut more and more, it is possible to increase the diameter of the hole. As a result, access to moisture and dust is blocked as much as possible.

Meanwhile, the junction box greatly simplifies life: all the building electricians, as in the palm of your hand, and if the explanatory inscriptions are correctly executed, the operation of the equipment becomes simple and affordable.

How to put a junction box

Modern junction boxes are not always round. This takes into account the fact that the walls of houses are not always made of concrete. The easiest way is to make a round hole in the monolith. For this:

• A small diameter hole is made in the center of the drill for concrete.
• Then, using a crown, a circular slot is cut out.

In the course of the process, there will be a lot of dust, so people are using special tools, including a vacuum chamber (lying on the perimeter) and a construction vacuum cleaner.

Due to this, the problem is largely solved. Those who consider this a trifle, I would like to recall about such diseases as silicosis.

There are other ailments of the respiratory system caused by excess dust in the air.

• The rest of the concrete is hollowed out by any method. Obviously, a punch is good for this.

The depth of the hole each can withstand in its own way. Obviously, there should be enough space inside the junction box inside. When buying, note that the products differ in depth and diameter. And these little things can cause annoying delays in the course of the work.

For example, to enlarge the diameter of a hole in a monolith by 5 mm can be considered a very difficult task, since difficulties will arise with centering. In this regard, it is better to test your junction box, whether it corresponds to the crown. For example, in damp soil.

Attention! Drilling the earth is not necessary in order to avoid electrical breakdown in the tool and its failure

In the case of the junction box, there are usually detachable cable entries. They are not always where they are needed. In this case, the plastic is easily drilled in place with the desired diameter.

The greatest difficulty is the case when the steel channel is laid with inaccurate builders so that it protrudes from the wall. Remove this piece of iron is extremely difficult, because there is a wire inside, but something needs to be done: the metal tube (corrugation) must be grounded. You ask - why?

Junction box search instructions

Ever tried to find wires in the wall without an armature locator? And what is it - the cost of the device rolls over for 10,000 rubles, and you need to find the route, how to be?

It turns out that in many cases the problem can be solved with the help of a contactless screwdriver-indicator.

It reacts to such weak electric fields that it is able to feel current even through the wall. For this you need:

• Enable contactless mode to High.
• To increase the sensitivity, you can press your finger on the contact button (located at the back of the handle of the screwdriver-indicator).
• Include a network filter for computer equipment.
• All! You do not even need to turn on the power filter. If you bring the screwdriver-indicator to the wire, the light will turn on (see photo), and an audible signal will be heard.

What does this little experience show, and what does it have to do with the junction box? And here's what! Each wire, under the phase potential and devoid of the screen, begins to radiate.

This is not very noticeable, when the vein lies inside the wall in the cable channel. But when we turn on the extension, we can observe the radiation of energy in space. Morality? Any electrical devices that are devoid of a ground plane are harmful, even ordinary wires in which there is no current.

Thanks to this technique, you can search the wall for wiring even if there is no valve indicator.

To do this, create a current in the wire. But its magnitude depends on the sensitivity of the screwdriver-indicator.

Here the simple rule does not work - the more, the better.

Instead, one should take into account a simple fact: a too large signal can turn the entire wall entirely into sources of electromagnetic radiation. But if the parameters are selected correctly, the route of the wiring is easily determined (plus or minus 10 cm in each direction).

Due to this, it is possible to trace where the channel is directed, and at the end of it the search for a junction box will end.

You will see that this is very useful information. They not only help find the junction box, but also assess the shortcomings of the apartment electricians.

For example, the lack of grounding at the steel channels leads to the pollution of the apartment of various kinds of radiation. In turn, this reduces immunity and can cause a number of disorders

Already today, many choose the corrugation for the wiring is not plastic, namely aluminum. Although it is more expensive. But aluminum corrugation can be grounded, making it a reliable screen.

Well, and, of course, skillful manipulations with the screwdriver-indicator will help to solve the problem of how to find the junction box. Once again we repeat that it is very important to choose the correct level of current.

There is another nuance: if somewhere the wiring contacts the armature, then this can be overlooked for years.

No leaks if there is no ground. But with the equipment turned on, the whole wall becomes a source of radiation.

Thanks to modern technology, this can be noticed and corrected in time: localize the place of contact, replace the wiring, take any other action.

When replacing the junction box, many will want to build new wires. What for? To reduce the risk of fire. To do this, you will have to carefully draw the channel scheme.

The way one chooses himself. For example, you can use the above technique. As a result, the hands must have a complete circuit. Some parts of the wiring can not be replaced.

For example, the walls of the bathroom and other partitions in the panel houses are often made from improvised material in place. In this case, the channel, as such, is not available, and the wiring goes, wherever it is. And to replace it, it may be necessary to dismantle the tiles and other similar construction measures.

In this regard, touching the partitions is not always the best solution.

Instead, the wiring changes to the nearest junction box.

In shops and factories, there is no sense in preserving decorativeness and aesthetics.

Therefore, the junction boxes are made in an overhead version.

In this case, a flat box with cable entries on the sidewalls can be noticed hanging anywhere. Similar devices are used for communication lines.

Despite the numerous types of junction boxes, it is quite simple to find them: a rubber or plastic case, a gray or whitish color (less often orange), cables converging from all sides.

These are common signs, and you can search, for example, along the route (if you do not know the object): you should go along the line, inspect the passage through the channel through the walls, look for ...

How to choose a junction box

The choice of a new junction box is logical, based on what is already available.

Let's assume, on a monolithic concrete wall to take a rectangular body is not very recommended. It is almost impossible to put it. It is much easier to break a round hole with a crown.

At the same time, by erecting brick walls, it is easier to make a rectangular hole even during the construction phase. And if this could be done, most of the problems are eliminated.

How to be in this place with thermal insulation and waterproofing? Modern materials, like Penofol, will help you to maintain the required parameters with a reasonable approach to planning.

Now metal distribution boxes are not used at all, because there is not much point in this.

If the shields carry a lot of equipment in their bowels and must therefore have sufficient strength, then they are made of steel. Distribution boxes are much smaller in size, loads do not carry at all.

A logical solution is plastic, which is used for their manufacture everywhere.

For this reason, the junction box body is not grounded (although in old houses it had to be done on all grounds).

We see no reason why it would not be possible to use the usual junkets as wiring switching nodes.

There is a chance of failure of the perforator, or the crown itself (in particular, the legs). Be that as it may, the locator fittings cost from 10,000 rubles, so not everyone can find the means to buy similar exotic rarities.

In the walls of such houses, tin-plated, non-zinc-plated distribution boxes were installed without a bottom. The lid was also made of non-galvanized sheet metal. At the end of the wiring, the lid was put in place and pressed with ears, for some reason it was always very clumsy, and the ears were sticking out of the wall. Almost always the owners of the apartment puttied or plastered this obscenity, but you can find it. One two rusty spots on the wall (or even rusty pieces of metal sticking out of the wall) at 10-15 cm from the ceiling often indicate that under them is a corroded junction box.

3. From the socket or switch.

You can buy a special device for detecting hidden wiring, there are such devices 80-200 $ depending on the possible parameters and the manufacturer. But if the walls are not covered with plasterboard or panels, and the wiring is hidden in the wall, then you can find this wiring using a modern indicator screwdriver. This is such an electronic screwdriver, or transparent with a LED and battery-pills or opaque with a mini-display. Stand electronic screwdrivers 2-5 $. If you take a screwdriver not with a plastic handle, as usual take a screwdriver, and for a metal "sting" and bring the screwdriver handle to the wall, the indicator will light where the wiring is in the wall, it will only lead the screwdriver from the switch or socket to the box. In this case, if you are looking for a wire from the outlet, then you need to turn on some power consumer in the socket, and if you turn on the switch, turn on the light.

4. If you have another option.

Then just tapping. Almost always the distribution boxes are located above the outlet or switch up to 50 cm to the left or to the right, 5-20 cm from the ceiling (the exception is "stalinka"). Even if the box is under a two-centimeter layer of plaster, all the same when tapping you will hear a characteristic sound, as if you are tapping on a plaster partition. But if you really knock on a plaster partition, in the sense that the walls (and ceilings) you have plastered with, then without the services of companies specializing in troubleshooting wiring, you can not do. Such a pleasure will cost you $ 100 and above.

Welcome dear readers of our blog. Let's talk about how to find the junction box in the apartment, if it was installed.

This box is often called a padded box, it is clear by any name that this electrical junction is needed to connect wires coming from the flap or other box with wires leaving the switch, lamp, socket, etc.

If you have wiring done , then it will be easier to find the necessary connections in case of need to add an additional electric circuit for the new consumer. If you need to find a box, and you always carried out a cosmetic repair, during which usually a new wiring is not performed, the search will be more difficult.

Let's try to find this soldering box. Residential buildings are connected with the highest political figures, so it will be easy to orient the owners of apartments.

If you still live in the "stalinka" and there was never a replacement of the electrical wiring, then look for a box opposite switches and sockets at a height of 2.5 meters and above, and a few tens of centimeters to the left or to the right by tapping. If you hear a deaf sound in the tapping process, then disconnect the apartment, it is unlikely to be able to turn off a certain area, try using a hammer and chisel to get to the box.

The whole search procedure should be done carefully, no matter what the wires are damaged.

In the panel "Khrushchev" were installed small metal distribution boxes, which were closed by turning the cover with the antennae, and from the outside was an eye, with the help of which, and its turn took place. Usually such covers are not blocked in sight, in extreme cases, they are covered with wallpaper. In this case, they are easy to find on convex wallpaper.

If you live in the so-called "Brezhnevka", then look for the box should be at the junction of the ceiling and the wall. Such boxes were usually closed with galvanizing and plastered. But often met, when the emptiness in the box was filled with paper, cardboard, rags or even a paste, and all this was cemented. In this case, we did not use metal detectors, but took a simple hammer and rattled, found almost always. But often in such boxes the wires were very short, which complicated the work.

If you are lucky with age and a modern home, then finding boxes that are now plastic, will not be difficult. The rules for installing the distribution boxes have not been canceled yet, so in this case they should be searched strictly above switches or sockets 15 cm away from the ceiling, by tapping.

And you can trace the location of the wire in the same way with the help of a device for detecting hidden wiring.

All of course depends on the electrician and his attitude to the installation.

It may happen that repairs have already been made and plasterboard partitions have appeared, in which sockets, switches, lamps may also be located. And of course for switching as necessary boxes, install them just 15 cm away from the ceiling, opposite switches and sockets, we determine by tapping.

If in your apartment are mounted and behind them a wide empty space, then there is the possibility of installing the switch boxes of the boxes to the native ceiling. These boxes are harder to reach.

In this case, using the device for detecting hidden wires, we track the path of the wire (the wire must be live), and if the box is not taped before the ceiling, then the device is transferred to the ceiling from the plasterboard and the device shows the presence of voltage, you need him.

We retreat from the junction of the wall and the ceiling of 15-20 sentiments and cut out a small hole in the ceiling with a saw on a plaster and, when illuminated with a flashlight, we observe. If there is nothing, cut the slice using the putty, put it back. If what you are looking for is found, you will have to cut out the hole more so that you can get both boxes with both hands and make repairs or some kind of connection.

We had cases when the distance from the ceiling to the drywall was 50-70 centimeters, we had to cut the holes not under the hands, but under the shoulders, that would get to the treasured boxes. And before repair or a new connection, do not forget to de-energize, it's dangerous to work under voltage. We wish successful searches.

Sincerely, Alexander & Igor.