How to twist 5 copper wires. The principle of connecting wires

Electricity is an area where everything needs to be done correctly and thoroughly. In this regard, many people prefer to figure things out on their own rather than trust strangers. One of key points- connection of wires in distribution box. Firstly, the correct operation of the system, and secondly, safety - electrical and fire safety - depends on the quality of work.

What is a junction box

From the electrical panel, the wires disperse throughout the rooms in the house or apartment. Each room, as a rule, has more than one connection point: there are several sockets and a switch. To standardize the methods of connecting wires and collect them in one place, distribution boxes are used (they are also sometimes called branch boxes or junction boxes). They contain cables from all connected devices, the connection of which occurs inside the hollow housing.

So that in the process next repair do not look for wiring, it is laid according to certain rules that are prescribed in the PUE - Rules for the Construction of Electrical Installations.

One recommendation is to carry out all connections and branch wires in the junction box. Therefore, the wires are run along the top of the wall, at a distance of 15 cm from the ceiling level. Having reached the branch point, the cable is lowered vertically down. A distribution box is installed at the branch point. It is where all the wires are connected according to the required circuit.

According to the type of installation, junction boxes are internal (for hidden installation) and external. Under the internal ones, a hole is made in the wall into which the box is built. With this installation, the cover is flush with the finishing material. Sometimes it is closed during the renovation process. finishing materials. However, such installation is not always possible: the thickness of the walls or finishing does not allow it. Then a box for external mounting is used, which is attached directly to the wall surface.

The shape of the junction box can be round or rectangular. There are usually four conclusions, but there may be more. The terminals have threads or fittings to which it is convenient to attach a corrugated hose. After all, it is in the corrugated hose or plastic pipe It is more convenient to lay the wires. In this case, replacing the damaged cable will be very simple. First, disconnect it in the distribution box, then from the consumer (socket or switch), pull it and pull it out. Tighten a new one in its place. If you lay it the old fashioned way - in a groove, which is then covered with plaster - you will have to drill into the wall to replace the cable. So this is the recommendation of the PUE, which is definitely worth listening to.

What do distribution boxes generally provide:

Increased maintainability of the power supply system. Since all connections are accessible, it is easy to determine the area of damage. If the conductors are laid in cable channels (corrugated hoses or pipes), replacing the damaged section will be easy.
Most electrical problems arise in the connections, and with this installation option they can be inspected periodically.
Installing junction boxes increases the level fire safety: All potentially dangerous places are located in certain places.
Requires less money and labor than laying cables to each outlet.

Wire connection methods

Conductors can be connected in the box different ways. Some of them are more difficult to implement, others are easier, but if implemented correctly, they all provide the required reliability.

Twist

Most popular with craftsmen way, but the most unreliable. It is not recommended by the PUE for use, as it does not provide proper contact, which can lead to overheating and a fire. This method can be used as a temporary method, for example, to check functionality assembled circuit, with mandatory subsequent replacement with a more reliable one.

Even if the connection is temporary, everything must be done according to the rules. The methods for twisting stranded and single-core conductors are similar, but have some differences.

When twisting stranded wires, the procedure is as follows:

the insulation is stripped to 4 cm;
the conductors unwind by 2 cm (item 1 in the photo);
connect to the junction of untwisted conductors (pos. 2);
the veins are twisted with your fingers (position 3);
the twist is tightened with pliers or pliers (pos. 4 in the photo);
insulated (insulating tape or heat-shrinkable tubing placed before the connection).

Connecting wires in a distribution box with one core using twisting is easier. The conductors, stripped of insulation, are crossed and twisted with fingers along their entire length. Then take a tool (pliers and pliers, for example). In one, the conductors are clamped near the insulation, in the second, the conductors are intensively twisted, increasing the number of turns. The connection point is isolated.

Twist with pliers or pliers

Twist with mounting caps

Twisting is even easier using special caps. With their use, the connection is more reliably insulated and the contact is better. External part Such a cap is cast from flame retardant plastic, with a metal conical part with a thread inserted inside. This insert provides a larger contact surface, improving the electrical performance of the connection. This great way connect two (or more) wires without soldering.

Twisting wires using caps is even simpler: 2 cm of insulation is removed, the wires are slightly twisted. A cap is put on them and turned with force several times until the metal is inside the cap. That's it, the connection is ready.

Caps are selected depending on the cross-section and number of conductors that need to be connected. This method is more convenient: it takes up less space than conventional twisting, and everything fits more compactly.

Soldering

If you have a soldering iron in the house and you know how to handle it at least a little, it is better to use soldering. Before twisting, the wires are tinned: a layer of rosin or soldering flux is applied. The heated soldering iron is dipped in rosin and passed several times over the part that has been stripped of insulation. A characteristic reddish coating appears on it.

After this, the wires are twisted as described above (twisting), then they take the tin on a soldering iron, heat the twist until the molten tin begins to flow between the turns, enveloping the connection and ensuring good contact.

Installers do not like this method: it takes a lot of time, but if you are connecting the wires in the junction box for yourself, spare no time and effort, but you will sleep peacefully.

Welding wires

If available, you can use a welded connection. This is done on top of the twist. Set the welding current on the machine:

for a cross section of 1.5 mm 2 about 30 A,
for a cross section of 2.5 mm 2 - 50 A.

The electrode used is graphite (this is for welding copper). Using grounding pliers, we carefully cling to the upper part of the twist, bring the electrode to it from below, briefly touch it, achieving ignition of the arc, and remove it. Welding occurs in a fraction of a second. After cooling, the joint is insulated. Watch the video for the process of welding wires in a junction box.

Terminal blocks

Another connection of wires in the distribution box is using terminal blocks - terminal blocks, as they are also called. There are different types of pads: with clamps and screw ones, but, in general, the principle of their design is the same. There is a copper sleeve/plate and a wire fastening system. They are designed in such a way that by inserting two/three/four conductors into the right place, you connect them securely. The installation is very simple.

Screw terminal blocks have a plastic housing in which the contact plate is fixed. They are of two types: with hidden contacts (new) and with open contacts (old style). In any of them, a conductor stripped of insulation (length up to 1 cm) is inserted into the socket and clamped with a screw and a screwdriver.

Their disadvantage is that it is not very convenient to connect a large number of wires in them. The contacts are arranged in pairs, and if you need to connect three or more wires, you have to squeeze two wires into one socket, which is difficult. But they can be used in branches with significant current consumption.

Another type of block is Vago terminal blocks. These are pads for quick installation. There are mainly two types used:

The peculiarity of these terminal blocks is that they can only be used at low currents: up to 24 A with a copper wire cross-section of 1.5 mm, and up to 32 A with a cross-section of 2.5 mm. When connecting loads with high current consumption, the wires in the junction box must be connected in a different way.

Crimping

This method is possible with special pliers and a metal sleeve. A sleeve is put on the twist, it is inserted into the pliers and clamped - crimped. This method is just suitable for lines with a large ampere load (such as welding or soldering). Watch the video for details. It even contains a model of a distribution box so it will be useful.

Basic wiring diagrams

Knowing how to connect the wires in the junction box is not everything. You need to figure out which wires to connect.

How to connect sockets

As a rule, the socket group runs on a separate line. In this case, everything is clear: you have three cables in the box, each with three (or two) conductors. The color may be the same as in the photo. In this case, usually brown is the phase wire, blue is neutral (neutral), and yellow-green is ground.

In another standard, the colors may be red, black and blue. In this case, the phase is red, blue is neutral, green is ground. In any case, the wires are collected by color: all of the same color in one group.

Then they are folded, stretched, and trimmed so that they are the same length. Do not cut short, leave a margin of at least 10 cm so that if necessary you can re-seal the connection. Then the conductors are connected using the chosen method.

If only two wires are used (in houses of old construction there is no grounding), everything is exactly the same, only there are two connections: phase and neutral. By the way, if the wires are the same color, first find the phase (with a probe or multimeter) and mark it, at least by wrapping a piece of electrical tape around the insulation.

Connecting a single-key switch

If there is a switch, the matter is more complicated. There are also three groups, but their connection is different. Eat

input - from another junction box or from a panel;
from the chandelier;
from the switch.

How should the circuit work? Power - “phase” - goes to the switch key. From its output it is fed to the chandelier. In this case, the chandelier will light only when the switch contacts are closed (the “on” position). This type of connection is shown in the photo below.

If you look carefully, this is what happens: the phase with a light wire goes to the switch. It leaves from another contact, but this time blue (do not mix it up) and connects to the phase wire that goes to the chandelier. Neutral (blue) and ground (if network) are twisted directly.

Connecting a two-gang switch

Connecting wires in a junction box with a two-button switch is a little more complicated. The peculiarity of this circuit is that a three-core cable must be laid to the switch for two groups of lamps (in a circuit without grounding). One wire is connected to the common contact of the switch, the other two to the key outputs. In this case, it is necessary to remember what color the conductor is connected to the common contact.

In this case, the phase that has arrived is connected to the common contact of the switch. The blue wires (neutral) from the input and two lamps are simply twisted all three together. There are wires left - phase wires from the lamps and two wires from the switch. So we connect them in pairs: one wire from the switch to the phase of one lamp, the second output to the other lamp.

Once again about connecting the wires in the junction box when two-button switch in video format.

No matter what they say about the process and methods of twisting wires - this method remains very relevant to this day and will remain for many years to come. for a long time. Why is that? Let's consider this topic in more detail. At in a similar way connections electrical conductors there are a large number of nuances, advantages and disadvantages, including a ban on performing such operations under the PUE regulations. However, it is worth noting that twisted wire connections are most often used. There are many reasons, let's look at the most common ones.

Firstly, twisted connections are often used when performing “rough” installation. This is due to the fact that during the initial work the main goal is to check the functionality of the installed units. The presence of signal/voltage is checked (depending on the type of manipulation performed), additional work via secondary wiring additional elements, contacts of devices are displayed, such as:

switches of various types;
built-in voltage stabilizers;
built-in voltage converters;
built-in step-down/step-up transformers;
regular sockets;
"smart" sockets;
power consumption monitoring devices;
specialized sockets with special outputs (RJ-45, for example).

After carrying out the “rough” installation, it is extremely important to check the functionality of the above devices. And in case of their incorrect operation or lack of electricity/signal, you have to re-deal with a certain section of the circuit or re-carry out wiring operations and troubleshoot problems.

Secondly, this type of contact of conductors allows you to quickly restore the operation of the area and obtain the necessary electricity/signal for certain manipulations. In the future, depending on what devices will be connected to this area, it will be possible to:

leave the completed twist;
improve connection;
replace this section with another one, with other connecting elements.

Thirdly, no special tools are required to twist the wires. Such manipulations can be performed even “in the field”, provided that no “gluttonous” electrical appliances are connected to the created area.

It is worth noting that twisted wires can provide fairly reliable contact long time, subject to all necessary instructions and doing the job correctly.

So, it is worth wisely taking into account the situation if you decide to resort to such a connecting method as twisting. It is necessary to take into account the connected load, select the optimal cross-section of wires and further calculate the circuit in case of a change in the number or power of consumers.

Advantages and disadvantages

Weaving wires together is probably the oldest method of merging conductors together. However, over time, the power of devices requiring high currents also increases. Twisting, as a rule, is not designed for them, but within home use very appropriate.

It is worth mentioning that this wiring option cannot be used with devices such as electric kettles, refrigerators, washing machines, heaters and fan heaters, electric hotplates, computers.

The main advantages of twisting are:

speed of creation;
durability (if done correctly);
the ability to weave wires without additional tools;
ideal for signal contact (in the absence of connecting high-current consumers);
the ability to improve the connection using soldering;
cheapness;
the ability to combine two, three, four wires simultaneously;
Possibility of reconnection.

Its disadvantages include the following:

the need for isolation;
operability only with low-current consumers;
inconvenient installation;
fire hazard if work is performed incorrectly;
a large number of nuances that MUST be taken into account when weaving wires;
“surges” of voltage and interference on electrical appliances when the area is overloaded.

As can be seen above, twisting has a limited range of use; it cannot be used with powerful devices, and when used with computers, modern televisions, audio equipment and other equipment of the 21st century, there is a problem with the occurrence of interference and “throws”. Therefore, it is advisable to weave wires when used with lighting devices (chandeliers, lamps, etc.), power adapters and other “weak” devices.

Nuances

Connecting conductors from different materials

The most basic thing is that twisting is PROHIBITED with conductors made of different materials. It is PROHIBITED to weave copper and aluminum wires. This is due to the fact that when copper and aluminum come into contact, a galvanic couple appears, which destroys the created connection. The higher the current passing through the plexus, the faster its destruction will occur. Such contact of wires threatens with the following consequences:

heating, sparking and subsequent combustion;
deterioration in the quality of contact of such a “weave”;
reducing the contact area;
strong heating of the wires at the plexus;
rapid oxidation;
under temporary and powerful loads, “heating-cooling” cycles occur, which is fraught with severe
deterioration in connection quality.

The appearance of an oxide film

The film appears as a result of the interaction between the oxygen environment of the air and the conductor. The metal conductors used to make connections are usually made of aluminum or copper and are quite susceptible to oxide film if the connection is not insulated. More expensive materials, rarely used in electrical diagrams, such as gold and platinum, do not have this drawback, but their cost is extremely high. An oxide film on wires has the following consequences:

deterioration in the quality of twist contact;
intensification of the heating process when current passes.

It is quite simple to combat this drawback - it is necessary to carry out high-quality insulation of the twist.

The appearance of transient contact resistance

This resistance appears as a result of poor contact between the wires, which causes the temperature to increase greatly at the point where the current passes from one part to another. Transient contact resistance serves as a catalyst for the rapid destruction of the wire tangle, especially in the absence of insulation. To minimize transient contact resistance, the tightest contact between the two conductors should be made.

Types of twists and connections of this type

One of the advantages of such a connection as twisting is the possibility of improving it by soldering or welding. When soldering, the connection becomes strong and is able to withstand high currents; when welding, special equipment is used, which makes it possible to give strength to the completed connection. Soldering and welding of both copper and aluminum wires is an excellent way to improve its performance: reduce the thermal load by improving contact at the welding or soldering points.

When carrying out work, twists can be divided into several types depending on the materials, type of wire, type of twist. It is extremely important that the cross-sectional area of each of the conductors matches each other, and is also suitable for the load used.

Conductors can be made of the following materials:

aluminum;
copper.

Aluminum braiding is less resistant to further unwinding, while copper conductors can be unbraided and rebraided several times, for example, to add a third contact. Aluminum can withstand 1–2 times the load of twisting and unwinding, copper can be twisted and untwisted 3–4 times without any damage.

In this case, conductors can be divided into 2 types:

When performing the twisting process, it is worth considering the type of conductor, since the options for weaving may be different. Depending on the type of wire, one or another twisting method should be used.

A cord with a monolithic core is usually used for stationary wiring, when there is no need to move equipment. Stranded conductors are often used for “rough” installation or where there is a need to move devices.

The twisting of both copper wires and aluminum wires is the same and is shown in the tables for each type of cord (stranded/single-core). If it is necessary to weave more than two conductors, for example 3–4, then first the initial twisting is performed for the two ends (shaping the connection) - 1–2 turns, after which the required amount conductors and twisting them according to one pattern or another.

It is allowed to connect two conductors different types(stranded/solid), however, it is important to take into account the cross-sectional area of each conductor.

We twist it ourselves

During professional installation, special clamps are used to make the connection - PPE (connecting insulating clamp), when used, the final twisting is allowed from the point PUE view, but it is worth remembering that such a device is not designed for high currents.

So, how to properly twist wires at home? To carry out this manipulation you need:

take into account all the nuances in advance (location, load of connected equipment, etc.);
acquire necessary tools(pliers, knife, sandpaper, heat shrink, it is advisable to have a hot air gun and a device for removing insulation, a screwdriver if available).

Let's consider the situation with weaving from a cord with a monolithic core:

It is necessary to strip the ends of each wire by 3-4 cm using special tool(stripper) or a construction knife. It is extremely important to remove the insulation and not leave deep cuts on the core.
Then we put heat shrink on one of the ends.
Then degrease the cleaned surfaces with alcohol/acetone/white spirit.
Then, taking sandpaper, we clean the wire strands.
We lay the wires parallel to each other and hold them with pliers.
We weave (in accordance with the diagram) clockwise, at least 5 turns for one core. The wires must fit tightly to each other.
We move the heat shrink to the contact point and warm it up with a hairdryer or lighter. It is important that the heat shrink fits tightly at the twisting site.

It is possible to hold one end of the cord with a screwdriver and slowly turn it, while weaving the other end onto the rotating end, creating tension with your hands, thereby making the connection tighter.

With a stranded cord the situation is a little different:

We strip the ends of each wire by 3–4 cm using a special tool (stripper) or a construction knife. It is extremely important to carefully remove the insulation and not damage/cut off the cord cores.
We put heat shrink on one end of the cord.
We unravel the strands of each cord into small “braids”.
We degrease the resulting “braids” with alcohol/acetone and so on.
We lay the cores on top of each other from each cord.
We weave together, making the connection tight (at least 5-6 turns per braid).
We move the heat shrink to the place of twisting, warm it up with a hairdryer/lighter. The heat shrink should fit tightly at the joint.

If it is necessary to create a “braid” from monocore and multicore cords, the algorithm also changes, and it is highly advisable to weave using the “Branching” method:

We strip the ends of each wire by 3–4 cm using a special tool (stripper) or a construction knife. We take care not to damage the cores of each cord.
We put heat shrink on one of the cords.
We degrease the cleaned areas with alcohol/acetone and so on.
We bend the single-core end 180 degrees, so that it then presses the twist.
We twist the multi-core cord around the single-core end in accordance with the diagram (clockwise), at least 5-6 turns, the more the better.
We clamp the pre-bent end of the single-core wire and press it against the twist made with pliers.
We move the heat shrink to the contact area and heat it with a hairdryer/lighter. We make sure that the heat shrink is well fixed at the twisting site.

Video on the topic

During installation electrical wiring Special attention is given to electrical contacts, since the quality and reliability of the entire electrical network as a whole depends on this. An integral part of such contacts is the connection of wires. For this they are used as modern technologies, and the old methods. Each method has its own disadvantages and advantages. What type of wire twisting to use depends on the conditions and possibilities.

Requirements for twisting wires

Twisting wires together is the most popular and simplest method, but at the same time it is also the most unreliable. To understand how to twist wires correctly, it is necessary to imagine what processes can take place at the junction. Over time, as a result of temperature exposure, the clamp weakens. This is caused by linear expansion of the conductor during the passage of large amounts of current. The contact at the junction weakens, its resistance increases, and accordingly the twisted area heats up. The wires oxidize and overheat, contact is lost or insulation breakdown occurs, which can lead to a short circuit and fire.

Requirements for twisting wires are regulated by the rules for installing electrical equipment (PUE). The basic rules for any method of connecting wires are to ensure contact without additional resistance. That is, this value is at the place of twist should not exceed the minimum resistance value of the wires themselves. This is also true for the requirements of mechanical strength; the contact point should not be less strong than the strength value of the wires themselves.

Therefore, according to the PUE, simply made connections in the form of twisting when installing electrical wiring are prohibited. After twisting, additional operations are required to increase its reliability. This can be soldering, welding, crimping, mechanical clamping.

It is important to note that twisting is applicable only if the connected conductors are made of the same material. Otherwise, a chemical compound is formed due to oxidation, which quickly destroys the twist.

Exist Various types twist:

parallel simple;
sequential simple;
parallel to the groove;
consistent groove;
bandage

Before starting the connection, you need to prepare the wires. To do this, you will need to remove the insulation over a length of at least 50 mm, clean the exposed wire with fine sandpaper, and only then start twisting. Parallel connection applies when it becomes necessary to connect the ends of the wires together, for example, in junction boxes. Consistent twisting when making branches.

Parallel connection method

Parallel connection is a simple operation that involves a method in which two wires, stripped to the same length, are applied parallel to each other. Next, the bare ends are crossed so that the edges touch each other. Then, rotational movement start twisting. You need to twist in one direction, which one doesn’t matter.

The insulated parts of the conductors must not be twisted together. First, the conductors are twisted by hand, forming a direction, and then tightened with pliers. In this case, the ends of the wires are taken with pliers to give the twisting uniformity. The “parallel to the groove” method means that when twisting, one core is motionless, and the second braids it. To do this, starting from the end of the insulation, one wire makes three to four turns around the second. We lay the first one with a tight touch parallel to the second one and at the end we perform three to four turns again.

Description of the sequential method

A simple serial connection is accomplished in a different way. The stripped ends of the wires are not applied to each other, but are arranged oppositely, overlapping. Centers of stripped cores are applied to each other, and then braided in one direction and the other. In this case, it is necessary that the stripped conductors do not come into contact with the insulation of the opposite wire. When twisting with a groove, each core is braided with the other only at the end of the insulation, and in the middle it passes with a tight touch.

Cable banding

Executed as parallel , and sequential method. In the first method, the wires are pressed against each other with an insulating layer, and a third conductor is wound around the stripped conductors in a spiral motion. To do this, one end of the additional wire is held with your fingers, and the other is wrapped around with pliers, tightly squeezing the connected wires together. In the second method, the stripped wires are applied in parallel, but opposite each other, not reaching one or two millimeters from the insulation of the opposite wire. Then they are tightly rolled with an additional conductor.

Twisting a multi-core cable

There are some minor nuances with this connection. To increase the contact area, the same methods are used, but with preliminary separation of the cores in each wire. After removing the insulation, the conductors are separated in each wire, and two to four pigtails are created from them with an equal number of conductors in each. Then they are laid one on top of the other, and the wires are twisted, one pigtail from each wire. At the end, the resulting braids are woven together. This way you will get the correct twist of the wires with a strong mechanical strength and low resistance.

The number of turns that is obtained during operation should be more than six. The types of wire connections do not depend on the material used and are performed in the same way for both aluminum and copper wire. It is important to understand what to twist different types wires cannot be connected to each other, and the aluminum wire may break off if twisted excessively. If you need to twist more than two wires, the process technology will not change.

Additional technological operations

Since the PUE prohibits performing only twisting, but connecting different materials is not possible, then the twisting process must end with a terminal block or soldering. To make the connection reliable, the following are used: technological operations:

soldering;
welding;
screw terminals;
crimping in special spring devices Oh;
crimping.

Soldering and welding when connecting

The only drawback of this operation is the labor intensity of the work. For soldering you will need tin and flux. When working with copper, rosin is used as a flux, while for aluminum, highly active fluxes containing oleic acid and lithium iodide are used. If a soldering iron with a power of up to 100 W is enough for soldering copper, then aluminum is welded using a gas heater, the heating temperature should be 400-500 degrees. Solder for copper is lead-tin. And for aluminum containing zinc.

The technology itself is simple, since the thermal conductivity of twisting is greater than that of solder, when melted it moves to the joint, creating thin layer. When soldering, large amounts of solder are not allowed; it should be distributed evenly over the entire surface.

Application of screw terminals

Screw clamps in their operating principle involve mechanical compression of twisted surfaces using bolted connection. For this, steel pads are used. The finished twist or individual wire strands are placed under a steel washer and compressed by screwing in a screw. In this case, the clamping is carried out both by the washer itself and only by the screw. The first method is better, since the contact surface is larger.

The terminal block itself looks like a plate on an insulator with a group of contacts. Using terminal blocks, both copper and aluminum wires of different sections are connected.

Using spring devices

Allows for the fastest connections without the use of tools. Wago terminal blocks are widely used. They are produced not only different sizes, but also for different numbers of connected wires. With their help, single-core and multi-core wires of different sections and types are connected. The wires are combined both individually and with each other. For this purpose, the terminal blocks have a latch-flag, which allows you to lay the wire and clamp it inside after latching. Or use a device in the form of clips.

Using the Wago terminal, you can connect aluminum and copper to each other. But for this, a special paste is used to prevent air from entering, and the wire strands are separated into separate cells.

Crimping of connected cords

If it is necessary to connect large cross-section wires, lugs (sleeves) are used. The wires are stripped and inserted into the sleeves, then the sleeve is compressed using press pliers and the wire is crimped. This connection is considered reliable, but requires specialized tools.

Connecting insulating clamps (PPE) are also considered a kind of crimping. After twisting the wire, depending on the diameter, the caps are screwed on top of the connection, pressing the contact and insulating it.

The last final step after making the connection is to carefully isolate it. Dielectric tape or thermal tube is used as an insulator. The insulation should be 2-3 cm larger than the junction itself. The insulation must be carried out efficiently, otherwise there is a possibility of a breakdown between the wires, which will lead to a short circuit.

In a field such as electricity, all work must be carried out strictly, accurately and without a single mistake. Some people want to figure out such work on their own, not trusting third parties to carry out a responsible mission. Today we will talk about how to properly connect wires in a junction box. The work must be done efficiently, because not only the performance of electrical appliances in the house, but also the fire safety of the premises depends on it.

About the distribution box

In an apartment or house, the wires are routed from the electrical panel according to different rooms. There are usually several connection points: switch, sockets, and so on. In order for all the wires to be collected in one place, distribution boxes were created. They carry wiring from sockets, switches and are connected in a hollow housing.

So that during repairs you do not have to look for where the wires are hidden in the walls, electrical wiring is laid on the basis of special rules prescribed in the PUE (Electrical Installation Rules).

Distribution boxes are classified according to the type of fastening. So, there are boxes for external mounting and indoor installation. For the second option, you need to prepare a hole in the wall into which the box will be inserted. As a result, the box lid is located flush with the wall. Often the cover is hidden with wallpaper or plastic during repairs. As a last resort, an outer box is used, which is attached directly to the wall.

There are round or rectangular junction boxes. In any case, there will be at least 4 exits. Each outlet has a fitting or thread to which a corrugated tube is attached. This is done to quickly replace the wire. The old wire is pulled out and new wiring is laid. It is not recommended to lay the cable in a groove on the wall. If the electrical wiring burns out, you will have to dig into the wall and disturb the finish in order to carry out repair work.

What are distribution boxes for?

There are many factors that speak in favor of the existence of junction boxes:

The power system can be repaired in a matter of hours. All connections are accessible, you can easily find the area where the wires have burned out. If the cable was laid in special channels (corrugated tube, for example), then the failed cable can be replaced in an hour;
Connections can be inspected at any time. As a rule, wiring problems occur at the connection points. If the socket or switch does not work, but there is voltage in the network, first check the quality of the connection in the junction box;
is created highest level fire safety. It is believed that dangerous places are connections. Using a box will keep them in one place.
minimal time and financial costs when repairing wiring. There is no need to look for broken wires in the walls.

Connecting the wires in the box

There are several ways in which conductor connections can be made in junction boxes. Note that there are simple and complex methods, however, if executed correctly, all options will ensure the reliability of the electrical wiring.

Method number 1. Twisting method

It is believed that the twisting method is used by amateurs. At the same time, this is one of the most reliable and proven options. PUE do not recommend using twisting, since the contact between the wires is unreliable. As a result, the conductors may overheat, putting the room at risk of fire. However, twisting can be used as a temporary measure, for example, when testing an assembled circuit.

Method number 2. Mounting caps - PPE

Very often, special caps are used for twisting conductors. As a result, it is possible to obtain a reliable connection with good contact. The outer shell of the cap is plastic (the material is not flammable), and inside there is a metal part with a cone-shaped thread. The insert increases the contact surface, improving the electrical parameters of twisting. Most often, thick conductors are connected using caps (no soldering required).

It is necessary to remove the insulation from the wire by 2 centimeters, slightly twist the wires. When the cap is put on, it must be turned with force. At this point the connection can be considered ready.

Before making the connection, you need to count the number of wires. Based on the data obtained (cross-section), a specific type of cap is selected. The advantages of twisting using plastic caps are that you do not need to spend a lot of time, as with conventional twisting. In addition, the connection is compact.

Method No. 3. Connecting conductors by soldering

If you have a soldering iron on your household and you know how to work with it, then the wires can be connected by soldering. Before connecting the wires, they need to be tinned. Soldering flux or rosin is applied to the conductor. Next, the heated tip of the soldering iron is immersed in rosin and passed along the wire several times. A reddish coating should appear.

After the rosin dries, the wires are twisted. Using a soldering iron, tin is taken and the twist is heated until tin flows between the turns. The end result is a high-quality connection with excellent contact. However, electricians are not very fond of using this connection method. The fact is that it takes a lot of time to prepare. However, if you are doing the work for yourself, you should not spare any effort or time.

Method number 4. Welding cores

Using an inverter welding machine you can connect the wires. Welding is used over twisting. You need to set the welding current parameters on the inverter. There are certain standards for different connections:

- conductor with a cross section of 1.5 sq. mm - 30 A;

- conductor with a cross section of 2.5 sq. mm - 50A.

If the conductor is copper, then a graphite electrode is used for welding. The grounding from the welding machine is connected to the upper part of the resulting twist. An electrode is brought from below the twist and an arc is ignited. The electrode is applied to the twist for a couple of seconds. After some time, the connection will cool down, then it can be insulated.

Read also: Hidden electrical wiring in a wooden house

Method No. 5. Terminal blocks

Another option for connecting conductors in a box is using terminal blocks. There are several types of pads: screw, with clamps, but the principle of the device is identical. The most common is a block with a copper plate for attaching wires. By inserting several wires into a special connector, they can be reliably connected. Installation using a clamp terminal makes the connection very simple.

In screw terminals, the terminal blocks are placed in a plastic housing. There are open and closed type. Closed pads are a new generation invention. To make a connection, wires are inserted into the socket and clamped with a screw (using a screwdriver).

However, terminal connections have a disadvantage. It lies in the fact that it is inconvenient to connect several conductors together. The contacts are arranged in pairs. And if you need to connect more than three wires, then several branches are squeezed into one socket, which is very difficult. At the same time, such connections make it possible to operate branches with high current consumption.

Another type of terminals is Wago terminals. Today two types of terminals are in demand:

— terminals with a flat-spring mechanism. Sometimes they are called disposable, since it is impossible to reuse the terminals - the quality of the connection deteriorates. Inside the terminal there is a plate with spring petals. As soon as the conductor is inserted (it should only be single-core), the petal is pressed out and the wire is clamped. The conductor cuts into the metal. If you pull out the conductor by force, then the petal will not take its previous shape.

Some terminal connections contain wiring paste inside. This connection is used if you need to connect copper and aluminum wires. The paste protects metals from oxidation, protecting conductors;

- universal terminals with a lever mechanism - this is the most best view connector. The wire, stripped of insulation, is inserted into the terminal and a small lever is clamped. At this point the connection is considered complete. And if you need to reconnect, add contacts, lift the lever and pull out the wire. The pads can be operated at low current (up to 24 A - with a cross-section of 1.5 sq. mm) and at high current(32 A - with a conductor cross-section of 2.5 sq. mm). If wires are connected through which a current higher than that specified will flow, then a different type of connection must be used.

Method number 6. Crimping

The wires in the box can only be connected by crimping using special pliers and a metal sleeve. A sleeve is put on the twist, after which it is clamped with pliers. This method is suitable for connecting conductors with a large load.

Method No. 7. Bolted connection

Connecting multiple wires using bolts is easy and effective method connections. To complete the work, you need to take a bolt and several washers with a nut.

It is not enough to know how to connect the wires in a junction box. You need to know which conductors are connected to each other. So, a washer is put on the bolt thread. The core is screwed on, the second washer is put on, and then the next core is put on. At the end, put on the third washer and press the connection with a nut. The node is closed with insulation.

There are several advantages of bolted connection of conductors:

- ease of work;

- low cost;

- the ability to connect conductors made of different metals(eg aluminum and copper).

However, there are also disadvantages:

— fixation of wires is not of high quality;

- to hide the bolt you need to use a lot of insulation;

The topic of connecting wires seems quite interesting to consider. For those who are just learning the basics of electrical engineering, this information will be very useful and necessary. After all, you don’t have to be a professional electrician to understand that all wire connections are a serious danger zone. As a rule, 90% of all problems and accidents occur in contacts and cable twists.

The connection of wires can be of several types: twisting, using terminal blocks, using contact clamps, etc.

As you understand, there are quite a lot of types of wire connections, but only those connection methods that can be made by ordinary consumers at home will be considered.

Let's start with some general information.

When laying or repairing electrical wiring, quite often you have to make all kinds of branches and splices of wires. During this operation, you should always strive to obtain a high-quality connection and good contact. This is really very important, because in places of poor contact, due to an increase in resistance, the current-carrying conductors heat up, and this can lead to a fire in the insulation of your conductor and, in some cases, to serious consequences (as we have already mentioned above).

There are several ways to connect wires and cables:

Twisted.
Screw terminal blocks.
Contact clamps.
Electric welding.
By contact heating method.
Soldering in a twist or in a sleeve.
By crimping in sleeves.

Some of these connection methods require special equipment, at home, for connecting wires yourself, contact clamps, terminal blocks with screw clamps, and, as a last resort, twisting without soldering are best suited.

All methods of connecting conductors, which will be discussed below, are almost equivalent. Each of them has its own pros and cons. If all your connections are made correctly and conscientiously, then there should be no problems with them in the future, no matter how you make this connection.
Next, we will consider the most common methods of connecting wires that are applicable at home.

Twisting wires

This method of connecting wires today is used only in the absence of special tools and devices. In most cases, the wires are simply twisted and wrapped with electrical tape. In some cases such a connection is not reliable, but under certain conditions such connections show amazing reliability. To do this, you need to remember a couple of rules: you need to twist copper with copper, aluminum with aluminum and provide a relatively small current to power your chandelier.

In this case, the entire length of your twist should be approximately 3-4 cm. As you already understood from the above, in no case should aluminum and copper wires be twisted together. At the places of such connections, there is always a process of electrolysis (with the participation of water contained in the air), during which these metals are destroyed. This mainly applies to aluminum. There is always one rule in this process: the greater the current, the faster the process occurs.

The type of twisting depends mainly on the type and functional purpose of the connection, the diameter and material of the wires being twisted. Below, to help you understand this issue, a table of types of twists is provided.

Modern twisting of wires is carried out without the use of pliers. To create it, special connecting polymer caps with a metal spiral inside are used. There are both imported and domestic caps on the market.

The cap (twist) is the simplest way TPG connections of small cross-section. Used when you need to connect several ends of a wire. The connection is made very simply, the straight ends of the wires are stripped to a length of approximately 15 mm, inserted inside the cap until it stops and the housing is rotated using the wings on the housing until a strong connection is obtained. You can check the resulting connection using conventional instrumentation, since at the top of the caps there is a control recess for the probe of the device.

The connection can be screwed on and, in some cases, unscrewed if the ends of the wires are the same length. But here you should always remember that spring caps are designed for a certain number of wires (this information should be on the cap body or on the packaging in which the caps were located), so when performing this type of work you should always have a set of different sizes.

When choosing the cap size you need, you can focus on color scheme. Just when purchasing caps, carefully study their assortment presented in the store. Pay attention to the color and specifications, which should be written on the familiarization sheet, and if you need to, remember all this information. In most cases, you can get by with buying red caps - with their help you can twist wires from 0.5 to 12.5 mm².

The next type of wire connection to consider is the connection using terminal blocks.

Connection with terminal blocks

Terminal blocks are enough convenient way connecting wires, especially when you have a lot of them.

The block is a dielectric housing with screw contacts inside.

Terminal blocks, as you have already seen, have quite a lot of sockets isolated from each other (usually there are two screws per terminal block). Here all connections are made quite simply. You just need to strip the ends of the wires, insert them into the corresponding hole (towards each other) and tighten the fastening screws. But do not overdo it, so as not to cut off these same veins. The terminal blocks are designed to operate in an alternating current network with a rated voltage of 220-230 V and a frequency of 50 Hz.

The pads have holes in the middle of their body. Through these holes you can attach the terminal blocks to any surface. If you don’t need the entire block, you can cut off the extra terminal strips based on the holes.

You can also this type The terminal blocks can also be used as a dead-end terminal. That is, you put all the wires that you need to connect on one side and strip the wires so that they can be tightened with not one, but two screws. It is better to do this so that the ends of the tightened wires do not stick out from the opposite side of the terminal block. Then take the electrical tape and try to insulate the end so that you yourself do not get an electric shock in the future.

Although there are dead-end terminal blocks on sale, buying them is not always profitable. It is unlikely that you will purchase a large electrical product.

And one more point that should be taken into account when working with terminal blocks. If you are trying to connect a stranded wire, then always try to crimp the lugs onto the ends of the strand, since when tightening this wire with screws, there is a high probability that you can cut off a large number of individual strands and thereby reduce its cross-section, and this can lead to further unpredictable consequences. One piece of advice is appropriate here: when purchasing terminal blocks, always inspect them carefully and try to buy ones that have pressure plates inside.

Terminal connection

The next type of wire connection, which should be considered in more detail, is connection with contact clamps (in other words, the use of WAGO terminal blocks, they are also called flat-spring contact clamps).

Nowadays, wires are increasingly connected using spring clamps. IN in this case you don't have to twist or solder anything, you just need to strip the ends of the cores by about 12 mm and insert them into the holes of the clamp.

Scheme of connecting wires with contact clamps: a – connection of an aluminum single-core wire with a pin output: 1 – nut; 2 – split spring washer; 3 – shaped washer; 4 – steel washer; 5 – pin terminal; b – connection of a two-core wire with a flat contact screw clamp; c – connection of the core with a clamp-type terminal; g – contact spring clamp.

This is what this design will look like.

These terminals are filled with a special contact paste, which, when connecting an aluminum conductor, removes the oxide film from it and prevents re-oxidation. That is, during installation, you can safely connect both a copper and an aluminum conductor to one terminal block.

Many experts criticize this type of connection for one reason or another. But still, it is quite reliable and has a number of advantages:

The conductors are not damaged.
Reliable protection against accidental contact with live connections.
Each conductor has a separate terminal location.
Connecting both copper and aluminum conductors together.
It is possible to measure the electrical parameters of the circuit without damaging the insulation.
Safety and order when using these terminal blocks in electrical boxes.
Short circuit and heating at the connection point are completely eliminated.
This series clamps are the best option for connecting wires at currents up to 25 A.
Instant installation of conductors.

There are terminal blocks of this type for multi-core wires.

There are also connection methods, less popular, that you can do yourself.

Diagram of the contact clamp device: 1 - screw; 2 - spring washer; 3 - washer or contact clamp base; 4 - current-carrying core; 5 - stop that limits the spreading of the aluminum conductor.

Screw terminals are contacts in which the wire is secured with screws. The clamp itself is mounted on the underlying surface using screws. In some cases, screw terminals may look like this:

Cable clamps - these devices help connect wire strands without cutting the TPG. Used to branch wires from the main line.

This type of compression is a bit outdated. Now they are trying to use a slightly different design, which does not need to be disassembled and when using which there is no need to strip the section of the main line from insulation, since they are self-piercing. That is, when tightening the nut, which is located on top of the clamp, special teeth pierce the conductor insulation and thereby ensure reliable contact. You can insert another conductor into another hole and thereby make a branch.

Panel terminal blocks or busbars – this connection method is used when you need to connect several conductors. For example, when connecting suitable neutral wires to the common.

Soldering is the joining of wires using a soldering iron and special solders.

Whatever connection you choose, try to do it thoroughly and without haste, so as not to blame yourself in the future if the unexpected happens.