PVC cable channel installation technology: how to optimize work. Installation of cable channels of various types and sizes How to fix cable channels correctly
Masters "with gray hair at the temples" remember how open wiring was done thirty years ago, they saw what changes took place in technology fifteen years ago and can compare it with modern methods of laying open wiring. In order for you to have something to compare with and make it easier to make decisions, we will make a brief overview of all existing and existing methods.
It is now so beautifully called, but before it was the only option for open wiring. It was used not only in the bath, but also in residential premises. The wires were fixed on porcelain insulator rollers.
For such wiring, electrical wires must be only single-core, the cups are fixed at a distance of no more than ten centimeters, plus one at each turn. The wires had to be twisted, and this is a long and tedious task. In addition, white insulation became dusty and dirty for a short time, various spider bugs very often settled in it for permanent residence.
Today, open wiring by the described method is mounted only by great lovers of antiquity, who do not know what it will look like in a few years.
Better yet, the electrical cables were hidden in plastic pipes, which looked much better on the walls. In addition, plastic pipes served as additional protection against mechanical damage.
Disadvantages - the complexity of installation and routine maintenance. Electricians still remember how difficult it was to pull cables through pipes, especially if there were turns.
Often the pipes were cut, and after pulling the cables, they were connected with couplings. Another significant drawback is the great difficulty during the production of repair work. Due to the low cost, open wiring in plastic pipes is still used quite often today.
Open wiring in the cable channel
According to most professional electricians - the best option for open wiring. In essence, it can be called open only by the technology of laying cables; in appearance, it bears little resemblance to the usual options; rather, it can be called semi-open.
Manufacturers produce a huge number of options both in terms of the number of cables and the method of fixation, overall dimensions and the availability of additional fittings. The advantages include ease of installation, durability, safety of operation, versatility of use, the presence of numerous special additional fittings. Additional elements solve issues with internal and external corners, turns, connections of sockets, switches, mounting boxes, etc.
It is on this type of open wiring that we will dwell in the article. Before directly considering the issues of fixing cable channels, you should learn a little about their varieties and technical capabilities.
Cable channel prices
cable channel
Types and features of channels
Cable channels are classified according to several important features.
| Characteristic | Description | Illustration |
|---|---|---|
| By location. | They can be floor, parapet, plinth and trunk. The appearance of each category is maximally adapted to the installation site, it may resemble profile moldings. | |
| By color performance. | There are light, dark and with imitation of natural wood. | |
| By linear dimensions. | Designed for one, two, three or more cables. External dimensions range from 40×25 mm to 100×60 mm. May have sharp or rounded corners and oversized lids. There are options with high covers, their shelves cover the internal elements of the channel along the entire height - it gives the impression of a monolithic product. This not only improves the appearance of the wiring, but also increases its security from the negative influence of external factors. | |
| By the number of locks - with one or two locks. | Two locks more securely hold the lid from spontaneous opening, exclude the possibility of deformation of the lid. | |
| According to the material of manufacture. | Plastic, steel and aluminum. Aluminum ones are covered with plastic wrap for various types of wood, they are perfectly combined with existing interiors of the premises, but for the price they are considered the most expensive option. Plastics do not support open combustion, it is allowed to use such channels for laying cables with voltage up to 1000 V. | |
| According to the degree of protection against dust and moisture. | Separate brands of plastic channels have a degree of protection IP55, which allows them to be used in open areas and in rooms with high levels of humidity, protects against multidirectional splashes of water. For a bath, this is a very important characteristic. |
Video - How to choose and install a cable channel
The main parameters when choosing a cable channel are the cross section and the number of cables that are planned to be laid in the network. Of course, you need to pay attention to the appearance, try to choose an option that would harmonize as much as possible with the existing interior of the bathhouse.
Stages of wiring in a cable duct
Step 1. Draw a plan for the placement of electrical networks, appliances and equipment.
Estimate several options, consider the possibility of increasing the power and the number of electrical fittings. Depending on the maximum total power of all consumers of electrical energy, select the cable diameter. To facilitate the choice, be guided by table No. 1.
Experienced electricians do not keep all the values in their heads, they only remember that 1 mm2 of a copper cable section is designed for 1.3 kW of power at a voltage of 220 V, and 1 mm2 of an aluminum cable holds only 0.5 kW at the same voltage. What follows is simple arithmetic. If a section of 2.5 mm2 is indicated on the sheath of a copper cable, then it can be used to connect current consumers with a total power of 2.5 × 1.3 = 3.25 kV. Always round up and use this 3.0kW cable.
Practical advice. For a bath, it is quite enough to buy an ordinary plastic box with dimensions of 40 × 25 mm; a cable that can withstand power up to 10 kW easily enters it. In the implementation there are boxes made under the ceiling plinth or floor plinth. An excellent solution, but it needs to be thought out even before finishing the walls or floor. We recommend that the central wiring be mounted above the floor, and the outlets for lighting fixtures, mounting boxes, sockets and switches should be made from below. But this is not for everyone, you can use other options for installing electrical wiring.
You should have drawn both a general electrical wiring diagram starting from the inlet switchboard, and a separate diagram for each bath room.
Choose fasteners depending on the material of the walls. Self-tapping screws are needed for wood, special hardware for drywall and dowels for brick.
Each manufacturer of cable channels produces a wide range of additional elements: internal and external corners, triangles, plugs, connectors, mounting boxes, sockets, switches, etc. Carefully calculate the nomenclature and the total quantity, we advise you to take a few pieces in stock. They cost a penny, it will end up being much cheaper than going to the store again to purchase the missing items.
Step 2 Make a markup. For example, we will take a bathhouse, in which the walls are already fully sheathed and flooring is laid. There remains only one option for open wiring in cable channels - over the walls. It is better to do the wiring near the floor, in this case it is much easier to drill holes and fix the cable channel. Working under the ceiling all the time with outstretched arms is tiring and uncomfortable. Moreover, you will have to hold a rather heavy drill and a screwdriver in your hands.
Experienced electricians on the walls make markings only for mounting boxes, switches and sockets, cable channels are installed immediately without drawing preliminary lines. They take a section of the channel, put it against the wall, set the level from above (or from the side) and adjust the spatial position. Then, with one hand, they hold the box, and with the other hand they drill holes in the bottom for the hardware with a drill. This is quite difficult, you need not only to have experience, but also to be able to optimally organize the installation process. We will tell you how to make detailed markup for beginners, this will help to avoid annoying mistakes.
Hardware prices
set of hardware
How to mark up cable channels
You need to have a water level, a blued rope, a ruler and a pencil.
Do not be afraid to use blue - broken lines will be covered with a cable channel. Start marking from the switchboard, while at the same time take into account not only the characteristics of the cables and the placement of sockets, mounting boxes, switches, etc., but also the layout and purpose of the premises.
The markings and calculations are completed, you can proceed with the installation.
Step 3 Fastening cable channels. Mounting methods depend on the material of the walls and the material of the finishing sheathing. Let's consider each option in detail.
Prices for building level
construction level
Fastening cable channels to plasterboard boards
Gypsum boards consist of two layers of paper with gypsum in between. The material is relatively new and is very popular among professional construction companies - it is easy to work with, it is very technological, etc. But consumers cannot say so many good words about this material - the strength of gypsum boards is beyond all criticism. Remove the paper from the drywall and it will crumble, any tangible force on the drywall does not remain without visible damage to the surface. Accordingly, it is rather problematic to attach cable channels to such material. It makes no sense to use screws (albeit special ones). It is necessary to “overdo it” a little while screwing, as the thread in the plaster will scroll and the fastening strength will approach zero.
On such walls, we recommend using only plastic cable channels, the use of aluminum is highly undesirable. You need to fix the plastic with liquid nails, in the most critical places you can additionally use special screws.
Practical advice. Due to the fact that gypsum boards have a decorative finish, it must be tested for adhesion with liquid nails. Not all types of paints and not all types of wallpaper are suitable for gluing. First, in some secluded place, glue a small piece of a plastic box and check the strength of the bonding in a day. Everything is fine - you can use this technology.
Apply liquid nails on the back side of the box in a thin layer, the application strip should be wavy to increase the adhesion area. There should be just enough glue so that during the pressing of the cable channels it does not protrude beyond their perimeter. To increase the reliability of fastening, you can additionally fix it with self-tapping screws.
Fastening cable channels to brick walls
A complex and time-consuming option, you must use dowels. The advantage of dowels is high reliability, but in our case, no tangible physical stress on the channels is expected, the advantage becomes unnecessary, and large labor costs remain. How to fix cable channels on dowels?
- Place the cut blank of the channel in place of fixation, drill holes in the bottom with a drill for metal at a distance of 15 ÷ 20 centimeters. Drill holes carefully, only the end of the drill needs to be deepened into the wall. In this way, dowel installation marks are simultaneously made on the channel and wall.
- Take away the channel, change the drill to the winning one, switch the drill from drilling mode to punching mode. Use a drill to make holes for the dowels.
Important. Drill carefully, select the correct diameter of the drill. It should be a few tenths of a millimeter smaller than the diameter of the plastic element of the dowel. This element should enter the hole with little effort.
- Put the plastic cable channel in place, align the holes in it and the wall, insert the plastic elements of the dowels, hammer in the metal dowels.
If the wall is uneven, then choose places for drilling holes in convex sections, so you can avoid visible deformation of the cable channel. Wrong - not a problem. Most metal dowels are threaded, you can unscrew them a little, loosen the pressure against the wall and thereby correct the deformation that has appeared.
In all places where individual sections of cable channels are cut or joined, additional elements to be connected must be fastened. This is a general rule for all methods of fixing cable channels.
Professional installers use an air gun and special nails to fix cable channels to brick or concrete surfaces. But a pneumatic nail gun is expensive equipment; it is not advisable to purchase it for one bath.
Air nailer prices
pneumatic nail gun
Fastening cable channels to wooden walls
For baths - the most common option, fastening is carried out with screws, the length of the screws is approximately 1.5 ÷ 2 centimeters. You can first drill holes in the cable channel on a flat plane at a distance of up to twenty centimeters, and then use them for fixing. It's easier, but longer. If there is a practice of performing construction work, then self-tapping screws can be screwed simultaneously into the bottom of the channel cable and the wall.
Problems may arise during the laying of open wiring on walls upholstered with clapboard. The lining boards have a profile; self-tapping screws should be fastened carefully. If the self-tapping screw hit the convex section of the profile - excellent, you can fully tighten it. If you have to screw the self-tapping screw into the concave part of the profile, do not tighten the self-tapping screw to the stop, make sure that it does not violate the linearity of the plastic channel.
We have already advised buying special additional elements for passing external and internal corners, wiring at right angles, tees, etc. All joints can be cut at right angles, the cut may not be perfectly even. Overhead elements will close problem areas, the connection will be beautiful, work will be significantly accelerated. You can cut a plastic cable channel with a hacksaw for metal, special assembly scissors or a circular grinder (grinder) with a metal disc.
And what to do if for some reason there are no additional elements, how to cut the channel so that the connection is not conspicuous?
First, use standard long channels, do not rush to cut them into pieces. You should always have all the segments at hand, among them you can choose the one you need in length and not touch the whole one. It will be necessary for this to shift the outlet a few centimeters in one direction or another - there is nothing to worry about.
If you need to store the purchased cable channels for a long time, then put them on a flat plane, do not let them get direct sunlight. Over time, all plastics under the influence of sunlight darken and lose plasticity. Do not believe the manufacturers' advertisements about "complete resistance" to UV rays thanks to modern technologies, various innovative additives do not completely protect plastic from such influences, but only slow down the physical aging process.
Mounted cable channel
It is almost impossible to fit openly hanging wires into the interior. About 40 years ago, there were two ways to conduct electricity in an apartment - to brick the wires into the walls or leave them in plain sight, fixing them on insulators. Leaving it in plain sight is ugly and dangerous. Immured in the walls - there will be difficulties with replacing the wire and moving the sockets to a convenient place. Installation of cable channels eliminates these inconveniences.
How to choose a cable channel
The cable channel is a rectangular, usually U-shaped profile, closed with a flat snap-on cover made of the same material. Sometimes they are called boxes. Installation of cable channels is carried out along the perimeter of the rooms under the ceiling at a distance of 15 cm with vertical outlets to sockets and switches. To lay wires through walls, holes are drilled in opposite channels and the wall..
For laying power and low-current wires in one box, profiles with one or two partitions are produced. The standard length of the box for walls and ceilings is 2 meters, the minimum profile section is 8 × 8 mm, the maximum is 100 × 60 mm. For laying at the corners between the floor and walls a small number of wires, usually low-current, there are skirting boards of a special design. If you want to bring the wire to the device, remote from the walls, there are floor options with a rounded surface.
Boxes differ in cost and performance depending on the material. Products are produced:
- from plastic. The most common option and the cheapest. For rooms with high humidity and on the outer walls of the building, IP 55 plastic with a high degree of protection can be used. The color palette of plastic boxes allows you to choose the desired tone;
- aluminum coated with polyethylene. More expensive, but stronger and more durable than plastic ones. The number of opening-closing cycles of the lid is small due to the extension of the locks. The polyethylene coating is easily destroyed by mechanical action. The color is given to the channels with a polyethylene coating and is quite diverse;
- steel galvanized. Such structures are the most durable and expensive. Mainly used under high load conditions. For example, with floor wiring and in the external environment. The color of the products is varied.
Choosing the type and size of boxes with the definition of wiring throughout the house from the electrical panel and cable entry points for television, computer network, telephone and burglar alarms to sockets, switches and lamps by drawing lines of wires on the drawing of an apartment or house. Depending on the power of the connected equipment, the wires will be of different thicknesses, this should be noted on the drawing.
The cost of construction is highly dependent on the section of the main duct. However, if boxes of different sections are installed in a room along the ceiling, this will spoil the interior. According to the drawn diagram, we determine the cross section of the main cable channel for each room and the total length of each standard size, taking into account the vertical connection to sockets and switches.
You should immediately calculate for each section of the box the number of internal and external corners along the wiring line, the number of end transitions of the plugs, the number of T-shaped transitions to the branches and their cross section. Of course, you can do without them, but the gaps at the joints, the difference in sections will be striking. The use of sealant to seal gaps will lead to difficulties if necessary, for example, to add or replace wire in the trunk.
The wiring will take on an aesthetically finished look if the sockets and switches are installed from the same manufacturer. They are perfect in size and design.
Preparation for work
After determining and acquiring the required range of boxes and additional elements, the installation sites should be marked. At the same time, trying to observe the horizontal and vertical lines of the installation, we advise you to focus on an equal distance along the entire length to the ceiling of the main ducts, and for bends - the distance to the nearest room corner.
To work, you will need a stepladder, a perforator drill, a screwdriver, a hacksaw for cutting plastic, a level. Depending on the materials of the wall and the box, other tools may be required, for example, a hacksaw.
It is not necessary to saw off the main channels in advance - the probability of an error is high. During installation, you can determine the exact size by simply attaching them to the installation site.
Nuances of mounting to a concrete wall
How to fix the cable channel to the wall depends on the material of the walls, since they have different strengths. The weight of the structure is determined mainly by the weight of the cable in the main box and ranges from 100 grams in the lightest case to several kilograms per linear meter. The distance between the screws should not exceed half a meter. If holes for fastening are not provided at the base of the box, it is better to drill them immediately before installing each piece. Consider each type of wall material and installation features.
There are several ways to fix the cable channel to a concrete wall. You can choose the most suitable one:
- Professionals do this job with an air gun and special nails. The fastest option, but dismantling will be difficult, and the tool is expensive.
- We drill holes with a puncher in the previously marked places for attaching the cable channel. We insert plastic dowels and fix the channel on the screws. The most common installation method for small volumes of work.
- Adhesive connection. For use on flat surfaces only. Subsequent dismantling unequivocally renders the cable channels unusable. Procedure: on the base of the cable channel of the required length, apply special glue (liquid nails) along the sinusoid and apply it for a second to the place marked on the wall. After 2 minutes, the cable channel must be firmly pressed for the glue hardening time indicated on the package.
Fastening the cable channel to a brick wall can be done in the same way as for concrete walls. In this case, it should be taken into account that the dismantling of the glued structures will lead to the detachment of the plaster.
Mounting the cable channel on a wall made of wood or GVL is almost the same. Drilling holes is not required, the screws are screwed directly into the wall material.
It should be noted that due to the fragility of gypsum fiber, the distance between the screws can be reduced. The adhesive method when applied to wood and GVL has the same advantages and disadvantages as on other materials.
If it is necessary to fasten the cable channels to a metal partition, you can use special metal screws 1.5–2.0 cm long with a drill at the end. If the surface is smooth, you can apply the adhesive method.
Before purchasing and installing cable channels, determine the position and number of power and low-voltage sockets in each place. If you know where and what kind of furniture and electrical appliances will stand, it will not be difficult to calculate the sockets.
It is more convenient to lay the wires in the channels in one bundle, while closing the box. You can stretch the wires alternately, securing the covers already laid in a small piece every half meter.
For fixing a large number of wires on GVL sheets, special nylon plugs inserted into the wall can be used for screws.
It is no coincidence that any person who is not satisfied with the unaesthetic appearance of the wall or floor, curtained (covered) with twisted wires, shows a non-random interest in how to fix the cable channel to the wall. In addition, from the point of view of the likelihood of a fire, such harnesses are quite dangerous.
Moreover, they can be mistaken for a toy by small children and pets. Yes, and stumbling or clinging to the cords bothers. Of course, stationary wires are usually hidden in the wall during repairs. But if, say, you bought an air conditioner or gave your child a computer later, when the repair was already completed, it’s frankly a pity to ditch a freshly finished surface for the sake of one wire. This is where the electrical box comes to the rescue.
In its main advantages: the ability to mount everything yourself, the insulation of wires from each other, an acceptable appearance of the structure. At the same time, it can be fixed on any type of surface. Concrete, wood, foam block, even metal - everything is fine.
How to fix the cable channel to the wall? There are 2 main ways. Let's look at both in this article.
What you need to know about cable channels
(banner_content)Electrical boxes differ in several ways. For starters, this is the material from which they are made:
- steel. They are suitable for both indoor laying and for protecting cables outside buildings. The outer surface is galvanized. Boxes of different colors are produced, which allows you to choose the most harmonious one in your case. Does not burn. The disadvantages are the high price and corrosion when scratched;
- aluminum. These, by definition, do not rust, have a very elegant look, and, of course, fire resistance. Everyone is good, but again - the roads;
- plastic. They are usually used in home wiring. Plastic, serve for a long time, the color scheme allows you to make them almost invisible in the overall interior. However, plastic cannot resist fire. Therefore, when choosing a cable channel, one should take an interest in the physical characteristics of its material and stop at one that does not burn, but melts, and in this process emits a minimum amount of harmful substances.
The next thing you need to pay attention to is the cable channel device. According to the rules of electrical installation, a separate cell must be allocated for each wire. This is especially important if both power and low-current wires are hidden in the same box. They should not contact - this leads to signal attenuation. Based on this, we select a cable channel of one of the types described below.
A box with a single section, having a one-sided lid. Suitable if you need to stretch the cable from the entrance to the apartment to the TV or computer. Or to hide the cord from the air conditioner to the outlet.
Two-piece box with double-sided lid. What you need if 2 cables go in the same direction.
If there are more wires, you will have to mount additional cable channels one above the other. However, in this case, you can already think about laying a strobe - if the connection is stationary, and the owner is not going to move the devices to which the cables lead.
Sometimes people are confused by the shape of the electrical box. It seems to them rude and does not fit into the interior. I would like to please: the cable channel can have rounded, soft outlines. It will take a little longer to look for one, but it does not apply to scarce goods.
Installation of cable channels: preparation
Most often, difficulties arise in the design of corners and turns. Here you can choose one of the available options:
- cut the elements joining at the turn at an angle of 45 degrees, and after the installation is completed, cover the seam gap with a sealant of a suitable color. If the cable channel wraps around the corner of the room, it is cut at a right angle (as a result of which the wires become visible at the turn), and the junction is closed with a plug;
- buy appropriate turn signals and corners. Installation, even home-made, at the same time increases the cost of consumables somewhat. But installation in difficult places is greatly simplified, and the end result looks much more elegant.
Adhesive mounting
It is very simple in execution, but has a significant drawback: if necessary, the cable channel can be removed only with pieces of decoration or even plaster. In addition, if the walls are not too even, then uneven gaps will remain between the box and the surface, which is not very attractive visually and is not recommended in operation. However, if you are sure that you will not have to dismantle the cable channel, you can use the following instructions.
- The cable channel is cut to size, applied to the wall, floor or ceiling, and the compliance with the markings and the tightness of the joining of individual parts is checked.
- Glue (for example, liquid nails) is applied in a wavy line to the wrong side of the base of the segment. The width of the wave is approximately 1.5 of the width of the box.
- The element is pressed against the surface for a couple of seconds and is immediately removed. The adhesive trace remaining on the wall should thicken a little.
- The channel returns to its place and presses, now more firmly, so that it grapples with the wall.
A special case of the adhesive installation method can be considered the installation of cable channels, on the basis of which an adhesive has already been applied. However, this option usually does not inspire confidence among users, and therefore it is also supplemented with self-tapping fasteners.
Mounting with dowels
A little more labor-intensive, but reliable and provides the possibility of dismantling. The upper part (cover) is removed from the cut cable channel. The base is applied to the markup and a hole is drilled right through it in the wall. If the base is reinforced concrete, block or brick, it is easier to make it with a puncher.
Hole pitch - from 40 to 50 cm. With a clear curvature of the walls, the distance decreases so that the mounted box fits snugly against the surface along its entire length. The base is laid down, and the plastic part of the dowels is screwed into the holes. The lower half is attached back and fixed with the main part of the fastener.
Wires are laid, the cover is put in place. And the question of how to fix the cable channel to the wall can be considered successfully resolved. Which way you like - you have to decide for yourself. But advice: when choosing a glue method, at least occasionally add dowels to it so as not to return to this again.
During the construction of a new house or a major overhaul, electrical wiring is mounted inside the walls, in a closed way. These works are accompanied by . But what to do when the wall material is not suitable for hiding wires (for example, in a wooden bath), there is no desire to dust, or you need to power a newly installed device?
In this case, the wiring is mounted in an open way. The best option would be to use an electrical box. Before you attach the cable channel to the wall, especially on your own, it is advisable to understand all the nuances.
Classification of cable channels
Using a channel cable allows you to fix the cable on a base made of concrete, brick, wood, drywall, foam block, stone.
In this case, the methods of attachment will be different.
Depending on the room, the schematic arrangement of the wiring lines and the number of wires in them, it is recommended to use boxes of various types.
Their detailed classification is presented in the table.
| Classification sign | Kinds | Description |
|---|---|---|
| place of installation | floor | according to their form, appearance, they are optimally adapted to the installation site; |
| trunk | ||
| plinth | ||
| color | Available in different colors and shades | harmoniously fit into the interior of the rooms |
| the size | different channel volume - for one, 2, 3 or more cables | dimensions from 12×12 to 100×60 mm; have a different shape of corners - from sharp to rounded |
| number of castles | with one | 2 latches - more securely hold the cover on the channel, reducing the possibility of deformation; |
| with two | ||
| product material | aluminum | covered with film; a variety of shades gives an attractive look; fireproof |
| steel | installed indoors, from the outside; available with a galvanized surface in different colors; do not burn; susceptible to corrosion when scratched |
The market allows you to choose products for specific operating conditions.
The most expensive option is aluminum, the cheapest is plastic. In any case, the latter should be taken, which do not burn, but melt.
Preparation for installation, surface marking
Open installation makes high aesthetic demands: everything must be “smooth and parallel”. In this case, the box is fixed along the preliminary marking lines. It is carried out using a level (laser or water, building), square, tape measure, beats, ruler, pencil (marker).
Installation instructions 
Install the box according to the markings Here's how to properly divide the process into stages:
- the scheme is initially drawn up in an optimal way;
- lines on the wall are drawn by leveling, all branches are strictly at right angles;
- on them with a pencil, according to the existing plan, the location of junction boxes, sockets, switches is marked;
- Necessary adjustments are made as the work progresses.
Turns and corners can be done independently Turns, corners can be purchased, both in finished form, and made from the cable channel yourself. The use of the former leads to an increase in costs. But work on difficult sections is accelerated, the appearance of the track is better than when using home-made ones.
Self-manufacturing will require the additional use of sealants for sealing joints.
If you have a laser, you can not make markings The mounting box can be cut in advance (for a large area) or along the way. The first case begins with accurate measurements with a tape measure along the marking lines.
Then they cut the working material into the desired segments, so that after it can be installed. This is where measurement accuracy is important.
It is easier to work according to the scheme: tried on - cut off - fixed.
The application of even marking lines and the use of ready-made components will allow you to attach the cable channel without spoiling the beauty of the room.
Fixing methods
It is done in various ways. The choice of a particular option depends on the composition of the working surface. The materials used, work with them are discussed in the table.
| Fastening method | Work order, tips | Mounting surface |
|---|---|---|
| using self-tapping screws | wood screws are screwed in with a screwdriver after an average of 50 cm; it is recommended to use them with a length of about 40 mm; used for quick installation of plastic channels; no pre-drilling required | |
| dowel-nails (quick installation) | the lid is removed from the box; holes are drilled in it in increments of about 45 cm; it is attached to the surface, marking the location of the drilling points on it; make a hole in the wall with a perforator; the plastic part of the nail is inserted through the box into the hole, the metal part is then hammered | allows you to securely mount on a concrete wall, brick, stone |
| "bugs" | screwed with a screwdriver through the above distance | thin metal (less than 2 mm) |
| glue (liquid nails) | apply the adhesive inside out the prepared segment; lean it for a few seconds to the marked place, push it back; wait for the glue to thicken; pressed back; dowels and self-tapping screws are additionally required | wood, drywall, wallpaper, tiles, can also be glued to a concrete surface |
The step width is adjusted based on surface irregularities. For more information on how to choose and install a cable channel, see this video:
The first 3 methods provide for the ability to dismantle the elements intact, and the 4th - only with fragments of the finish. The installed box looks great only on flat walls.
It is recommended to install wiring in the cable channel after all finishing work (pasting wallpaper, applying decorative plaster).
With this method of laying lines, the norms of the PUE are observed, it is easy to get to the place of the problem.
The presented fixing options securely join the surfaces. The variety of material fits the paved routes into the atmosphere of the apartment.
The so-called cable channels, widely used for laying various types of electrical wiring, are currently in great demand among electrical installation specialists. Cable channels reliably protect the laid lines from any mechanical influences and have the following advantages:
- ease of installation, dismantling and maintenance of wiring laid in cable channels;
- low cost of products, as well as ease of their fastening;
- high performance cable channels made on the basis of composite materials and, therefore, possessing increased resistance to fire.
In this article we will talk about how to fix the cable channel to a wall made of concrete or drywall.
Preparing for installation
Before fixing the cable channel , it is necessary to carefully consider the marking of the route, taking into account possible descents, ascents and turns of the laid lines.
Properly carried out markup will allow you to choose the right cable channel size and determine the set of all necessary accessories (T-joints, various angles, connectors, plugs, etc.).
The choice of fasteners used for mounting the base of the cable channel is usually determined by the material of the base (surface) on which it is fixed. Most often, cable ducts are laid on the following surfaces:
- wooden walls or piers;
- drywall surfaces;
- brick walls and partitions;
- concrete bases (walls or ceilings);
- metal surfaces.
For wooden surfaces, self-tapping screws for wood will, of course, be the most suitable, while for concrete and brick bases, special dowels-nails with a diameter of about 6-8 mm are suitable.
For fixing to drywall surfaces, you can use standard wood screws. In the case of a significant total weight of the wiring laid in the channels, it will be more reliable to use butterfly dowels (it is allowed to alternate them with wood screws). In this situation, dowels of the “screw” type also seem to be a fairly reliable fastening.
The choice of fasteners for metal depends on the thickness of the base; at the same time, standard self-tapping screws for metal profiles are suitable for mounting on coatings up to 2 mm thick. Very often used in this case is such a common type of fastening as self-tapping screws - “bugs”.
When choosing a step with which fasteners should be installed, one should proceed from the fact that the more often they are located, the better. But it is also not recommended to part too much at the same time. Note that installing them in increments of 40-50 cm will provide 
you sufficient reliability of fixing the base of the cable channel.
Increasing the density of the fastening elements (reducing the pitch) is necessary in cases where the wall surfaces in the room have noticeable irregularities. In such situations (in order to avoid the formation of a large gap between the surface and the base of the channel), the gaps between the fasteners should be reduced depending on the circumstances.
It goes without saying that in the case of a significant increase in this distance, the possible load on each fastening element also increases, which negatively affects the reliability of the entire structure as a whole.
It is also worth noting the following, you have to fix the cable channel with an eye to the aesthetic side of the process, it does not hurt to use the building level, with which you can align the base laying routes, thereby increasing the aesthetics of installation.
Video
How to choose a quality cable channel, the following video will tell you:
The following video shows the cable duct assembly process:
A photo
