How to correctly position sockets and switches in an apartment

Location of sockets and switches

Constantly unraveling the power cables of various household appliances is not a pleasant thing. To avoid this situation, it is necessary to carefully plan the installation and placement of the required number of electrical outlets at various points in the room. Statistics show that in most modern homes there are at least six electrical appliances, in addition, electrical outlets are periodically used to charge various gadgets. In this article, we will figure out what should be the location of the outlets in the apartment so that the use of household equipment does not cause discomfort.

How do I plan the installation?

It is best to plan where the sockets will be installed in your apartment simultaneously with the development of the design of the room. If a specialist can make an interior project on his own, then the plan for the placement of sockets, like switches, should be worked out together with him. The designer is not a magician, and he will not guess where the socket should be in order for you, for example, to work on a laptop in the bedroom. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the placement of stationary power supply elements before the project is approved.

The location of the sockets can be adjusted to the finished design

When planning the interior yourself, you need to take into account where the furniture will stand, otherwise it may turn out that the power outlet will be behind the wardrobe, where it will be useless. Having developed the interior and having decided on the situation, you can proceed to the issue of calculating and installing electrical equipment.

To simplify planning the situation, it is best to decide in advance which models of different furniture will be in the house.

Knowing their size and location, you can easily determine the location of sockets and switches.

It is also advisable to familiarize yourself with the shortcomings in the location of sockets and switches in advance, which are shown in the video:

Rules for installing batteries in different rooms

Sockets are installed in the premises of the apartment, first of all, based on the purpose of a particular room, as well as electrical appliances that will be installed in it. Let's figure out how many sockets should be in the premises and where it is better to install them.

Kitchen

Almost every modern kitchen has a large number of electrical appliances. Therefore, the first step in interior design is determining the locations for each of them. Most of the devices are installed on a kitchen set.

Electrical appliances in the kitchen

Based on this, we will give several recommendations on the placement of power points on a kitchen apron:

  • Electrical sockets intended for built-in appliances should be placed behind adjacent cabinets, since it is prohibited to turn on such electrical appliances directly opposite their rear panel.
  • The power point for the cooker hood is mounted 0.6 m from the top of the wall cabinet.
  • For powering small kitchen appliances, such as a blender or a mixer, electrical sockets are mounted at a height of 0.2-0.3 m from the surface of the countertop.

You must also remember about the need to install food points for the hob, oven and refrigerator. The hob should not be connected to a double socket together with the oven - the battery will not withstand such a load. Another one or two food points can be installed next to the dining table.

Clearly about sockets in the kitchen in the video:

Living room

There are four options for placing electrical outlets in rooms such as the hall and living room. These include:

  • Doorway. Power supply elements are usually mounted here to connect a vacuum cleaner and an electric heater.The installation must be carried out at a height of 0.3 m from the floor level, while the distance to the door must be at least 0.1 m.

Basic distances from sockets to doors and windows

  • Sofa area. Power points should be located at this location so that it is convenient to plug in a laptop power cord or charger for a tablet or mobile phone. We must not forget about such necessary devices as floor lamps and lamps, as well as an air conditioner.
  • TV area. The power point here should be located on the wall behind the panel of the device, if we are talking about a pendant TV, or if the device is installed on a stand, so that when you look at the screen you cannot see the cables.
  • Space around the desktop. If the apartment has a small number of rooms, the living room often serves as a study. In this case, the number of power connectors should be increased. In this area, you need to place sockets for connecting a PC or laptop, as well as a table lamp.

Bedroom

Any dormitory can be divided into several zones in which you need to place power points. The sockets in the bedroom should first of all be installed near the bedside tables or bed to connect a night lamp, which is especially necessary for those who like to read a magazine or a book before going to bed.

Recommendations for the location of outlets and switches in the bedroom

If there is a writing desk in the rest room, you need to place two electrical outlets near it, one of which is connected to a table lamp, and the other - a computer. Their height above the work surface should be approximately 0.2 m. When installing a TV in this room, at least two more power points are required, which are mounted at a height of approximately 1.3 m from the level of the plinth. To prevent cables from spoiling the interior, it is advisable to hide them behind the TV.

It is also necessary to place power elements near the doorway, into which a vacuum cleaner or an electric fireplace can be connected.

The video additionally shows the nuances of the location of sockets and switches in the apartment:

This should be the location of the sockets in the bedroom. Now let's move on to the next room, on which we need to dwell in more detail.

Bathroom

Placing outlets in this room has also become a necessity. They connect a washing machine, an electric shaver, a hairdryer, and if there is no hot water supply in the house, an electric water heater. Electrical installation rules state that power points should not be located close to the bathroom (shower), and the distance between them should be at least 0.6 m.

Allowed zones for outlets in the bathroom

Since the humidity in this room is the highest, it is advisable to reduce the number of stationary batteries in it to a minimum.

Sockets that are installed in the bathroom must be protected from moisture on the contacts with a special cover. In addition, the PUE provides for the possibility of using only those elements in this room, the circuit of which provides for connection to a residual current device. In an emergency, it will cut off the power supply and prevent a fire from occurring.

Hallway

Any person who enters the apartment passes through this room. One or two power connectors are usually installed here - for connecting a vacuum cleaner or a shoe dryer.

Sockets and switches in the hallway

Conclusion

We figured out how many sockets you need to install in each of the main rooms for comfortable use of electrical appliances. Finally, it must be said that in each room, if possible, it is advisable to provide one additional outlet. This will make it possible to do without extension cords when connecting new equipment or some kind of apparatus for household work.

After reading this article, you got an idea of ​​what the location of electrical outlets in an apartment should be.We hope that these recommendations will help you determine the number of power points needed for your apartment and the places where they should be installed.

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