Retro Wiring in a Wooden House on semi-antique insulators with your own hands

РMetro wiring is one of the ways to organize an electrical circuit in a wooden house, which involves twisting the wires together, and then attaching them to the wall using special insulator rollers.

Despite the outdated approach, this installation method fully complies with fire safety (PB) requirements and has a stylish appearance.

Advantages and disadvantages

Before implementing the scheme, it is necessary to consider its strengths and weaknesses, and then decide on the implementation of such a project into reality.

Distinctive features from conventional wiring

Retro wiring has a number of characteristic features that distinguish it from the usual scheme:

1. Laying wires without laying in strobes. Cables run outside the walls.
2. The wiring is mounted on insulators having a height of at least 10 mm from the wall.
3. The use of a beam scheme that implies a minimum of branching. This means that each consumer has its own line due to the small cross-section of wires (up to 2,5 sq. mm).
4. The insulators are fixed to the wall using self-tapping screws / dowels.
5. The use of overhead switches and sockets.

As for the rest of the installation requirements, they are no different from the usual wiring.

Where can you lay?

Retro-style wiring has special recommendations for use, it is relevant for the following objects:

1. Frame / log cottage, made using SIP panels.
2. Apartment with an interior made in loft, vintage, country or Provence style.

When deciding how to organize retro wiring, keep in mind that it is most suitable for the following styles.

Provence and country

They imply the arrangement of the interior under the style of a rural house. It requires the use of natural materials that are no longer used in modern interiors or are out of fashion.

Vintage

One of the types of retro style, which involves the use of pre-war lamps, old types of wallpaper, radiograms and other items from the times of the USSR.

Loft

The characteristic features of the style include the use of open communications.

This applies not only to electrical wiring, but also to water or other types of pipes.

With this design option, preference is given to bare brick walls without the use of plaster.

It is also welcome to remove partitions to create a large space.

You can do without wall chasing, puttying and other related work.

Preparing for installation

Before laying the wires, you need to prepare for work and buy the necessary material.

You will need:

1. A cable of suitable section and length, taking into account electrical consumers in the house / apartment.
2. Insulators.
3. Surface-mounted switches / sockets.
4. Junction boxes for switching wiring.
5. Screeds.
6. Tool.
7. Circuit breakers, RCDs.

On sale you can find many original semi-antique electrical appliances with multi-colored insulation.

The cost of sockets / switches in this case will depend not only on the quality, but also on the color. For example, wires “under gold” will cost twice as much as brown ones.

Material selection

Before starting work, it is important to study the market and select the material that is suitable in terms of characteristics and prices. Let’s consider each of the stages in more detail.

Wiring selection

When choosing a cable, keep in mind that it is divided into two categories.

This combination provides resistance to high temperatures and fire. Additionally, the outer layer is impregnated with a special composition.

Current manufacturers

The most popular cable manufacturers for retro wiring include Gemini Electro, Bironi, Villaris.

Of the foreign brands, Fontini, Cordon Dor and others should be noted.

If there is not enough money to buy foreign products, you can buy domestic wires that are not inferior in quality. Consider a few popular options on the market.

Retro Electro, 2х1,5

High quality twisted electrical cable designed to bring retro wiring to your home. Made antique, so it looks harmonious in any room.

Sold in a length of 20 meters and in several colors – brown, ivory and white.

1. Stylish design.
2. High quality wire.
3. Доступная цена.
4. Has a stylish look.
5. Great for retro style, country or loft.

1. There is no single wire option.
2. Limited choice of colors.

“Eco” 2×1,5 twisted GOST white (20m) TDM

The product for retro wiring, which is produced in Russia, meets all modern quality standards. It can be laid in wooden houses at the construction stage without fear of possible shrinkage.

They are actively used to implement various design solutions in eco-style. Can be used to organize indoor and outdoor wiring.

WERKEL 2×1,5 mm2 gray

Reliable and high-quality retro cable 2×1,5 sq. mm. Made in gray, sold in a 50-meter bay and has a price of one meter.

It has a stranded design, which provides its flexibility, ease of installation and improved performance.

The outer braid is made to look like natural silk and does not support combustion.

A decorative and protective braid made of polyester thread is provided, which gives the product an aesthetic appearance, is highly durable and hygienic.

Insulators (rollers)

Pay special attention to the choice of insulators on which the wires will be fixed. They measure 18 to 22 mm in diameter and 18 to 24 mm in height.

Structurally, they are a cylinder with a thinner neck for attaching wires to it.

The top hat can be narrow or wide. In the first case, it is used to fasten a wire with two, and in the second – with three cores. Fixation of insulators (rollers) is carried out using screws: ordinary, decorative.

Can be made from the following materials:

1. Ceramics. Is in the greatest demand. Differs in convenience of fastening, reliability of application and the small price.
2. Porcelain. Insulators made of this material are transparent and highly durable.
3. Plastic (non-combustible). The most simple and budget material. It is recommended for use in extreme cases, when other options are not suitable for some reason.

Calculation of the number of insulators

An important point is the calculation of the required number of insulators, in which consider two parameters:

1. Wire length.
2. The distance between the insulators, which should be about 0,4-0,5 m.

Other elements of retro wiring

During the installation process, other installation products may be required, which are an invariable element of retro wiring.

The main ones should include:

1. Terminal / junction boxes. They are used for switching wires and allow to reduce their number. They have dimensions in diameter / height from 7 to 9 and from 3,5 to 5,5 cm, respectively. With the right choice, the box becomes a real decoration of the interior.
2. Passages. They are decorative and protective elements in the form of a sleeve with a collar. The latter closes the hole through which the cable exits the wall surface. Porcelain is the most commonly used material.
3. Ammo. They can be made of aluminum, copper, carbolite, brass and polymers. Recently, metal options are gaining popularity. In most cases, the design of such assemblies involves the installation of a switch and provides for many special holes.
4. Switches. They are made in the form of toggle switches or rotary devices. They are an indispensable element of a modern interior.
5. Sockets. Must be of invoice type. During installation, a substrate is laid under the outlet, which plays the role of a barrier that protects against overheating. It is an element of decor.
6. Additional elements – socket boxes, lamps, chandeliers, etc.

When choosing accessories, you can focus on products of Russian and foreign manufacturers.

In the first case, the popular products of the Gusev brand, which produces products in a variety of styles.

Among foreign manufacturers, Thomas, LLinas and others stand out. If you want to save money, you can use Chinese options, but they are less reliable.

Lighting fixtures in vintage style

One of the finishing touches of any retro wiring is lighting fixtures, which should be made in the appropriate style.

You can buy them ready-made, created in vintage style, or make your own. To do this, you can combine old-style lamps and unusual decorative lamps.

Suspension of lighting fixtures is carried out using an electric cable, which is fixed on two or more rollers.

This option provides the necessary reliability, allows you to create the appropriate style and do without additional costs.

Protection elements

In the manufacture of retro wiring in the power panel, all devices that are typical for conventional wiring are installed and used.

1. Three-phase voltage relay.
2. Residual current device for protection against electric shock.
3. Automatic switches in all directions.
4. AVR block providing redundant power supply. Alternatively, you can use the option from Euroautomatics. Compared to ABB, the price will be 3-4 times lower.

As an addition, you can use a leak protection system, as well as an emergency warning system for the owner.

How to save money on accessories

Retro-wiring your home is expensive, so it’s worth considering savings without sacrificing safety when planning your work.

A common solution is mixed installation, when different types of wires are used during work.

Almost half of the budget is the purchase of twisted wires, they can be made independently from the following products: RKGM, BPVL (more on that later).

How to make a twisted wire with your own hands

To save on the purchase of special wires, you can save money and make it yourself.

To implement such a task, you will need a conventional single-core wire that is resistant to fire.

This category includes the following devices:

1. RKGM is a stranded wire made of copper, characterized by the presence of a 2-layer rubber insulation. Manufactured using silicone rubber and fiberglass braid. It features improved temperature resistance and can withstand temperatures up to +180 degrees Celsius.
2. BPVL is another type of wire that has a PVC sheath and a braid in the form of a dense thread. Sold in different color options. For reliability it is varnished.

As for the manufacturing process itself, it takes place in several stages:

1. Cut the purchased wire into the desired sections and taking into account the required margin.
2. Twist the wires. At the same time, please note that after passing each next insulator, the direction of twisting should change.
3. Eliminate sagging if they appear. This may require dismantling the area of ​​interest, followed by twisting and returning to its place.

General rules for laying retro wiring and technical requirements

When implementing a retro wiring project, it is necessary to follow a number of rules and technical requirements:

1. The distance between the 1st insulator and the socket / junction box / switch is up to 0,4 m.
2. The lines are parallel to the corners.
3. The distance from the wires to the heating / plumbing elements is 0,5 m.
4. The distance between the vertical wiring line / electrical point to the door / window is from 10 cm, and from the horizontal to the plate – 15 cm.
5. Connection points are junction boxes only.
6. The step of the rollers for attaching the wire when placing the wire horizontally is about 0,5 m. This indicator can be adjusted taking into account the rigidity of the wire. The larger it is, the longer the gap can be.
7. The distance between the vertical lines can be increased to the maximum level – 0,7-0,8 m.
8. The distance between the wire and the building structure is up to 1-1,5 cm.
9. At the turning points, the insulators are placed in such a way that the direction of the wire changes smoothly – once and twice by 45 degrees.

This approach improves safety, but increases costs due to increased wire consumption.

Creating a diagram and wiring

Before installing the wiring, start by creating a diagram where all the elements will be indicated: paws, sockets, boxes, etc. After preparing the project, it is recommended to take it to the State Energy Supervision Authority and get approval.

If the specialists do not find errors, they allow the connection of the electrical network within up to five days.

Keep the following points in mind when designing your schema:

1. Switchboard installation height – 1,5 m.
2. Laying wires – only vertically / horizontally.
3. The corners of the track are at an angle of 90 degrees.
4. Installation of sockets / switches is carried out taking into account the convenience and location of household appliances. There are no separate requirements from the PUE and SNiP.
5. The laying of wires in the lower / upper part of the wall is carried out at a distance of 0,2 m from the floor / ceiling. It is allowed to mount on the ceiling.

After creating / approving the scheme, you can proceed to the calculation of components and their purchase.

Preparation of the instrument

Before installing retro wiring, you must prepare in advance and assemble the tool.

In most cases, the following equipment is required:

• pliers / nippers;
• roulette;
• screwdrivers of different sizes;
• level;
• drill and drills;
• wire cleaning/cutting tool;
• mounting bag (preferably);
• protective gloves;
• goats / ladder.

Calculation of materials

Another preparatory stage involves the calculation and purchase of the necessary materials.

You will need:

1. Wires of different sections. For the lighting network, 2-core sections of 0.75 / 1.5 square meters are used. mm. When connecting sockets, it is recommended to use 3-wire wires. Two of them are phase and zero, and the third is grounding. The thickness of the wire should be 2,5 square meters. m. When calculating the cable length, add 10-20%.
2. Insulators. They are calculated taking into account one to three pieces per meter of wiring (this is described above).
3. Sockets, switches, protection devices and lighting devices – are purchased taking into account the wiring diagram.

Installation procedure

Installation of electrical wiring takes place in several stages:

1. Decide on the location of the light bulbs and sockets.
2. Prepare the diagram (if not already done).
3. Mark the walls where the cable will run. For accurate laying, use a special level (it is better if it is a laser).
4. Fasten the back box in the planned places.
5. Install frames and outlets. The cable can be fed from above or from the side. To prepare the frame, you may need to create holes for the cable. They are made with a chisel or file.
6. Install switches and lamps.
7. Fix the insulators with self-tapping screws. For walls made of concrete / bricks, holes for dowels must be made. The distance between the rollers is not less than 50 mm from switches / sockets / junction boxes.
8. Lay the wires taking into account the mounting on the insulators. Use heat shrink tubing to seal the fit and secure with zip ties.
9. Maintain a 90-degree angle when turning the cable.
10. Use a terminal block to connect wires in junction boxes.
11. Connect all devices and apply voltage to them first for a short time and, making sure that the circuit breaker or RCD has not knocked out, for a long time.

Features of the installation of insulators and other elements

When installing retro wiring, it is important to correctly approach the fastening of various elements. In particular, rollers / socket boxes are attached to the wall using self-tapping screws or dowels.

The first option is applied to a wooden, and the second – to a brick / concrete surface.

Pulling wires through insulators is carried out only by methods permitted in the PUE.

These should include:

• welding;
• sleeve crimping;
• use of terminal, bolt or PPE connections.

Some junction boxes already have terminal blocks, which simplifies the installation task. If necessary, to smooth the round surface of the logs, overlays are used.

If you decide to use homemade conductors, follow these rules:

1. Do the twisting already at the installation site.
2. After passing through the insulators, change the direction of twisting.

The application of the second rule is relevant for solving problems with sagging due to building shrinkage.

For broach, it is enough to remove the wire, make additional turns and return everything to its place.

Combined method

As noted, in order to save money, a combined retro wiring installation method is often used. Its essence is that the invisible parts of the wires are hidden under the floor, in the plinth or behind the false ceiling.

With this approach, you can buy part of the retro wires and ordinary wires of the required section. This approach can significantly reduce costs.

In most cases, the power section is hidden and the lighting is retro. A similar approach can be used in other rooms.

Recommendations of specialists

Before creating retro wiring in a wooden house, it is important to understand the technical part, take into account current requirements and standards.

It is also necessary to take into account a number of recommendations of experts:

1. In areas hidden from the eyes, use a VVGng-LS cable. Its feature is resistance to fire (“NG”) and reduced smoke emission at high temperatures (“LS”).
2. Install electric meters and an automatic machine at the input in a cabinet that is located outside the building. This is necessary to simplify access for employees of regulatory organizations to indications and connection verification. The box itself is fixed on a special stand, which is easy to make yourself.
3. In order to prevent the wire from sagging and unraveling, we fix it in front of each insulator with a plastic tie, which is selected by color.
4. Place internal protection elements such as RCDs, line switches and protection devices inside the house. Such a cabinet contains expensive equipment, so there is a risk of theft when installed outside.
5. When installing hidden wiring in a wooden house, use a cable channel of such a size that after laying the wire there is about 60% free space in it.
6. In the place where the cable passes through the wooden surface, use a special steel sleeve. The optimal thickness of the product is not less than two millimeters. Ceramic plugs are recommended for entry/exit openings. A 20mm pen is used to create the hole.
7. When connecting wires, be guided by color to avoid confusion. Blue wire – “zero”, yellow-green – “ground”, black / brown / red – phase.
8. The rated current of the RCD must be one step higher than that of the machine. If there are small congestions in the network, the shutdown does not occur immediately, but after an hour. Otherwise, an increased current will always flow through the residual current device, and this will lead to its damage.
9. Provide a specific designation for each line in the switchboard. This makes it easier to find the problem and repair the wiring. It is also recommended to draw a wiring diagram and place it in the cabinet.

Safety Precautions

In order to avoid problems associated with electric shock, a number of safety rules must be considered:

1. Use a double insulated cable to protect a person from electric shock.
2. Make sure that the cable is routed so that it is out of reach of children.
3. When passing retro wires through walls, use a corrugation or a metal hose (metal pipes) in these areas.
4. Do not install objects at the wiring level that could adversely affect safety.

When operating electrical wiring inside a wooden house, be guided by the requirements of the Electrical Installation Code, which discusses in detail the requirements for operation regarding humidity and temperature.

If the laying is carried out in the bathroom, it is necessary to place the wires in a cable channel or corrugation. This is done necessarily even if the appearance suffers.