Low network voltage is a problem typical for households in the private sector. 160-180 volts - this voltage is not enough for most household appliances and fixtures. Even the simplest incandescent lamp at an excessively low voltage no longer shines, but simply “denotes” its filament with a soft crimson color.

First of all, it should be remembered that the electricity supplier must ensure the quality of this electricity at the input, that is, at the border of responsibility between the subscriber and the supplier. In fact, the boundary of responsibility is most often located at the point of connection of the OHL branch to a private house.

Therefore, the question of fundamental importance is: within whose area of ​​responsibility is the problem? If the voltage on the overhead line itself is as low, then the energy supplying organization is responsible for this ...

"Rules for the installation of electrical installations" allow only 3 ways to connect conductors: soldering, welding and clamping in terminals. This also applies to pre-twisted wires in junction boxes. The best electrical characteristics, reliability and durability are uniquely welding. In addition, with a large number of compounds, this method is also the fastest and cheapest. With copper wires, the issue is resolved and closed.

However, despite the requirements of the 7th edition of the PUE on the termination of the use of aluminum wires for electrical wiring (with a cross section of less than 16 sq. Mm.), They are still used and quite widely. For example, during the repair (without complete replacement) of the old aluminum wiring. Combining copper with aluminum is even worse than leaving aluminum. Thus, the question of welding aluminum becomes very relevant, especially since its physical and chemical properties other connection methods make it difficult...

About a common wiring malfunction when there is a phase in the 220 V sockets on both sockets. About why this is happening and why it is dangerous. First-person and a bit informal.

There is one characteristic malfunction of the wiring, which can confuse a novice or inexperienced electrician.

To clarify what I’m talking about, I’ll give a story of one of my friends: “My neighbor comes to me on Saturday - my lonely grandmother. And asks to deal with the electrician in the apartment. Say, nothing works, but the lights did not seem to be turned off. Well, I, of course, go to the site and check the circuit breakers. Everything is in order, all machines are on. I take the indicator: the phase is passing. I go into the apartment to my grandmother, I check the first outlet. The first connector is the “phase”. I check the second connector - also a "phase"! Where are the two phases from? ...

Quite often, this situation occurs: the circuit breaker is periodically knocked out and another larger rating is installed in its place, “so as not to knock out”. Why does the circuit breaker trip in this case, and what are the consequences of such a replacement?

The rating of the circuit breaker is selected in such a way as to protect the load line wire from overheating and melting of the insulation. The circuit breaker must disconnect the line from the load before the current reaches a critical value for the cable.

When devices of higher power (and therefore higher current) are turned on in lines that are not designed for this power, the cable overheats in the circuit, which leads to the thermal protection of the circuit breaker tripping, i.e. he "knocks out" ...

In conversations with customers, when discussing 12-volt halogen lighting, for some reason the word "low current" often flickers, which characterizes the corresponding attitude to the choice of wires - which is at hand, then we use it, the voltage is safe.

The voltage of 12 volts is really safe, in the sense that touching the bare wire with such voltage is simply not felt, but the currents in such circuits flow quite large.

Consider, for example, the power supply of a standard halogen lamp with a power of 50 W, the current in the primary circuit of the transformer I = 50W / 220V = 0.23A (or, more precisely, a little more, taking into account the efficiency of the transformer), while the current I = 50W / flows in the secondary circuit of 12 V 12V = 4.2 A, which is already 18 times more. If you do not take this fact into account, you may encounter very unpleasant surprises ...

When planning an overhaul of an apartment, the question arises of choosing lighting equipment. I would like to introduce some kind of innovation, a twist. There is a great alternative to traditional lamps - LED strip. Installing LED strip on the ceiling will radically change the overall appearance of the whole room. At the same time, great opportunities open up for you in choosing the best design solution. You can choose either a single color tape or a three-color one, that is, an RGB type tape.

Among the advantages of using LED strips can also be noted the ability to adjust the brightness of the lighting, as well as the speed of color change. You can choose the lighting for any mood and your surroundings. In addition, for the installation of LED strip, you do not need to call specialists, since it can be easily mounted and connected independently. This article will talk about how to install ...

What can happen with a circuit breaker? Circuit breakers, like any other technical device, often fail. Among the possible reasons for this may be the systematic actuation of thermal protection and work at the limit of possibilities in general. In addition, there are cases when the device is not able to keep its setting after the first operation of the thermal release (not to be confused with the electromagnetic, that is, instantaneous release!). With such a malfunction, by the way, the machine outwardly will not be any different from its serviceable counterparts.

Very often, contact clamps and cases of modular circuit breakers burn out with insufficiently reliable electrical contact. Several untwisted conductors of different sections cannot be clamped well enough. There may be a screw defect in the clamping screw that does not allow the connection to be tightened properly ...

Modular circuit breakers can be found in every switchboard: at least in the apartment and entrance, at least in the workshop or office. Compact, easy to install, relatively inexpensive, reliable ... but how to make sure that they are really reliable?

Even the most eminent manufacturers of modular circuit breakers do not exclude a certain percentage of defects among their products that fall on store shelves. The situation is aggravated by the fact that machines are a pretty hot commodity, which is why they are willingly forged by various artisan workshops. The owners and workers of such workshops, usually located in China, have peculiar views on electrical safety and the principles of maximum current protection. The most unobvious malfunctions of defective and counterfeit modular equipment are associated with the incorrect operation of the releases ...