Vintage wiring is a decorative element that emphasizes the retro style of the interior in a wooden house. The wiring that is being done now is just an imitation of the wiring that was installed at the beginning of the 20th century. It is much safer due to technologically advanced installation techniques and the use of high-quality insulating and refractory materials.
What is retro wiring
In the last century, the wiring was assembled from two single-core wires, twisted together in the form of a spiral. The lines were fixed externally on roller insulators.
A modern wire is covered with a self-extinguishing braid made of synthetic materials; junction boxes and porcelain accessories are necessarily used during installation. Wires are quite expensive, and in some cases they purchase a regular cable and then weave it on their own. However, it is recommended to buy special 2 or 3-core copper wires already braided in the right way. They are covered with PVC braid, and the outer layer is made of technical silk or cotton, impregnated with flame retardants. The material can be stylish and bright. In addition to retro wires, you need to purchase additional components:
- sockets - with or without grounding;
- retro switches - one-, two-position;
- heat shrink tubes - for insulating connections;
- rollers - made of non-combustible materials for fixing the wire;
- junction boxes are usually round and small: with a diameter of 70 to 90 mm, a height of 35-55 mm.
No junction boxes were provided in the last century, the connected wires were simply tucked in so that no joints were visible. But this installation method is not safe.
Retro wiring will look great in Provence, country, modern, loft, vintage interiors.
Design features of decorative open wiring
An open wiring project is necessary to accurately calculate the required amount of materials: wires, insulators, switches and sockets, and determine the optimal location of electrical lines. It must be done without fail, since any flaws on the wooden surface are immediately striking. For example, a trail from a shurpa, which was screwed in the wrong place, is difficult to hide. It is recommended to begin with securing the wiring in a temporary way, for example, with tape or small nails.
When choosing retro wiring in a wooden house as the main electrical wiring, you should know that retro cable is not produced with a cross section of more than 2.5 mm2. It can withstand a maximum current strength of 27 A (copper), no more, which means that especially powerful devices cannot be connected. It is recommended to do the wiring in the form of a beam scheme. There are three wire cross-sections available:
- 0.5-0.75 mm2 - up to 2.9 kW;
- 1.5 mm2 - 4.4 kW;
- 2.5 mm2 - 5.9 kW.
A 2-core cable is used for lighting, a 3-core cable for wiring. Each 2.5 square wiring line can be fitted with 2 to 4 sockets.
- At least 10 cm recede from a window or door when installing a retro socket and a switch for open wiring.
- Avoid installing wiring closer than 50 cm to water and gas lines.
- A gap of 30-60 cm is left between adjacent rollers, and the insulator closest to the outlet or switch should be located no further than 5 cm from them. If the house is a log house, an insulator is installed in every second crown.
In the process of creating a project, you need to select the type of routing - top or bottom. The first option is less susceptible to mechanical damage, but the second saves on materials.
How to install vintage wiring
First of all, the locations for the installation of junction boxes, switches and sockets are marked so that they are located symmetrically, at the same height. It is recommended to do this work with a laser level. Then the switches and sockets are mounted, and from them braided wiring is laid to the junction boxes. Elements are installed on frames or pads.
Any branch must be placed in a junction box. In junction boxes, wires are connected by soldering or terminals, twisting is excluded. From it, the line is let down vertically. The insulators are fixed to the wall with screws or self-tapping screws.
Sagging of wires during the final installation of retro wiring using insulators is not allowed. But at the same time it is necessary to take into account whether the house continues to "sit down" or whether it has already settled down. In the latter case, it is not necessary to pull the wires too tight, as long as they do not touch the wall.
Passing the cable through the walls, install ceramic or copper pipes. To install insulators, long and thin fasteners are selected - screws or self-tapping screws. They should go through the entire insulator and sink 2/3 of the length into the wall. Fasteners can be supplied by the manufacturer complete with rollers.
Insulator characteristics
The function of insulators is performed by rollers made of metal, ceramics, and plastic. A wire is fixed on them, due to which the main requirement of fire safety is observed: the distance from the wiring to the combustible surface is at least 12-18 mm.
The rollers have a diameter of 18-22 mm. If the upper part is narrow, the roller is designed to fasten two-core wires, if wide - three-core ones. The height of the insulators is 18-24 mm.
If the rollers are made of ceramics, their design can be complemented by painting.
The number of insulators will depend on how the twisted wiring is attached. On straight sections, about 20 insulators are required to fix 10 m of cable. In some cases, to decorate the interior, a cable is laid with a snake between insulators, then much more rollers will be required.
Benefits of retro open type wiring
The advantage of retro-style wiring is, above all, in its original appearance. If we are talking about a wooden house, only this option will look as harmonious as possible, since plastic cable channels violate the style of the interior. But there are other benefits too:
- Since the braid is available in a variety of color variations, it is possible to make the wiring visible and complementary to the interior detail.
- The wires are laid quickly, since there is no need to make grooves in the walls and close them up, as in the case of internal installation.
- In contrast to hidden wiring, open wiring is easier to perform, while observing all fire safety requirements.
- Since the wires are not hidden, vintage wiring is easy to maintain.
It is due to its easy installation and decorativeness that vintage wiring is popular among owners of wooden houses.
How to save
The necessary components for vintage electrical wiring are quite expensive, especially if you want to purchase imported goods. Even when using an inexpensive retro cable for outdoor wiring, the amount runs up a lot, due to the fact that each line of outlets is pulled from the shield. But there are options to save money.
Mixed spacer type
The combined method of laying involves, along with the use of retro wire, the installation of an ordinary cable. Moreover, the main goal is often not savings, but the desire to lay a wire of large cross-section. In this case, to maintain the style, the cable is placed in a small diameter metal tube. It goes well with the twisted lines of retro electrical wiring, does not violate the overall style. Or it is laid between the rough and final ceiling.
DIY twisted wire
Self-production of a twisted wire significantly reduces the cost of materials. In this case, you can use a cable with a cross section of more than 2.5 mm2. Filament-braided wires are ideal for this purpose:
- BPVL - stranded onboard copper wire with tinned conductors. A PVC braid is made on top of the veins, and a braid is made of cotton threads on the outside. To prepare one cable, you need to use 3 wires, and due to the fact that it will twist, the length will decrease by about 30%.
- RKGM is a stranded copper wire, the braid of which is made of silicone rubber and fiberglass impregnated with an organosilicon composition, with a varnish coating. This wire is more expensive, and the cost of the finished cable will correspond to purchased analogs, but it is much stronger, and cross-sections of 4 and 6 mm2 are on sale.
The wires can be connected in a spiral or braided.
Antique sockets and switches
Sockets, switches and junction boxes can also be installed ordinary - plastic. The main thing is that the back walls are made of non-combustible materials. But they do not fit in style, so they often buy retro switches and sockets made of metal or porcelain. There are products of domestic, European and Chinese production on the market. European products are of higher quality, but expensive. Domestic sockets and switches have a more acceptable price and quality of a decent level, Chinese electrical goods may turn out to be unreliable, their quality is unstable, although there are good options.
Decorative vintage wiring in a wooden house is one of the most advantageous solutions. With its help, you can create a cozy atmosphere with a touch of antiquity. But in order to carry out the installation correctly, you need to know about the technical requirements and fulfill them.
