In modern conditions, a person uses a large number of electrical appliances. All of them require connection to an electrical outlet, but it is not always possible to connect all devices to the network in the room. For a temporary connection, the best solution would be to use a household extension cord or rework the power point. Installing two instead of one outlet is a simple task, but it is not always technically resolved for execution. Before reconstruction, you should familiarize yourself with the features and nuances of how to make two out of one outlet.
Advantages and disadvantages
Plus the scheme for connecting one or more power outlets to the main power point is convenience. The user will not worry that there is not enough space to connect, he will not be interfered with by wires or a drop-down tee.
But this connection also has disadvantages. The main disadvantage is the ultimate load. Typically, for outlets, wires with a cross section of 1.5 or 2.5 square meters are used. Such cables are designed for a certain power of the connected devices. If there are more connectors for connecting equipment, the load will increase and the wires may fail.
All electrical outlets are additional resistance to electrical current. If you plug a high-power electrical appliance into the last outlet connected to the main power point, the previous contacts may become hot. Also, under the influence of electric current, vibration will occur, which degrades the quality of the connection.
It is not advised to make such a connection in the kitchen, where all powerful household appliances are collected, consuming at least 1.5 kW of electricity. For the same reason, it is dangerous to connect a power point in the bathroom.
Choosing the right wiring method
All ways to be powered from an outlet for another outlet can be divided into several groups. By the method of fastening - inside the wall, outside or from the outside of the main power point with the wires leading out. Further work is done in a similar way.
Main working points:
- Thickness of cables. The section of the child socket must not be less than the parent one.
- Design solution. Directly depends on the interior of the room and does not affect the technical characteristics.
- Connection procedure. Household appliances can have two or three contacts. In the first case, these are phase and neutral wires, which are connected to different contacts. With a three-wire connection, a ground is added. It is connected to a mounting bolt on the device body.
- Grounding. If it is in the main outlet, it should also be in subsequent power outlets. According to the requirements of the PUE, the cable must be solid.
An additional power point is connected in parallel. But for lighting devices on the balcony, you can make a daisy-chain connection.
Outdoor wiring
It is used in wooden houses or in retro-style rooms.
In a wooden house, the wiring is laid in copper pipes. This is due to fire safety requirements, since cables cannot be laid in wooden walls. This is a complex type of connection that requires additional plumbing work.
For retro wiring, the visual is of great importance.Plugging in another outlet can disrupt the designer's picture. In this case, it is better to set a new power point to maintain the style. If this method is not possible, an additional socket is installed next to the old one on the same dielectric substrate. It is important to choose an outlet of the same style so as not to disturb the appearance.
Hidden wiring
With this installation, all the wires are hidden in the wall. Even at the stage of repair work, special grooves are cut into which the cables are laid. After the grooves are sealed with plaster or cement, and they begin finishing work.
If you need to put an additional power outlet from an existing power point, you should find out if it is possible to cut out another strobe, make a hole for the socket.
Mounting the socket strip
Such a connection is used if it is not necessary to make a new point at a distance from the main one. Next to the first outlet, a hole is made on the wall, inside which they hide the wires. If the work is done carefully, the finish will not be damaged or disturbed. Since the size of the decorative cover is larger than the socket, all internal details and traces of wall cutting will be invisible.
Combined wiring
This method is used when additional electrical outlets need to be connected from one electrical outlet, but walls cannot be drilled. The order of installation and connection of wires in this case is as follows:
- Power outage. It is necessary to de-energize the entire apartment or the room in which the work will be carried out. Using a tester, you need to make sure that there is no voltage.
- Removing the protective cover from the main power point.
- Removing the socket by loosening the retaining contacts.
- Connecting wires to a new power point.
- Next, it is checked whether the limiter will squeeze the wires. If it interferes with the cables, you need to carefully break off a small piece from the socket or wall to match the size of the wire.
- Reinstall the socket.
- Creates a hole in the decorative cover for the wire.
- Cover installation.
The wire is led to the desired power point and is attached to the wall with brackets every 30 cm.
How to hide a wire
The method of fixing the power outlet depends on its use. It can be screwed onto the skirting board or left as a carrier. This method is used for outdoor products. Cables can be hidden in a special cable channel, which is glued to the wallpaper or fixed between the baseboard and the outlet cover.
If the socket is installed for an extended period, the wires can be hidden under a layer of plaster. If the wall is covered with wallpaper, it can be cut along the installation line. Next, you need to carefully peel off a small part of the wallpaper and make a hole in the wall for the cables. The wires are laid in the made furrow, putty and covered with wallpaper.
Installation in drywall
Installing power points in drywall is both hidden and exposed wiring. The wires are invisible to the eye, as in hidden electrical wiring, but at the same time they are not located inside the wall and can be reached, as for surface mounting. For work you need professional tools and steel wire.
How to make several outlets from one outlet:
- Removing the socket and socket from the wall.
- Thread the steel wire through the hole in the direction of the new feed point. This is done in order to make sure that a corrugated pipe with a cable can be installed between the profile and the wall.
- Drilling a place for a new socket.
- You need to twist the rope to the wire and pull it back.
- With the help of a rope, a corrugated pipe is pulled between two rosettes.
- Wires are pulled into the corrugation.
The final step is to connect the electrical wires.
There are times when there is no space between the wall and the profile for the corrugation.Then you have to unscrew the drywall sheet, stretch the cables for the new outlet and put everything in place. The joints need to be putty and a new feeding point should be put.
Which way to choose
The choice of the right way to make two sockets from the outlet depends on the individual characteristics of each room, the place of installation, the total load of the connected devices.
A prerequisite for any installation method is to ensure high-quality and reliable contact between the wires.
Major mistakes
Installing an additional outlet is usually straightforward. But beginners can make the following mistakes:
- Wrong choice of wire cross-section. You need a cable that is the same thickness as the main outlet.
- Using a wire from a different material. Connecting two different wires causes additional difficulties, and the contact itself is less reliable.
- Violation of the sequence of connecting the wires. Pay special attention to the grounding conductor. If it is absent in the house (especially in old buildings), it is better to purchase sockets without ground.
- Unreliable contact. You need to familiarize yourself in advance with the existing methods of creating a contact and practice connecting on spare wire sections.
- Installing wires diagonally. Standards only allow vertical cabling.
There is also a risk of buying an unsuitable design model. This is not a critical error from a technical point of view, but it can violate the overall concept of the room. Therefore, when buying, it is recommended to choose the color of the product, its shape and dimensions in advance. Manufacturers of electrical products offer a wide range of products, any buyer will find a product that matches the style.
