The choice of cable for laying in a bathhouse or sauna should be approached with the utmost responsibility, since not only the reliability of the electrical wiring, but also the safety of people depends on how correctly this choice is made. The peculiarity of bath rooms is that the temperature in them can reach up to +170°C, and the humidity can reach 90%. For this reason, the cable must be suitable to meet these difficult conditions.
Of course, both a bathhouse and a sauna usually include more than one room, each of which has its own temperature regime, therefore the cable required for different rooms is different. They are quite suitable for laying a lighting network in a waiting room. But what about a steam room if you need to connect both lighting and an electric oven? This requires a special heat-resistant cable, and there may be several options.
Meanwhile, we must not forget that in wooden rooms, even an ordinary cable for a waiting room must be protected by a plastic box, despite the fact that the room is almost dry. Domestic cables of the brands PPGng-HF 3*1.5, VVGng-LS 3*1.5 or NYM 3*1.5 are suitable for the first group of premises - for wiring lighting in dressing rooms. For sockets in dressing rooms, it is better that the wire cross-section is at least 2.5 sq. mm.
The second group of premises is the bathhouse or sauna itself. This is where a special heat-resistant cable is needed. Among the domestic options, the following are suitable: three RKGM 1*2.5, PVKV 1*2.5, PRKA 1*2.5 or PAL 1*2.5, or three-core PMTC 3*2.5, PNBS 3*2.5, or PRKS 3*2.5. The wiring, in addition to everything, must have protective grounding.
So, the following are most often used as heat-resistant cables for baths and saunas:
three RKGM 1*2.5;
three PVKV 1*2.5;
three PRKA 1*2.5;
three PAL 1*2.5;
“P”, “K” - insulation made of silicone rubber, “G”, “M” - bare copper core. The main purpose of this wire is the production of electrical equipment terminals that operate in conditions without the harmful effects of aggressive media and oils.
Characteristic of this type of wire is that it does not support combustion, is resistant to mold, resistant to high and low atmospheric pressure, as well as mechanical shock and vibration. Ozone and solar radiation are also unable to harm this wire.
Silicone rubber insulation and fiberglass braiding allow this cable to be safely used at temperatures up to +180°C, as well as at 100% humidity.
The conductor of the cable is stranded copper. The fiberglass braid of the cable is impregnated with heat-resistant silicone varnish. It is thanks to these advantages that the RKGM cable is often used as a heat-resistant cable for saunas and baths.
“P” - wire, “B” - for electrical machine terminals, “KV” - insulation made of two-layer silicone rubber. Designed for the manufacture of winding terminals of class “H”, for equipment operating in conditions free from exposure to oils and aggressive environments. Withstands temperatures up to +180°C, can work in conditions of high humidity.
A characteristic feature of the wire is the flexibility of the current-carrying core, which can withstand at least 20 bending cycles. High and low atmospheric pressure is safe for the wire. The wire is resistant to vibrations and mechanical shocks. The insulation is resistant to mold and impregnating compounds and does not propagate fire. These qualities allow this wire to be used for wiring in baths and saunas.
“P” - wire with a copper conductor, “RK” - insulated with silicone rubber impregnated with an anti-rot compound, “A” - increased hardness. This cable is usually used for the installation of electric heating devices, electric motors, and also often when installing electrical wiring in drying chambers, saunas and bathhouses. The wire insulation does not contain halogens, does not propagate fire, is resistant to mold, ozone, solar radiation, and also has low smoke and gas emissions. The insulation can withstand temperatures up to +180°C and humidity up to 98%. The wire easily tolerates bends during installation.
“P” - wire, “A” - in asbestos insulation, “L” - varnished. This furnace wire can withstand temperatures of even +300°C for 3000 hours, however, when heated from +250°C, the insulation becomes toxic, and you need to keep this in mind. For fixed installation of electrical wiring in a bathhouse or sauna, this wire is perfect.
The wire is mechanically strong, abrasion-resistant, and resistant to gasoline, silicone varnish, and technical toluene. In the temperature range from -50°C to +200°C it is completely environmentally friendly. On top of the conductive core there is a single-layer asbestos roving impregnated with silicone varnish, then a film of fluoroplastic-4, on top of the fluoroplastic there is enameled asbestos yarn. Capable of withstanding 20 bending cycles.
“P” - wire, “M” - mounting, “T” - heat-resistant, “K” - insulated with silicone rubber. Designed for installation of equipment and electrical devices, including special applications, such as heating equipment, electric stoves, electric furnaces. Suitable for laying wiring in baths and saunas.
The stranded copper conductor in silicone insulation is UV resistant, suitable for installation in rooms with 100% humidity, and reliably serves in the temperature range from -60°C to +200°C. The wire insulation does not propagate fire when laid alone.
Wire for fixed installation in baths and saunas. Specialized wire for electrical wiring of electric heaters, electric furnaces and other equipment operating in rooms with elevated temperatures.
The copper conductors of the wire are insulated from silicone rubber, and the cable sheath is made from fluorosiloxane rubber. Fluorosiloxane rubber allows the cable to easily withstand temperatures up to +150°C.
If for ordinary wires in simple rubber insulation, connection directly to a heating device is unacceptable, then the heat-resistant silicone insulation of the PNBS wire allows this.
Wire insulated from silicone rubber for use in baths and saunas. The cable sheath is also made of silicone rubber. The wire is quite flexible and does not deform due to changes in temperature and humidity. The shell is resistant to oils and gasoline.
The cable can safely withstand temperatures up to +250°C and does not become toxic if overheated. The multi-core design makes it possible to transmit power up to 30 kW over one PRKS cable.
Today everyone can afford to have their own steam room on their plot or dacha. But, in addition to the pleasant prospects provided by the bathhouse, a number of questions arise about how to organize the wiring in the bathhouse with your own hands. The main stumbling block in this matter is the high humidity and temperature in the room, classifying it as particularly dangerous according to clause 1.113 of the PUE.
Under such unfavorable conditions, electrical appliances and other elements of the electrical network very quickly break down and fail, and dielectric materials become covered with a layer of conductive moisture. This creates a significant risk of electric shock in emergency situations. Therefore, in order to carry out electrical wiring and other electrical installation work in the bathhouse in accordance with current standards, it is necessary to study the requirements of the PUE.
Requirements according to PUE 7
According to clause 2.1.4 of the PUE, installation of electrical wiring can be carried out in an open or hidden way. This separation of the wiring in the bathhouse is relevant for various types of walls, when it is possible to develop grooves or in the absence of them.
Due to the fact that some rooms are fire hazardous, and wet rooms contain a large amount of condensate, when laying wires in an open or hidden way, all lines must be protected from non-combustible material in accordance with clause 2.1.42 and from moisture in clause 2.1.43 of the PUE.
When wires are placed openly, for example, on wooden walls, the non-combustible lining under them should protrude 10 mm in each direction. It is also necessary to maintain a 10 mm gap from the wire to flammable materials in accordance with clause 2.1.37 of the PUE. For hidden wiring, a fireproof coating is located along the entire length in accordance with clause 2.1.38 of the PUE. But placing wiring in a metal pipe or corrugation is strictly prohibited in accordance with the requirements of 7.1.40 PUE.
In order to maintain safety, all metal structures - housings of lamps, heating stoves, household appliances, etc. must be connected to the protective grounding in the bathhouse wiring, the conductors must be double insulated, the circuit elements must be inaccessible. To protect a person from electric shock, an RCD must be installed in the electrical panel. These measures are specified by the requirements of clauses 1.7.50 and 1.7.51 of the PUE. It should be noted that when lighting devices and other devices are powered with low voltage in accordance with clause 1.7.53, the Electrical Installation Regulations can be carried out without equipment.
What mains voltage should I choose?
Due to the different needs for providing the required level of power, the wiring in the bathhouse can power both lighting fixtures, and then in small spaces, and powerful equipment. Because of this, the type and level of voltage used differs:
- Single-phase network e - used at an average level of load on the wiring in the bath from 1 to 14 kW. In this case, the entire bathhouse is powered from single-phase networks with a voltage of 220 V.
- Three-phase network– used for a wiring load in a bathhouse from 20 to 40 kW, when an electric stove, heated floor and other powerful electrical appliances (water heating boilers, pumps, etc.) are connected to the bathhouse.
- Single-phase reduced– allows you to power the sauna with a safe voltage of 12 V or 36 V, which can be used to illuminate the steam room in the sauna without threatening a person. Relevant for small baths with low ceilings, in which the only consumer for the leash is the lighting system.
After selecting the voltage level, a wiring diagram is drawn up taking into account the locations of all consumers.
Circuit design
To draw up a wiring diagram for a bathhouse, you need to decide on the number of connection points to it - lighting devices, sockets for specific equipment, switches, etc. It should be noted that switches, like distribution boxes, are strictly prohibited from being installed in the steam room; they must be located in the locker room or dressing room. Washing is also not suitable for this due to the presence of moisture. The wiring in the steam room cannot be closer to the stove or chimney than 80 cm; these requirements must be taken into account at the design stage.
Figure 1: simple wiring diagram in a bathhouse
Look at the picture, here is one of the simple examples of electrifying a bathhouse. The wiring is connected to two independent terminals, each powering its own socket and a group of lighting lamps. This option will help you calmly leave the room if a short circuit occurs in one of the sections, since there are often no sources of natural light.
If you plan to install specific equipment, for example, a water heating boiler or a washing machine, you should provide a separate line for them in the wiring diagram with a larger cross-section than for a lamp. The washing machine and boiler must be installed in dry conditions. In this case, they should also be shown separately on the wiring diagram.
Selection of wires, switches, lamps
For the completed wiring diagram in the bathhouse, all its components are selected: wires, sockets, switches and lamps. The cable brand is selected in accordance with the conditions in each of the bathhouse rooms (high temperature and humidity).
Depending on the material of the current-carrying conductor, the wiring in the bathhouse can be copper or aluminum, but due to the much better mechanical and electrical parameters, the choice should be made in favor of copper wires. The main parameter for any cable brand is the wire cross-section. The cross-sectional area is selected based on the load connected to the corresponding section of the wiring.
How to choose wires and sockets based on load?
For example, you are going to connect two 100 W light bulbs, plug in a 1 kW electric kettle and a 4 kW electric heated floor. Thus, to calculate the cross-section, add up the power consumption of all consumers P = 0.1 + 0.1 + 1 + 4 = 5.2 kW. To the resulting power value it is necessary to add a 20 - 30% safety margin, for our example we get 6.24 kW. To select a specific cross-sectional value for wiring based on the consumer’s power or the amount of electric current, you must use our data or the table data:
Table 1: selection of wire cross-section
Look at the table; for a power of 6.24 kW, copper wiring with a core cross-section of 4 mm 2 or aluminum wiring of 6 mm 2 is suitable. If you have drawn up a power supply diagram with separation of wiring for different consumers, then it is advisable to perform the procedure for calculating the cross-section for each individual section, but the material of the conductor for the wiring must be the same.
The socket, like the wiring, has a certain current carrying capacity. Therefore, the selection of connection points to the mains voltage should be made in accordance with the devices being connected. For example, for a refrigerator it is enough to install a 10 A socket, but for a boiler, depending on the power, you will need 16 or 24 A.
For the steam room
The requirements of GOST R 50571.12-96 establish the following division of the steam room into zones:
Rice. 2: division of steam rooms into zones Look at the picture, all zones are built in accordance with the location of the stove, be it electric or solid fuel. In relation to laying wiring cables and installing other equipment, these areas have the following requirements:
- The first is intended exclusively for the stove, if it is an electric heater, then the wiring for connecting it;
- The second is considered the most loyal in terms of wiring requirements; no standards are provided for it;
- For the third zone, there are requirements for equipment that must normally withstand temperatures of 125°C or more, and wiring of 170°C or more;
- Only lamps, sensors and regulators can be installed in the fourth zone, but their wiring is selected as for the previous bath zone.
For internal electrical wiring in the steam room, heat-resistant cables should be used, for example, PVKV, PRKS or PMTK.
Lamps in the steam room must have a metal body to which grounding is connected, a sealed glass shade with at least IP24. You should not choose models with a plastic body or parts to connect lamps, as they can melt and deform, causing moisture to penetrate inside.
Rice. 3: steam room lamp For dressing room, locker room, rest room
These premises are characterized by much less stringent requirements for location and wiring characteristics. But they must also comply with all the requirements of the PUE for saunas.
It is also better to use lighting devices that are sealed with a degree of protection of at least IP24, but you can also use models with a polymer body or made of plexiglass, since the temperature in these rooms is much lower. They are quite suitable for wiring. Sockets must have a protective locking device that prevents the free penetration of moisture from the environment.
Wiring entry into the bathhouse: overhead or underground?
Depending on the method of introducing the cable into a stone or wooden sauna, a distinction is made between overhead and underground installation.
Rice. 4: example of laying an overhead line The first option has a number of advantages - installation by air is carried out quite quickly and at a lower cost, except in cases where you need to install supports before a wooden building. For overhead installation, it is most important to use self-insulating wire (SIP), the number of cores in which is determined by the choice of three-phase or single-phase electrical wiring. The following distances must be observed:
- Between supports no more than 25 m;
- The height of the SIP cable entry into the building is at least 2.75 m;
- The sag distance of the boom to the ground is not less than 3.5 m.
Due to the fact that underground entry requires the development of a trench for laying the cable, this procedure takes much longer than aerial installation. But when laying the cable entry underground, the line itself is much less exposed to atmospheric factors and wind loads, and therefore lasts much longer.
Rice. 5: example of laying cable underground When laying an underground input, the following requirements must be met:
In addition to the lengthy installation process, underground cable placement also requires additional measures to protect against accidental damage during excavation work near its route.
Wiring method: open or hidden?
The advantages of open wiring in a bathhouse include simplicity and speed of installation, the absence of labor-intensive preparatory work, and accessibility for repairs. The disadvantages of the open method of laying wiring include its damage and interference with the interior of the bathhouse.
The advantages of hidden wiring include much higher reliability and security of the wires along their entire length. Disadvantages of internal wiring include lengthy preparatory work and wall gating, which is not always possible.
Installation and connection step by step
The entire process of installing wiring in a bathhouse can be divided into three main stages. Compliance with the given sequence will allow you to complete the work efficiently and without unnecessary loss of time. Get started with installation:
Distribution panel
Sockets and switches
Lighting devices
Before starting operation, be sure to check the functionality of all devices in dry conditions. Make sure that the automatic protection system is in working order, this will protect you from the consequences of mistakes even before you start using both the bathhouse itself and the wiring in it.
Video tutorials
Installing electrical wiring in a sauna is a very responsible job, on which the safety of visitors depends. There are many nuances that must be observed, and these include the need to use only heat-resistant cable for the sauna and the ban on placing sockets in the steam room. Next, we will consider all the main features of the selection and installation of electrical appliances in baths and saunas.
Wires for sauna
When choosing cables for a sauna, you need to keep in mind that all rooms in it can be divided into two groups:
- Rooms where regular cable can be used.
- Rooms where only heat-resistant wire can be used, since the temperature here reaches very high levels, up to 170 degrees in the steam room. In addition, heat-resistant wire should be used when connecting an electric furnace.
Cables for moderate temperature environments
For premises of the first group, the following brands of cable are suitable:
- AVVG;
All of the above wires can be used both with open and hidden wiring installation methods. As a rule, baths and saunas are made of wood, so there are some requirements for their insulation - it must be made of PVC, polymer compositions or cross-linked polyethylene.
For example, for indoor lighting it is better to use wires of the following brands:
- PPGng-HF 3*1.5;
- VVGng-LS 3*1.5;
- NYM 3*1.5.
The wires for the socket group must have a cross-section of 2.3 square millimeters.
Cables for pairs
You cannot install a regular cable in a steam bath; it must be heat-resistant. Otherwise, the insulation may deteriorate, which can lead to disastrous consequences.
The following brands are suitable for Russian-made wires:
- RKGM 1*2.5;
- PVKV 1*2.5;
- PRKS 3*2.5;
- PMTK 3*2.5.
Note!
Since the humidity level in baths is high, electrical wiring must provide protective grounding.
Installation of electrical wiring and electrical appliances
Before proceeding with the installation of electrical wiring, it is necessary to approximately calculate the power that the electrical network in the sauna will have to withstand. Accordingly, the required cross-section of the wire depends on this so that it can withstand this current.
If only lighting fixtures will be used in the bathhouse, then the wiring should be designed for a power of about 1-2 kW. If additional accessories are used, the power must be increased.
The calculated power can increase especially significantly if an electric stove is used in the bathhouse. It can reach 10 or even 20 kW.
Note!
When working with electricity, safety instructions must be strictly followed.
In particular, when performing any operations, even when replacing a light bulb, it is necessary to completely de-energize the room.
Wiring
As mentioned above, installation in saunas can be done in both open and closed ways, however, preference is still given to the closed method. According to GOST R 50571.12-96, clause 703.52, wires cannot be laid in metal pipes and corrugations, and cables with a metal sheath cannot be used.
This is due to the fact that the metal is susceptible to corrosion. To install electrical wiring in an open manner, it is advisable to use cable ducts or plastic corrugation.
Sockets and switches
First of all, it should be said that installing sockets in steam rooms is strictly prohibited. The same rule applies to distribution boxes and switches. In addition, you cannot install sockets and switches in shower rooms.
In other rooms you can install electrical appliances with your own hands without restrictions.
Lighting
Particular attention must be paid. Conventional lamps cannot be used for the same reasons - high temperature and humidity.
The main requirement for a lamp is tightness, since water or steam entering it can lead to a short circuit and fire, in addition, the lamp can fly apart and cause injury to vacationers with glass fragments.
Also, when making lighting, you should take into account that the light in the steam room should not be too bright, so it is better to use matte shades and a 60 W light bulb.
Advice!
It is better in the corners, as these are the coolest areas of the room.
Electrical voltage in the sauna
Bathhouse owners often have a question: what voltage to choose? You don’t have to rack your brains and use normal household voltage, i.e. 220v.
However, for this it is necessary to fulfill certain conditions:
- Electrical wiring lines must be protected with differential circuit breakers or RCDs.
- The power supply must be made with the TN-C-S grounding system.
- The bathhouse must have a SUP potential equalization system.
If for some reason the conditions listed above are not met, then it is necessary to supply the voltage in the bath through a step-down transformer, for example, you can use YaTP-0.25 220/36V
Note!
The step-down transformer must be located outside the sauna room.
Conclusion
Failure to comply with safety requirements when installing wiring and electrical appliances can even cost the lives of those who will be in the bathhouse. Therefore, it is imperative to use the correct sauna cable and install all elements correctly. If you doubt your abilities, it is better to entrust this work to specialists.
For more information on this topic, watch the video in this article.
Despite the fact that every bathhouse has windows, there is not always enough lighting that penetrates inside to comfortably steam and wash. Especially if you decide to go to the bathhouse in the evening or in cloudy weather.
Therefore, additional electric lighting is often installed in the bathhouse, allowing you to go to the bathhouse at any time, regardless of the lighting outside the window.
In the previous publication we learned how to choose lamps for a bath. We talked about the types of lamps and the required degree of moisture protection to ensure their safe operation.
But it’s not enough just to choose reliable lighting fixtures; they also need to be connected to the electrical network.
In addition, if you use an electric stove in the sauna, reliable electrical wiring is required to supply it with electricity. Electrical wiring will also be needed to install sockets in the rest room.
In order to provide for the connection of all electrical appliances, even before the start of construction, they make a design for the power supply of the bathhouse, in which a diagram of the wiring of electrical wires, the arrangement of plug-in sockets, lamps and other devices are developed.
Laying wiring in wet areas - the main rules
Steam bath zoning
In accordance with the requirements of GOST R 50571.12-96 “Electrical installations of buildings. Part 7. Safety requirements. Premises containing heaters for saunas”, the entire steam room in the bathhouse is divided into 4 zones, each of which has certain requirements for electrical equipment.
Zones are distinguished by distance from the heater and height from the steam room floor, as shown in the figure below:
In the first zone (0.5 m from the stove) only stoves, including electric heaters, are allowed.
The heat resistance of electrical equipment in the second zone is not standardized.
All electrical equipment installed in the third zone, located above 0.5 m from the floor, must have a heat resistance of at least 125 ° C, and the insulation of cables laid in this zone must withstand temperatures up to 170 ° C.
In zone 4, extending 0.3 m down from the ceiling, it is allowed to install only devices for controlling electric furnaces that allow timely shutdown of the power supply when the maximum permissible temperature is reached (140°C). The insulation of the sensors must withstand temperatures of at least 170°C.
In terms of dust and moisture protection, all equipment installed in the steam room must have protection of at least IP24 (protection from splashes and small foreign bodies).
Electrical voltage for the bath
Since the bathhouse premises have high humidity, all live parts must have reliable protection against short circuits, grounding according to the TN-C-S system and a potential equalization system (EPS). In this case, a power supply of 220 volts is allowed.
In all other cases, when any of these conditions are not met, the power supply to the steam room and washing compartment of the bath should be connected through a special step-down transformer 220/36V or 220/12V.
The step-down transformer is installed only outside the steam room or washing room in a dry room in the dressing room or rest room.
How to choose wires for a bath
All wires for connecting electrical equipment in the bathhouse are selected in accordance with the connected electrical load and the requirements for their heat resistance.
The load and required wire cross-section are determined when developing a power supply project. The cable type is selected depending on its resistance to elevated temperatures.
So, for a steam room you can use multi-wire heat-resistant wires insulated with silicone rubber and braided with fiberglass:
A good choice would be wires of domestic brands RKGM, PRKA, PRKS, PVKV. They can withstand heating up to 180°C and are often used in baths and saunas to connect lamps and electric furnaces.
From imported products, a wire is suitable OLFLEX HEAT 205 with FEP fluoroethylene propylene insulation that can withstand temperatures up to 205°C.
For all other rooms of the sauna and bathhouse, cables of the brand are suitable VVGng-LS 3x2.5 with polyvinyl chloride insulation, non-flammable (marking ng means “non-flammable”). The letters ls in the marking stand for “low smoke” - low smoke level. That is, even if a fire occurs, such a wire will not become a source of acrid smoke.
You can watch a flammability test of such a cable in the video below:
Electric panel for a bath
A possible connection option for a bath panel is shown in the image below:
As you can see, a group of sockets is connected here, as well as lighting in the relaxation room and in the steam room. If you need to connect an electric heater, see a possible solution in the video at the end of the article.
Electrical wiring in the steam room and washing room
If you look at the requirements of clause 7.1.40 of Chapter 7.1 of the PUE, you can see that “In saunas, bathrooms, toilets, showers, as a rule, hidden electrical wiring should be used. Open cable routing is allowed.
In saunas, bathrooms, toilets, and showers, laying wires with metal sheaths, in metal pipes and metal sleeves is not allowed.”
As you can see, priority is given to the hidden gasket. But open is also allowed. The main thing is not to use pipes, metal hoses and metal-braided cables.
Instead of laying in pipes and metal hoses, it is recommended to use cable ducts and plastic corrugations, which allow the temperature to rise to normal values.
The passage of the cable through the wall is carried out with the installation of a sleeve, which is subsequently filled with a fireproof compound.
Installing sockets in the bathhouse
Since baths and saunas have a very specific microclimate, there are also special requirements for installing sockets in them.
In accordance with clause 7.1.48 of Chapter 7.1 of the PUE, the installation of plug sockets in steam rooms and washing rooms of baths and saunas is strictly prohibited.
The same rule applies to the installation of distribution boxes. Installing them in these premises is also prohibited.
But, if you want to comfortably spend time in the relaxation room after you have steamed and washed (for example, watch TV), then it is allowed to install sockets in the relaxation room and other rooms of the bathhouse.
The only exceptions are the steam room and washing room.
The connection of wires in the socket is shown in the figure below:
Installation of lamps
One of the features of installing lamps in a bathhouse is the correct choice of their placement.
Many people attach the lamps in the steam room to the ceiling, but this is wrong. They are allowed to be installed only in zones 2 and 3 (see zoning above).
That is, lighting fixtures should be placed no closer than 30cm to the ceiling, where the hottest air collects.
In the second zone, decorative lighting fixtures are often installed at a distance of up to 0.5 m from the floor.
In zone 3, main lighting fixtures are installed.
A good choice would be lamps with a ceramic base and a frosted glass shade with a degree of dust and moisture protection IP54.
In the rest room and vestibule there are no restrictions on the choice of lamps, and there you can install any that you like in the store.
Connecting an electric heater
The electrical connection is made using a heat-resistant cable, brand PRKS, having the required cross-section.
The cable markings in the junction box are shown in the figure below:
To ensure that the heater turns off when the maximum temperature is reached, a temperature sensor is used:
The connection of the sensor in the box is shown in the figure:
You can watch a detailed video of connecting the lighting and electric heater with the installation of junction boxes and electrical panel below. However, when watching, you should pay attention that the announcer calls the plastic corrugation a metal hose. This is clearly a mistake.
DIY electrical wiring installation
Wiring is rarely done hidden in a wooden bathhouse. Most often, wiring is done openly on insulating rollers, on brackets, in plastic corrugation or in cable ducts:
The advantages of open wiring include quick access for maintenance, which is much more convenient than hammering into walls to get to the wires.
Installation of open electrical wiring on ceramic insulators is carried out as shown in the figure below:
Please note that the wire cannot be turned at a right angle.
The distance between insulators is no more than 40 cm.
When laying wires, they can be connected in different ways. The main twisting methods are shown in the figure.
In the old days, not only lamps, but even torches and candles were not used in the bathhouse, since the environment in the steam room was too humid and hot. Modern advances make it possible to install wiring in all bath rooms to suit every “taste and color,” as they say. But, given the temperature conditions of the steam room, the highest safety requirements are imposed on the wiring and cannot be neglected. We will talk about how to properly make lighting in a bathhouse in a steam room with your own hands.
Features of electrical supply to the steam room
In most cases, a bathhouse is built near a residential building. For bath wiring, a separate circuit breaker is required on the distribution panel. Electrical wiring is carried out in two ways:
- Underground. To lay the cable, a special box is prepared underground, laid through special holes in the foundation at a height of about half a meter. The pipes entering the bathhouse must be twice the size of the electrical cable.
Choose lamps rated for high temperatures
- Ground. The wiring runs through the air at a height of at least 2.5 meters and enters the room through a wall hole or roof. The cable is used bare or self-supporting. The second type is more reliable and practical.
Advice. Each wire must have a separate entry pipe. We place it at a slight angle to protect it from slanting rain jets.
Basic rules for the “correct” installation of electrical wiring in a steam room
In order for the bath electrical wiring to function clearly and reliably, all its elements must be selected correctly, and installation work must be carried out in compliance with certain rules:
DIY installation of a lighting system in a steam room
Before you start laying the wiring, carefully consider the location of sockets and switches (the ideal place is a dressing room/rest room). In addition, the cable should under no circumstances be routed near heating appliances.
Lighting in the steam room is carried out as follows:
- We place pieces of wires in a special metal pipe that will be used for electrical wiring in the steam room. There must be at least two cables to connect two light elements. One of them will serve as a “safety net” in case the second one burns out.
- In paired wiring, the wiring is installed exclusively in a closed type. In this regard, it is advisable to lay the electrical cable at the stage of construction work in the bathhouse or major repairs. We lay the cables to the connection points of the lamps.
- We install and carefully insulate ceramic sockets on the ends of the wires.
- We mount the lighting elements and hide them under heat-resistant housings made of porcelain or tempered glass (frosted). Wall lamps must withstand temperatures up to 150 degrees, and ceiling lamps - up to 200.
- We cover the lamps with special protective grilles that will prevent burns if you accidentally touch them.
Advice. Try not to mount lamps on the ceiling due to elevated temperatures. The optimal place would be a part of the wall located under the ceiling. In addition, this way you will be able to create a dim, relaxing light.
The steam room in the bathhouse helps us not only warm up and steam the body, but also relax and unwind. Therefore, the lighting for the steam room should be appropriate: dim, weak, tuning in to a wave of relaxation.
Taking into account the temperature characteristics of a given room, lamps must be extremely heat-resistant and completely sealed, made of special materials. The optimal place to place lamps will be corners and parts of walls under the ceiling.
Among the variety of lamps, the best options for a steam room will be fiber optics. They not only provide the desired lighting, but also have a higher level of safety compared to conventional incandescent lamps.
It is better to place a sauna with yellow light in the steam room
Never use fluorescent lamps in a steam room, as when heated they can explode and spread mercury vapor throughout the room. Too powerful incandescent lamps are also not suitable - they will heat up the protective grilles for the lamps. A power of 75 W will be quite enough.
As for lampshades, the most popular among builders are anti-fog lamps in matte or pastel colors. Additional lighting in the shelf area and at floor level will look very stylish, and it will only enhance the relaxing atmosphere of the room.
We told you about how to properly wire a steam room. As you can see, everything is not so complicated, the main thing is to follow safety rules and choose high-quality light elements from suitable materials. Good luck!
Electrical wiring in the bathhouse: video
Lighting in the bath: photo
