Street sockets: types and methods of their installation on the street

Home » Electrical wiring » Sockets » Street sockets: features and installation rules

Every gardener or owner of a summer cottage has thought about placing an outlet on the street. Connecting a street outlet in the future will eliminate the need for inconvenient extension cords. Outdoor sockets are intended for use outside the home. They provide convenience when connecting outdoor equipment.

The outdoor socket is protected from moisture

In our article you will learn its features, installation rules and all the technical characteristics of street sockets.

Features of a street outlet

Outdoor sockets are manufactured according to all safety parameters and protection from external factors. Outdoor garden sockets are installed for further connection to lawn mowers, garden equipment and other devices. Installing them will make your task easier and you will no longer need to “carry” them.

Outdoor sockets are usually made of high quality steel. Additional elements are manufactured in accordance with European standards. These appliances must be installed on a solid base. For example, on concrete, hard ground or tiles. Often many consumers install them to control street lighting.

Socket on the outside wall of the building

This is necessary to ensure the ability to quickly turn on the lights and to adjust the light bulbs in the garden. Street sockets can be controlled:

remote control;
switch;
special switch.

The choice of system will depend on the device model. If your area is large, then it is better to choose remote control. The street socket block allows you to control the following devices from one place:

electric saws;
lighting;
mowers

Socket block CSB-104 for 4 sockets

In this design, the protection of the street outlet will be of high quality. A waterproof outdoor socket is another type of structure that is designed for installation outdoors. They provide security for the electrical network. These sockets are reliably protected from the adverse effects of natural conditions. High-quality devices will definitely withstand temperature changes, moisture and exposure to dust.

Outdoor sockets must be reliably protected from external factors. This is necessary to avoid outside interference in their work. The main factor of their safety is the presence of a metal case.

Where are they used?

Outdoor sockets are used:

in garages;
at car washes and vehicle parking;

Waterproof outdoor wall socket

in the local area, as well as dachas and country houses;
on construction sites;
as an element of the lighting system of squares, parks and public gardens. Here they are used for additional connection of equipment, for example, a sprayer.

Note! Only those models of waterproof sockets that are designed specifically for indoor use can be installed indoors. This ban is due to the fact that outdoor models will always have a higher water resistance class.

Outdoor sockets with moisture protection

For the safety of many devices, sockets for outdoor installation have a high level of protection against moisture. According to international standards, it must have its own class of protection against dust or moisture. Those devices that are placed in boxes have a protection class of ip 44. At the moment, the street socket ip 65 is considered the most common. Outdoor sockets ip67 are also gradually gaining popularity. Here is the breakdown for the class and type of device:

IP is international protection.
The first digit in the class indicates the level of dust protection.
The second number you can see indicates their level of protection.

Socket with protection class IP 65

Typically, outdoor devices are produced for outdoor use only. An overhead street socket is usually installed in the following places:

in summer cottages or near the house;
at car washes or parking lots;
construction site;
in parks.

You should also remember that appliances designed for indoor use are not suitable for outdoor installation. Internal ones have a low level of protection against moisture and therefore it is better to install them only in the house.

Connection rules

When independently connecting street-type outlets to the power supply network, you must adhere to the following rules:

choose the right location for the device;
selection of the optimal option for conducting, grounding and connecting the cable.

All these actions must be performed taking into account the wiring parameters in the house. The process of installing this type of product (mortise model) with your own hands is as follows:

First we make an inlet hole. To do this, you can use a drill and special attachments;
Next, we place the wiring as close as possible to the internal outlet;
then we attach a socket box with protective clamps for the device to the outlet space;
Next, we fix the atmospheric pressure protection system in the box;
after that we lay the wires to the connection point. For this purpose, a protective shutdown pass is used (if necessary).

DIY socket installation

Overhead models are much easier to install. Here you only need to attach them with fasteners to the wall in the right place. All manipulations with wires must be carried out in accordance with the requirements of street wiring. This will reliably protect the wiring from moisture and dirt. The cable must be well protected. Therefore, to protect it, you can use a shell made of polymer or PVC plastic. At the same time, all actions for organizing wiring for mortise and overhead models are carried out according to the same scheme.

Features of connecting street outlets

An outdoor electrical outlet must have a durable casing. Here you can see what elements the socket consists of. Also, during installation, follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Basic installation rules include:

Selecting a location.
Cable connection method.
Accounting for all necessary wiring parameters.

An all-weather outdoor socket will work correctly if all parameters are met. If you don't know how to install, contact a professional.

Choosing the Right Location

The best place to install these sockets is considered to be under the roof or canopy of the house. This must be taken into account to ensure that your device does not fall under a direct stream of water and is not damaged in heavy rain. All systems must be installed in special boxes or protected shields. You also need to remember that you need to choose the correct installation height.

Socket in a metal column

Almost all sockets that are installed outdoors have two cable outlets. If you want to avoid network problems, then it is better to install the cable through the lower opening. This is necessary so that the top of the cable does not become wet with water.

Comments:

Skept

As for me, it’s better to run the cable out of the house than to fence off an outlet on the property. Rain, snow, frost, dew are not the best friends for electricity

Andryukha

Skept, we are not talking about the fact that these sockets will be constantly connected to the network. They are usually connected to a separate package and work only in the dry season. Feed the gazebo or irrigation system according to schedule. You can, of course, pull the extension cord from your house to the gazebo every time you want to drink tea there, but it’s much more convenient to turn on the machine in the house and connect there.

Valentine

In the case of an outdoor outlet, I would not buy IP 66, because... it will still not be completely immersed in water, and there is no reason to pay twice as much for such functionality. If the socket is lying in a puddle, no matter how protected it is, I won’t not only plug it in, I won’t even touch it if it’s energized at the time

Jamis

For some reason, no one talks about protecting the person with the street socket. It seems that the text was written in 90. Firstly, it is imperative to install an RCD with a 5mA cut-off, like for a bathroom. And secondly, it is necessary to use an isolation transformer to eliminate the possibility of severe electric shock. If you do not use a 220V electric tool, then the best thing is to use safe voltages of 12 or 36V. Fortunately, there are plenty of such lamps in stores.

Accounting for wiring parameters in the house

Each wiring may have its own nuances that allow moisture to seep inside. Moisture that gets into the outlet usually causes frequent short circuits. A socket with a cover is perfect for outdoor use, as it will increase the degree of protection from moisture. If you decide to install an outlet on the street, then remember that the cable that is supplied to it must be completely solid. There should be no connections on it through which moisture can leak.

InScenio system from OASE

It is important to know! When installing this device, it must be placed on a surface that is not subject to fire.

Device placement rules

Any socket, if installed in a place that is constantly flooded with water, can deteriorate over time. Even waterproof devices can be damaged in a downpour, so it is better to place them under canopies. For example, if an electrical outlet is installed on poles, metal “visors” are pre-mounted on them.

Another way to protect the device is to install it in special boxes or shields. The height of the location should not allow water to penetrate from melting snow or streams during rain. Another important rule is to make the input cable into the socket from below to reduce the risk of moisture getting into the opening. You should also evaluate the ability of the surface where the outlet will be located to catch fire - it should be minimal.

Wiring parameters

A short circuit in a street electrical outlet can be caused by incorrectly installed wires. Soldering and twisting should not be allowed; all cables must be strong and solid. If soldering of wires is necessary, special couplings should be used. When the insulation layer is thin, a cable duct, corrugated pipe, and sleeves should be placed on top of the cables.

Connecting the socket

The installation process will be different from installing home devices. You definitely need to buy an RCD - a residual current device that will reduce the risk of fire and electric shock. If the electrical outlet is damaged, the RCD will cut off the power. The installation process is as follows:

Determine the location of the wire entry on a pole or wall.
Secure the device, connect the wires according to the diagram (phase, neutral, ground).
Attach the panel to the box.

It is best to connect underground cables with reliable insulating materials to street electrical outlets. The machine must be designed for 220–240 volts. All devices plugged into sockets must be turned off immediately after completion of work.

Design parameters

Lengrand street sockets have several parameters that make them possible to use outdoors:

Availability of protective membrane and grounding.
All contacts are bronze plated.
The design includes special gutters that will help remove moisture inside.
The body is made of thermoplastic.

Legrand Plexo

In some stores you can see devices that have a rubber body. Outdoor extension cords are usually made from rubber.

Rules for installing a street outlet

Outdoor sockets are great for outdoor installation. Many people use it for New Year's holidays. New Year's garlands and other luminous elements are connected to it. Connecting the outlet yourself should only be done by professionals. This is due to the fact that here you need to follow all safety rules and take into account the influence of external factors.

Special post for two sockets

To install, you may need to select a location first. Next, you should consider the height in order to avoid further problems.