What are manifold cabinets, selection tips

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The installation of the floor covering originates from the walls, where a place is prepared for the placement of the collector. First of all, a recess is made in the wall surface, where it is planned to place a collector cabinet for the device. It creates a convenient system connection and practicality of use. It is often installed in boiler rooms or rooms where the floor heating itself is located.

Purpose and main elements

The collector cabinet for the warm floor will hide the collector from unnecessary eyes. Here, the connection of heating pipes and other elements of heat supply is made. In addition, there are devices for regulation.

Having connected the cabinet, install the supply and return pipe. The supply pipe provides hot coolant coming directly from the boiler. And the return accumulates water that has given off heat during heating. She goes back to the boiler and starts heating again.

Regular movement of water is provided with a dedicated pump. In the installed cabinet, a shut-off valve is fitted for each pipe. When a situation arises that it is necessary to extract several elements from the system (due to repair or due to economy), heating does not affect the remaining parts of the house. One thing to do is to shut off both taps.

Joining of the plastic pipeline and the steel valve is carried out by means of a special compression part - fitting.

Manifold cabinets are metal devices in the middle of which the device of the floor mechanism and water supply is located. The main goal of the collector is to independently control the circulation of the coolant, and is also able to provide the floor with the necessary temperature.

The main details of the cabinet are:

• case - a box consisting of stainless metal or strong plastic; come across models with the absence of a back wall or one of some of its sides; on the sides of the structure and its lower panel there are slots for connecting pipes;
• fasteners mechanism - the system is determined by how the structure will be located - on the surface or in the center of the wall; spacers or anchors are often used for fasteners; in certain designs, brackets and adjustable clamps are fixed inside;
• door - protects a capacious cabinet from violations and prohibited entry; fixed with hinges, equipped with a lock or latch; many models can be purchased in white, beige, but other colors can be found if desired.

This structure can be made with your own hands. But, the cost of many devices is not too high, so it’s better not to bother and purchase it in a store.

Benefits

The collector cabinet for heating has the following features:

• the use of a distribution overhead design can significantly reduce the number of pipes required to connect a warm floor; they do not need to be pulled from the heater, because the collector can be placed in the same room;
• in addition to installing the collector, this cabinet can also be used for water supply, it contains a water meter;
• the cabinet mechanism provides the most convenient access to the guide system for repairs and upgrades;
• and most importantly - security, a turnkey door can protect the building from children, and they, in turn, will not get a burn.

In addition, a neatly painted door looks much more beautiful than a bunch of pipes and valves installed on the wall.

Varieties

Collector cabinets come in 2 types:

• built-in devices - placed in a niche made in the thickness of the wall or hidden under the lining of drywall or lining. Usually, on these models, the sides are not painted, since they have lead-out and mounting spans. Typically, the depth of the device is 120 mm, the width is 465-1900 mm, and the height is almost 650 mm. To simplify the designation on a niche and with the aim of arranging a different collector size in a cabinet, certain built-in devices are equipped with extendable legs. Using this option, it is possible to raise the height of the structure to 100 mm;
• external collector cabinet - such models are the easiest to place, as they are mounted on the wall surface. On the sides, the structure is covered with a special corrosion-resistant agent or powder paint. The exit slots are initially covered with easily removable metal plates. The wall-mounted manifold cabinet has dimensions almost identical to the parameters of the built-in structures. The feasibility of a height adjustment using the exit legs also exists.

Built-in cabinets are in greatest demand, because they are inconspicuous, do not overshadow the appearance of the room, are convenient to use.Wardrobes are painted white, with built-in only the front panel is designed. Strong locks are placed on the door for the purpose of unauthorized access to the system.

Recessed

Outer

Box Layout Tips

A room is selected for the installation of the cabinet, and for collections of floor pipes, they should be approximately the same length - 70 cm.The collector is hidden in a cabinet that has a metal box (or made of strong plastic), it is attached to the wall in a recess. In the middle there are vertical slats that set the width of the main unit. It is used to connect circuits and other elements of the heat supply to the room, and additional equipment is mounted.

The cabinet for the collector of the warm floor is connected taking into account the increase in the floor by the point of thickness of its layers.

Having fixed it, the introduction of hot water and return. The supply pipe serves to supply hot media from the general central heating. The return is responsible for the removal of cooled water in the heating device, where it is again heated.

Mounting Technique

Each of the varieties of the manifold cabinet has its own nuances of fastening, which are worth remembering when installing them.

Recessed

If the recess is made during construction, there will be no difficulties with installation. When planning a heated floor and installing the cabinet, the following actions are carried out:

• selection of a place for the collector, which is collected not lower than the floor height, since there may be problems with the supply of heat;
• outline wall markings for pipe collections;
• a hole cutter produces holes for the cabinet, pipeline;
• the structure is fixed in the wall niche, anchored by anchors on the sides of the box;
• place the collector, fasten the contours and heat supply;
• the gap between the cabinet, the wall is covered with a solution, then putty.

Preparing the installation site

Mounting

Outer

Installation is a little easier:

• select a place for construction;
• have a box;
• align with the drawn marks;
• drill holes for anchors with a puncher, screw the box with screws;
• put the collector, connect the circuits;
• the wall remains the same - the lining does not move.

Locker installation is quick. The recess does not delay the fastening process. After connecting, there will be no problems with adjusting the system and water supply.

Dimensions of designs and popular manufacturers

The best manufacturers are:

• Russian company Grota manufactures devices at competitive prices from 1466-3454 r;
• the Italian company Valtec offers cabinets in the cost of 1600-4600 r;
• The Russian company Wester manufactures designs for 1523-3588 p.

The built-in collector cabinet has the dimensions shown in the table.

The cabinet is manifold external has the dimensions that are presented in the table.

At the end of the installation of the overhead structure, adjustment and branches, it is necessary to make a trial run, heating the system to detect deficiencies or malfunctions. In addition, it is necessary to provoke an operating pressure in the device of approximately 25 percent exaggerating pressure during easy operation, and it is good to consider the tightness of the joints.

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