Competent organization of lighting of living quarters makes living in an apartment more comfortable. By correctly choosing and installing lighting devices, you can visually expand narrow hallways and raise ceilings. Lighting planning is a creative process in which everyone can express themselves. To do this, the choice and installation of lamps must be approached responsibly.
Content
- Selection and calculation of lighting devices
-
Installation of recessed luminaires
- Preparatory stage
- Create Wire Harness and Installation Holes
- Installation features
- Chandeliers and shades
Selection and calculation of lighting devices
Despite the ever-growing popularity of LED lamps, incandescent devices continue to be actively used. Also, halogen bulbs are often used to illuminate residential premises. All of these types of lamps have certain advantages and disadvantages. When choosing them, remember that halogen devices are very sensitive to voltage surges. To exclude their premature failure, it is necessary to use a 12 V step-down transformer.
Calculation of luminaires consists in determining their power depending on the area and shape of the room. Besides, there are several other factors to consider:
- Ceiling height.
- Furniture dimensions.
- The functional purpose of the room.
- Wall and ceiling color.
It is possible to carry out an approximate calculation of the total power and the number of lamps using specially developed tables. If there are paintings on the walls, then to improve the transmission of their color, it is worth using white LED lamps with a color temperature of 4000 K. If it is necessary to create warm lighting, it is advisable to use bulbs with a temperature of about 2700 K.
Installation of recessed luminaires
First you need to pick up the wires, with the help of which the lamps will be connected. If LED devices up to 20 W are used, then double insulated conductors are perfect. The best choice in such a situation would be PVA 2x0.75. Since when using light bulbs of low power, the current strength does not exceed 0.1 A, the cross-section of the current-carrying conductor does not matter much. When choosing halogen lamps, the cross-section of the conductors will have to be calculated. Each 60 W light bulb consumes 5 A.
Preparatory stage
Recessed lighting devices have the same design, but differ only in finish and diameter. Particular attention should be paid to luminaires in which diodes are mounted directly on a printed circuit board. If such a device burns out, then it will have to be completely replaced. To avoid problems, you should not purchase them.
The decision to use recessed luminaires should be made before installing the stretch ceiling. At this point, it is necessary to take into account the height of the fixture of the luminaires. Knowing their dimensions, you can calculate the minimum indentation of a stretch or false ceiling from the main surface. Failure to comply with this recommendation may make the installation of ceiling lights impossible.
Create Wire Harness and Installation Holes
First, you need to decide on the number, power and location of the fixtures. It is recommended to use a 35 W lamp for each square meter of living space. After that, you have to put junction boxes for each group of luminaires. These boxes should be in an easily accessible place, as during operation it may be necessary to access them.
From the boxes, you will have to stretch the conductors to the mounting points of the lighting devices. It is recommended to lay all wires in a corrugationto protect them from mechanical damage, as well as to prevent the possibility of contact with metal structural elements. To simplify the installation of ceiling luminaires, all conductor sections should be approximately 30 cm longer than the calculated value. When using 12V halogen lamps, it is important to consider the possibility of installing a transformer.
If the ceiling is made of plasterboard, then the holes in it should be made after installation, but before finishing. This is to minimize the risk of damage to the frame.
For the correct location of the lighting devices, it is necessary to develop a plan for their installation in advance, and the holes must be sized so that the luminaire enters with some effort. In this case, its front panel should cover the edge of the hole.
Installation features
When the holes in the false ceiling are made, the ends of the conductor are pulled through them and stripped to a length of 5 to 7 mm. Then they must be inserted into the terminals and the clamping screws must be tightened. Then it is necessary to compress the springs of the lighting device and insert it into the hole. As soon as the springs are released, the lamp will be pulled towards the ceiling. After all these manipulations, it remains only to insert a light bulb.
The process of mounting luminaires in a stretch ceiling has some differences. First you need to install the lighting devices on the tin plates. At this point, a building level is required. With this tool, you can control the position of the luminaire mounting surface, which should be flush with the ceiling plane and wall fixing strips. After that, the wires are pulled through the locating rings and connected to the terminals.
Chandeliers and shades
Plafonds are mounted to any type of ceilings, except for tension ones, using self-tapping screws. They can be screwed into a dowel or directly into concrete. After installing the luminaire housing, the wires must be removed and fixed in the terminals. At the final stage, a light bulb is screwed in and the ceiling is closed.
The chandelier can be hung in two ways:
- On a special hook located in the ceiling.
- Fastening bar.
If the ceiling is made of plasterboard, wood, PVC panels or OSB boards, then the anchor hook can be installed directly into the ceiling. When the chandelier is reinforced, the wires are connected to the terminal block, which is then closed with a cover. If a mounting strip is used, then it is installed in the same way as the lamp housing.
When installing ceiling lighting fixtures yourself, it is extremely important to observe safety precautions. Particular attention should be paid to measures to prevent short circuits. In general, the process of installing luminaires is not very complicated.
