Do-it-yourself lighting in the bath and sauna: electrical wiring, equipment selection

To independently arrange lighting in the bath means to provide a unique design and comfort to a favorite place for relaxation. Pleasant and calm lighting contributes to even greater relaxation. However, the bathhouse is not the most suitable environment for the use of electrical energy, therefore, safety measures must be observed when installing electrical appliances and wiring.

Lighting installation rules

It is recommended to install the electrical panel not far from the entrance, in the area of ​​the dressing room. It is from him that the wiring for all electrical devices in the room will go. Before starting work, you need to note the installation locations of the devices and the location of the wires.

Internal wiring for a bath should be selected extremely competently. Double-layer insulated copper cable - reliable protection against high temperatures and moisture. The wiring must be placed in special pipes made of non-flammable polyvinyl chloride. The use of metal sleeves is not permitted.

The electric cables for lighting in the sauna must be installed strictly straight with 90-degree turns. The distance from the doors must be at least 10 cm, to the ceiling - from 10 to 20 cm, from metal objects - at least 40 cm. It is also unacceptable to use bolts, terminals, soldering or twisting in electrical wiring for connection. All existing contacts must be protected with junction boxes, the cover of which must remain accessible at all times.

Electrical devices for the bath must have a protective class IP 54. The permissible load should be taken with a small margin. Switches should be installed a meter from the floor, sockets - 30 cm, from windows and doors - 10 cm. Switches / switches for the light in the steam room and the washing room should be installed outside these premises. It is better to bring the wires to the lighting in the steam room from the bottom to prevent moisture ingress.

Features of the electrical cable connection

There are two ways to supply electrical energy to the bath - underground and air. The latter option is much cheaper, simpler and faster. To find a suitable section, you need to calculate the total power of electrical appliances and divide the resulting value by 220. So you can find out the required strength of the electric current. A sales consultant or a special table will help you choose a cross section.

Underground wiring to the switchboard is fed through the base of the foundation. A pipe is placed there, which will serve as protection for the cables. The entire line is neatly hidden in the box. The overhead power line must be extended 2.70 m from the ground, and in order to avoid sagging the line, intermediate supports are set.

Air-type wiring must necessarily have high resistance to climatic influences. For this, it is allowed to use two types of wires:

• no insulation (naked);
• rigid self-supporting (SIP) made of aluminum alloy, insulated.

The second type is more preferable, since it has reliable insulation and will not sag. A hard wire should not be introduced into the room; it is better to connect an elastic insulated copper cable to it.

The entry is made directly through the wall structure. In order to achieve a height (2.70 m), a bent pipe should be used. Porcelain plugs are fixed in the element: inside there is a sleeve, outside - a funnel. This design will provide wiring protection from climatic precipitation.

Internal wiring equipment

An electrical panel is placed near the entrance (in the dressing room), which should be as tight as possible and securely closed. You need to put an RCD or an automatic device in it to turn off the electricity when a short circuit occurs. It is recommended to equip lighting in the bath with your own hands (in the steam room) with a separate machine. It is advisable to select protective devices for 16 A.

To improve safety three-core electrical wiring should be used, one of the cores of which will be responsible for grounding. To ground the shield, you need to take a thick steel wire, bring it out of the room and connect it to a circuit hidden in the ground.

Installation of a box, switches and sockets

To begin with, the contour of the installation box is outlined on the wall with a pencil. A suitable hole must be made in the brick wall. After that, the groove is cleaned of dust, primed with plaster or plaster. All existing gaps should be carefully covered and wait until the mixture is completely dry.

It is better to put the cable into the box in advance, having cleaned the ends of its cores from insulation. The conductors are connected to the socket strip one by one. The switch must disconnect phase cable, therefore, a ground must be connected to it. You can use screws or feet to secure the pads. In the case of exposed electrical wiring, the devices are fixed to the wall with screws.

Choice of lighting equipment

Lighting in the steam room of a bath has its own specifics. A variety of bulbs can be used for this:

1. Incandescent bulbs - have a long service life, but consume a large amount of electricity. Used in accordance with general rules. It is permissible to use it for lighting in the washroom and steam room, but the devices must have a metal case and a glass shade.
2. LEDs - give out very bright light. They serve for a very long time, but in conditions of high temperatures and humidity they often become unusable, and their replacement is very expensive.
3. Fiber optic lighting is the optimal solution: durable and highly resistant to external influences. In addition, with the help of such a system, you can make a unique design in the bath.

When choosing lighting devices for a bath, one must not forget about safety. To prevent the penetration of steam and moisture on the luminaires, there must be sealed plafonds, otherwise you may encounter the problem of a short circuit or electric shock.

For baths today, anti-fog lampshades with a matte surface are often purchased. It is unacceptable to use fluorescent-type lamps, since their rupture is accompanied by the release of mercury vapors, which are very harmful to human health.

For the washing room, it is recommended to use bright, but not hitting the eyes, electric lighting. Devices should be positioned to prevent moisture from entering their structure. In the dressing room it is permissible install any kind of fixtures. Classic options are lamps and chandeliers that can be stylized and original. The main thing is that the light emanating from them is not too harsh and does not irritate the eyes.