Lamps for bath: selection and installation

Construction of a bath on the site is a very useful exercise, it is worth to approach it with all responsibility, paying attention to every detail. One of such trifles is the choice of lighting devices. Bath is a rather specific structure with a high level of humidity and sharp temperature changes, and therefore not every light bulb can withstand such conditions. In this article we will tell you how to choose a lamp for a sauna and a bath in a store or do it yourself.

Safety first

Looking for lighting for baths, it is necessary to clearly understand that it will serve not only the light source, but to create a specialan atmosphere of relaxation and tranquility. In addition to these useful qualities, the lamp must have a high degree of resistance to external factors - high temperature and humidity. For the hallway in the bath the usual appliances are quite appropriate, but here in the therma it is necessary to install heat-resistant lamps for the bath. As for the brightness of the light, the too cold and bright lamp will not let you relax, and the dim light will turn a small steam room into an uncomfortable hot room. Ideally, a warm lamp with a yellowish tint will work. Such a light will emphasize the natural beauty of the wooden finishes and furniture, as well as create a sense of home comfort.

To ensure your own safety during bath procedures, you need to choose lamps with a special design that protects the electrical part from moisture penetration. The very first sign of such a safe appliance is the stainless steel plafonds. With the aesthetics of similar products, many are ready to argue, but in terms of safety they are ideal. If you are not ready to put up with the cold shine of the plafond, use wooden decorative gratings.

What characteristics should the lamps for the sauna have:

• temperature resistance;
• moisture resistance;
• good quality insulation;
• sufficient light power;
• aesthetics.

In most cases, lighting is done under the ceiling or on the ceiling itself. As you know, the heated air rushes upwards, so the temperature is much higher under the ceiling than the bottom, a hundred should be taken into account when choosing a lamp.

Classification of fixtures

As you have already understood, in baths and saunas it is possible to install not all kinds of fixtures. In addition to the usual incandescent bulbs today for this purpose are suitable and other, more modern products.

Which lamps can be installed in the bath:

1. Incandescent Lamps - if you decide to use this option, do not choose a light bulb more powerful than 60 W, otherwise they will heat the case. The plafond must be absolutely sealed with a translucent or frosted glass to give diffuse light. If the lighting seems too bright, cover the appliance with a wooden grill.
2. Halogen lamps - one of the most popular devices for lighting baths and saunas. Halogen lamps with integrated reflectors can be installed even in the steam rooms. They are characterized by low power in 20-35 W, are resistant to high temperature, are not afraid of moisture, steam and do not burn at accidental touch. In addition, the spectrum of their radiation is the closest to the natural spectrum perceived by the human eye. In this regard, they are most successful in comparison with any other types of lamps. Another important advantage is an absolutely safe supply voltage, which is not afraid of water, nor extreme heat.
3. LED lamps - similar products, unlike halogen lamps, do not like heat, but the light emits very bright. That is why they are always located closer to the floor - in the floor itself or in the lower end of the furniture. Lamps are pleased with a wide color palette, efficiency and efficiency - only a few light bulbs can illuminate a fairly spacious area.
4. Fiber optics - with the help of fiber optic lamps for a bath you can create a stylish and colorful interior design, however, you will have to pay for this pleasure more than for any of the above types of lamps. In addition to the lamps themselves, you will need nozzles, light filters and lenses. The light will pass through the sidewalls and the end part, thus creating the selected visual effect( wave, rainbow, fire).Fiber-optic lamps for the bath are waterproof, so they can be mounted not only in the bath, but even on the bottom of the pool. As for heat resistance, they are able to withstand heat up to + 300 ° C.Experts consider them to be the safest devices for baths and saunas, because optical fiber does not conduct electricity, but light waves.
   
5. Luminescent - the main reason for the popularity of such lamps is the ability to adjust the brightness of the light dimmer. Fluorescent lamps easily withstand heat, but are not at all adapted to work in the cold. In the case of baths and saunas, it is prohibited to mount lighting fixtures with electromagnetic chokes.

Important: It is strictly forbidden to install light fixtures in the baths, as well as fluorescent lamps with mercury fillers.

Installation rules

When you have selected lighting for your bath, you need to think about how and where to install it. A traditional bath consists of an entrance hall, a steam room and a shower room, and each of these rooms has its own requirements for lighting installation.

In the case of a thermaic, in no case should you place the lights next to the stove, even if you chose the most heat-resistant option. It is best to install the lamp on the opposite wall from the oven, under the floor or under the ceiling. If the installation is under the ceiling, please make sure that the lamp can not be accidentally hit by the head.

Most often, the lamps are placed in the corners, since it is an unoccupied and relatively safe area. Another good place - the intersection of walls and ceiling. For LED strips, an angled shield is usually prepared which is attached to a heat-resistant base.

Helpful Hint: If you are building a Finnish sauna, choose ceramics based instruments - they are the most durable. For a classical bath any heat-resistant lamps with a base of stainless steel, aluminum or heat-resistant plastic( they withstand high temperatures and do not rust) will do.

As for the shower or sink, the atmosphere there is not as hot as in the steam room, but the humidity level is still high. Therefore, for this room you should choose special lamps for wet rooms( bathroom, pool).

There is a classification of the zones of the shower room, which distinguishes several classes of protection of luminaires:

1. The first zone is in the immediate vicinity of the water, so the fixtures there must be as waterproof as possible( class 5 protection at 12V power).
2. The second zone is located 50-60 cm from the water source, and the lamps for it must have a 4 or 5 protection class.
3. The third zone is practically dry and inaccessible to water jets and sprays, therefore it is suitable for lamps with a low protection class( 1-3).

In other areas of the bath, even those where there are no sources of moisture, it is also recommended to install lighting fixtures with at least a minimum class of protection against water.

So, from the above information, we can conclude that in the steam room there must be reliable and safe lamps that give scattered warm light. Optical fiber or LED lamps for a bath are best for this purpose. In the shower lighting should be more bright, but not dazzling, otherwise passing there from the steam room, the body after the relaxation will receive stress. In the rest room it is best to put a few lamps with different brightness and send them in different directions - on the table area where you can drink tea, on the entrance, on the chair, so that you can read in comfort, etc.

Fixture with their own hands

On the wound, in stores and the Internet, you can probably find anything, including a suitable lamp in the bath. But most often it happens that there is nothing interesting in the permissive price range, and the thing you like is unreasonably expensive. If this is just your case or you just love to do beautiful and useful things, we suggest assembling the lamp in the bath with your own hands.

What tools and materials will be needed for the job:

1. Wooden boards - the materials remaining after the internal finishing of the steam room are quite suitable. It's even better, because the lamp will not break out of the general style.
2. Glass - it comes from heat-resistant glass or heat-resistant plastic.
3. Plywood - for such work only moisture resistant plywood will work.
4. Polyethylene heat-resistant film( PET), the temperature range of which is at least 120C.
5. LEDs - we chose this option, because it is best suited for a bath and not as expensive as fiber optics.
6. Electrical insulation Getinax.
7. Aluminum scotch tape.
8. Mounting adhesive.

For cutting wooden elements, prepare a hacksaw, for glass - a glass cutter, also fasteners( screws) will be needed.

We make wood fixtures for the sauna:

1. Draw the pattern details of the fixture.
   
2. Cut out the part from the fiberboard.
   
3. Attach the resulting part to the corner in which the lamp will be located.
   
4. Of the remaining boards from the interior finish, make a part 900x140x20 mm. It is preferable to use limes or other hardwoods. From coniferous wood refuse - in a bath it does not belong, because when heated such boards become sticky from resin.
   
5. Using the same template, draw the details of the frame.
   
6. Take out the details.
   
7. Prepare the vertical elements of wood: 4 pieces - 750h35h15 mm, the same 750h45h15 mm and 8 pcs - 750h40h15 mm. In the last 4 racks 550х50х20 you need to make a groove for the glass.
   
8. Round the edges of the rails so they look more neat and do not create traumatic situations.
   
9. Connect the main elements to the slats 550x50x20 mm, reinforcing the connections with mounting glue and screws.
   
10. To secure the glass firmly, glue the studs.
    
11. This is how the finished frame should look.
    
12. Cut out the glass of the correct size, slightly round off the edges with a grit or a sanding machine.
    
13. Wrap the glass with a PET film.
    
14. Saw the slats, try on the future luminaire, apply glue and attach screws.
    
15. Attach the rail 750x45x15 mm, make a pencil marking at the points of future fasteners. Two such slats will be fixed glass. In this case, the external vertical elements must be screwed with screws on the back side, in order to preserve the aesthetics of the lamp and not accidentally burn yourself.
    
16. With a computer program or on plain paper, make the markings so that the points are 3 cm apart.
    
17. Cut a piece of Getinax and glue the marked paper to it.
    
18. At each point, drill a hole equal to the diameter of the LED( 5 mm).
    
19. Rinse paper with warm water.
    
20. Install a larger diameter drill in the drill and make a hole in each hole without drilling to the end. So the lamp will give more directional light.
    
21. Glue the holes with aluminum tape - it will play the role of a reflector. They also wind the slats, to which the glass will be attached.
    
22. On the back of the panel, glue the LEDs.
    
23. A total of 80 LEDs were produced. Solder them consistently for 4 pcs to make 20 chains. Connect them to a common parallel circuit of 12 V. For power supply, you can take the unit from a point halogen lamp, and place it better outside the steam room to protect from getting wet.
    
24. Attach all racks and a panel with LEDs to the frame.
    
25. As a result, you should get this kind of lamp. It remains to hang it in place and plug it in.
    

When choosing a luminaire for a bath should be guided not only by aesthetic factors, but take into account the performance characteristics of the equipment. Agree, it will be insulting if you buy a beautiful expensive lamp, and after the first bath of the bath, it will burn out. We hope this article will help you avoid such mistakes.

Lamps for bath and sauna: photo