Installation of spotlights in drywall

Plasterboard ceiling structures make the ceiling level slightly lower, and in some cases standard chandeliers look bulky and not too organic. Installation of spotlights in drywall on the ceiling will be the best solution that can be used both independently and in combination with a central lighting fixture. A group of point lighting devices will make it possible to delimit the space, highlight certain areas of the room, evenly illuminate the room, and create interesting effects on the ceiling.

Types of Spotlights

Spotlights designed for plasterboard ceilingsare classified by several parameters. According to the type of installation, the following types are distinguished:

• built-in - are inserted into the hole in the ceiling, after installation only the decorative part is visible;
• overhead - mounted on a solid surface, a hole in the drywall is made only for wires.

Structurally, lamps are:

• fixed;
• rotary.

In point lighting devices, different types of lamps are used:

• halogen;
• LED;
• luminescent;
• incandescent lamps with a mirror reflector.

Everyone chooses them at their discretion, guided by profitability, price and other factors. The most effective are LED lights, but many are scared off by the price. However, if you take the lamps from well-known suppliers and manufacturers, they pay off, because they are durable and emit the least heat. The most inefficient ones are incandescent lamps: they get very hot and “eat up” the most electricity, although they are cheaper than others.

Placement of lighting devices on the ceiling

Spotlights can be positioned on the ceiling in several ways.

1. In straight rows along a line perpendicular to the window, in increments of not more than 80–100 cm and at a distance of about 60 cm from the wall.
2. In a checkerboard pattern. The method is well suited for living rooms and provides full lighting.
3. Peripheral lighting. Well suited as an additional highlight in the presence of a central chandelier. The distance between the lamps is 80 cm, and the distance from the walls is 40 cm.

The above schemes can be combined with each other.

Preparation for installation

When arranging the ceiling, installation of spotlights must begin immediately after installing the frame under the drywall.

• First, an arrangement of lighting devices is compiled.
• Paved wiring. It is convenient to do it on the ceiling, having previously fixed on it special clips that hold the cable in a taut state.

• The wires from the cable go down to the lamps. Connection is made via terminal contacts.

It is possible to lay wiring through the holes in the profiles, if they are provided in the design. It is not recommended to cut them yourself, so as not to loosen the ceiling mount.

A few tips:

1. For lighting, it is convenient to lay a flexible cable with three conductors with a cross section of 1.5 mm2.
2. Powerful light sources are not recommended. Economical lamp models are selected that are equivalent in intensity to 35–40 W incandescent lamps.
3. The ability to quickly replace the lamp allows you to further choose the device that is most suitable for power, color temperature and the angle of dispersion.

Wiring

Wires are laid to the fixtures in the corrugated pipe.

The junction box should be located in an accessible place, so that you can further check the wiring through it. Also, laying a backup cable from it in a separate corrugation will not hurt in case of replacement of a faulty wire in the future. Despite the fact that the ceiling will be covered with drywall, the cable will be accessible through openings in the ceiling, and it can be extended to any lamp.

If a fireproof cable is used, corrugation is optional. Nevertheless, it is recommended to install it at least at the entrance to the inter-ceiling space. Through the corrugated pipe, it is convenient to pull the wires that have come out of a standing position and insert new ones, so you should position it in a straight line from the junction box.

Connection everywhere is made parallel: so a blown bulb will be easy to find. With a serial connection, the failure of one lamp leads to the shutdown of the others.

Often used lamps with a small voltage: 12 V and 24 V. It is safe, but an additional power supply is required. It is better to place it somewhere below or in a hidden niche of the ceiling for ease of maintenance.

Important! Even before installing the gypsum plasterboard, it is necessary to check the serviceability of the wiring, which can fail during installation.

How to cut holes in drywall for fixtures?

Marking for lighting devices on drywall sheets (GKL) is done before attaching to the frame. After all the sheets are fixed, you can adjust the location of the lamps so that they are located on the ceiling evenly. This will not affect the quality of their connection to the wiring, since the wires are laid with a margin.

Holes in drywall are cut using a drill with a special crown. This can be done with a clerical knife, but the quality will be worse. The edges of the holes should be primed.

Ceiling spotlight installation

The installation of spotlights in drywall is done when the ceiling is already coated with a finish. Care should be taken to ensure that the decorative coating remains intact.

• The wiring is de-energized, after which its ends are pulled through the holes in the drywall and connected to the terminal blocks or clamps of the spotlights. For this, the cartridge is untwisted and separated from the housing. Two lead wires - phase and neutral - are connected to the terminal block of the cartridge.
• On the body of most fixtures, spring-loaded antennae are fixed. They come together and the fixtures are inserted into the drywall through the holes in the ceiling. The springs separate the antennae and press the body to the drywall on the back side.
• The cartridge is taken out through an opening of the case and connected to a lamp.
• Then it is inserted into the housing and secured with a snap ring.
• Before final fixing, turn on the power and check the operation of the lamp.

The method of mounting fixtures may vary. Before installing them, you should read the instructions, where all operations should be described in detail.

Note! All lamps are connected in parallel with a loop. The trunk wire is not cut, but remains solid, with the exception of stripped insulation at the connection points. This leaves a supply of supply cable for possible subsequent connections.

The wires are connected by soldering (twisting is not allowed) with subsequent insulation.

Lamp switching schemes can be different. To connect individual sections are used two and three key switches.

Conclusion

Recessed spotlight is quite possible to install yourself. It is important to follow two basic rules: the distance between them should be no more than 1 m, and the power of the bulbs is selected average, not leading to overheating of the electrical system and ceiling.