Installation of electrical appliances is increasingly focused on the needs of interior design. This applies to outdoor devices that are not masked, but are used in the open. For example, sockets, switches, various adapters and other fittings. But the most "responsible" devices of this type are lighting sources. Such devices should not only organically fit into their installation site, but also provide the most beneficial radiation. A win-win option for such needs can be a recessed ceiling lamp that looks aesthetically pleasing in any interior. It remains only to decide on a suitable model and correctly install it.
How to choose ceiling lights?
Determine the purchase of such devices should be based on several criteria. First you need to draw up a rough plan for organizing the light. This can be the provision of point directional lighting under the reading nook or a system of general dispersion covering the entire area. Luminaires are also selected depending on the lighting concept. Although built-in models are more likely to be associated with fashionable LEDdevices, such designs can also be found in the form of a frame for conventional incandescent lamps. These are the cheapest ceiling lamps, the average price of which is 100 rubles. In search of budget solutions, it is also worth turning to halogen devices, which are distinguished by a good working resource and pleasant lighting. As for spot LEDs, which are also called spots, they are more expensive - for example, high-quality branded models are estimated at 1-1.5 thousand rubles.
Armstrong Ceiling Lights
Special attention should be paid to Armstrong-type LED devices, which are designed specifically for installation in municipal institutions, office buildings, factories, etc. Their feature lies in the design containing several LED lamps. Usually this is a rectangular or square body, in which small lamps are lined up in rows. As a result, the device allows you to provide light to a large area due to the compact placement of miniature sources.
But there are other features that Armstrong ceiling lamps have in modern designs. The designs of such platforms are designed for penetration into frame ceiling niches. That is, the device can be combined with plasterboard panels. This configuration virtually smooths out the ceiling surface, adding to the attractiveness of the interior without losing light volume. At the same time, the Armstrong case itself has a strict but pleasant look - the best solution for the office.
Determining the number of fixtures
Having decided on the type of lamp used, you can begin to calculate the number of sources. If a traditional chandelier could be limited to one lamp due to the diffusing body, then a recessed luminaire in the ceiling will not be able to cover the area of even a small hallway. The aim of lighting is to achieve uniform dispersion at optimal brightness. Only a group of devices dispersed in different parts of the ceiling surface will help to achieve this result.
With all the shortcomings of incandescent lamps in this context, this is the most profitable option. For example, a room measuring 3 x 4 m can be served by three devices of this type. Halogen lamps on the ceiling in similar conditions will have to be installed in the amount of 5-6 elements. There are also nuances in power indicators, which also affect the determination of the number of light sources, but the lack of this indicator is fully compensated by 1 lamp.
Lighting configurations
Even at the stage of choosing fixtures, there should be an idea of how the devices will be located on the ceiling surface. The distribution scheme must ultimately not only cope with the main function of lighting, but also be of design interest. The original solutions of today include circular and border configurations. If you plan to install a recessed luminaire in the ceiling with a fragmentary lowering of its individual part, thenit is recommended to emphasize the lines of this selection at the expense of sources. Usually this is how a circular arrangement is formed - it looks especially impressive in the dining room above the dining table of the same shape. The border scheme assumes that the fixtures will be lined up in one line that runs along the entire ceiling area. This option is suitable for narrow rooms, such as corridors.
Preparation for installation
In accordance with the chosen scheme of distribution of light sources, it is necessary to separate the circuits for supplying electricity. Ideally, each device should have its own wire, but this depends on the sequence in which the fixtures are assembled - before installation or during installation. In addition, with a large number of devices, it is more expedient to carry out independent distribution not by lamps, but by lighting zones. But in any case, it is important to adhere to the optimal power values without going beyond.
The device that is responsible for the power supply must be protected from the automatic differential switch. Only under this condition can the installation of fixtures in the room be carried out. At the same time, all electrical connections that do not directly affect lighting devices must have reliable insulation and accessibility. I must say that the last condition is not always observed, but it is easy to fulfill when installing fixtures in a suspended ceiling niche - the wiring is also organized in it.
Assembly and connection of halogen lamps
Onthe surface of the ceiling is marked and a circle is cut out, corresponding in shape to the body of the device. Next, connect the wire that protrudes from the false ceiling terminal block to the unit. As a rule, after posting information, you can proceed to assembly operations. In the simplest versions, halogen recessed luminaires require only a turn of the socket to be fully installed. However, complex cases with several elements may also require additional connection of individual parts of the structure. One way or another, the final touch should be the introduction of a locking spring ring into the device, which will fix the device.
Assembling and connecting spotlights
This event is in many ways reminiscent of the integration of halogen lamps, but there are also fundamental differences. Work begins according to the same scheme - a circle is cut out for the future installation of the body of the lighting element. Then, if a model with a removable cartridge is used, place it in a special glass. After that, springs are installed, although the options may be different - it all depends on the configuration of the device by the manufacturer. Springs can be provided in the kit, and then this step can be skipped and you can immediately start screwing the lamp. If we talk about the standard installation scheme, then the question of how to connect a luminaire with directional light involves an elementary connection of wires from the ceiling to the cartridge. Depending on the user's preferences, the optimal position of the device is then adjusted,at which the mounting springs are clamped accordingly.
The nuances of installation in the bathroom
Premises with a high humidity coefficient are especially demanding for the installation of electrical devices. You should follow safety standards even when buying a device, focusing on waterproof models. Direct assembly and connection are carried out according to the same rules as in other rooms, but it is important to consider the very location of the devices. It is advisable to place built-in lights in the bathroom in such a way that they do not affect areas of least security. For example, within the boundaries of the area where the bath is located, only models with the highest protective IP index should be used. The same applies to places where showers are located. Not so high requirements are placed on the area with a sink and toilet, but even here it is advisable to use only devices with special protection.
Installation of luminaires with a transformer
Transformers are used as a complement to lamps with low voltage - about 12 V. This usually refers to halogen devices, which in this combination provide intense and saturated radiation. Installation begins by connecting the transformer to the luminaire. Further, the auxiliary element is removed into the ceiling niche and fixed there at a distance of 20 cm from the main device. After that, the luminaires are mounted on the ceiling according to the general scheme: the springs are retracted upwards, and the body itself is integrated into the socket. Atif necessary, you can also use the retaining ring for fastening, if provided in the kit.
Recessed fixture user reviews
Users attribute a pleasant appearance to the indisputable advantages of devices of this type. The possibility of maximum concealment of the communication line and the body of the luminaire increases the attractiveness of the interior and, to some extent, the reliability of the design. As for the negative reviews, the recessed luminaire in the ceiling is criticized for its complex installation and the need for detailed calculations when drawing up the layout of the devices. Since we are talking about compact devices in large quantities, the responsibility of the event also increases in terms of the structural impact on the plasterboard ceiling, which, by the way, is not cheap.
Conclusion
The possibility of using recessed lighting fixtures has opened up new horizons, primarily for designers. Quite bold experiments with the use of spot LED and halogen devices can be found today in ordinary apartments. For their part, manufacturers are also fueling this trend by releasing special fixtures for plasterboard ceilings in various designs. However, apart from the stylistic effect, such solutions do not introduce anything fundamentally new. The advantages of LED and halogen lighting, for example, can also be obtained through conventional cases of overhead appliances, sconces and floor lamps. Moreover, according to some radiation characteristics, evenincandescent lamps are qualitatively ahead of fashionable technological sources.
