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Proper lighting is the key to good mood and well-being. You can make it full-fledged, convenient and beautiful using spotlights. Proper selection by size, characteristics and types of lamps is what is needed.
What is a spotlight
One and the same type of fixtures has several names: spot, built-in, ceiling. There is also such a name – as “spot”. This is also about a spotlight. It’s just that all these words describe the same type of lighting fixtures from different angles.
If they say “spotlight”, they mean that it creates a narrowly directed stream of light, which is why an illuminated spot forms on the floor, and a luminous point on the ceiling. When they say “recessed” lamp, they mean the method of installation – only a small decorative part remains on the ceiling surface, and the rest of the structure is hidden in the ceiling space. If they talk about ceiling spotlights, they mean the place of installation, since such small-sized structures can be mounted in furniture – in cabinets. The unusual word “spot” is just the Russian version of the English spot, one of the meanings of which is a spot. That is, it is also about the fact that the lighting will be in the form of a set of “spots” of light.
Summing up, we can say that a spotlight is a small-sized lighting device for flush mounting, illuminating a small part of the room. To organize full-fledged lighting, it is necessary to collect a certain number of such devices and place recessed lights on the ceiling in a certain way.
Types, designs, varieties
There is no official classification and it is only possible to conditionally divide the total mass of these lighting fixtures into several categories according to various criteria. Such a division in the selection process will be easier to navigate, isolating a specific group. Such a division does not pursue any other purpose.
By appointment
This division can be simultaneously considered a division by design, and also by the method of installation. The choice of a spotlight on this basis is determined by the type of ceiling in the room. There are two big groups:
- for installation in plasterboard structures (they are also attached to the ceiling of plastic panels);
- for installation in stretch ceilings.
They differ structurally and in the method of installation. In drywall models, two springs are attached to the body. During installation, the lamp is connected to the wires, after which the springs are pressed with fingers, the body is inserted into the hole made in advance. The springs diverge, fixing the device on the ceiling.
Spotlights for installation in a stretch ceiling cannot be installed on such a mounting system – the carrying capacity of the film / fabric is clearly insufficient for this. They are attached to the main ceiling on a special sliding bracket, with which the required indent from the level of the main ceiling is set.
There are models that are immediately equipped with this bracket, but there are not many of them. But there are many models to which you can install a similar bracket by purchasing it separately. And it’s not even always necessary to use a sliding bracket: it can be replaced by a perforated drywall hanger. Such a design is not so easy to use (it is more difficult to set the height), but much cheaper.
Supply voltage and degree of protection
The second thing you need to pay attention to when choosing spotlights is the type of power supply. In ordinary rooms, it is easier to install electrical equipment operating from 220 V. For rooms with increased danger, which include a bathroom, pool, bath, it is better to choose models that are powered by 24 V or 12 V. When connecting them, you will need a converter (driver), but no security issues.
The next point is the degree of protection of the case. It is also important for premises with difficult working conditions or for outdoor use. The protection class is indicated by Latin letters IP and two digits. The first shows the degree of protection against the penetration of solid bodies, the second – from water. For the bathroom and kitchen, it is desirable that the protection class be at least IP44.
Swivel and no
Most fixtures do not provide for the ability to change the direction of the light flux. There are a number of models that allow you to rotate the lamp in a fairly large range. They are called turning.
If we talk about the price, then rotary models are more expensive – a more complex mounting system requires more precise manufacturing and more expensive materials. Therefore, it makes sense to use them only in those places where it is periodically necessary to change the degree of illumination of some zones.
Overhead
Not all models of spotlights are mounted “flush” with the ceiling level. There is a fairly large group of invoices. In this case, only the wire goes into the ceiling space, and the case is below the ceiling level. In almost all of them, the lamp is fixed permanently, but there are also rotary models.
They are used as a design component, but they also allow you to almost not lower the ceiling relative to the base one, which is very important in some situations. The second positive point is that most of the heat from the lamp diverges in space. Also, when mounting under the housing, you can lay a heat-insulating gasket – for even better protection against heat.
Number of lamps
Most recessed fixtures are designed to connect a single lamp. But there are models where in one case there are from two to ten lamps.
These models are available in different styles and layout options. There are not as many of them as single-tube ones, but also quite a lot. Difficulties may arise if five or more lamps are needed. Here they will have to be looked for, especially if some specific design is required, and they are often delivered to order – demand is too limited.
dimensions
When choosing spotlights, pay attention to their dimensions. In addition to the outer ones, which determine the dimensions of the holes to be cut, one must look at the height. This parameter determines how much the new ceiling will have to be lowered relative to the base one. There must be a distance of at least 5 cm from the highest point of the luminaire to the base ceiling.
This gap is necessary for efficient heat dissipation of operating lamps. Also, cables are laid in the ceiling space, embedded plates for fixing chandeliers, etc. are mounted.
Type of lamps used
Four types of lamps can be used for lighting:
- incandescent;
- halogen;
- compact fluorescent;
- LED.
Incandescent lamps are rarely used today. In this case, it’s not so much that they “pull” a lot of electricity, although this is also an important factor, especially if a dozen or more lamps are installed on the ceiling. Much worse is that they get very hot, and the heat has a bad effect on the material from which the ceiling is made. If you look at the assortment of a solid Internet resource, then there will be hardly a dozen spotlights for incandescent lamps, but for other positions there are hundreds, sometimes even more than a thousand.
| Incandescent lamps | Luminescent and energy saving | LED Light | Light flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 W | 5-7 W | 2-3 W | 250 Lm |
| 40 W | 10-13 W | 4-5 W | 400 Lm |
| 60 W | 15-16 W | 6-10 W | 700 Lm |
| 75 W | 18-20 W | 10-12 W | 900 Lm |
| 100 W | 25-30 W | 12-15 W | 1200 Lm |
| 150 W | 40-50 W | 18-20 W | 1800 Lm |
| 200 W | 60-80 W | 25-30W | 2500 Lm |
For the same reason, halogen lamps are little used, but their range is still larger – they are more economical and, due to the metallization of parts of the body, can remove part of the heat forward. But, nevertheless, compact fluorescent lamps are more common and LEDs are becoming more and more popular. The latter are generally economical, and they heat up much less than all the others, and there are lamps with different bases, different power. Another good thing is that LED lamps can have a different dispersion angle – from 30 ° to 360 °, which allows you to achieve different lighting effects. There are also LED spotlights, in which there are not lamps, but LEDs are built in. They are characterized by a small thickness, which allows you to lower the final ceiling to a very small height. So this is a really good option.
The only downside to LEDs is that they flicker. About the same as fluorescent lamps. Visually, it is imperceptible, but, they say, it is harmful to the eyes. Although, from personal experience, I will say that in this light it is much easier to read and your eyes get tired less (there were earlier housekeepers). As before, this effect can be smoothed out by installing one incandescent lamp in the room.
When choosing a spotlight, see what types of lamps it works with. Please note that there are options in which the lamp is already included in the price, but in many they must be purchased separately.