Types of lighting for the bathroom mirror, installation and connection options
Often the bathrooms are not lit enough to comfortably carry out hygienic and cosmetic procedures. This is a particularly big problem for women. To get out of a difficult situation, the backlight for the mirror in the bathroom helps, which, in addition to the practical, can carry an aesthetic function. Proper lighting contributes to the visual expansion of the room. However, a suitable lamp must be installed for this.
Content
Lighting requirements
For comfortable washing, shaving, applying makeup, a degree of diffusion of light up to 400 lux is necessary. It should be bright, but not blinding, uniform. Therefore, do not direct the beam directly at the mirror. All lamps have different power.
| Lamp type | Incandescent | Daylight | Light-emitting diode | Cathodoluminescent |
| Power, W | 20-100 | 5-40 | 5-15 | 5-40 |
| Efficiency, lm / W | 10 | 50-100 | 100-120 | 50-100 |
| Visible light,% | less than 1 | 10-15 | 15-20 | 10-15 |
| Brightness, cd / m2 | 5000 | 5000-10000 | 20000 | 5000-30000 |
| Area of radiation, m2 | 0,02 | 0,001-0,1 | 0,0001-0,001 | 0,001-0,2 |
| Aperture, cd | 100 | 1000 | 200 | 2000 |
| Duration of work, h | 500 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 |
| Environmental friendliness | + | — | depending on the material | + |
| Approximate price, rubles | 10 | 100 | 1000 | 100 |
Lamps are available with different indicators of color temperature (Kelvin):
- yellowish - less than 3500 K;
- neutral white - from 3500 to 5000 K;
- cold white (bluish) - more than 5000 K.
To get the most realistic reflection, you need to choose lamps with a neutral color temperature of 4000–4200 K.
The backlight for the bathroom mirror should be safe, specially designed for wet rooms. The design of such lamps eliminates moisture inside. Each lamp has an IP index, indicated by two digits.
| Number 1 | Particle and dust protection | Number 2 | Protection against water entering the housing |
0 | Is absent | 0 | Is absent |
| 1 | solid objects over 50 mm | 1 | vertical drops |
| 2 | solid objects over 12 mm | 2 | vertical drops flowing down to an angle of 15 degrees |
| 3 | solid objects over 2.5 mm | 3 | splashes, rain jets falling at an angle of up to 60 degrees |
| 4 | solids greater than 1 mm | 4 | spray from any direction |
| 5 | dust can penetrate in small amounts without disturbing the operation of the device | 5 | water jets of any direction |
| 6 | absolute dust tightness | 6 | water waves, strong jets |
| 7 |
— | 7 | short immersion in water for a maximum of 1 m |
8 | — | 8 | long diving to a depth of more than 1 m, the lamp can work |
| 9 | — | 9 | complete impermeability, the lamp shines under water |
The greater the IP index, the safer the lamp. When placing fixtures in the bathroom, it is necessary to leave at least 60 cm between the devices and water sources.
Types of illumination
The backlight can be internal or external. Depending on this, different types of fixtures are chosen.Point sources are built into the upper or side wall near the mirror and evenly scatter light. The spots can be rotary, thereby providing the ability to direct the luminous flux. Available as single adjustable options, as well as small chandeliers with independent lamps.
Outdoor lights are located on both sides of the mirror, which helps to avoid the formation of sharp dimming on the face. If you put lamps with more power, you can achieve a bright light zone. The focus will be on the person at the mirror and on the interior details of the room.
Lamps that are built into the mirror can have a different design. The main elements are tapes or LED blocks, the light of which softens the frosted glass. Such lighting mirrors in the bathroom is most often installed for decorative purposes.
LED lights behind the mirror are very functional, their light can simultaneously be directed at a person and highlight parts of the interior, for example, to focus on wall decoration.
Varieties of fixtures
Lamps with shades are round enclosed electrical appliances that are completely adjacent to the wall or ceiling. Inside there are metal fittings, a reflector disk with a bulb holder and a diffuser made of frosted glass or plastic. They emit bright diffused light. There are different configurations and design of shades: the right hemisphere, flat cylinder, intricate avant-garde forms and others.
In spotlights there is a special frame that allows you to mount these small-sized devices anywhere. They emit a sufficient amount of luminous flux for the bathroom. A special housing reliably protects the built-in bulbs from water penetration, reducing the risk of short circuit
Sconces for lighting bathrooms are often used. They protrude above the wall, due to which more illuminated space appears. Fixtures for the bathroom mirror can be placed on the sides at the right height. They will well highlight local areas and perform a decorative function.
Choosing a sconce for the bathroom is necessary according to the requirements of moisture resistance. When connecting devices, it is recommended to hide the equipped wiring.
In the lighting fixtures installed in the bathroom, the following types of lamps are used:
- Neon - evenly illuminate the room, mounted even in hard-to-reach areas, different in color, quiet, safe for sight, do not heat up above 40 degrees. Disadvantages of lamps: not durable, neighboring elements do not work when the next one stops burning. The use of neon mirror lighting should be limited due to the risk of ingress of water.
- Luminescent - have the effect of natural light, economical, long serve. A significant drawback is the appearance of flicker with the lamp on. It heavily loads the eyes, but after some time it stops.
- Halogen lamps - are not afraid of humidity, have increased light output and a long service life, are able to give different colors to the luminous flux. Cons: high heating temperature, instant failure due to the slightest pollution. Traditionally built into spotlights.
- Illumination LED mirrors in the bathroom is placed on any surface. It has a white or color glow, high light output, long life. The disadvantage is that it is expensive.
Lighting devices that are designed for LEDs are called "LED-lamps." They can work up to 100,000 hours, energy-saving, not complicated to install. The disadvantage is the high cost. There are flexible LED strips. Their designs are easily mounted on either side of the mirror and the bathroom wall.
Advantages and disadvantages of the integrated backlight
The positive aspects of using the built-in backlight are as follows:
- additional bathroom lighting;
- lack of condensation on the mirror surface due to the heating of the lamps;
- convenience of carrying out hygienic, cosmetic procedures;
- The perfect decoration for any decor.
The disadvantages of the built-in backlight are:
- the appearance of rust on the poor-quality coating of lamps due to moisture;
- negative effects of bright light on the eyes.
To avoid negative aspects, for the bathroom you need to choose models with light devices from well-known manufacturers. Lamps with the function of diffusing soft light will help protect your eyes from harmful effects.
Location of light sources
The lamp above the bathroom mirror creates a “subway effect”. When a weak and uneven backlight is installed, dimming appears on the face, natural colors change. Light falling above the mirror leads to focusing on existing imperfections and adds non-existent flaws.
The light coming from below promotes the formation of deep shadows on the face. In general, it is extremely undesirable to install devices only on one side of the mirror, since a shadow will always lie on one half of the human body. It is better to use symmetrical placement on both sides.
The use of side illumination of the mirror in the bathroom is the best solution, because the distribution of light flux passes symmetrically. To ensure that the face is well lit, it is recommended to install lamps at a height of two meters. So the light will fall simultaneously from above and on the sides.
Depending on the shape and size of the mirror, the most suitable type of lighting is selected:
- for a small one - two wall lamps arranged symmetrically;
- for a wide mirror - hanging light devices and attached on the sides, installation height from 1.5 to 2 meters;
- for the middle round or oval - LEDs placed around the perimeter;
- for cabinet mirrors - directional spotlights.
To achieve a diffuse glow, you can install devices with white shades.
Design-Based Choice
The interiors of the rooms are decorated in different styles. Therefore, it is necessary to choose lamps with an appropriate design. A wide range of options on the market makes it easy to find the right one. Classics are distinguished by natural forms and natural materials used in the manufacture of devices. Lamps must be combined with the color of the bathroom, be discreet and not attract the eye. They lack pretentiousness, flashy colors and extra decorative details.
In minimalism, a certain asceticism is propagated. Each detail of the lighting device fulfills its purpose. Lamps in this design have simple shapes, glass lampshades and diffused lighting. Often in such embodiments, opaque or, on the contrary, thin transparent glass is used for the manufacture of shades.
High-tech - a modern style, a characteristic feature of which is a pronounced urban theme. It is distinguished by the clarity of lines and angles, matte or shiny surfaces. Lamps in a metal casing with shades of various sizes are perfect for this design.
Installation and Connection
A lamp with an incandescent lamp is installed in the following way: the electric cable is connected to the terminals of the device, then the metal ears are pressed to the center to facilitate the insertion of the spot into the hole. After that, the fastener takes the desired position, tightly fixed in place. It remains only to screw in the bulb.
The backlight with a halogen lamp is also connected using the power wires and terminals.The body of the lamp is placed using spring mounts. The lamp is located in the cartridge, which is fixed by the mounting yoke (located in the configuration of the device).
When working with halogen lamps, gloves must be used.
To install an overhead lamp, first its lath is fixed with the help of hardware. Then the cable cores are connected to the terminals according to the color. The wiring is neatly put into the hole, the decorative case is mounted. With a significant weight of the appliance, its design is strengthened by stiffeners at the installation site.
Connecting the LED strip begins with its connection to the network adapter, and the polarity is always respected. Wiring is installed in the respective sockets, and then secured with screws. Before mounting, the surface must be cleaned and degreased.
The LED strip is extended with small pieces by soldering. Do not install the product over 15 meters.
Lay electrical wiring in a humid room according to all safety standards and rules:
- The junction box has no place in the bathroom. When it becomes necessary to connect the wires exactly inside the room, moisture-proof terminal blocks are used, and the twists are reliably insulated.
- All electrical appliances in the bathroom are grounded, even LED strips.
- In the wiring diagram of the lamp is located RCD (residual current device). It instantly stops the supply of electricity if a short circuit can occur in the system.
- The general power supply circuit in the bathroom is divided into parts. Each subsystem is protected by an automatic switch.
When lighting the bathroom, the use of a low-current power supply system of 12 V. is recommended. Voltage with this indicator does not pose a danger to humans, even in wet conditions. However, the location of the step-down transformer must be outside the room.
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