LED ceiling lights power. Which light bulbs are suitable for suspended ceilings

To illuminate rooms with suspended ceilings, pendant and spotlights (built-in and surface-mounted) are used; LED strips are used for decorative lighting of rooms. When choosing lamps, owners of apartments and cottages are interested, first of all, in the design of these electrical appliances. The specialist will say that When choosing luminaires, the types of lamps are decisive. Fixtures and lamps for them are individually selected for different interiors. The choice of lighting fixtures depends on the type of room and the tasks that the lighting fixtures will solve.

Selecting lamps for rooms with suspended ceilings

For rooms with suspended ceilings only suitable halogen and energy-saving (fluorescent and LED) lamps. Energy-saving lamps provide even, bright light and do not overheat the ceiling. LEDs consume less energy, heat up less, and wiring for these lighting devices takes up less space.

Energy saving lamps (fluorescent and LED)

Unlike incandescent lamps, energy-saving lamps have high light output. Energy savings are achieved by the fact that with less power they create intense, bright light. There are several dozen types of fluorescent energy-saving lamps. They differ in size, bulb design, base parameters and color of the luminous flux created (the light of these lamps can be daylight, warm, cold or neutral white). The light spectrum of these lamps contains ultraviolet radiation, so they should not be placed closer than 30-35 cm from the eyes.

Luminous output LED lamps higher than fluorescent ones. They do not have tungsten filaments (like incandescent lamps) and a fragile glass bulb (like fluorescent lamps). These lamps do not burn out from frequent switching on and off and create a comfortable, almost natural light for the eyes.

LED lamps last an order of magnitude longer than others. They begin to shine at full power immediately after switching on. A fluorescent light bulb takes about 30 seconds to light up completely.

In energy-saving lamps, the intensity of the glow changes in accordance with the frequency of the current in the network, which can cause discomfort for some people.

Halogen lamps

Halogen lamps are classified as incandescent lamps. They can have different shapes, different bases, different compactness and different designs. Bromine or iodine vapor is added to their cylinders.

The lamps have good color rendering and light output. These lighting devices do not burn out due to voltage surges, are highly durable and have a long service life. Currently, many types of halogen lamps with a small bulb are produced, which, in particular, allows them to be used in interior spotlights. Do not touch the flask with your hands, as fatty particles on the fingertips remaining on the quartz glass of the device can lead to its burnout. The light bulb should only be touched with a clean cloth or napkin.

Halogen lamps can also be used for lamps on suspended ceilings if their power is less than 35 W.

Lamps for indoor lighting have different designs. Let's look at the features of using lamps with different bases.

Lamps with base G5.3

Lamps with a G5.3 base can be halogen or LED. Halogen lamps released several years ago have one drawback - their reflector is translucent, so it transmits light behind the lamp (behind the stretch ceiling).

As a result, all elements of technical structures become distinguishable - wiring, embedded parts for lamps and fastenings. Five to ten years ago, the problem was solved simply - the back of the lampshade was covered with foil or special fire-resistant paint. Now there is no need for such an “improvement”, since there are halogen light bulbs on sale with a bulb coated at the end with a light-proof layer.

The disadvantage of the G5.3 model is that the light bulb is located deep inside the lampshade, from which the light comes out at an acute angle and is not scattered at all.

Lamps with GX53 socket

In the GX53 model, the light bulb is not recessed inside; it protrudes from the plane of the structure. The height of the protruding part is 4-5 mm. The beam angle of such a lamp is as wide as possible; the light spreads almost 180 degrees. LED and energy-saving lamps are produced with the GX53 socket.

Lamps with G9 socket

The main difference between lamps with a G9 base and previous options is that the bulb protrudes completely from the ceiling, resulting in the most diffused light. In terms of glow efficiency, they are superior to the model with a base G5.3, but lag behind the model with GX53 base.

When buying an LED light bulb, you should pay attention to the design of the device. There must be a metal cooling grill around the bottom. LED light bulbs don't get very hot, but they still get hot, and that heat needs to be dissipated. Overheating of the device greatly reduces its service life. On average, such a lamp with a cooling grill lasts three years, with a warranty from the manufacturer of about one year.

Tables. Standards of specific illumination of luminous flux for residential premises.

Room	Index
	22 W/1 sq.m.
	15 W/1 sq.m.
	26 W/1 sq.m.
	60 W/1 sq.m.
	20 W/1 sq.m.
	12 W/1 sq.m.

Note: Data based on incandescent lamp use.

Spotlights

Spot (surface and built-in) lamps are an integral part of modern living space. Correct lighting can highlight the beauty of the interior and hide its shortcomings. Technically well-placed lamps create an environment that is comfortable for the eyes.

Spotlights are best suited for additional lighting in large rooms, such as living rooms, bedrooms, children's rooms, and dining rooms. As main lighting, they are good for small spaces - bathrooms, toilets, dressing rooms and corridors. In small rooms, point sources distribute light evenly over the entire ceiling area. This allows you to illuminate all parts of the room equally.

The electrical equipment needed to connect the lamps takes up a certain part of the space in the house. The size of the niche above suspended ceilings depends on the type of lamp. If wiring is installed under halogen or fluorescent lamps, the suspended ceiling is placed approximately 8-12 cm below the main one, for LED spotlights- by 6 cm.

Since the corridor and hallway are the passage part of an apartment or house, a low ceiling will not be noticeable. In spacious hallways, you can install a small chandelier as the main lighting, and built-in lamps as an additional light source.

If only spotlights are turned on in the room, a calm, peaceful environment with soft, subdued light is created. If the designer wants to emphasize the different levels of the stretch ceiling and decorate its protruding part, then you should first choose a chandelier, and select spotlights for it.

Spotlights can be rotary And non-rotating. Rotating shades are designed to direct light only to a specific area - a desk, a section of the kitchen table or onto a wall, in order to advantageously show its texture.

According to the degree of protection against moisture, these electrical appliances are divided into moisture-proof lamps And lamps for dry rooms. Choosing moisture-proof electrical appliances is very important if they are to be installed in bathrooms, toilets and basements.

On the lighting market you can see hundreds of types of spotlights. They are made from a wide variety of materials - glass, plaster, aluminum, crystal, plastic. The lampshades are decorated with stained glass overlays, rhinestones, carved wooden elements, and metal openwork details. If, according to the designer’s idea, the lamp should be hidden or unnoticeable, you can choose the most minimalist option (a white lamp with the same white ring around it).

The design of modern apartments and private houses is very diverse - you can find many styles in their decoration, from loft and baroque to high-tech. A wide selection of spotlights does not in any way limit the imagination of the designer and customer.

Crystal spotlights are interesting and very beautiful. They can diffuse light, creating rays and patterns on the ceiling and walls. These electrical appliances come in different styles. Lamps in the Art Nouveau style have geometric, square or rectangular decorative elements; in classical style models you can see hanging parts made of glass or crystal. Floral style models combine combinations of glass leaves, buds and petals. Crystal lamps with LEDs built into the edges or inside are especially beautiful.

A crystal lamp will not cast glare if a lamp with a matte finish is inserted into it. For the same reason, it is not recommended to install fluorescent light sources in it. LEDs are the ideal choice in this situation.

Chandeliers and pendant lamps

Chandeliers are designed to illuminate the entire room, but the center of the room receives most of the light. These electrical appliances can be of any size; the only restrictions on choice are the size of the room and the height of the ceiling. The higher the ceiling, the more freedom of choice the owner of the room has.

Pendant lamps with one lampshade are often installed in rooms with multi-level suspended ceilings. They are designed to illuminate a specific area in the room.

A chandelier may consist of one or several lamp shades, which are located at different distances from each other and at different heights. The choice of this lighting device depends on the style of the room and the tastes of its owner. In any case, the chandelier should be installed by a professional who knows all the intricacies of installing electrical appliances.

Chandeliers with multiple bulbs can reach significant temperatures. If the temperature of the lampshades exceeds 60 degrees, the ceiling will begin to turn yellow, darken, it may sag, and eventually lose its beautiful appearance. Depending on the lamps used, the distance from the chandelier shades to the ceiling should be at least 15-60 cm.

Energy-saving lamps and lamps with LEDs provide minimal operating temperatures. They are used in chandeliers located in close proximity to the ceiling, they are ideal for plate chandeliers.

The distance from the lampshades to the ceiling depends not only on the type of light sources used, but also on the direction of the lampshades. If the lampshades are directed with their sockets upward, the safe distance will be maximum.

For light decoration, LED strips are used, less often - lamps with special diffusers-nozzles. LED strips are a flexible, transparent plastic strip into which small spotlights are mounted. The thickness (3 mm) and width (1 cm) of the strip allows you to hide it behind suspended ceiling structures, for example, behind a ceiling plinth.

Decorative lighting of this type has a number of advantages.

1. The lighting, hidden behind the ceiling plinth or decorative panels, provides completely diffused light.
2. Hidden lighting does not affect the visual perception of the height of the room.
3. LED strips do not need to be decorated in any way.
4. The installation is done in such a way that air is constantly supplied to the light sources.
5. Lighting can further reveal the merits of a room’s design.

LED strips are mounted around the perimeter of the room or in a certain area according to the project. Using this lighting device, you can create either stripes of light or individual luminous areas of geometric or arbitrary shape.

The color of light sources can be very diverse. Such lighting fixtures are fireproof and easy to install.

The ceiling canvas acts as a lampshade for the LED strip hidden in the perimeter cornice. The decorative light is smooth, matte, and the LED dots on the strip are not visible behind the cornice.

The flexible plastic base of the LED strip acts as a board and conductor of electricity. To operate, the device is supplied with a current voltage of 12-24 V. Power from the network is provided through a converter unit. If the design allows you to regulate the voltage, then a controller is used. You can also control the voltage in the LED strip using a special remote control. The tape easily adheres to degreased metal ceiling structures (to do this, just remove the protective film from the adhesive layer).

Decorative lighting “Starry sky”

For decorative lighting in the “Starry Sky” style, they are also used LED lights. To get a picture on the ceiling, you need to arrange the LEDs in a certain way (randomly or in the form of constellations).

Stretch ceiling “Starry sky”

Scheme of stretch ceiling “Starry Sky” with fiber optics

LEDs are mounted on a rigid frame and connected to each other. Then the wires are routed to the control panel. Small light bulbs are projected through the ceiling material. From the control panel you can change the brightness of the “stars”. The “starry sky” effect is also created by projecting slides onto the ceiling and using a Swarovski glass lens.

Video - Which lamps are better for a stretch ceiling and why

To understand which light bulbs are suitable for suspended ceilings, you need to understand the features of each device and their power. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each unit will allow you to choose good lamps for installation in a suspended ceiling covering. Recommendations for the selection of point devices.

Knowing which light bulbs are suitable for suspended ceilings will help you choose an effective lighting source that will not cause damage to the stretch ceiling.

Stretch ceilings: what kind of lamps?

Among the huge assortment of light bulbs, you can choose one of three types of devices suitable for installation on a suspended ceiling. It is important that specifications the unit met certain requirements.

Before choosing lamps for suspended ceilings, you need to familiarize yourself with the list of all devices suitable for these purposes:

1. The most popular lighting source for tension panels are LED devices. Panoramic lighting from the unit allows you to achieve the effect of visually expanding the space of the room. The lamp does not heat up during use, which is ideal for tension coverings. Thanks to the use of a built-in transformer in the unit, an uninterrupted light flow is obtained. The service life of the device is quite impressive. And in terms of efficiency, such a lamp ranks first.
2. The halogen device also produces a bright, uniform light flux, thanks to which the space of the room expands and transforms. The main distinguishing feature of such devices is the ability to adjust the direction of the light beam. However, there are also disadvantages: to install such lamps, the distance between the tension covering and the base surface must be at least 80 mm, the luminous flux can only be one light yellow color.
3. An incandescent lamp can also be used in suspended ceilings. The main advantage is reasonable price and ease of replacement. However, the unit gets very hot, which can lead to damage to the tension product. It may melt or darken. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to use devices with a power of no more than 50-60 W, and also to thermally insulate the lamp from the tension film. For this purpose, special thermal insulating gaskets and thermal rings are used.

What lamps are needed for suspended ceilings: choice of power

To understand which lamps are suitable for suspended ceilings, you need to understand their power, because some units can damage suspended ceilings due to their overheating.

Each type of lamp used for suspended ceilings and listed above has its own power limitations:

• If you decide to buy halogen devices, then for stationary units it is better to choose a lamp with a power of no more than 35 W; for rotating lamps, you can use a lamp with a power of 40 W.
• Answering the question of which incandescent lamps are placed on a suspended ceiling, we can say that the power of stationary devices should not exceed 50 W, and 60 W lamps are suitable for rotary units.
• LED units are not limited in power, since they practically do not heat up.

And most importantly, when installing built-in and hanging lamps on suspended ceilings, it is important not only to comply with lamp power restrictions, but also to use thermal rings and protective thermal gaskets.

We have already figured out which lamps are best for suspended ceilings, but their number in the room is no less important. For example, when installing several 12 W lamps, you should additionally use a transformer. Its power should be greater than the total power of the light bulbs. So, if you use 5 devices of 12 W each, then the power of the transformer should be equal to 5x12 = 60 W.

One useful piece of advice can be given: if you don’t know which light bulbs are suitable for suspended ceilings, choose units that have inside special lightproof coating. This way, the light from the lamp cannot enter the inside of the device, and therefore the body will not heat up as much. All this contributes to additional protection of the tension fabric.

Which light bulbs are better for suspended ceilings: spotlights

This lamp is very often used in suspended ceiling structures. It can be of two types:

• Overhead
• Built-in

The first is mounted on the ceiling surface, although to mount the device you will need to use a platform on the base flow. In principle, installing and replacing the device does not cause any difficulties. Any type of lamp can be used in this unit, the main thing is to comply with power restrictions.

The built-in point device is mounted in the space between the suspended ceiling and the base surface. Due to its compactness and aesthetics, the unit is in great demand. The positive aspects of using this unit include the following:

• The tightness of the device allows it to be used in places with high humidity levels.
• Economical lamp.
• Sufficient luminous flux power, which depends on which LED lamps for suspended ceilings you will use.
• The compactness of the device and the possibility of installation in the plane of a suspended ceiling allow you to save space in the room and provide effective lighting.
• The ability to change the direction of the light beam, which allows you to perform functional zoning of the room and illuminate the desired area.
• It doesn’t matter what kind of light bulbs you want to use for suspended ceilings, the unit is available for various types of lamps.

How to choose a point device?

You’ve already figured out what kind of light bulbs to put on suspended ceilings; all you have to do is figure out what characteristics to use to select the exact lighting device:

1. It is desirable that the base of the device has a round shape. This will protect the coating from damage.
2. The width of the landing flange must be at least one centimeter. This will allow the device to close the thermal ring.
3. To illuminate a room, it is enough to purchase one device for every 1.5-2 m² of area.

On our website you can not only order high-quality suspended ceilings, but also purchase lighting fixtures for them. To order, you just need to contact us by phone.

During the renovation of the hallway, the question arose about the choice of ceiling lamps. I didn’t have to choose the type of ceiling, since I had experience working with suspended ceilings. A suspended ceiling made of PVC film was chosen. I had to think about which lamp to install on the ceiling. I wanted to have modern, beautiful lamps, and at the same time I didn’t want to part with the homemade chandelier and sconces hanging in the hallway.

The choice has been made. The chandelier and sconces remained hanging on the ceiling in the hallway, but for the corridor I decided to purchase spotlights, since there was a single-lamp hanging on the wall. Before installing the suspended ceiling, you should stretch the wires. To do this, you need to make a drawing of the electrical circuit, which includes the number of lamps, the type of light bulbs, and their power.

Today, 4 types of lamps are widely used:

• Incandescent;
• LED;
• Halogen;
• Compact (energy saving).

Each type has both positive and negative sides. In addition, when choosing lamps, you should take into account their parameters, such as the distance between the fixed and suspended ceiling. Using the table below you can find out the characteristics of the lamps and select the one needed for your ceiling.

Table for selecting the type of light bulbs for recessed ceiling luminaires
Technical specifications	Lamp type
	Incandescent	Halogen	Energy saving	LED
The minimum distance between the main and suspended ceilings*, cm	10-12	5-6	10-12	5-6
Supply voltage, V	220	12, 220	220	12, 220
Luminous flux*, Lm/W	10-15	15-20	50-70	80-120
Maximum power*, W	40	40	40	7
Color temperature, °K	2700	3000	2700, 3300, 4200, 5100, 6400	2700, 3300, 4200, 5100
Service life*, hour	1000	4000	8000	70000
Price	Very low	Low	Average	High

Specifications may differ from the data in the table. It depends on the type of lamp, design, type of ceiling. For example, there are ceilings that are afraid of heating more than 60 degrees. This limits the choice of lamp.

Halogen lamps are afraid of voltage surges, so they often burn out. They are designed for both 12 V and 220 V. Lamps operating at 12 V require a step-down transformer and power supply. Therefore, when installing such lamps, do not forget about the space in the wall or ceiling for its installation.

Calculation of power and number of lamps

When choosing the power of the lamp, you should take into account the size of the room and the color of the furniture. You should select a lamp based on your taste qualities. Using the table you can find out what power of lamps you will need. Calculations were made based on luminous flux values ​​and lamp type.

Table for calculating the power and number of lamps depending on the type of room
Type of room	Power required to illuminate 1m2 of room area depending on the type of lamp
	Incandescent	Halogen	Energy saving	LED
Children's	40	30	10	5
Kitchen	30	25	7	4
Living room, bathroom, toilet	25	20	6	3
Bedroom, hallway, corridor	20	15	5	2
Utility rooms	10	7	2	1

It was planned to install spotlights in the corridor. Here are the calculations that were made.

The corridor looks like the letter T. The area of ​​the plot is 4.5 m2, 2.8 m2. The total area is 7.3 m2. The required power of the lamps should be 15.6 W (7.3?2). The ceiling height in the room is 2.75 m. It was planned to paint the walls in a creme brulee color. Since the corridor has a complex shape, it is necessary to install 4 lamps, the lamps of which will have a power of 5 W with a reserve. Power supply 220 V, pin socket GU5.3. This type of plinth is popular due to its small dimensions, which allows installation at a low ceiling height.

The walls of the corridor were decorated with paintings, which were planned to remain after the renovation. Based on this, I chose white lamps with a color temperature of 4000 K. If you want to achieve warm light, lamps with a color temperature of 2700 K are suitable for you. Note that room lighting does not always have to consist of ceiling lights. It is better to reduce the power of the lamps and place a couple of wall lamps on the wall.

If there is local lighting, then the ceiling can be illuminated with LED strip. Everything is limited by your imagination.

Selecting a wire for wiring spotlights

To power 4 lamps, any double-insulated wire will do. It is better to choose a copper double connecting wire that has many strands. For example, PVA 2*0.75. The cross-section will not play a big role, since the current will not exceed 0.1 A. If 12 V halogen lamps are used, then the cross-section of the wires must be calculated. One lamp with a power of 60 W consumes a current of 5 A.

Selection and installation of a recessed ceiling spotlight

You can find many lamps on store shelves. But they all have the same design and differ only in appearance. Some models have the function of changing the direction of the light flow.

Since I need to illuminate the corridor, the simplest lamps with a base socket were chosen.

Each lamp has a body that looks like a figured ring, and platforms with fastenings for springs with ears. The type and power of the lamp determines its shape, as well as the presence or absence of a socket (usually E14).

A separate niche is occupied by lamps whose LEDs are placed on a printed circuit board.

If it fails, the light bulb cannot be replaced. You will have to either change the entire lamp or look for LEDs. And its price is not too low. Lamps that do not have a socket press the lamp using a spring shaped like a cut ring.

The lamp is inserted due to the fact that the ring expands and fits into the groove located in the housing. This lamp is suitable for both LED and halogen lamps. Just don’t forget about the supply voltage that the lamps can withstand. To fix the lamp in the ceiling, it is necessary to make a hole at the location of the lamp, which will be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the housing flange.

The ears of the springs must be spread to such an extent that they fit into the hole made. Then they can be released. Leaning on the ceiling, they press the lamp against the flange until it stops, which allows the lamp to be fixed.

After fixing the lamp in the ceiling, we thread the wire and connect the socket with the terminal block. The socket must be put on the socket, the lamp must be inserted into the lamp body, the spring must be released and secured.

Electrical wiring diagram for spotlights

Before installing the ceiling, you should pay attention to the choice of the type of lamps, the number of lamps, their location, and the choice of power. To do this you need to develop electrical diagram. During its development, the method of fastening the wires to each other and the points at which these wires are connected are taken into account.

Since there were wires coming out of the wall on which the lamp was located, they will be used to install the ceiling lamps. Since after installing the suspended ceiling there will be no access to the wires, they need to be fastened in a reliable way. I settled on twisting and soldering with tin-lead solder. These points are marked on the diagram.

If you plan to place such lamps in a room where a computer or TV is located, you need to take into account that the angle of incidence of the beam on the surface is equal to the angle of reflection. Therefore, such lamps cannot be placed above equipment, as there will be glare from the monitor. Before planning the lamp, you need to consider the arrangement of furniture and equipment in the room.

If the lamps are powered by a voltage of 220 V, no additional equipment will be required, but if they need 12 V, then it should be taken into account that a place must be made for the power source of these lamps that will have easy access for maintenance.

Installation of electrical wiring for connecting spotlights

After purchasing all the necessary lamps and wires, you can begin to work.

Electrical wiring can be installed at any stage of repair work. Even before installing a stretch ceiling. During the renovation of the walls, the light turned out to be dim. I had to connect temporary sockets into which energy-saving lamps were screwed.

Before installing the wires, select and mark the locations of the lamps. Marked with circles in the photo. To prevent wires from sagging, fasten them at intervals of 40 - 50 cm.

To secure the wires, you can use dowels - clamps (left photo) or nail clips (right), which have different sizes. If the installation will be done with a dowel - a clamp, drill a hole in the wall, put on the clamp and hammer the dowel into the wall. To secure the wire with a nail clip, press the wire against the wall and hammer in the nail. This installation is suitable for attaching wires to plaster, wood, and plastic.

Nail staples are bad because the nail can fall out and the wire will lie on the ceiling. This mount was immediately thrown aside. The Khomuts were not at home. Therefore, I used the most easy way, which is based on securing the wire to the wall with a clamp made of vinyl chloride tube. To do this, drill a hole in the ceiling and hammer in a dowel. We wrap the tube around the wire and screw it with any self-tapping screw.

Making a harness for wiring ceiling spotlights

After installing the ceiling, access to the wiring will be limited. Therefore, the connection of wires to each other must be done efficiently. Most often, the wires are connected using a terminal block, say “Wago”. However, the most reliable method is soldering. That's what I used.

To minimize work under the ceiling, the harness was made in advance. All that remains is to attach it to the ceiling and connect it to the main wiring. To find out the length of the wires, it is necessary to take measurements between the mounting points of the lamps. The measurement results were entered into the electrical circuit, which was an electrical installation.

The harness was made of stranded wires with double insulation. The core in such a wire is covered with polyvinyl chloride and entwined with thread. To make it easier to carry out work, the wires were twisted into a pigtail.

The first step was to remove the insulation from the wires, which allowed the wires to be tinned with solder. The second section of the corridor involves branching wires, so they were twisted and soldered. To increase the reliability of the insulation, the soldering points are shifted relative to each other.

Tubes are placed at the soldering points to prevent short circuits. To prevent their movement along the wires, they should be secured with cambrics. The solder joints could be insulated using insulating tape. To avoid tangling the wires, the cambrics were marked with a marker. Part of the wire was located under the plaster. A polyvinyl chloride tube was placed in this place.

The tourniquet was attached to the ceiling. It's time to connect the wires to the main wiring. To do this, the wires coming out of the wall were trimmed with a shift. Since the wire is quite old, the cores are rough. To avoid damaging them, the insulation was removed thermally, namely with a soldering iron. The cores were protected, tinned, and then insulating tubes were put on.

Tubes are needed to protect a person from short circuits. The wires will not be able to touch one another on their own.

The place where the connection was made is secured to the ceiling with a clamp using a self-tapping screw. That's it, the wiring is complete.

The temporary sockets are connected with terminal blocks, the lamps are screwed in, and the room can be repaired.

Installation of an LED ceiling lamp on a PVC stretch ceiling

The technology described above is suitable for installing lamps on a rigid structure, such as plasterboard or a slatted ceiling. If the lamp is installed directly on a PVC ceiling, it is necessary to provide mounting points for the lamps, otherwise the ceiling will sag under their weight.

For such purposes, special fittings are sold on the market. In the photo you can see the ramp, that is, the mount for the lamp. The platform is made in the form of a cone, on the surface of which there are steps.

Any room will look unfinished and uncomfortable if you don’t make a beautiful ceiling. Modern ceiling designs allow you to bring any designer's ideas to life. One of the most popular types of finishing today are suspended ceilings. They have many advantages, including excellent appearance.

Stretch ceilings allow you to use different types of lighting and even combine them with each other. In addition to the usual hook chandeliers, other types of lamps, including spotlights, can be installed on ceiling structures (read also: " "). However, not all lighting fixtures are suitable for suspended ceilings. Particular attention should be paid to light bulbs. You can install only low-power light bulbs in a suspended ceiling to avoid overheating of the ceiling.

Since spotlights are most often installed on such structures, you should understand their types and features of use. Currently, there are four types of spotlights. They can work with incandescent, halogen, energy saving and . What they look like different kinds light bulbs, you can see in the photo.

Incandescent lamps

Lamps that use incandescent lamps are low in price and easy to replace. A minion lamp, mirror E-14, is often used. Its power is 40-60 W. In order to achieve average illumination, there should be one light bulb for every 2-3 “squares” of the surface. If necessary, such light bulbs for a stretch ceiling can be easily changed.

The advantages of incandescent lamps include:

• low price compared to other types;
• easy replacement - you can unscrew them and install a new one.

The disadvantages of incandescent lamps are:

• power restrictions - no more than 40 W (in some cases - 60 W), but if you install a more powerful lamp, the canvas may become deformed due to overheating;
• the fittings have considerable dimensions, so you will have to allocate 8-10 centimeters to lower the stretch ceiling.

The main reason for choosing them is low cost.

Halogen lamps

Halogen lamps are an excellent choice for suspended ceilings. They have many advantages over other types. The long service life of the light bulbs distinguishes them from other types of lamps for suspended ceilings. This is especially striking when comparing halogen lamps with incandescent lamps.

Advantages of halogen lamps:

• excellent illumination of the ceiling structure (thanks to their own rich glow, built-in halogen light bulbs in a stretch ceiling can create colorful effects);
• the ability to arrange lighting at any desired angle;
• wide choice of colors and shapes of lamps;
• maximum lighting brightness immediately after turning on the lamps;
• long service life.

The disadvantages of halogen lamps include:

• directional glow;
• emit one type of light – warm yellow;
• lowering the ceiling by at least 7 centimeters (it is not recommended to install halogen lamps in low-height rooms).

Energy-saving lamps

Energy-saving light bulbs are very popular. Their main advantage is low heat generation, which allows you not to worry about overheating of the stretch ceiling. They are also very economical - their energy consumption is minimal.

Energy-saving light bulbs for suspended ceilings have the following advantages:

• compliance with European standards;
• insignificant heat release, which makes overheating of the canvas impossible (for comparison, incandescent lamps emit several times more heat);
• economical energy consumption;
• lack of illumination behind the ceiling (this effect occurs in other types of lamps);
• there is no need to reduce the height of the structure, since the size of the lamps is only 2 centimeters. But this height is still necessary for installing the canvas itself, since the baguette attached to the wall and necessary for installing the ceiling has a size of 2.7 centimeters.

The disadvantages of energy-saving lamps include:

• lack of choice;
• high price;
• they do not turn on at full power immediately - this will take time;
• simple appearance and only a few border color options.

With energy saving lamps, you need to take into account that the switch should not have an LED. Otherwise, you may observe the light bulbs flickering when they are turned off. Quite often it is believed that this effect occurs due to a lack of grounding or phase breakdown to zero, but these judgments are incorrect. The reason for this phenomenon is precisely that there is an LED in the switch.

LED bulbs

Experts recommend installing LED light bulbs in suspended ceilings in rooms that do not have a large area. They look good in the interior of any room, kitchen or bathroom. Their popularity is explained by their many advantages: minimal energy consumption, durability, ease of installation and maintenance, high quality. Built-in LEDs are easy to install in a suspended ceiling and are discreet and discreet. Plus, stable and even lighting makes it possible to create ideal conditions both for performing various work and for relaxation.

Advantages of LED lamps:

• long service life - more than 100 thousand hours of continuous operation, which is a hundred times longer than the operating time ordinary lamps incandescent;
• natural spectrum of lighting;
• the ability to adjust the contrast and direction of light, greater clarity of the illuminated area; with their help you can illuminate exactly the area of ​​the room you need;
• LED light bulbs for suspended ceilings are economical. consume 70% less electricity. There are also savings in the absence of large costs associated with replacing lamps. Since they last a long time, they do not require frequent replacement.

As for the disadvantages LED light bulbs, then only a considerable amount of heat generation and a rather high cost can be attributed to them.

Stretch ceilings with light bulbs have their own characteristics. First of all, you should pay attention to their power. So, incandescent lamps should have this parameter no more than 40-60 W, and halogen lamps should be 30-35 W. The use of more powerful light sources leads to the body of the lamps becoming very hot, and this does not have the best effect on the suspended ceiling.

When installing lighting fixtures at the level of the ceiling structure, a holder is placed in the future location, which is attached to the ceiling. The design features of the embedded holders depend on the sizes and types of light bulbs.

Currently, the choice is not limited to incandescent lamps. The ability to use several types of lamps allows you to experiment with lighting, emphasizing the beauty of not only the ceiling, but also the entire interior of the room.