Connection of spotlights. Types and installation of spotlights

An original and elegant way of highlighting space and an unusual decorative element are spotlights. The texture, material and finish of the deflector are selected by the user on the basis of their own preferences, while the functional features and type of the fixture are the technical side of the issue.

Models of spotlights

Spotlights are classified according to several features: adjustment, installation method and functionality.

Mounting Method: Overhead

Overhead, or external point light fixtures are mainly attached to frameless substrates: brick walls or concrete ceilings. Such lighting devices are an ideal solution in the case when it is necessary to improve the interior of the room without changing its dimensions.

Surface luminaires consist of a mounting platform and a diffuser housing. In view of the design features, installation of ceiling lamps of this type is carried out over a hole of smaller diameter than the diameter of the shell, otherwise the plafond will not overlap it. The wire must be connected to the rail. After connecting all the wires to the mounting area, the luminaire housing is fixed using side screws.

Built-in

On the frame bases, installation of ceiling luminaires of built-in or mortise type is carried out. Fixing platform can be any:

• Plasterboard structures.
• Stretch ceiling.
• Rack or panel ceilings and walls.
• Wall niches.
• Furniture partitions.

Installation of point fixtures of built - in type is often carried out in pools, in the floor, on bar counters and stairs.

On the case of the lamp there are built-in locks for lamps and fasteners. When installing the lamp, you do not need to exert additional effort - the legs are very easily opened.

The configuration of the luminaire is a body with built-in latch holders for lamps and fasteners. Additional reinforcement is not required - the legs are released behind the plane when installing the plafond. The design implies the installation of the enclosure inside a pre-prepared hole with the wires leading to the exit point.

Suspended

The hanging point fixtures are mounted at a distance from the mounting surface. The lamp is hung on a decorative supply cable fixed to the ceiling. Details that can enhance the design are not required. But massive versions of luminaires are recommended to be supplemented when installed with mounting slats - the helpers, made of bar or metal, are also suitable.

Suspended fixtures are suitable for mounting on all types of bases and are often installed as an independent decor element.

Type of adjustment

The spotlights are classified according to the intensity and direction of the light flux and the structure:

• Rotary lamps. Smooth angle adjustment allows you to adjust the direction of the light beam. When installing rotary fixtures, the mounting points are reinforced, since their mobility accelerates the wear of the base material.
• Irreversible. Adjust the direction of the light flux in such models can not.
• Cardan. A feature of such spotlights is the ability to adjust the direction and intensity of the light flux. The design provides for the presence of several diode lamps.
• Spots. Lamps with a rotary mechanism, give a directional light flux. Adjustment is carried out manually, the case of lighting devices is plastic enough. On one fixture can be placed a different number of plafonds - from six or more. You can arrange point lights in the form of classical chandeliers, and in the form of geometric shapes. Spots are of two types: overhead and embedded.
• Downlight. Used mainly as decorative elements to focus on specific elements of the interior.

Functionality

The basic configuration of spotlights determines their functional separation into types depending on the presence or absence:

• Remote control.
• Adjustment options in different planes.
• Protect from water and dust.
• Dimmering systems for adjusting the degree of illumination.

Depending on the features of the room and interior elements, the basic types of spotlights are selected.

Bulbs for spotlights

The diameter of the fixtures of spotlights can vary from 3 to 6 inches. You can use any type of lamp:

• LED Light.
• Incandescence.
• Halogen.
• Luminescent compact.

You can install lamps of different types into the same housing of a spotlight.

Benefits

Spotlights have a mass of advantages. It:

• The ability to highlight individual areas of the interior with directional lighting.
• Absence of shaded corners under illumination.
• Extended service life.
• Increased saving and safety of light supply, which is especially noticeable in models designed for 12 V voltage.
• Possibility of installation in ceiling lamps of different types of lamps.
• Small size and attractive appearance.
• High efficiency and reduced power consumption in comparison with conventional lighting devices.
• Stability of the housing to mechanical defects and vibrations.
• Increased utilization of the light flux.
• During operation, there is no flicker, blinding effects and noise.

disadvantages

Point lighting has its drawbacks:

• It is difficult to design and connect point lights and organize the entire lighting system.
• Installation and replacement of transformers complicate the installation and calculation of the entire system. Fixtures and transformer should be located at a distance from each other, which is why often have to go through the frame and expand the ready-made base.
• General lighting equipment requires the connection of spotlights in large quantities.
• Install many types of spotlights without making adjustments to the design of the ceiling or walls is impossible. Built-in lamps require the construction of a frame.
• Possible damage to the stretch PVC ceiling with overheating.
• In the bathroom it is possible to install only waterproof luminaires.
• It is difficult to take care of a large number of plafonds.

Connection of spotlights to 220V

Lighting devices of this type are powered by special converters - drivers or transformers. The latest models of lamps - spots - operate from a network with a voltage of 220 V. A similar scheme for connecting spotlights is easier, since it does not require the use of additional adapters and converters.

Serial connection diagram

The easiest way to install ceiling luminaires in one circuit. Requires a small number of wires, but you can connect a limited number of lighting devices - no more than five or six. The only drawback of this scheme is that the lamps connected in this way are not working at full speed. The second minus - the failure of one lamp leads to the rupture of the entire circuit and the termination of the work of other lamps. Restore the chain is possible only after checking each lamp separately.

When installing ceiling luminaires according to this scheme, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the same phase must go to the fixtures and the switch. Zero is brought to the very last lamp in the chain. This is done to ensure security and maintain the correct operation of the connection scheme.

In three-wire wiring, in addition to phase and zero, there is a third wire - grounding, which is fed to each of the luminaires separately. "Earth" can be brought from a switch or socket located nearby.

In practice, it is easiest to implement such a scheme with wires, and not with a cable, because one wire bypasses each of the luminaires and is constantly torn, while the zero wire is fed to the last point light from the switchbox. Despite the fact that a consistent type of installation of ceiling lights is the simplest, it is rarely used.

Parallel connection

The parallel connection scheme allows you to use the potential of spotlights at full strength, so it is more popular even in situations where you need to connect a large number of conductors. The installation of spotlights is carried out using a non-combustible cable or three-core wire, if the wiring is grounded. The mandatory requirement for the cable is incombustibility, while its cross-section can be either flat or round.

Loop connection scheme

When the wiring method is wired, the wire is fed from the switchbox to the first lamp, which is then connected to the second wire, which is connected to the next lamp. Other lamps are connected in the same way.

Lighting devices are connected to the two- key switch if they are divided into two groups. Implementing a similar scheme with this connection option becomes more difficult, since more wires are used.

Radiation connection

When installing conventional and waterproof luminaires according to this scheme, a separate piece of wire is supplied to each lighting device. This method requires a lot of cable, but it is considered the most reliable: in the event of failure of one lamp, all the others continue to work. In this case, the wire is pulled from the junction box to the middle of the room, after which it is divorced to each luminaire.

Since such a scheme of connecting spotlights at one point collects a large number of wires, a reliable method of connecting them is required. To twist it is used if the wires are single-core and a small number of spotlights is installed. This method is not the easiest, because it is required to compress twist and weld for reliability. The second method is somewhat simpler, since to each of the wires a connector with the necessary number of inputs is connected, to which the remaining cables are connected.

Equally common is the use of terminal blocks with screw connections. They are distinguished by low price and reliability, but all the terminals involved will have to install jumpers on the side to which the cables are connected.

Despite the fact that this method is more reliable, it is used extremely rarely - it is expensive and does not allow to combine high quality in a single point a large number of wires.