How to make sauna lighting using LED strip

Visiting the sauna is a pleasant and relaxing procedure. Almost every dacha has such a building where you can relax and relieve the burden of problems. To create comfortable conditions, you need to take care of the lighting in the bathhouse, taking into account the specifics of the room.

Humidity and high temperature impose restrictions on the use of a number of lighting devices. An excellent solution would be an LED strip for a sauna, because it is not afraid of water and can be easily installed in hard-to-reach places. In a steam room where the temperature is high, heat-resistant LED strip is well used.

Features of lighting in the bath

In most cases, there are no windows in the bathhouse or they are very small in order to retain heat, so you can’t count on natural light. It is necessary to provide high-quality artificial lighting, although there is water and dampness everywhere in the bathhouse, as well as temperature changes. A convenient option would be an LED strip with insulated wiring.

Attention! Using LED strip near water is safe. You just need to insulate the wiring.

This type of lighting allows you to get creative, select color compositions, and install them in any location. Use in the steam room, plunge pool, relaxation room and pool.

For this purpose, waterproof LED strip of the Harvia brand (IP65, IP67, IP68) is often used. This is the preferred option as it can withstand prolonged contact with water without loss of performance. The ice backlight operates on a low voltage of 12 volts, but to connect it to a 220 V network, you need to install a converter - a power supply.

Among the variety of lighting equipment, LED products are the most preferable, as they are economical (consumes 90% less electricity compared to incandescent lamps) and safe.

Lamps for saunas and baths

Today, the following types of lighting fixtures are most often used in saunas:

• Classic lamps with incandescent lamp . The housing for such lamps is made of materials that are resistant to corrosion, and the lampshade uses a special sealing gasket to ensure the tightness of the structure.
• LED sauna lights , as mentioned above, are especially popular. True, due to their brightness, they are only suitable for additional spot lighting in the steam room, but they do an excellent job in other rooms of the sauna. To organize uniform lighting, an LED strip for a sauna , which can be installed around the perimeter of the room.
• Fiber optic lamps are a bundle and a special projector. Their price is the highest of all the types of lighting devices considered, but for that they are the best option for a steam room, as they can work in conditions of high humidity and high temperature. The harness can withstand temperatures up to 200 degrees Celsius.
• Lamps with Himalayan salt - products of innovative lighting technologies in combination with Himalayan salt look especially impressive. When illuminated, lamps emit special volatile substances that have a beneficial effect on the human respiratory system.

Sauna lamps with incandescent lamps	LED sauna lights	Fiber optic sauna lights

Lamps and fixtures installed in a steam bath or Finnish sauna must create uniform lighting, have a high degree of moisture protection and have a low-voltage operating voltage (maximum 12V). You can learn more about the requirements for special installations in the standards of GOST R 50571.11-96 Section No. 701.

The main requirement for lamps in a sauna is tightness , since steam or water getting inside the device will cause a short circuit, which can lead to a fire, electric shock to vacationers, or damage to the device itself and glass flying. In addition, it is advisable to use low-voltage lamps powered by a transformer located outside the bathhouse . If this condition cannot be met, then the remaining requirements cannot be violated. Recently, preference has most often been given to anti-fog sealed shades in milky, pastel and matte colors. If ordinary incandescent lamps are used, their power should not be too high; a 60W sauna lamp will be the best option.

Some bathhouse and sauna lovers, in order not to fool themselves with protection from humidity, temperature and splashes of water,
use the so-called light transmission. This method involves illuminating the steam room from an adjacent room through a transparent wall .
For example, the lamps are in the relaxation room and shine through a transparent partition into the steam room. In this case, the light in the steam room is soft, diffused and safe. And the wiring does not need to be done in a damp room. But of course, it is better to use modern types of lighting - heat-resistant lamps with decorative lampshades. Maybe their cost may seem high to some, but there is no need to talk about the payback period for lighting lamps for saunas and steam rooms. Does the payback make sense when using the lighting for a long time, rather than 3 hours a week? But the pleasure of a bath is not always commensurate with money. From a safety point of view, it is necessary to have 2 light bulbs in the steam room, so that if one burns out, the second one will allow you to complete the procedures. Changing light bulbs in a damp room at high temperatures of the lamps and in a bare state is not a very appropriate procedure. The simple shapes of simple lamps for baths and saunas can be decorated with decorative wooden diffusing grilles. They make the light subdued and calm and add variety to the cubic shapes of the steam rooms. This is a rather expensive bathhouse accessory that you can make yourself.

Classic lamps with incandescent lamps

The most common option is classic lamps for saunas and baths with a regular incandescent lamp . The housing for such lamps must be made of a material that is not susceptible to corrosion - after all, the humidity in the bathhouse is always quite high. And to prevent moisture from penetrating into the lampshade, such lamps are often provided with a gasket made of a special seal.

Typically, for a bathhouse, classic lamps are selected in the form of anti-fog sealed shades in matte or milky tones. To dim the light, you can additionally use an additional wooden grille - this is both convenient and beautiful.

LED sauna lights

The main advantage of an LED lamp is truly high-quality lighting and significant energy savings . With the help of LED lamps you can create a beautiful starry sky on the ceiling of the bathhouse and various spectacular light combinations. Spotlights, consisting of many small diodes, are immediately sold with special fasteners. They can be built into furniture for baths and saunas; there are even entire sets for baths.

Fiber optic luminaires

Fiber optic lighting has a high degree of safety . Indeed, in such a system, the only electrical device is a projector, which must be placed outside the sauna. As for optical fibers, they transmit only light, not electricity. However, there are no electrical cables in the sauna, and this is a guarantee of safety.

Light fibers can be placed anywhere. If the lighting in the steam room is placed on the ceiling, it will provide even, diffused light. You can get the same light in a sauna if you place the fibers behind vertical surfaces. Finally, with the help of fiber optic lighting, you can focus attention on individual interior details, if, for example, you install it above a heater. Fiber optic lamps do not dazzle the eyes, and therefore they do not need to be hidden behind wooden grilles - and this is a significant plus for the overall concept of the bathhouse interior design. In addition, such a lamp does not take up additional space. Fiber optic lamps today are the safest for use in a bathhouse, the most durable and the easiest to install. They are not afraid of either high temperatures or constant humidity. But the projector needs to be taken outside the steam room. But installing electrical wiring in a bathhouse for fiber-optic lamps is much easier.

Fiber optic lamps look especially impressive if special lenses and crystals are installed together with them - such lighting in the bathhouse looks complete, effective and pleasant to perceive. In addition, when decorating a bathhouse, designers often use fiber optic lamps to animate flames, water, or even the northern lights. To do this, various accessories and attachments are used that can periodically change color and create a flickering effect.

The most unusual and interesting solutions for baths are created with the help of fiber optic elements, which are hidden in a special casing. Even the most typical bathhouse can look quite original thanks to new lighting solutions.

Lighting in the sauna (steam room)

It is worth adding decorative lighting to the steam room or sauna and a completely different psychological mood begins to reign in the room, the atmosphere is conducive to rest and relaxation.

The most convenient and practical is LED lighting, made using:

— LED strips . Serve for decorative lighting of steam rooms and saunas, protection degree IP 65 and higher. These are waterproof tapes that ensure uninterrupted operation in rooms with elevated temperatures and high humidity, operating temperature range from -40 to +80 C.

— LED tubes . Used as additional lighting, backlight. They provide soft light, creating a feeling of exclusivity in the interior of a sauna or Russian steam room. Easily installed behind backrests, under shelves and can be cut to length. Connected to a transformer, has different lengths and power.

— Built-in fiber optic spotlights . The most suitable option for illuminating sauna objects and accessories. It does not require replacement of lamps (the service life of the LED in the projector is 50,000 hours). The fiber can withstand temperatures up to 180 °C. You can vary the brightness of the lighting by the number of points used per meter. There is only one drawback - the relatively high cost.

- LED lights . An effective and safe solution for lighting saunas and baths. Since the lighting of a sauna or bathhouse is carried out continuously, one of the main factors when choosing lighting devices is their low energy consumption; — reliability. They are usually used as shelf lighting, additional side lighting for a sauna (steam room), swimming pool or jacuzzi.

The lighting can even be done in different colors, in which case you get real color therapy for the sauna, the beneficial effects of which on the body have long been known. A similar effect is usually used in spas and other health establishments. The strength and color temperature of the backlight can be changed. Using artificial effects, you can emulate natural effects, for example: flames, northern lights, twinkling stars. Good lighting helps relax the nervous system. But this will be discussed in detail below.

Glowing ceilings, shelves and walls make a good impression . Increasingly, you can find lighting under the sun loungers of the steam room. To ensure that the light is evenly distributed along the shelves, LED strips are used for lighting. But there is a “BUT” here. In most semiconductor devices, at a temperature of 90 degrees, a so-called electrical breakdown occurs, which leads to failure of the lighting. That is why 10-watt LED floodlights are equipped with massive cooling radiators. In this regard, it is necessary to use special diodes with low power dissipation. Some craftsmen, in order to reduce the effect of moisture on devices, hide a strip of diodes in glass tubes and seal the ends of the tube. Although there are diode strips on sale for lighting of the following classes: • class IP 68 - can remain in water for a long time • class IP 67 - can be immersed in water for a short time

Fiber optic lighting for steam rooms in baths and saunas is the tip of the design iceberg. This type of lighting and illumination of the steam room is most likely an addition to the main one, it is very expensive and does not go well with a Russian bathhouse made of a log house or rounded log, which requires some brutality. And, here, primus stoves with electronic filling and antique style would greatly complement the interior of any bathhouse.

Himalayan salt lighting in the sauna

Recently, Himalayan salt has ceased to be exotic, and we increasingly see it in the interiors of steam rooms . Some people want to not only place a panel of Himalayan salt in the steam room, but also illuminate it. Given the available sauna lighting options, this is not a problem. Let's tell you in more detail about the different lighting options that we tested in practice.

In order to make a backlit panel in a steam room , you need to leave a gap of 3-6 cm between the bricks (tiles) and the wall in which the light sources will be located. This gap is necessary, firstly, in order to somehow position the light sources behind the salt , and secondly, so that there is the necessary space for the spread of reflected light . Why exactly reflected? The fact is that if you simply place a powerful light source, it will shine brightly only in one place, that is, it will be point-like. We need to create as uniform illumination as possible. This is achieved only through reflection and re-reflection. The light will be reflected from the foil or film located behind the light sources; be reflected - from the inner surface of the salt itself.

How brightly the panel will glow depends on: • the power of the light sources; • the effectiveness of their reflection; • the thickness of the panel itself.

Everything is clear with the first two points, but what about the thickness? Depending on whether you choose tile or brick, your design will be different. You can choose a lighting option based on the criterion of replacing light sources: either the element itself is located directly behind the salt, or it is located in another place. Sources that are behind the salt - LED strips (tubes), incandescent lamps; outside the panel there is a projector with an LED that illuminates the panel through an optical fiber. Accordingly, to replace the LED strip, you will need access to its installation site. There are two access options: behind the wall or in front, i.e. dismantling the wall. In the case of fiber optics, the projector must be replaced, which may be located outside the steam room, or under shelves (with a service life of 50,000 hours, this is unlikely to be necessary).

Sauna lighting set – Starry sky, Flame, Northern lights, Colored carousel, Colored twinkle.

The soft flickering light and effect of the starry sky, flames, northern lights, twinkling stars, colored carousel, which give fiber optic lighting in the sauna, can convey an elusive illusion and atmosphere of presence. With the help of such kits, you can decorate a sauna or steam room and create a unique and colorful interior.

The modern market today is replete with a variety of choices for sauna lighting complexes. Here are the most popular ones: the “Starry Sky” kit, the “Flame” kit, the “Northern Lights” kit, the “Colored Carousel” kit, the “Colorful Flicker” kit and other kits for lighting and illumination. The operating principle of the sauna lighting kit is based on fiber optic technology. The lighting kit consists of a projector and flexible optical fibers, and can also be equipped with lens attachments and a color disk. Optical fiber effectively transmits light in any residential or non-residential premises.

For a sauna, Turkish bath, swimming pool and other places with high humidity, fiber optic cable is convenient because it can be easily placed anywhere, since it conducts neither electricity nor heat, but only light. Installation of optical fiber does not require protective pipes or special skills. Installation is accessible to anyone with basic knowledge of electricity. Light through the fibers can be brought to any point in the sauna without restrictions: to the walls, to the foot, to the heater above and below, which allows not only to well illuminate the steam room, but also to make it unusual and attractive in design.

Fiber optic cable can withstand high temperatures, so, unlike other lighting devices, it can be placed directly on the ceiling of a Turkish bath or sauna. This will create a comfortable picture of overhead diffused lighting.

The light source for the fiber optic kit projector is one long-life projector (halogen) lamp that concentrates light into the fibers. This light source emits the same luminous flux as several incandescent light bulbs, and consumes 50 W when lighting a medium-sized sauna, and 75 W when lighting a large sauna.

According to the instructions, the fiber optic projector (the only electrical device in this lighting system) is installed in an adjacent dry room. The projector installation location should be ventilated and easily accessible for lamp replacement (the device itself is usually not equipped with a fan and operates silently).

Pros of using a fiber optic lighting system

1. Operational safety
2. Easy to install and install
3. Wide range of design possibilities even with a single light source
4. Economical
5. Absence of various side radiations
6. Ease of maintenance

Considering that safety and high-quality light balance in a bathhouse or sauna plays an important role in creating a relaxing atmosphere, fiber optic lighting may be the best choice for such a room.

At the moment, standard fiber optic kits are available on the market, consisting of various projectors and different numbers of optical fibers. These lighting and lighting kits are designed for use in saunas of various sizes. It is also possible to purchase not only the entire set, but also individual elements to assemble them into an individual system. In addition, any fiber optic lighting system can easily be converted into a popular and in-demand color therapy device today, thanks to the color disk.

Advantages and disadvantages

LED lamps in the bathhouse have undeniable advantages:

1. Moisture resistant. LED strips are not afraid of water, which is abundant in bathhouses. They can serve for a long time in humid air conditions, maintaining performance characteristics.

Attention! LED strips with waterproof properties are marked IP67, IP68 (solid insulation) and IP65 (protective layer on one side).

1. Long working life.
2. Energy saving. Allows you to save 90% of electricity due to low power.
3. Safety. Works on low voltage 12 volts, not harmful to humans.
4. Bright luminous flux at low power of the device.
5. The use of single-color and multi-color LEDs allows you to create a beautiful composition.
6. The flexibility of the tape and ease of installation allow you to implement many creative ideas to improve the appearance of the premises.
7. Can work in thick water (in a swimming pool).

Disadvantages include the effect of high temperature on the duration of the tape. In the steam room, the air temperature reaches 120 degrees, and this can lead to premature destruction of the lighting equipment.

The LEDs on which ice products are created are designed for use at temperatures from -30 to +40 degrees Celsius. In hot rooms it is better to use fiber optics. There are LED lamps of heat-resistant models, coated with two-component silicone. This material reliably protects diodes from the negative effects of high temperatures, so heat-resistant LED strips are well suited for lighting steam rooms.

Alternative LED lighting option

Lamps with LED lamps in 99% of cases are not intended for saunas . 1% are specialized lamps or individual solutions from professionals.

There are special solutions that will help adapt them to work at elevated temperatures. For example, heat-resistant LED strip for a bath. It is covered with a thick layer of protective silicone coating that is resistant to high temperatures.

Its appearance resembles a duralight cord. And the design will allow you to realize the desired LED lighting for the bath. Working with it is similar to working with regular tape.

Like regular LED strips for steam rooms, they come in a variety of colors. Its advantage is the high luminous flux values.

LED lighting in the bath

In general, such an LED strip in a steam room works the same as a regular one at room temperature. Be careful when purchasing, the copy in the first picture has a supply voltage of 24 volts. Make sure you have an appropriate power supply.

Remember! When lighting a steam room, LEDs operate in extreme temperature conditions, and in some cases even beyond the limits. You should not hope that they will develop the required resource of 30,000 - 50,000 hours.

However, high-quality branded lamps and strips can work comfortably in this range. It is better to purchase specialized heat-resistant products. To make a choice without errors, use catalogs from manufacturers.

In general, LED sauna lighting makes sense if you power it from a reduced voltage power supply. All power supplies for LED strips are galvanically isolated and are safer than 220V LED strips and lamps.

Remember about LED problems with high temperatures. If you do not want to regularly maintain, repair and replace LED installations, it is better to consider alternative lighting sources. Finnish engineers are actively promoting the method of bathhouse lighting using fiber optics. This is a radically different way of lighting.

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Installation Rules

Although ice strips are powered from low voltage, the wiring must be of high quality and protected from moisture and high temperatures. For installation, heat-resistant cables RKGM or protective metal casings are used.

Power supplies and switches should be located in rest rooms (where there is low humidity and normal temperature), and not in steam rooms and showers (washing rooms), to minimize the risk of electric shock. You can connect a standard length LED strip of 5 meters to one block. It is sold in a reel. It is not worth extending it, this may lead to loss of performance, but you can connect several pieces in parallel without loss of efficiency according to the circuit.

To connect a color LED strip, you will need an RGB controller that performs the function of switching colors.

Electricity input is best done through an RCD (residual current device). It will protect against current leakage. That is, if a violation of the network insulation occurs and the current begins to flow to the ground, there will be a threat of electric shock. The RCD will open the power circuit, thereby eliminating the danger.

After the RCD, a power supply is connected, which converts the voltage of 220 V 50 Hz into constant 12 V. The power of the converter must be higher than the total power of the ice strips. Typically, 10 A is sufficient for 5 meters. A plug is installed at the end of the tape using heat-resistant sealant. The connecting connectors are also secured and insulated with heat-resistant sealant.

Design and characteristics of LEDs

Before moving on to the practice of using them in baths and saunas, let's find out what we are dealing with.

An LED is a semiconductor element in which passing current causes the material to glow.

IMPORTANT! The main characteristic of current for semiconductors is current, not voltage. This means that fluctuations in this value are most significant for the operation of such elements. Like any diode, it passes current in the forward direction and blocks it in the reverse direction

Important characteristics of the LED are:

Like any diode, it passes current in the forward direction and blocks it in the reverse direction. Important characteristics of the LED are:

• direct current, that is, the amount of current that provides the nameplate luminosity;
• maximum forward current - peaks that last a very short time and do not lead to diode failure;
• maximum reverse voltage - the value, when applied, the LED will also not fail;
• maximum dissipation power - the amount of heat that the case dissipates without collapsing.
• Volt-ampere characteristic - a graph of the relationship between voltage and current, helps in selecting resistance.

These and other characteristics can be found in the datasheet (technical description). It’s worth dealing with them if you want to avoid burning out the diodes by correctly selecting the characteristics of a step-down transformer or power supply (driver) for them. But if you do not assemble the device yourself, but use purchased lamps or strips, then there should be no problems.

However, you should also distinguish between current and voltage sources - the former, when connecting a consumer, keep the current strength stable, varying the voltage drop, and the latter maintain a certain voltage, varying the current strength.

ATTENTION! LEDs require a constant current source with stable characteristics, because exceeding the current by even 20% will significantly shorten the life of the diodes.

On sale you can find linear and switching power supplies. Linear ones are suitable for the least powerful LEDs or strips of them. It is better to give preference to a pulse driver that has galvanic isolation.

ADVICE! It's better not to buy cheap Chinese drivers. Their low cost will not pay for the rapid failure of the LEDs they power. After all, for long-term operation, you need protection from fluctuations in the network, protection from overheating, protection from radio interference and output pulsations, and a cheap driver cannot provide all this.

What lamps can be used

When choosing lamps, first of all you need to pay attention to the dust and moisture protection class. The higher the class, the better. The ideal option is IP68. It is necessary to choose lamps whose housing construction does not use plastic or other materials that cannot withstand high temperatures. The best case is made of iron, ceramics and glass. Such materials withstand heat well and are suitable for baths. Lamps must be protected from moisture by sealing gaskets on threaded connections. Wall lamps with an E27 base from Lindner are suitable; they are very popular and are used in saunas.

Built-in spotlights in the floor and benches are allowed. To add mystery to the atmosphere, you can cover the light bulb with a platband or hide the lighting fixture under a wooden lampshade. You can install an ice lamp of a suitable base in any of the lamps described above.

Choosing the correct location of the tape in the sauna

The location where the heat-resistant LED strip is attached in the sauna is determined by the safety of visitors and fire safety measures. Therefore, when installing the wire, you need to consider:

• Wire cross-section, which is purchased with a reserve, taking into account the specifics of the establishment.
• Avoid soldering areas that could cause a fire.

During installation, in addition to the strip, you will need:

• Adapter (installed every 5 meters of strip).
• Controller (if it is necessary to switch colors).
• A plug that is installed at the end of the ice tape with heat-resistant sealant.
• The connector is connecting (fastening is made with heat-resistant sealant).

Where is the best place to place lighting fixtures?

Each room has its own specific placement of lamps:

1. In the steam room. The main rule is not to place it in places of greatest heat, namely near the stove and chimney, on the ceiling, high on the wall. It is preferable to install at lower levels so as not to disturb or come into contact with people. Under the sunbeds, along the shelves, behind the decorative trims, in the corners, on the floor. Mount the switch and power supply in a rest room or other room with normal humidity and temperature.
2. In the washing room. The lighting should be brighter than in the steam room. The lamps are located away from the flow of water. It is advisable to select waterproof models, as contact with water is possible. Fully insulated lighting fixtures should be used in showers and pool areas. It is allowed to use spot lighting for zonal division of space.

3. In the rest room. The placement is arbitrary and depends entirely on the designer’s imagination. It is allowed to hang chandeliers and mount lamps on the walls. All power supplies, switches and sockets are located here.

Do-it-yourself electric lighting installation

To ensure that arranging lighting in the steam room does not turn out to be an impossible task for you, we suggest you study the step-by-step instructions.

Preparation

Stages of preparatory work: Draw up a diagram. Indicate all wiring lines, as well as the locations of sockets, switches, the presence of a boiler, heated floors and a transformer. Grounding is taken into account. An automatic machine and an RCD are installed on each branch; Calculate the amount of necessary materials and components. Determine which cable and how much will be needed

In this case, the power of the lighting equipment is taken into account. Don't forget about distribution boxes and cable ducts; Buy everything you need

It is better to purchase wires and elements measured by footage in excess. It is not recommended to save on purchases - you should choose quality products.

Installation procedure

Install the tape in the following order:

1. Calculate the total power of the structure.
2. Install a power supply with a power reserve of 15-20% outside the steam room and wash room (in the rest room or dressing room). They also put a switch there.
3. Connect the tape to the controller according to the designations B, G, R, V+.
4. Clean, degrease and insulate the surfaces for installing the tape.
5. Remove the protective film and fix the ice tape on the surface. If you need to shorten it, cut it off in the marked places with stationery scissors.
6. Connect to the power supply, being sure to observe the polarity.

It is clear that installing light in a bathhouse is not difficult. Spend a little time choosing equipment, installation and enjoy the result of your labors for a long time.

Lighting for flowers and fish

All plants and animals need sunlight. But at home they do not receive it in sufficient quantities, even near a window in the summer, not to mention in the winter season. And the aquarium and plants standing far from the windows do not receive sunlight at all. To maintain the health of indoor plants and aquarium fish, you have to use artificial lighting.

The LED strip for an aquarium must be waterproof, so you need to choose one that is protected with a silicone coating. Some fish like to jump out of the water, splashing it around. Without protection, LED lighting will burn out instantly.

To arrange lighting in the aquarium, stick the tape around the perimeter of the lid from the inside or in several rows. It is desirable that the radiation be as close to sunlight as possible. Such illumination of the aquarium with an LED strip can become a light source for algae.

Illumination of plants with LED strip is very popular, especially in winter. Diode lighting does not heat surrounding objects at all and is closer in properties to sunlight, unlike incandescent lamps. Photosynthesis in plants will take longer, which means they will receive more nutrients. And the better they eat, the faster they grow, acquiring a beautiful shape.

Lighting requirements in the steam room

Lighting fixtures in the steam room must be moisture-resistant, heat-resistant, sealed and safe.
Safety and uninterrupted lighting of the bathhouse are the most important points when using steam rooms. Excessive air humidity requires you to install the wiring in a different way and use certain lighting fixtures. The following must be taken into account:

• for lighting in the sauna and bathhouse, buy devices (lamps, switches) with protection markings higher than IP44;
• the method of laying the wiring is strictly linear (straight), for turns angles of 90° are built;
• the cable should be located at a distance from the ceiling, floor, other communications - at least 15 cm;

  
  For the steam room, you can use multi-wire heat-resistant wires

• for sockets - 50 cm from the floor level, connection from below;
• for switches - 1.5 meters from the bottom of the steam room;
• The cable connection is first twisted, then strengthened by welding (soldering);
• if you need to use terminals, it is important to constantly check the strength of the contact and tighten the devices;
• Wiring can be installed if the walls are built from non-combustible materials or those that have undergone special treatment.

The main thing when installing lighting in a steam room with your own hands is to ensure that wires and devices are protected from excessive humidity. You need to do the electrical work immediately after installing the frame (beam) of the bathhouse, then you will be able to hide the cable under the casing and take into account fire protection treatment.

Safety precautions

The most important factor when choosing lamps for a bath or sauna.

• The temperature inside the sauna is 60-900, and under the ceiling it rises to 1200 C. Therefore, all elements of the lighting system must be heat-resistant. Even if the wires are laid inside the walls, they must still be protected from high temperatures. These are cables of the brands PKGM, PRKS. Wires with silicone insulation can withstand heating up to 1700. Lamps are chosen from durable, non-flammable materials: ceramic or metal body, heat-resistant glass shades. Heat- and impact-resistant plastic is also suitable.
• There must be sealed gaskets between the body and the lampshade. Experts recommend choosing silicone ones. They are more durable and reliable than rubber ones.
• High humidity is another source of danger. All lamps must have a high moisture protection index. The IP degree of dust and moisture protection of products is indicated in the operating instructions or in the description of the electrical device. The first number in the index is protection from solid large and small particles, the second – from moisture. Thus, the number 0 indicates a lack of resistance to moisture. From 1 to 3 – standard protection against drops falling from above or at a slight angle. A lamp with a value of 5 means that the device is not afraid of random jets of water from any direction. Numbers from 6 to 8 indicate that the product can be immersed in water without consequences. And 9 is protection against hot jets striking the body with force. For baths and saunas, experts recommend products of at least class 44, and better - with IP65.
• Additionally, the lampshade is protected with a metal mesh or wooden grille from accidental impacts, mechanical influences, and shocks. Even if the lampshade is accidentally damaged, the protection will not allow injury from fragments.
• It is prohibited to install luminaires with exposed lamps.

All wire connections are carefully insulated. Metal elements are made of stainless steel or alloys with anti-corrosion coating.

LED lamps: pros and cons

LED lighting is gaining increasing popularity today. And this is obvious because:

1. LED lighting is currently the most energy efficient lighting;
2. LEDs do not contain harmful substances, like fluorescent lamps, so their disposal is simplified;
3. LED lamps work much longer than incandescent lamps and energy-saving lamps, about 11 years of continuous operation. This applies only to high-quality LEDs. Low-quality and cheap LED lamps will work for no more than two months and will burn out;
4. Ability to adjust lighting intensity and change LED color;
5. Due to the fact that the LED has no breakable parts, it is resistant to vibrations and shocks;
6. The brightness of the LED depends on the current, and not on the voltage, like with conventional incandescent lamps, so when the voltage in the apartment changes, the LED will not blink like an incandescent lamp blinks.
7. The LED does not emit infrared and ultraviolet rays. And, as you know, ultraviolet rays contribute to the fading of furniture upholstery and paint.

LED lamps have only one drawback - their high cost, compared to the cost of incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps. The cost of high-quality LED lamps with a power of 3-4 W starts from 300-400 rubles; anything cheaper is a low-quality lamp. Some examples of powerful LED lamps reach 4000-5000 rubles.