How to install a spotlight in a suspended ceiling. How to properly install lamps in a suspended ceiling How to install lamps in a suspended ceiling

When I decided to renovate the hallway, one of the first questions that arose was the question of choosing the type of ceiling finish and which ceiling lights to install. Having many years of experience in using PVC stretch ceilings in the bathroom and living room, it didn’t take long to choose the type of ceiling. I decided to install a PVC suspended ceiling due to its many advantages compared to other types of ceiling finishing.

The ceiling lights took some thought. On the one hand, I wanted to install modern LED spotlights, and on the other hand, in the hallway there was a homemade set of chandeliers and sconces, made with my own hands. I liked them, and I didn’t want to part with either the chandelier or the sconce.

Ultimately, a compromise solution was found: the chandelier and sconce at the entrance to the hallway should be left hanging in their original places, and in the hallway corridor, where a single-lamp lamp hung on the wall, spotlights built into the suspended ceiling should be installed.

Before installing a suspended ceiling, it is necessary to lay electrical wiring, and in order to lay the wires, it is necessary to develop an electrical circuit based on the type and number of lamps, the type of light bulbs and their power.

Selecting the type of light bulb for a recessed ceiling light

Before purchasing a lamp built into a suspended ceiling, you need to select the type of light bulbs and determine the required number of them to ensure sufficient illumination of the room. Currently, four types of lamps are used for installation in recessed ceiling lamps: incandescent, halogen, compact (they are also called energy-saving or fluorescent lamps) and LED. Each type of light bulb has its own advantages and disadvantages; in addition, it affects the minimum distance between the installation horizon of a suspended ceiling and a fixed one, which is a determining factor in rooms with low ceilings.

Using the table below, you can easily make the optimal choice of the type of light bulbs for a suspended ceiling, based on your requirements and boundary conditions.

Table for selecting the type of light bulbs for recessed ceiling luminaires
Technical specifications	Lamp type
	Incandescent	Halogen	Energy saving	LED
Minimum distance between 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

Technical parameters marked * may differ up or down depending on the design of the lamp and light bulb, the power of the light bulb, the manufacturer, and the type of suspended ceiling. For example, PVC stretch ceilings are afraid of heating above 60°C, and this limits the permissible power of light bulbs in recessed luminaires.

It should be noted that halogen lamps, designed for a supply voltage of 12 V and 220 V, are very sensitive to excess supply voltage and often burn out as a result. For 12 V halogen lamps, a step-down transformer or power supply (adapter) is required, for which you must remember, in case of installing a suspended ceiling without access to the interceiling space, to provide a special place on the wall.

You can obtain more detailed information about incandescent and halogen lamps, energy-saving lamps, and LED lamps by visiting the website pages specifically dedicated to them.

Calculation of power and number of lamps

The power of the lamps depends on the size of the room (area, height and shape), the color of the walls and furniture, the purpose of the room and the preferences of the owner. Some people like bright light, while others prefer warm, diffused light of low brightness.

It is almost impossible to accurately calculate the power and number of luminaires, taking into account all factors. For an estimated calculation, you can use the illumination data presented in the table, thanks to which, taking into account the luminous flux depending on the type of light bulb, you can determine how many and what power lamps need to be installed in the room, depending on its 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

Let's look at an example of a calculation that I did for the hallway corridor. It was planned to install LED ceiling spotlights. The shape of the corridor is the letter T with areas of 2.8 m2 and 4.5 m2. The total area of ​​the corridor was 7.3 m2. Let's calculate the required power of the lamps 7.3 × 2 = 15.6 W. Since the ceiling height was 2.75 m and the walls were planned to be painted in creme brulee color, taking into account the complex shape of the corridor, the optimal solution would be to install four ceiling spotlights with LED lamps installed in them with a small reserve, with a power of 5.5 W, supply voltage 220 V with pin socket GU5.3. The pin plinth for suspended ceilings is good because it has small dimensions, which is important when the inter-ceiling space is small in height.

Before the renovation, there were paintings by artists on the walls in the corridor, which were planned to be left in their original places after the renovation was completed. Therefore, for undistorted color rendition, white light LED lamps with a color temperature of 4000 K were chosen. If you need warm light, then you should choose a lamp with a color temperature of 2700 K.

It should be noted that it is not always advisable to use recessed ceiling lamps in rooms as the only source of lighting. A much better result can be obtained by using additional wall lamps or table lamps in the work or relaxation area. In this case, the power of the lamps in the ceiling lamps can be reduced.

If you have local lighting lamps, it is quite possible to completely abandon the lamps built into the suspended ceiling, replacing them with LED strip ceiling lighting. So, when solving the issue of lighting the premises of an apartment, there is room for creative imagination to unfold.

Selecting a wire for wiring spotlights

To lay the power supply wiring for four selected lamps with a total power of 22 W, any double-insulated electrical wire designed for wiring is suitable. A copper stranded double connecting wire, for example type PVA 2×0.75, is best suited. You don’t have to think about the cross-section of the wire cores, since the maximum current will not exceed 0.1 A.

When using 12 V halogen lamps in ceiling lamps, the wire cross-section must be calculated. One such 60 W light bulb consumes a current of 5 A. And if ten light bulbs are needed for lighting, then the current consumption will be 50 A.

Selection and installation of a recessed ceiling spotlight

The range of recessed ceiling lamps in any lighting store is huge, but they are all designed the same and differ only in the type of body finishing and additional decorations. Some models of recessed luminaires provide the ability to change the direction of the light flux within small limits.

Since I needed to illuminate the corridor, the choice fell on the simplest type of recessed lamp, which also included a base socket.

Any recessed ceiling lamp consists of a body, which is a shaped profile ring with areas for attaching two springs with ears. Depending on the type and power of the light bulbs, the lamp housings come in different diameters and may not have them, like the lamp in the photo above, or they may have an electric socket installed, usually E14.

A special place is occupied by LED ceiling spotlights, in which the LEDs are installed directly in the housing on a printed circuit board.

The light bulb in such a lamp cannot be replaced, and if it fails, you will have to replace the entire lamp or look for replacement LEDs. Such lamps are expensive.

For lamps without sockets, a spring in the form of a cut ring is used to secure the light bulb in the body.

The light bulb is inserted into the lamp body and is fixed due to the fact that the spring ring, unclenching, fits into a specially made groove in the body. This lamp is suitable for installing both halogen and LED bulbs. When replacing halogen bulbs with LED bulbs or vice versa, you must remember to check what supply voltage they are designed for.

To secure a ceiling spotlight in a suspended ceiling, regardless of its type, a hole is cut in a given location on the ceiling, slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the flange of the lamp body.

The ears of the springs are brought together by hand to such an extent that they pass into the hole in the ceiling. The ears are inserted into the ceiling hole and released. Leaning on the inner surface of the suspended ceiling, the lugs are pulled in until the flange stops against the lower surface of the suspended ceiling and thus fix the luminaire.

Such a simple design for mounting a ceiling lamp allows you to hide the elements of its fastening and easily remove the lamp if necessary. Simply grab the base of the lamp and pull it down.

After installing the lamp body on the suspended ceiling, a wire is threaded through it and connected to the socket using a terminal block. The socket is placed on the base of the light bulb, the light bulb is inserted into the lamp body and secured with an expansion spring.

Electrical wiring diagram
for spotlights

Before installing a suspended ceiling, after choosing the type of light bulbs, calculating their power, the number of lamps and their installation points, an electrical wiring diagram is developed. When developing an electrical circuit, it is necessary to take into account the points and methods of connecting the wires to each other and to the lamps.

Since wires were already coming out of the wall, to which the wall lamp had previously been connected, it was decided to connect the ceiling lamps to these wires. It was planned to install a suspended stretch ceiling made of PVC, and the wires came out above the level of the stretch ceiling, and, therefore, there would be no access to the connection points of the wires after installing the ceiling. Therefore, it was decided to make all wire connections in the most reliable way, twisting followed by soldering with tin-lead solder. The soldering points were marked on the electrical diagram.

When choosing a place to install lamps and chandeliers in rooms where there is a TV or computer, you must not forget that the angle of incidence of the light beam is equal to the angle of reflection. Taking into account this rule, lamps must be installed in places that exclude their reflection on the monitor screen, therefore, to select installation points for lamps, it is necessary to think about how the furniture will be arranged, in what place the TV or computer monitor will be installed.

When choosing light bulbs for a supply voltage of 220 V, installation of additional devices is not required. In the case of using light bulbs with a supply voltage of 12 V, it is necessary to provide a place for installing transformers or adapters, taking into account their overall dimensions and possible access to them for maintenance or repair.

Attention! Before connecting spotlights, to avoid electric shock, it is necessary to de-energize the electrical wiring. To do this, turn off the corresponding circuit breaker in the distribution panel and check the reliability of the shutdown using the phase indicator.

Electrical wiring installation
for connecting spotlights

After purchasing lamps, determining their installation locations, purchasing materials and equipment, you can begin installing electrical wiring.

Installation of electrical wiring for connecting lamps can be carried out at any stage of the renovation of the room, right up to the installation of suspended ceilings. But when repairing the walls in the corridor, it turned out that the light from the existing lamp was not enough. Therefore, the installation of electrical wiring had to be done first, and temporary sockets with energy-saving light bulbs were connected to the electrical wiring for lighting.

Before installing the wires, it is necessary to mark on the ceiling the installation locations of the lamps (circled in the photo) and the points where the wires are attached. To avoid sagging, the wires, depending on their rigidity, are fixed in increments of 40-50 cm.

To secure wires to the ceiling and walls, there are special dowel clamps (pictured on the left) and nail brackets (pictured on the right) of different sizes. To secure the wire with a dowel clamp on the wall, you need to drill a hole, put the dowel clamp on the wire and hammer the dowel into the hole. To secure a wire with a nail clip, you need to press the wire against the wall with it and hammer in the nail. Suitable for installation of wires and cables on wood, plastic, plaster.

Nail clips driven into a concrete plastered ceiling may fall out and remain on the PVC sheet. Therefore, this type of fastening was discarded. It turned out that I didn’t have dowel clamps at hand, so I used a simple and reliable method of securing the wires to the wall, using a clamp made from a vinyl chloride tube. A hole is drilled in the ceiling, a dowel is driven into it, and a self-tapping screw is screwed into the dowel through the hole made in the clamp. Since the weight of the wire is negligible, any self-tapping screw and dowel of the smallest standard size will do.

Making a wiring harness
ceiling spotlights

Since the electrical wiring for ceiling lamps after installing a stretch ceiling will be inaccessible for maintenance and repair, all wire connections in the inter-ceiling space must be made extremely reliably. Connections are usually made using terminal blocks, such as Wago. But the most reliable type of connecting wires is soldering, and this is the method I used.

To minimize the amount of work at heights near the ceiling, a harness was made in advance, which will only need to be fixed to the ceiling and connected to household electrical wiring.

To determine the length of the harness wires and soldering points, using previously made markings on the ceiling, the distances between the wires for connection and the installation locations of the lamps were measured. The measurement results were immediately applied to the electrical circuit, which was also an electrical circuit.

The harness was made of stranded copper wire with double insulation (the core is entwined with silk thread and covered with polyvinyl chloride). For convenience, the wires were twisted together into a pigtail.

After removing the insulation from the wires, they were tinned with solder. In the second section of the corridor, the wires had to branch out. Therefore, the wires were twisted in pairs and soldered with solder. Please note that to increase the reliability of the insulation, the connection points of the wires were made offset relative to each other.

Before connection, insulating tubes were put on the wires, which, after soldering was completed, were moved to the connection points. To prevent displacement of the insulating tubes, they were fixed on both sides with cambrics tightly fitting on the wires. Together with the displacement of the connection points, this insulation method guaranteed the reliability of the electrical wiring. Insulating the wires could also be done using ordinary insulating tape. To avoid confusion, the cambrics were marked.

When bending the cross beam, a small section of the wire harness passed below the level of the suspended ceiling. This section of electrical wiring ran under the plaster. To ensure reliable insulation, it was additionally covered with a polyvinyl chloride tube.

After the harness was secured to the ceiling, it was time to connect it to the apartment electrical wiring. To do this, the length of the conductors of the double wire coming out of the wall was trimmed with a shift. Since the wire was old, its insulation became rough and, in order not to damage the wires, it was removed thermally using a soldering iron. The cores were stripped and tinned with solder, and insulating tubes were put on them.

All that remains is to wind the ends of the bundle onto the cores of the network wire, solder it with solder and put on the insulating tubes. Thanks to the technology of shifting the wire connections, tubes are needed practically for human safety and aesthetics. Electrical wires cannot accidentally connect to each other.

The connection point is suspended from the ceiling using a clamp with a self-tapping screw. The electrical wiring for the spotlights has been completed.

Temporary electric sockets in places where spotlights will be installed are connected using terminal blocks, the light bulbs are screwed in and the repair can continue.

LED Ceiling Light Installation
on a PVC stretch ceiling

The technology for installing ceiling lights, including LED ones, on any suspended ceiling of a rigid structure, such as plasterboard, slatted ceiling or Armstrong, is described above. When installing a spotlight on a suspended ceiling made of PVC or other plastic material, it is necessary to install additional fasteners, otherwise the ceiling will sag under the weight of the fixtures.

For these purposes, special fittings are produced. The photo shows a universal platform (ramp) for mounting spotlights. The platform has the shape of a cone, the surface of which consists of steps.

To adjust the diameter of the platform mounting hole to a specific type of ceiling lamp, use a sharp knife to cut off the excess steps from the cone.

The platform is attached to the main ceiling using perforated steel tape. A piece of tape of the required length is unrolled from the roll and cut with metal scissors.

There are two platforms with holes on the platform for fastening the tape with self-tapping screws. If you don’t have a short-length self-tapping screw, you can tighten a long one. The protruding part must be removed with side cutters.

The fittings for spotlights are screwed to the ceiling with self-tapping screws, LED bulbs are connected for testing. Everything works, you need to remove the light bulbs and you can start installing the stretch ceiling.

After the suspended ceiling is installed, the installation of lamps begins. To ensure that the PVC film does not tear and does not heat up too much, before making a hole in it for the lamp, a special plastic thermal insulating ring is glued to the place of its installation with special glue.

The film is cut out along the inner circumference of the ring with a sharp knife, the cartridge is removed and the platform is centered. The perforated tape is easily deformed, and the ceiling bends, so you can easily adjust the height and location of the platform in the horizontal plane.

Installing a ceiling light on a platform will ensure its reliable operation and will prevent the stretch ceiling from sagging and being damaged due to excessive heating when using halogen light bulbs.

In the photo you see the final result of the work on installing spotlights in a suspended ceiling.

The importance of lighting a space cannot be underestimated. The right light can hide imperfections and highlight the advantages of a room. And, conversely, in poor light, not only does the beautiful interior look unattractive, but the appearance of the residents of the house is distorted towards an unhealthy appearance. An example of such an influence would be fitting rooms in clothing stores with different lighting.

In addition to the aesthetic and visual components, the quality of light in rooms affects psychological and physical health criteria.

Rooms in the house are intended for some functions and fulfill their roles. Based on these roles, lighting standards were developed for each functional meter of the room. Depending on international recommendations, the size of the room, and the power of the lamps, you can determine which lamps to install in the house so that the lighting is beneficial. The type of ceiling covering also influences the choice of lamps. A suspended ceiling, for example, has its own operational features, which somewhat limit owners when choosing lighting equipment.

Restrictions apply:

1. Light bulb power (40 watt lamp does not damage PVC film);
2. Shapes of lighting equipment (from round to square shapes, but taking into account the fastening, which should not damage the tension base);
3. Inability to repair electrical wiring or install additional lighting if the ceilings are equipped with a tension system.

For ceiling structures, spotlights are most suitable, but there are other options to choose from.

For suspended ceilings it is possible to use:

• LED lamps;
• Halogen;
• Incandescent light bulbs;
• Luminescent;
• Spot.

LEDs are the most expensive, but at the same time they have maximum energy-saving efficiency and a long service life. Installing halogen lighting allows you to create directional bright light at low power.

The advantages of fluorescent lamps are good light output, low cost and the ability to not heat up.

Types of lamps:

1. Ceiling lamps;
2. Spot;
3. Hanging.

Several alternatives for installing a lamp on a suspended ceiling.

Before attaching a polyvinyl chloride or fabric sheet to the ceiling, you must determine the markings of the lighting equipment.

Mounting lighting equipment is possible in two ways:

• Invoice way;
• Built into the ceiling itself.

The overhead method allows you to install lamps on the surface of a stretch film, and you can hang any type of lamp. With the built-in method, lighting fixtures have to be attached directly to the ceiling.

The built-in mounting method is more popular because:

1. Has a number of visual advantages;
2. Creates a seal for lighting equipment.

Attaching lamps to a suspended ceiling

Information is needed about the dimensions, mounting features and operating intricacies of the lamp that was chosen for installation on a suspended ceiling.

It is possible to install lighting equipment thanks to:

• Hook;
• Special strip;
• Cross-shaped plates.

Builders themselves install the mounting hook and supply electricity in houses with reinforced concrete slabs. If the original location of the hook does not coincide with the plans for lighting the room, you can insert it in the right place with your own hands. To do this, a hole is drilled in the ceiling slab using a hammer drill and a hook is installed using a dowel or a special anchor.

You can install the hook using a wooden bookmark, which is attached to the ceiling, and the hook itself is attached to the bookmark.

The height of the hook, as well as the distance from the ceiling to the tension structure, must be known in advance in order to correctly adjust the electrical wiring. On the finished stretch fabric, a place fixed with a thermal ring is cut out where the hook ends, from which the pendant lamp is hung.

Lamps that are equipped with a special mounting plate (a metal profile with studs) can also be used in suspended ceiling systems. In this case, a beam is installed on the ceiling, the height of which will ultimately be less than the distance from the ceiling to the tension film by a couple of millimeters. A plate is attached to the beam, and the lamp itself, after tensioning the tension structure, is the same as in the case of a hook.

The installation of a cross-shaped plate is carried out according to the same scheme as a metal strip. With the difference that the PVC film has 5 holes with a heat-fixing agent (four of them for attaching the plate, the fifth for the chandelier itself).

Easy installation of spotlights in a suspended ceiling

Thanks to the design of spotlights, damage to the film of the tension system from temperature effects is eliminated. Pendants, which are components of lamps, help to easily install this type of lighting at home. The abundance of available instructional videos allows you to familiarize yourself with the stages of fastening.

The kit for installing spot light consists of:

1. Stand legs;
2. Stands of the lamp itself;
3. Tread ring;
4. Thermal insulating ring;
5. Directly from the lamp.

Basic steps for installing spot lighting:

• The ceiling covering is being prepared. For this purpose, the necessary electrical communications are carried out. At this time, the future frame for the tension system can be installed.
• The ceiling is marked for future lamps. To do this, ideas are first worked out and the composition of the main and auxiliary lights is designed.
• The internal structure is attached to the ceiling with a special leg.
• Communications are output to the rack.
• A tread ring is put on the stand.
• The working condition of communications is rechecked. (Wiring for all lamps should be connected in parallel).
• The final installation of the tension system is carried out and the fabric is stretched.
• In places where the internal system of the lamp is installed, a protective thermal insulating ring is put on the PVC sheet, which also serves as a retainer.
• The fabric is cut inside the fixing ring.
• The wires are connected and the lamp is installed.

How to make lighting under a suspended ceiling

Thanks to the design of the stretch ceiling system, you can advantageously use the space between the ceiling and the film for additional lighting. To do this, take advantage of the LED strip.

This type of lamps is installed:

1. To the ceiling;
2. To the frame profile of the tension structure.

The backlight plays the role of purely auxiliary light, but at the same time it looks very impressive in modern rooms.

There are color options for such lighting.

The tape is attached to the frame if it is enough to decorate the room around the perimeter. To create a pattern on the entire ceiling surface, the tape needs to be attached only to the ceiling.

Quick installation of lamps in a suspended ceiling (video)

It is worth taking care of the protection of the film in those places where the lamps are mounted, selecting suitable lamps, and reliably and timely installing the bases for lighting equipment.

Life, unfortunately, is designed in such a way that an expensive, beautiful thing can be ruined by small details. Same with suspended ceilings. By adding together significant finances and good taste, you can end up with a very beautiful ceiling. However, ill-conceived lighting can ruin all your efforts. Previously, we have already considered the questions: what type of lighting is suitable for the interior of the room and the type of stretched fabric (work “”) and how to calculate the number of lamps per room (material “”). Below we will consider methods for attaching lighting fixtures when installing a stretch ceiling.

Installation of recessed lamps in a suspended ceiling has a strict sequence of work:

1. determining the layout of the cable route on the wall, switches, junction boxes and, if necessary, drivers;
2. calculation of the cross-section of cables and wires;
3. laying wiring on the wall, installing switches;
4. drawing up a diagram for mounting lamps;
5. ceiling markings;
6. installation of a mortgage platform;
7. lamp assembly;
8. installation of a chandelier.

For information: the first three points will be discussed in a separate work.

Drawing up a diagram

You should begin work on installing lamps in a suspended ceiling with your own hands by developing a layout of distribution boxes, drivers, lamps, chandeliers and electrical wire routes, as well as places for their attachment to the ceiling. In this case, you must follow some rules:

• The distance of lighting fixtures from the wall is at least 20 cm, from each other - 30 cm, from the seam on the film - 15 cm;

• The wires in relation to the walls and each other should run parallel or perpendicular. Diagonal routes are prohibited;
• The change in direction should only be at an angle of 90 o;
• After installing the tension fabric, there must be access to the distribution boxes - they cannot be under the baguette or on the wall in the inter-ceiling space;
• On the ceiling, not only the mounting locations for the lamps, but also the clamps for attaching the cables should be marked.

Required materials and tools

Installation of spotlights in a suspended ceiling requires the following materials, tools and devices:

• stepladders or strong table;
• cable VVGng;

• APPV wires;
• pliers with a narrow nose (“platypus”);
• indicator screwdriver;

• corrugated tube for wires if you plan to use an APPV cable;
• clamps for fastening a cable or corrugated tube;

• a hammer drill with a set of drills (for concrete with a pobedit tip) or an electric drill;
• laser level;
• dowels and self-tapping screws - for fastening clamps;
• dowel-nails for lamps;
• self-tapping screws “bug”;
• chandelier hook;

• Plastic rings for the embedded frame (platform), universal or for a specific size;

• perforated tape 12x0.7mm or a rigid stand with adjustable height (as an option, you can use direct hangers used to attach the ceiling profile);

• terminal blocks;
• crayons for marking the ceiling and tape for the floor;
• roulette;
• thermal rings made of heat-resistant ABS plastic 0.2 cm thick - protect the film from overheating and tearing (can also be square or rectangular);

• electrician's knife for stripping wires;
• construction knife;
• glue for PVC;
• Phillips screwdriver.

Marking

Installation of lamps in a suspended ceiling requires mandatory marking on the ceiling of the places where the light sources are attached, with the distances of each point from the wall and from each other recorded on the diagram.

This is done primarily so that after installing the canvas, it is possible to cut a hole for the light bulbs exactly under the mortgages. Working with a tape measure is labor-intensive and requires care - an error of 3-4 cm can be fatal, as a result of which it will not be possible to install the lamp.

Everything changed with the advent of modern laser levels. Markings began to be made not on the ceiling, but on the floor. Then, using laser beams, the installation location of the lamp is projected onto the ceiling with an accuracy of a few millimeters.

In this case, it makes no difference to the device where to project a mark from the floor, onto the ceiling or onto an already stretched canvas. By this time, some experience has already been accumulated:

1. It is more convenient to measure distances on the floor not with a tape measure, but with a template with marks. This can be any long object, such as a mop handle or a piece of cable;
2. It is not very convenient to place crosses on the floor with chalk or other coloring objects: the chalk may be erased during the installation of the ceiling, and traces of the felt-tip pen will have to be washed away. Markings made with adhesive tape do not create problems - it can be easily removed when work is completed.

The work on installing lighting in suspended ceilings is divided into two stages:

1. Before installing the film ceiling, install racks (platforms);
2. After installation - assembly of the lamp.

Installation of racks

The technology for installing a platform for mounting lamps has a strict sequence of work:

1. The embedded rings are connected to the stand. For this purpose, a universal platform is taken. Rings of smaller diameter are cut out of it with a knife - the hole left should be the same size as the body of the lamp (if everything is carefully cut out, the lamp should fit freely into the embedded ring). If the platforms were purchased for a specific lamp size, there is no need to cut anything.

At the next stage, the length of the perforated tape for the racks is calculated. It is equal to the outer diameter of the embedded ring and double the distance between the suspended ceiling and the ceiling (two racks), plus 2 cm for each rack.

Attention: many experts believe that before starting work it is necessary to install a baguette (mount for the tension fabric), and only then do the electrical work (helps to accurately calculate the length of the stand). But this scheme of work runs counter to the interests of the company installing the tension structure: the installers refuse to come to install the baguette, and then a day or two later to stretch the canvas. Rearranging the order of operations does not affect the quality of work of electricians - the racks can be installed longer, and then bent, reducing the length. After attaching the platform canvas, it is pulled down to the required size.

Attention: when determining the height of the interceiling space, it is necessary to take into account the type of light bulb (for an ice lamp with a GX53 base, it is enough to lower the film by 35-50 mm, for the rest 50-70 mm) (see photo).

The cut tape is bent in the shape of a “P”, where the top bar is equal to the size of the embedded ring and is screwed to it with “bug” self-tapping screws. In some types of platforms, fastening is done through slots in the body. A direct suspension (perforated tape) is passed through them and bent. Instead of punched paper tape, you can use an adjustable stand.

2. The finished platform is attached to the ceiling. To do this, a hole is drilled in the ceiling using an electric drill, a dowel is driven in and a platform is attached.

Installation of built-in light sources

The instructions on how to install a spotlight in a suspended ceiling contain only a few points:

• Using a laser level, the installation locations of built-in light sources are projected onto the stretched ceiling;

• The thermal ring is glued to the film with special glue so that the mark on the film is in its center. To do this, the ring is smeared with glue and applied to the ceiling. In this case, it should not be allowed to shift along the film;

Important: the maximum permissible internal diameter of the thermal ring is 15 cm.

• The film is cut out inside the ring with a knife;

• The platform extends down to the plane of the stretched ceiling;
• Terminals are attached to the wires;
• At the socket, the wires are stripped with an electrician's knife and secured in the terminal block. At a voltage of 220V, it is not necessary to observe the color of the wires; at a voltage of 12 or 24V, zero must be connected to zero (blue wire), phase to phase (black or red). If this requirement is not followed, many types of LED lamps will not work;
• The light bulb is inserted into the socket;
• The lamp springs are pressed against the base with your fingers and inserted into the platform ring.

The operation is repeated with each lamp until the last one.

Installation of an overhead lamp

The overhead lighting fixture is attached to the ceiling using the same technology as a chandelier on a frame - the instructions are identical. Track lamps, which are gaining popularity, are also mounted on a frame, but are mounted mainly on a suspended ceiling. On film or fabric it is difficult to disguise the places where the route is attached and the cable exit from the inter-ceiling space.

How to install a chandelier on a suspended ceiling

The chandelier can be mounted on a hook, as well as on linear or cross-shaped strips.

Hook. Depending on the number of shades in the chandelier, the hook may be threaded - screwed into a dowel or a plug hammered into a drilled hole. Used for chandeliers with 3-5 arms. For heavier lighting fixtures, use a butterfly hook. To do this, holes are drilled in the concrete floor to the internal cavity of the slab. A hook is driven into it until the petals open.

In order for the decorative cap to have a rigid stop and fix the lighting fixture above the stretched film, a rigid plywood frame is attached to the ceiling. To do this, a round hole is cut in the middle using a hammer drill or a drill with a crown attachment for wires and a suspension (cable or chain).

Then, using perforated dowel tape and self-tapping screws, the plywood is attached to the main ceiling so that the hook and cable are above the cut hole. The length of the direct suspension or perforated tape should be generous.

As in the case of built-in lamps, the platform is pressed against the ceiling with your hands so that after completing work on installing the stretch ceiling, it can be pulled down until it comes into contact with the polyvinyl chloride film or polyester fabric.

After installing the stretch ceiling, a hole is cut in the canvas, but only after gluing a plastic ring (it can be cut out yourself from any plastic, since thermal protection of the film is not required, but only to prevent it from breaking).

Through holes in the film and plywood, the chandelier is connected to the wires via a terminal block and then hung on a hook. If you hang it right away, it’s difficult to connect the wires. The process is completed by raising the decorative cap to the ceiling until it stops. If, however, the plywood does not lie tightly and the cap leaves a mark on the canvas, then you need to lower either the frame or the cap.

Plank. Manufacturers of chandeliers also use one or two strips (arranged in a cross at a right angle) to attach them to the ceiling. In this case, take a beam under each plank (a little longer so that the chandelier does not swing) and attach it to the ceiling with a perforated metal strip. But before that, a hole for a bolt is drilled in the middle of a solid beam.

If the chandelier is light, the bolt can be replaced with a self-tapping screw. Then there is no need to drill a hole. The second beam is cut in half and attached to the ceiling in the same way, and for greater stability, using corner fasteners, to the first plank. The length of the mounting posts should be generous so that, if necessary, the beam can be lowered down to the stretched ceiling.

After the PVC or polyester film has been stretched to install the chandelier, you must:

• wrap the ends of the planks with inserted bolts with electrical tape so that the ceiling fabric is not damaged;
• attach the overhead strip to the beam;
• connect the chandelier through the terminals to the electrical network;
• attach the chandelier body to the slats;
• Cover the attachment point with a decorative cap - raise it to the stretched ceiling.

The nuances of installing LED strip on a suspended ceiling

LED strip is used mainly as decorative lighting. With its help, you can add numerous lighting effects to the main lighting. Place the tape above or below the ceiling.

In the first case, the LED lamp is attached to the ceiling with PVA glue or double-sided tape. To ensure good adhesion of the glue or tape to the overlap, it is degreased and then primed along the route. The tapes are connected using a connector.

To install the tape under the stretched film or fabric, previously it was necessary to install a two-level ceiling system. The LEDs were mounted on a side strip that covered the space between the levels. Currently, special fastenings from profiles have been developed that can be placed along a stretched ceiling in any direction.

The LED strip is attached inside the profile. It is hidden from the observer by a special lampshade. Depending on the number of LEDs per linear meter, lighting can be auxiliary or primary - 240 crystals per linear meter are required.

Conclusion and summary

Having studied the above materials on how to install lamps in a suspended ceiling, you can do the work yourself before the ceiling installer goes to your apartment. The main thing is to adhere to a certain order of work:

1. draw up a diagram of the location of point light sources and chandeliers, lay out routes for power cables;
2. transfer the drawing to the ceiling;
3. conduct and secure electrical wires;
4. mount and then attach to the platform ceiling;
5. Draw a diagram for attaching lamps along the stretched ceiling;
6. under the platforms, glue thermal rings to the film or polyester and cut holes in them;
7. connect the lamps to the power cables.

For a chandelier the process is simpler:

1. attach the hook to the ceiling;
2. glue a thermal ring to the stretched film and cut a hole in it;
3. connect the chandelier wires to the supplied wires through the terminal block;
4. hang the chandelier on a hook and cover the hole in the ceiling with a decorative cap.

Video on the topic

It’s not difficult to buy a chandelier you like, but is it suitable for a stretch ceiling? To answer this question, you need to figure out how to install lamps in a suspended ceiling, and is it possible to do it yourself?

First of all, you need to decide on the type of device and select it in accordance with the design of the room and operational requirements. It is better to choose lamps for a suspended ceiling before installing the ceiling itself, in order to immediately provide for all the technical aspects. If the ceiling is already installed, it will be much more difficult to hang a new chandelier, so it is better to immediately purchase lamps and designate a place for them.

For suspended ceilings, by and large, you can use any lamps, but it is better to give preference to models without sharp elements and with shades directed to the sides or down. Otherwise, you risk damaging the canvas. The material from which the chandelier or lamps are made should not become very hot, so as not to create a fire hazard.

The choice of light bulbs is also very important. For suspended ceilings, it is better not to use ordinary incandescent lamps, because they get very hot. But if there is no other option, make sure that the distance between the lamp and the canvas is as large as possible, and do not use products with a power exceeding 40 W. The ideal option would be energy-saving or halogen lamps.

A wide selection of lighting products allows you to find an option for any interior, but at the same time, a large assortment complicates the choice. A lamp can decorate a room, emphasizing its advantages and hiding its shortcomings, but if you choose it incorrectly, the effect will be exactly the opposite. In the case of suspended ceilings, it is necessary to choose a lamp based on the texture of the surface. So, if the room has a white matte ceiling, follow the classical rules for choosing lighting, since such a surface is almost identical to a regular whitewashed ceiling. If the canvas is glossy, then it will give glare and reflections. In this case, the lighting should be moderate, since the reflection on the ceiling will be a mirror copy of the light bulb.

But still, it is not the appearance of the lamp that is decisive, but the method of fixing it. A suspended ceiling by itself is unable to hold even the lightest appliances, and therefore you need to decide in advance on the mechanism for their installation.

Attaching the lamp to a suspended ceiling depends on the type of device:

1. Surface-mounted ceiling lamps have the same fasteners as chandeliers, and installation takes place on the main ceiling.
2. Recessed lamps for suspended ceilings are placed on the back side of the canvas, so that only the outer side of the lampshade remains outside, and the light bulb with the rest of the mechanism is located behind the canvas.

The latter type includes spotlights, which have become very popular lately, especially for suspended ceilings. They are compact, bright, consume little electricity and are able to provide full functional lighting, while simultaneously decorating the interior. However, not all spotlights are suitable for installation. So, it is necessary to choose products with a round base part, and the shape of the outer part does not matter. It is also important that the seat of the device, which will be located behind the canvas, must be at least 10 mm. When installing spotlights, a thermally insulating rigid gasket must be placed between the outer part and the canvas, and the side of the lamp must be wide enough to cover this gasket.

Helpful advice: If you are going to install hidden devices, for example, to create an imitation of the starry sky, choose low-voltage products from well-known manufacturers. Quality in this case should come first, since dismantling or replacing a hidden lamp is quite difficult. For low-voltage 12 W devices, you will need to purchase a transformer. Ideally, each lamp needs a separate transformer.

Installation features

Before moving on to the description of the installation of lamps in suspended ceilings, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with a number of useful tips. They will help you better understand the specifics of the work and do everything without errors.

First of all, turn off the power in your house or apartment. But even in this case, do not neglect personal safety measures - wear rubber gloves. If you have hidden wiring in your home, find or make a plan ahead of time. You can find out the direction of the wires using a special device. This data is necessary so as not to disturb the main wiring while drilling the ceiling.

Do not tighten the fasteners all the way, otherwise you risk cutting the blade with the sharp edges of the rigid mounting strip. For a firm hold, always use plastic or rubberized spacers. When installing spotlights, self-tapping screws are often used. To safely screw them into the surface, glue small pieces of plastic in these places.

Mounting methods

There are two ways to attach lamps to a suspended ceiling: with bolts and screws or on a hook. The choice of each of them depends on the design of the lamp: its size, weight, performance characteristics. In both options, it is necessary to pre-install a mortgage - a special strip that will hold the lighting fixture. This is an ordinary wooden block attached to the main ceiling with anchor bolts or dowels. It allows you to attach lamps that weigh a lot.

If bolts or screws are used to fasten the lamp, a slot is made in the stretch ceiling fabric, the edges of which are glued with tape. After installation, the canvas is fixed around the chandelier with self-tapping screws. If you decide to mount the chandelier on a hook, it is first screwed into the mounting strip, and then a small slot is made in the stretch ceiling. After installing the chandelier, the slot is covered with a decorative cover.

For better fixation of lamps, it is recommended to use a reinforcing ring with a thickness of at least 5 mm and a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the device. It is glued to the film using transparent construction adhesive, and after it hardens, the canvas is cut out along the inner diameter and only then the lamp is mounted.

Spotlights

First of all, you need to determine the location of the lamps on the suspended ceiling. It is better to do this even before installing the tension fabric itself, and the wiring can be done after attaching the frame.

Step-by-step installation of spotlights on a suspended ceiling:

1. Install the frame and mark the ceiling plane.
2. Select the location where all lighting fixtures will be connected. The distribution box will be located at this point. A place must be allocated for it so that it can be accessed at any time even after installation of the canvas.
3. Calculate the cross-section of the electrical wiring depending on the power consumption of the lighting fixtures. This article will help you figure this out. Take material (cables and wires) with a power reserve of 20% in case of installing additional devices.
4. Make channels in the ceiling leading from the distribution panel to the connection points. To do this, use a grinder with a circular attachment for working with concrete. Keep in mind that it is better to place the wires in a corrugated tube for greater safety, so the dimensions of the channels must be appropriate.
5. Connect the cables to the distribution panel and route them through the channels.
6. Attach the wires to the ceiling. When creating connections, do not allow twists. It is better to use terminal blocks for this - they are safe and provide a more reliable connection.
7. At the installation points of the lamps, make small allowances for the wires (about 10% more than the required length).
8. Attach the mounting posts to the main ceiling, then use a hammer drill to secure the brackets.
9. Connect the spotlights and check their operation. Evaluate not only the functioning of the wiring, but also the quality of lighting in the room - at this stage you can still change the position of the lamps, and after attaching the canvas it will be too late to correct anything.
10. Keep in mind that if you use conventional incandescent lamps for lighting, the plane of the tension fabric will be lowered by 10 cm. We remind you once again that it is better not to use such lamps with a power of over 40 W for suspended ceilings. If the lamps contain energy-saving light bulbs, the blade will drop no more than 4 cm, and here you don’t have to comply with power restrictions - energy-saving lamps are unable to get very hot.
11. Now you can stretch the canvas and mark the places where the lamps are installed.
12. Glue a plastic ring along the installation contour of each lamp. You can buy it in a specialized store along with lighting fixtures or cut it yourself. These rings prevent the fabric from tearing due to the load provided by the lamps.
13. Press the rings onto the film and wait until the glue dries completely. Only after this can you cut holes in the sheet along the inner diameter of the rings and connect the contacts to the terminals.
14. Press the spring mount against the body, adjust the position of the device and align it with the level of the canvas.

Connect other devices using the same diagram. In this case, it is better to connect the wires to each of them separately, avoiding fastening on the same line. Then, if the light bulb burns out, only one lamp will go out, and not the entire branch.

Chandelier mount

Chandeliers are much heavier than spotlights, so a frame or ceiling hook (the easiest way) is used to mount them. Let's consider each of the methods in more detail.

Step-by-step installation of a chandelier on a ceiling hook:

1. Use a hammer drill to make holes in the ceiling and attach the ceiling hook to the anchor bolts.
2. Adjust its position so that it is slightly higher than the ceiling plane - this way the glass of the chandelier will fit snugly against the tension fabric.
3. Try the chandelier on the ceiling, and if there are no gaps, hang it.

If there is an old hook on the ceiling, but you are not satisfied with its location, do not cut it off, but simply bend it - it may come in handy in the future.

The second method involves attaching a heavy lamp to the mounting bar. It can be made from any wooden block. Attach it with dowels to the main ceiling so that it is located at the ceiling level or slightly higher. After adjustment, you can screw the lamp to the bar with self-tapping screws or bolts.

Helpful Hint: To carefully and securely attach a mounting strip to a concrete ceiling, first drill holes in it, then attach it to the ceiling and mark the attachment points. All that remains is to drill holes in the ceiling and drive in dowels. This way you will be sure that the fastening points on the plank and in the ceiling will coincide.

After installation, the points where the lamps are attached to the canvas need to be decorated. For this purpose, special caps and sockets made of polyurethane resin are used. The products imitate gypsum stucco and fit very harmoniously into the interior. If this method does not suit you, cover the joint with a small piece of ceiling fabric - simply cut a circle out of it with a diameter slightly larger than the attachment point and place it on the glue. Also recently, interior vinyl stickers that imitate artistic painting have become popular.

The installation itself is not difficult. The main task is to do the wiring correctly. Finally, we suggest summarizing all the above information in the video about lamps for suspended ceilings: