Bathroom lighting options (no downlights)

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timmmay

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#105436 4-Jul-2012 13:47

I'm replacing my bathroom soon, and I want to choose lighting. The bathroom guy was going to use five LED downlights, but I've spent a lot of time and money taking downlights out to ensure good insulation. He suggested I buy lighting and they install it.

The whole ceiling will be replaced, everything rewired, so i'm not limited at all there.

I like the idea of LED, especially daylight balanced so it's nice and bright in there (daylight balanced help wake you up better than tungsten). I will probably have very low level warm white as well, on a separate switch, for when the GF wants a bath or something. The daylight lights are negotiable, perhaps a dimmer or just switchable levels is a better idea. I might also put some accent lights in, LED strips or something, if it can be done well.

Can anyone make any suggestions about good bathroom lighting?

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#650635 4-Jul-2012 13:57

You can get insulated downlights that don't have gaps around them...

timmmay

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#650638 4-Jul-2012 14:00

You need to insulate over the fittings otherwise they lose a lot of power - abutted isn't good enough - see this thread for details.

Fozz lights are F rated so you can insulate over them, but I don't know if they're bathroom rated, and even if they were they turn on too slowly - I have some in my office. For a bathroom that gets lots of little visits as well as extended visits I think the instant on of LED would be ideal, though we manage fine with compact fluorescent.

Niel

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#650720 4-Jul-2012 15:50

Any IC rated fitting can be Insulation Covered. It is the CA (Closed Abutted) fittings that are the current minimum requirement but cannot be covered with insulation.

I like it: "lots of little visits as well as extended visits".

What about getting like 5m outdoors LED strips and stick them around the ceiling? Runs off a low voltage DC power pack, no issues with wet areas.

You do want lots of light by the mirror so the misses can do her make-up.

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timmmay

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#650755 4-Jul-2012 16:49

I doubt i'll do strip lights, that'd look cheap and tacky. It'll probably have to be a specialist bathroom fitting, either that I can insulate over or that sits under the ceiling.

I'll go to a lighting store, but I wondered if anyone here new any great new products, especially LED ones that aren't downlights.

mattwnz

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#650760 4-Jul-2012 17:01

timmmay: I doubt i'll do strip lights, that'd look cheap and tacky. It'll probably have to be a specialist bathroom fitting, either that I can insulate over or that sits under the ceiling.

I'll go to a lighting store, but I wondered if anyone here new any great new products, especially LED ones that aren't downlights.

Perhaps button lights. The problem is they protrude down. Some extraction fans do have lights built in too.

Niel

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#650764 4-Jul-2012 17:19

You can use an LED tube (as opposed to fluorescent tube) with an appropriately rated fitting. There are some speciality lamps available from The Lightbulb Shop and Lightbulb Man (Google them), might find something useful.

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timmmay

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#650865 4-Jul-2012 20:08

Tubes are pretty ugly, but I guess give a broader light source than a standard bulb. I think I might be best just going into a lighting store and choosing something.

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hairy1

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#650868 4-Jul-2012 20:10

timmmay: I doubt i'll do strip lights, that'd look cheap and tacky. It'll probably have to be a specialist bathroom fitting, either that I can insulate over or that sits under the ceiling.

I'll go to a lighting store, but I wondered if anyone here new any great new products, especially LED ones that aren't downlights.

The LED strip lighting will look pretty cool if it is hidden in a cove.

http://blog.sparksdirect.co.uk/images/xflex-bathroom1.jpg

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

timmmay

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#650873 4-Jul-2012 20:14

Thanks Hairy, I'll show the GF and see what she thinks :)

Our mirror will be almost flush, so bit tough getting it in there.

hairy1

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#650877 4-Jul-2012 20:20

I bought some for $20 USD from aliexpress.com for our pool. Yet to install it due to voltage issues. I think the key is to make sure you can't see the strip.

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Handle9

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#650913 4-Jul-2012 21:02

As per Niel's suggestion IC or even better IC-F (insulation covered but sealed) downlights will work well and have the same insulation rating as a ceiling fitting.

I would guess you will not find too much at lighting shops, they are generally pretty useless for anything that isn't a ceiling rose. Try a decent wholesaler with a good lighting specialist (ring them up and ask to speak to a lighting specialist rep).

timmmay

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#650957 4-Jul-2012 21:37

That's great to know thanks :) Can you recommend a lighting wholesaler with a friendly rep?

jonherries

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#650968 4-Jul-2012 21:52

One thing people have told me about bathroom lighting is that you need a lot more light than other places in the house. Brightness helps the missus do her face and hair, and you to pick the bit of dinner from your back teeth...

Jon

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#651048 5-Jul-2012 07:22

timmmay: That's great to know thanks :) Can you recommend a lighting wholesaler with a friendly rep?

I don't know one in particular that I would use but Rexel have always had a pretty strong lighting focus. I'd probably go through my electricians electrical wholesaler so it could be bought at trade discounts.

timmmay

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#651051 5-Jul-2012 07:39

Yeah I want good strong lighting for the bathroom, especially so around the mirror. I'll look into Rexel, thanks :)

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