Using Spot Lights The Right Way

Spot lights are one of the few lighting products that will fit into just about any situation. They can work as a source of task and accent lighting, and when working in coordination with similar products, can even produce ambient light. Technically, spot lights are lamps with beams focused at an angle lesser than 30 degrees.

Modern spotlights can be used just about anywhere in the house and have even carved a space for themselves in the bathrooms and kitchens of a house. They are often confused with flood lights, when in fact they are completely different and are used to serve different purposes. Flood lights are used to spread the light to cover a large area, whereas spot lights are used to narrow down the beam to focus on smaller surfaces.

The best way to fit spotlights indoors is on the ceiling. This can be done by placing up tracks along the surface, which will allow the placement of lamps in any combination you want. This offers the functions of rotation and repositioning in any direction required.

The common bulb choices include halogen and LED lights, both mains voltage and low voltage. For those who require extremely bright light, Parabolic Aluminized Reflectors can be used. These bulbs contain various reflectors and prisms, which help them produce extremely focused high intensity light.

Bathroom lights are not too prone to experimentation. This is due to the various electrical safety laws that accompany these products. All such products need to be protected by Residual Current Devices (RCD) not exceeding 30mA. These products are marked on the basis of the level of mechanical and moisture protection they have. These are quoted in the form of Ingress Protection (IP) numbers. The common format is IPXY, where X signifies the mechanical protection and Y implies the moisture protection level. The higher the numbers, better will be the protection.

They are a preferred product for bathroom lighting. This is because they often consume little power and provide high security. They are designed keeping safety in mind, while not downplaying the quality of the light produced. They have a base rating of IP44 and can be readily installed in Zone 1 and Zone 2 of a bathroom, as defined by the IEE Wiring Regulation of the UK. This means they can be placed anywhere in the bathroom, barring the shower itself.

A lot of work goes into designing the outdoors of a house. This is because it is the first thing that any passerby or guest sees of your home. This is why a lot of emphasis is laid on making it as appealing as possible. One sure shot way of doing so is with the use of outdoor lights.

Even safety is a factor with such outdoor lights. By highlighting the pathways, entry and exit ways, and food areas, these spot lights can make sure that constant vigilance can be maintained. Some of these products even contain motion sensors. These devices light up only when a trespasser unknowingly triggers the motion detectors hidden in the garden. This way they help to cut back on electricity bills.

Lights for the Home
In the home it is crucial that good consideration is made to the lights and the overall lighting effect you want in the home. Lighting can make a huge difference to the look of a room so it is very important that just you get it just right.

It is in the sitting room that most of the relaxation takes places. That means that atmospheric lighting or mood lighting is required. Additionally you may need one or two bright lights for reading by or carrying out some other activity. If the computer is situated in the sitting room then you may need a desk light too so you can see the keyboard and can type easily without straining your eyes.

The kitchen is often the heart of the home. It is here that a lot of time is spent preparing food and drinks. In many homes the kitchen table is also the place where the eating takes place. Because of the different activities that take place there are different types of lighting that are required all in one place. Task lighting is necessary above the counter tops and over the cooker so that you can see what you are chopping and what you are cooking! As well as bright lights for this however you may need some atmospheric lighting too. No one likes to eat their main meal in the evening in the glare of bright kitchen lights. Dimmer switches are perfect in the kitchen for this very reason.

In the bathroom there is a lot of water present and that means any lights you use need to be able to withstand high levels of water. Over the mirror you need bright lights so shaving or putting on makeup is easy to do. The bathroom is the only room in the house that is not likely to have any natural light so there needs to be plenty of light available by electrical means.

If you want to be able to enjoy your garden or outside space for many months during the year then installing a good lighting system is very important. That means you need good lights by the patio or terrace for entertaining guests and if you have a barbecue area you need lights here too. You can provide mood lighting by wrapping fairy lights into the trees. This will really provide a warm and inviting glow.

There always needs to be a reading light by the bed. There should also be good task lighting if there is a desk in the room or even a dressing table. Being able to get dressed easily and move around the room in plenty of light is important. Make sure you make the most of any natural lighting by having curtains that can open completely during the day and use mirrors if possible to reflect the light around the room. This trick also helps make the room appear bigger than it really is.

Lights in the home are very important if you want a nice and relaxing place in which to live. There are m any available that are excellent for keeping costs down as well as other energy saving bulbs. Consider these when designing your lighting scheme.