Modern design uses sconces, chandeliers, and spotlights that can provide the necessary flow of light to a specific area. All electrical devices, which include lighting, have their own installation characteristics. However, connecting spotlights with your own hands is quite possible, but subject to operating technology, as well as safety measures.

Scheme for connecting spotlights to 220V current.

Some installation details

When installing spots, you should take into account the features of the ceiling covering. So, for example, if the building material used to finish the ceiling is flammable, then the following must be taken into account:

To wire lighting fixtures, you must use special heat-resistant wires.

• to carry out wiring for lighting fixtures, you must use special wires that are heat-resistant;
• the wiring connection when connecting spotlights must be reliable and insulated;
• The power of the lamps that are used must correspond to the technical characteristics of the wires, otherwise they will be subject to excessive overheating.

When choosing wires for connecting spotlights, you must be guided by the following criteria:

• they should not burn;
• must be resistant to prolonged exposure to high temperatures.

These requirements are met by a cable in which the outer layer of the braid is made of fiberglass, and the internal insulation is made of high-strength organic rubber. These wires allow you to install a spotlight in rooms for any purpose, for example in kitchens, saunas, baths, bathrooms, as well as in unlimited quantities within reasonable limits.

To ensure reliable connection of wires during installation, you can use a special tool - a crimping press. It connects the cables using hollow copper sleeves, which serve as reliable insulation. An alternative to the press can be pliers, which are identical in principle to it.

Required materials and tools

Connecting spotlights requires the following tools and materials, such as:

Options for connecting spotlights.

• lighting;
• power wire, switch;
• special connecting elements (terminals or sleeves);
• insulating tape or heat shrink tubing;
• pliers;
• a drill with a special attachment (if the ceiling is made of plasterboard, laminate, plywood);
• tape measure, pencil.

The same spotlights are selected within the same room. This provides more correct lighting in the room and supports the overall picture of the interior.

In this case, it is necessary to take into account the presence of a reflective layer in the lamp, which provides increased light output. For spotlights, lamps whose power does not exceed 40 W are most often chosen. This provides good lighting due to the fact that such lighting fixtures are installed at a fairly close distance from each other.

Stages of installation of spotlights

The connection process boils down to the sequential execution of the following steps:

Stages of connecting a spotlight.

• design and layout;
• laying and pulling cables to installation sites;
• making holes and connecting;
• connection testing.

Such a detailed breakdown into stages is due to the fact that part of the work must be performed when forming the ceiling covering.

The location of the lamps is planned before covering it with finishing material, that is, during the installation of the frame.

Design takes on special meaning when there are several levels near the ceiling. In this case, it is necessary to provide wiring to the mounting points of the lamps at each level, taking into account the distribution of the luminous flux. Lamps that are located within the same level must form one single circuit.

When planning the number of spotlights that will provide the required illumination of the space, it is necessary to take into account that the distance from the wall to them should be no more than 60 cm, and the distance between centers should be 25-30 cm. In this case, the lamp should be no less than 30 cm from the frame cm. If the lamp is placed closer to the frame, then its installation at the final stage may be difficult.

The device of the lamp.

The presence and location of other lighting fixtures in the room affects the final number of fixtures. The spotlight can be equipped with a rotating mechanism, with which the direction of the light flow can be changed. Therefore, they can be diverted when using several lamps at the same time.

The wiring is laid during the installation of the frame. It is placed in special boxes or fixed on it in such a way that when making holes for spots, it is not difficult to get out. If it is not possible to select locations for installing spotlights during the installation of the frame, then you can lay the cable to only 1 lamp. And connect each subsequent spotlight to the previous one, stretching the wire already in the mounted ceiling covering. But this method of laying wiring somewhat violates safety regulations, since the wires remain lying directly on the surface of the suspended ceiling.

The cable, when laid along a frame or in protective boxes, can be used with 2 or 3 cores. The loop for attaching each spotlight is left 10-15 cm in size. It is attached to the frame near the location of the spotlight using a plastic tie. But the fastening should not be tight, so as not to cause difficulties when dismantling it during final connection.

Drilling holes for each spotlight is carried out upon completion of the ceiling installation. Proper design of spots placement allows you to avoid their location on metal frame elements. In addition, if the spotlight is located at the joint between the sheathing sheets, then it should be moved or the sheets redistributed so that the joint is moved to the required distance.

To ensure that all spots are located exactly along the line, markings are first made with a tape measure and a pencil.

Connection diagram for several groups of lamps.

The holes are drilled with a drill with a special attachment - a hole saw, the central drill of which is installed in the center of the lamp location. A perfectly even circle is formed, which avoids unnecessary gaps. The diameter of such a saw should be 3-4 mm smaller than the corresponding external size of the lamp, but 3-4 mm larger than the internal dimensions.

After all the holes are drilled, you need to remove the loop of wire that was left for attaching the spot. If such loops have not been made or the wiring for each spotlight is not connected, then it is necessary to stretch the cable to them. Pulling the wire must begin from the outermost lamp, gradually moving further along the line of their installation. This can be done using a hook, which is made of strong wire.

Final moments of the work process

After laying the wire or pulling out the loop, it is necessary to free the wire from the insulating layer for further fastening. These bare wires are clamped into the lamp terminal according to the connection diagram that comes with the device. There are symbols on the spot according to which connections must be made: L - phase wire, N - neutral wire, PE - grounding. At this stage, everything must be done carefully, carefully and technically correctly, observing all safety precautions.

After connecting to the power supply, you need to insert the spotlight into the hole, slightly bending the clamps of the structure. This will allow it to fit tightly enough without forming gaps between the lamp cover and the hole in the ceiling. In this case, you must ensure that the fastening wires do not get between the brackets.

After this, the supply wire is connected to the switch, the bulbs are screwed in and a test run is performed. Once all the lamps are lit, the installation is considered complete.

When wiring is already present in an apartment or house and there is no need to connect additional light sources, then the question of how to connect a lamp is not relevant. But how can this work be done when the need arises? Here you can’t do without basic knowledge of electrical engineering and the ability to draw up a fundamental, seemingly elementary diagram.

All fluorescent light sources (housekeepers), incandescent lamps, LED lamps can be connected, as in principle all resistances present in the electrical circuit, in parallel, in series, mixed. A mixed connection is not used to connect lamps, since it is simply not necessary. But it’s worth paying attention to parallel and serial connections in more detail.

Serial and parallel connection of two or more light sources

In order to connect the simplest incandescent light bulb, as in principle any other, you need to connect one contact to phase and the other to zero, the most common alternating voltage in the CIS countries, 220 volts.

Parallel connection of lighting devices means connecting two or more sources of light flux in parallel, that is, some lamp contacts are connected only to phase, and all others only to zero, as shown in Figure 1.

A current will pass through each light bulb, which will depend on its power, just as the brightness of the light flux emitted by them will also depend on the power of each lamp. Naturally, the current I will be equal to the sum of all three currents, so the cross-sectional diameter of the main conductors should be chosen according to it. This connection is considered the most common and acceptable, since it will be possible, if necessary, to add light sources in the future and they will not affect those already installed.

With a series connection shown in the figure, the current flowing through one light bulb will depend on the power of each light source, and the voltage on them will be divided by the number of lamps and, for a given input voltage of 220 volts, will be equal to 110 volts on each light source.

This connection must be made with lamps that have equal power. This can be seen using the example of two incandescent lamps. Since if you connect one lamp of 20 Watt, and another, for example, of 200 Watt, then the lamp with a lower power will immediately fail, since the same current will pass through it as in the second lamp with a power of 200 Watt, and this is 10 times its face value. This connection can be used to increase the service life of incandescent lamps, for example, in entrances and staircases. By connecting two lamps of 220 volts and a power of, for example, 60 watts each, they will burn at half power and will last a very long time. Please note that this is only possible when connecting incandescent lamps. Connecting two or more LED lamps (luminaires) and energy-efficient lamps in series is not practical, since they already have a fairly long service life.

Connecting a lamp to one switch or several

How to connect a lamp through a switch? The main nuance when connecting is that the neutral power wire is directly connected to the 220 volt network, and the phase is broken through the switch. This is done so that you can safely solve problems with the lamp socket by turning off only the switch. If two switches are connected in series, then only when both keys are pressed will the lamp light up. These types of connection of light switches are very rarely used, only under certain individual conditions.

More interesting is the connection of the so-called pass-through switch.

The essence of this circuit for connecting one lamp is that the lamp can be turned on and off from both the first and second switches, regardless of the position of each of them. For example, this is convenient, let’s say, in a long corridor, when entering it, a person presses the switch key 2, and calmly walks along the illuminated room, having reached the end of the corridor, there is no need to return to turn off the light, but he can lightly press switch 1, installed at the end corridor, turn off this light source. With this connection, the phase also passes through the switches.

Improving lighting by installing a motion sensor

The main function of installing a motion sensor and connecting it to the lighting system is to automatically turn on the lighting without pressing the light switch button. That is, a person entered the room or into the sensor trigger zone and the light turned on; after leaving, the light turned off on its own (automatically). When choosing a motion sensor, you must first take into account the maximum power of the lighting lamps.

The connection diagram for the motion sensor is also not particularly difficult. It can be installed with or without a switch. Simply, when the switch contact is turned on, the motion sensor is removed from the lighting network, and the lighting device is turned on directly without a sensor.

In any case, when working with voltage, be sure to comply with safety requirements, and in particular:

• check the presence and absence of voltage on live elements that a person touches during installation;
• lighting power supply circuit breakers must be locked;
• carry out work with proper tools.

Video about connecting lamps

A person who has little understanding of electricity has problems connecting several light bulbs. When the wiring is already done, all the work consists of replacing the burnt out lamps. But there are situations when you need to add one or more light bulbs to your existing system. Here you will already need basic knowledge of electrical engineering and the ability to draw up a connection diagram.

Parallel connection of lamps to power wires

Spotlights have come into fashion, as a result the number of light sources in houses and apartments has increased significantly, and special attention has been paid to lighting. The photo above shows suspended ceiling lamps with a parallel connection. Through terminal blocks, the lamps are connected to the phase (L) and neutral (N) wires.

At first glance, there is nothing complicated here, but for long-term and reliable operation everything must be done according to the rules that you need to know.

Connection diagram

To create light bulb connections, first of all, you need to draw a simplified electrical diagram of connections and power connections. It is compiled according to certain rules:

• conductors are graphically indicated by straight, unbroken lines;
• connections are indicated by dots (if there are more than two of them); if there are no dots, then the wires intersect;
• electrical fittings and wiring on the plan are shown in accordance with GOST 21.614 and GOST 21.608.

Parallel and serial connection

In order to light the simplest incandescent lamp, you need to connect its contacts to phase (L) and zero (N). Two wires come to it from the junction box or from the outlet. The parallel circuit involves connecting several light bulbs to common phase and neutral wires (Fig. a below). Here three incandescent lamps are connected in parallel. For convenience, a switch is installed in the circuit. The schematic diagram (Fig. b) shows the connections more clearly.

Parallel connection diagram of light bulbs

The advantage of a parallel connection is the ability to connect electricity consumers to the network voltage. To the lamps in Fig. You can add a few more higher, but the current will increase, but the voltage will remain the same.

Current strength ( I ) in the supply wires is equal to the sum of the current strengths of all sections ( I 1, I 2, I 3 ), connected in parallel (Fig. b above):

I = I 1 + I 2 + I 3.

The power of the circuit (P) is found as the sum of the powers of all sections ( R 1, R 2, R 3 ):

P = P 1 + P 2 + P 3.

Resistance (R) for three loads is determined from the expression:

1/R = 1/R 1 + 1/R 2 + 1/R 3 ,

where R 1, R 2, R 3 are the resistances of the light bulbs.

Types of lamps and connection diagrams

Connecting the incandescent lamps shown above is not particularly difficult. But the circuit of halogen and fluorescent lamps has some differences.

Halogen

Low-voltage power supply increases the safety of light sources. However, the brightness remains the same. Halogen lamps can be used with step-down transformers of 6, 12 and 24 V (Fig. below).

Halogen lamp connection diagram

The 220 V voltage is supplied to a small-sized electronic transformer, which can even be built into the switch housing. Low-voltage halogen lamps are often used in suspended ceilings. They are connected in parallel and connected to a transformer. The photo below shows a block diagram with two transformers. A voltage of 220 V is supplied to them through a distribution box. The neutral wire is indicated in blue, and the phase wire is indicated in brown, with a switch inserted into the gap.

Connection diagram for halogen lamps

Groups of lamps are connected to each other in parallel in a distribution box, after which the supply wires are branched into the primary windings of the transformers.

The lamps are connected to the 12 V secondary winding in parallel with each other. Terminal blocks are used to connect them (not shown in the diagram).

The low voltage output wire should not be longer than 2 meters. Otherwise, voltage losses increase and the lamps will glow worse. It will be better if you calculate the voltage for all lamps.

Calculation example

An example of calculating the voltage on light bulbs depending on the losses in the wires is as follows. With a supply voltage of V=12 V, 2 light bulbs with resistances R1 = R2 = 36 Ohms are connected in parallel to the transformer. The resistances of the supply wires to them are equal to r1 = r2 = r3 = r4 = 1.5 Ohms. You need to find the voltage on each light bulb. The diagram is shown in Fig. below.

Losses in light bulb power wires

The voltage on the first and second bulbs will be:

V 1 = VR(2r + R)/(4r 2 +6rR + R 2) = 10.34 V,

V 2 = VR 2 /(4r 2 +6rR + R 2) = 9.54 V.

The calculation shows that even small resistances of the supply wires lead to a significant voltage drop across them.

The total load in the circuit is maintained at 70-75% of the maximum so that the transformers do not overheat.

Luminescent

The disadvantage of fluorescent lamps is the flickering effect, which impairs the perception of light by the eyes. Modern electronic ballasts (ballasts) solve this problem, but their price is higher. To reduce ripple when using an electromagnetic ballast, a two-lamp connection circuit is used, where the phase of one of the lamps is shifted in time. As a result, the total luminous flux is leveled out.

In Fig. Below is a diagram of a split-phase lamp. Two lamps are connected to an alternating voltage network in parallel. They both contain inductive ballasts (L 1) and (L 2). But an additional ballast capacitor (C b) is connected to the lamp (2), thanks to which a current phase shift of 60 0 is created.

Diagram of a two-lamp lamp

As a result, the total pulsation of the light flux of the lamp is reduced. In addition, the external circuit current is nearly in phase with the supply voltage through a combination of leading and lagging circuits, which improves the power factor.

Video about connections

The video below explains the features of parallel and serial connections.

Thus, in order to properly connect light bulbs in a house or apartment, you need to do the following:

• draw a circuit diagram of the lighting system;
• perform transaction calculations;
• select electrical equipment, fittings and lamps;
• Install the light bulbs correctly.

For domestic use, LED lamps are produced with operating voltages of 220 and 12 volts. The decision on how to connect the luminaires does not depend on the selected model. The routing of the wire will be influenced by the method of power supply and the number of devices in the network. In this article you will find a description of specific connection diagrams. Although all operations can be performed independently, it is better to seek help from specialists.

In this article:

Connecting 220V lamps

The main advantage of such lamps over models operating on 12 volts is that the power is supplied directly from the switch. As a result, less money and effort is spent on lamp installation. Currently, there are three ways to connect the lamp:

• consistent;
• parallel;
• ray.

Each has its own advantages and disadvantages and is used in different situations. Let's discuss the schemes in more detail.

Consistent

If there is a need to save wires, but there are no special requirements for the room, then a serial connection is better than others. This will require a small amount of double or triple wires. In this case, it is allowed to place no more than six lamps in one circuit, otherwise the brightness of all devices will be low. And also if one of the lamps fails, the power supply will stop, and you will have to check each device separately to find the defect.

The connection process itself is simple: a phase is laid from the switch to the first lamp, then a wire is supplied from it to the next one, and so on until all devices are connected in one circuit. A zero is laid to the latter, coming from the distribution box. If you mix up the wires and connect zero instead of power, the lamps will always remain energized, which is unsafe.

All modern lamps are produced with the expectation of connecting the ground wire. If in your case there is grounding in the apartment, then you will have to run the cable directly from the outlet to each lamp.

To save money, when implementing a serial circuit, a wire is used, since the second core in the cable will simply break off and not be used in any way.

Parallel

Connecting lamps in parallel is more practical and is used more often than in series. When implementing this method, all light sources will produce the brightness declared by the manufacturer. The only drawback can be considered the increased conductor consumption compared to the previous option.

It is recommended to use VVG ng cable 2x1.5 or 3x1.5. This marking means that two or three wires with a cross-section of 1.5 mm and the cable as a whole have a PVC sheath. The mark “ng” in the marking indicates that the cable is non-flammable. In some cases, a cable with an additional marking “Is” is used, which means that there is no strong smoke emission when ignited.

Most fires occur due to poor-quality wiring, so you should not skimp on it, especially if the house is made of wood.

To connect, a cable is pulled from the junction box through the switch, which is connected to each lamp in turn. After the first lamp, the wire is cut and fed to the next one until all devices are exhausted. This scheme guarantees the operation of the circuit even if one of the lamps burns out.

In rooms divided into several functional zones, two groups of lamps are installed. They are usually connected to a two-key switch. This makes it possible to control the inclusion of light, giving it where activity is planned. In this case, you will have to lay the cable separately from each key to a specific group of lamps. In general, the principle of such a scheme is no different from the description in the paragraph above.

Ray

The beam circuit by its nature is a parallel connection method and is often found in chandeliers. It involves routing power to each lamp individually. This option is more expensive, as it requires the largest amount of wire. To save money, lay the cable in the center of the room, from where there will be an equal distance to each lamp. Next, single-core wires are connected to zero and phase, which stretch to the lighting fixtures.

It is important to decide how the cable cores will be connected to the individual wire. If there are few lamps, then you can usually be content with twisting. It is important to securely compress it with pliers and weld it together. In this case, the connection is permanent and takes a lot of time to implement. For a safer option, you will need to purchase terminals with the required number of outputs. A connector is put on each core, and wires are pulled from it to the lamps.

If desired, you can connect dimmers to the circuit - devices that allow you to control the brightness of the lamps.

Features of connecting 12V lamps

Since some types of spotlights require a voltage of 12 volts to operate, a step-down transformer is connected to the network. In addition, the home network contains alternating current, while LEDs require constant current. If you have the skill and experience, you can convert electricity yourself using a diode bridge, a resistor and a capacitance. It is still recommended to choose factory devices, as they are more reliable, safe and have a warranty period.

Before buying a transformer, calculate the maximum permitted current values. This indicator depends on the number of connected lamps. The total power of the devices should be 20% lower than that of the power supply. So, if you plan to install 6 lamps of 20 W, then you will need a transformer with a power of 150 W (6 pcs * 20 W * 1.2 = 144 W). All characteristics of the devices are indicated on their packaging and in the description.

When choosing a transformer, consider its installation location. So, for the bathroom it is better to give preference to models protected from moisture penetration.

The connection diagram for low-voltage LED lamps is not much different from those described in the previous sections. A transformer is installed in the circuit after the junction box, and the cable is pulled further. To avoid electric shock during installation, do not forget to turn off the power supply.

All the described schemes are easy to implement, and to get rid of unnecessary expenses and headaches, buy lamps that operate on a voltage of 220 volts. If you are not confident in your own abilities or do not have enough tools to complete the work, contact the professionals. High-quality installation guarantees a long service life of the lamps and safe operation of the electrical wiring.

Modern interiors are characterized by large living spaces that are divided into different living areas. Small rooms are being replaced by apartments with an open plan, characterized by kitchen, living room, bedroom, and study areas. These spaces are separated by floors, ceilings, partitions and lighting. It is with their own hands that homeowners create a cozy, warm environment that emphasizes objects, shapes, and satisfies their life needs. An important part of creating comfort zones is connecting the right lighting, since for each zone or room it has its own characteristics. Places for work, reading, cooking, and relaxation must be illuminated in accordance with their functional tasks.

The correct connection diagram for lighting elements ensures uniform illumination of all corners of the living space of the room, highlighting and emphasizing their purpose with the help of distributed light. small in size and power successfully perform such tasks. Lighting fixtures are mounted on suspended ceilings. How to connect spotlights will be shown clearly and in detail by the electrical diagram, as well as the connection algorithm. Installation of these elements is easy even with your own hands. You can find out about this in our article.

Note

It is important to remember that the location and configuration of ceiling lighting fixtures must be planned at the design stage.

Rules for connecting lamps to a 220V network

1. The circuit consists of junction boxes, wires and corrugations.
2. It is important to use exclusively copper wire. If there were twists in the wires, it is better to solder and insulate them.
3. A separate flexible wire is allocated for each of the lamps. Connection and connection of them together occurs through copper sleeves or a special “terminal block”, which is then additionally insulated using insulating tape.
4. Before installing ceilings, it is important to check the wiring and light bulbs with a switch.

Before installation on the ceiling surface, it is important to determine the location of the built-in lamps. By their design, such lighting devices cover a lighting sector of only 30º. On the other hand, due to its compactness, the scheme for their installation can be quite dense. If you follow it, then there can be quite a lot of them on different ceilings.

To ensure optimal illumination of the room, the installation diagram of light elements should be as follows:

• The distance between the points of light should be no more than a meter.
• Holes for lamps should be located at a distance of 25-30 mm from the nearest frame.
• The spotlight should be located at a distance of 60 cm from the wall.
• It is better to separate the lighting circuits of different zones with a separate switch.

You can install and connect it yourself. The technology and design are universal - the same for all types of suspended ceilings.

Technical characteristics of spot lighting

• It is important to use the same type of luminaires for certain lighting circuits.
• Powerful lighting devices over 40 watts can damage the suspended ceiling.
• For plastic ceiling options, it is recommended to choose wiring that is more fire-resistant compared to plasterboard ceilings.
• Without fail, the wire for lighting must be multi-core, soft and flexible.
• You should periodically check the fastening and tightening of the clamping bolts of the wiring fastenings.

How to connect lighting yourself

1. Planning. If the suspended ceiling is formed from several levels, the connection of the lamps should be made with the allocation of separate lighting circuits, which are controlled by a separate 220-volt network switch. The installation diagram is developed in advance.
2. Pulling and securing wires. It is recommended to fasten the wiring to metal profiles using special plastic ties. At the places where the light points are attached, form loops that can be easily hooked and pulled out through the holes drilled in the ceiling panels. At the same time, it is important to allow them to sag slightly.

In another option, you can stretch the wiring with your own hands from the first hole to the rest, but in this case the wiring will lie directly on the drywall itself from the inside.

1. Drilling holes for spotlights. The layout takes on its final contours after installation of the ceiling surface. In the case of plastic ones, it is better to place the lighting fixtures in the center of the panels, and not at the junction. The holes are made using a drill and a special attachment called a “crown”. It's easy to drill them with your own hands. It is important to choose the correct nozzle diameter.
2. Lighting connection. It is important to connect 220 V, following a strict algorithm:

1. Fastening lamps. Bend the side brackets with your own hands until they stop and insert them into the hole. After this, the staples will snap into place. Insert the lamp and secure it at the top with the retaining ring. This design securely holds the lamps on the ceiling. After this, you can connect the main wire to the network.

At the final stage, all that remains is to check the operation of the distributed light lighting. Thus, following the technology and observing the sequence of work, you can easily install built-in spotlights on a suspended ceiling with your own hands.