What are the Benefits of LED Strip Lighting?

LED Strip Lighting uses a number of low voltage LED’s attached to a length of surface mounted ribbon. There are two main types of LED strip lights. The first is a single colour strip which only requires a 12V DC power supply and the actual 12V strip whilst the 2nd is a colour changing RBG strip which requires an additional controller that can be remote or wall mounted. Both single and multi colour lights can be adjusted and dimmed to a specific amount using either the remote control provided with the colour changing strip or a wall mounted dimmer or switch for the single colour LED strip.

Benefits of LED Strip Lighting

• Energy Saving: LED lights use substantially less energy.
• Reliability: they have a brilliant life expectancy with some reaching up to 50,000 hours.
• Mood Lighting: all LED strips can be dimmed depending on the use.
• Easy Installation: most led strip systems are easy to install, you simply connect the power supply to the controller to the strip 12V strip.

What are the other types of LED strip lights?

Types of other LED strip lights include:

• Encased flexible LED light strips (also called ‘LED rope’)
• Non-encased flexible LED light strips (also called ‘LED ribbons’)
• Self-adhesive LED light strips
• Aluminium LED light strips
• Rigid LED light strips

Washington Lighting Bathroom Safety Guide

As everybody knows, water and electricity do not mix. The bathroom can be a very dangerous and potentially life threatening place when it comes to electrical fittings which is why we only supply tried and tested products that have what is called an ingress protection rating. This is very important and all fittings must have one, it verifies the level of protection that a particular light has and the area in the bathroom it can be placed. The higher the protection the close to water it can get. When designing a new bathroom remember the main light should be switched on a pull cord or a light switch situated outside the bathroom. It is best to avoid overly elaborate designs that are difficult to clean and you should try to avoid using anything containing wood, leather or fabric as they can degrade in the humid atmosphere.

What is an IP rating?

A ingress protection rating is split up into two numbers; the first determines the level of protection from solid objects, for example your hands or dust and ranges from 1, which is protection from solid objects greater than 50mm, all the way up to 6 which is completely dust tight. The second number determines its level of protection from moisture and also ranges from 1, which is protection against vertical falling drops of water and ranges up to 8, completely watertight against the effects of immersion under pressure for long periods.

Where can I place my light?

The area you can place you fitting is determined by the above mentioned IP rating. Different IP ratings are allowed to be placed is different zones of the bathroom. For example a light with the ingress protection IP44 can be placed in Zone 2 which includes around the basin and to the sides of the bath.

ZONE 0

Inside the bath or shower cubicle. Rated IPx7.

ZONE 1

The area directly above the bath or shower up to a height of 2.25 metres. Rated a minimum of IPx4.

ZONE 2

This is the area immediately next to ZONE 1. This is 0.6 metres wide, and covers the area directly next to ZONE 1, all around ZONE 1 and also the area above the 2.25 metres high directly above the bath or shower cubicle, zone 2 is also the area around the wash basin. Rated a minimum of IPx4.

Any area not shown below or classes as Zone 0, Zone 1 or Zone 2 is described as Zone 3, an outside zone that has no special requirements unless water jets are used for cleaning purposes.

Why is this important?

It is important to select the style of fitting to suit your furniture and particular style but safety is and must always be the most important factor when choosing a light for your bathroom. The guidelines for bathroom lights, above will help you decide which zone sector the requirements are for the positioning of light fittings in the bathroom.

The light in a bathroom needs to be as bright and as evenly spread as possible without any annoying glare to the eye. The most important area to concentrate on usually, is around the wash basin area for make - up application and shaving etc. It is important to remember that a central ceiling light will create shadows whilst facing into a mirror at the basin area. Tip - The use of mirror lights on or over the mirror will help prevent this.

If you are unsure of anything regarding IP Ratings, Zoning or which light to choose please consult a licensed electrician or send us an email at enquiries@washingtonlighting.co.uk and we may be able to help.

A World of Wonderful Interiors @ Washington Lighting Centre

At Washington Lighting and Interiors we consider ourselves to be the premier retailer for quality lighting at reasonable prices. Established over twenty one years, we offer a huge selection of different types of lighting including ceiling lights, bathroom lights, kitchen lighting and floor lamps. We understand that everyone has their own distinctive taste and we stock a wide variety of different styles so you can be sure to find the right lighting for you. Lighting does not have to just be functional; with our selection, including many designer lighting ranges, you can find the light that adds the right bit of character to your home and fits in with your own personal style. Our extensive range of kitchen and bathroom lighting can help to transform the look of your home; many of our lights can be adjusted to dim or brighten as needed. For the energy conscious we also stock a range of lighting that uses energy saving bulbs, meaning your home can look stylish and you can save money on your electricity bills at the same time.

Our outdoor lighting section is packed with many different styles; security lights can help to keep you and your home secure, and we also stock a range of feature lighting that can enhance the aesthetics of your outdoor space. These include walk-on lighting that can be used along pathways to illuminate the entrance to your home. Our range of wall mounted outside lights and porch lights will help to smarten the overall appearance of your home and make a style statement from the very beginning. Your garden space can be transformed by our range of innovative lighting solutions, so why not browse through our selection today and see our latest new additions.

Take a look at one of our designer lighting ranges and discover exclusive styles not available on the high street. We pick all of our suppliers extremely carefully and only work with reputable brands that offer top quality to our customers. We offer a 7 day money back guarantee on all purchases and can fulfil both UK and international orders. For any advice you may need please contact our dedicated sales team who will be able to assist with your order. Our secure website can process most major credit and debit cards, American Express, and payment via Paypal. Whether you are moving home, or simply having a revamp, take a look through our wide selection and see what we have on offer; the majority of our lights come with free delivery saving you even more money.