The use of raster lamps is very popular in offices and various non-residential premises. Their main feature is a white reflective grid. As an option, it can be made of mirror aluminum. The safe distribution of light throughout the room depends on the correct grid. The raster ceiling lamp can be overhead, built-in, suspended and work on fluorescent or LED light sources.
Raster lamps are made mainly in the shape of a rectangle, and the body is a welded frame, which is welded from sheet steel. Uniform distribution of white paint as a coating on the body ensures its application by the powder method. This increases its adhesive qualities and wear resistance.
In the case itself, the plinths, start-regulating equipment and the lamps themselves are attached. A grid is installed on top. Since the grill is installed with elastic locks, it is easy to remove, which makes the lamps accessible. Such lamps can withstand a voltage of up to 220 W, and the standard size is 595 x 595 mm.
Games can be of the following types:
- V-shaped, based on matte aluminum.
- Parabolic, which is made of anodized aluminum. Such a lamp can have up to 9 transverse lamps, which ensure safe scattering of light.
- Double parabolic grille, the material of which is also anodized aluminum.
When choosing a lamp of this type, first of all, you need to pay attention to the grid.
As for the structure itself, it is quite heavy, so the lamp is attached to the main ceiling. Or they are fixed to overlap. In a standard room, where the ceiling height is about 3 meters, one of these lamps illuminates about five square meters.
The advantages of such a lamp are that the illumination range is wider than that of others, the grid serves not only as a diffusing element, but also as protection for the lamps. The raster lamp will not spoil the ceiling, even if it is overhead. In addition, its dimensions are such that it corresponds in size to the ceiling plate, so that it can be completely replaced in the design. This lamp does not require any tools for installation – it is enough to insert it into the place of the panel and connect the wires to the cassette.
Built-in or overhead?
This issue requires special attention. First, it is necessary to understand what is the difference between these types of fastening. The built-in raster lamp will be an ideal option for suspended ceilings, plasterboard ceilings: it all depends on the size of the lamp. They are used by designers in cases where it is necessary to complete the room in a minimalist form, as a rule, because from the outside they look like part of the ceiling, without any protrusions.
A surface-mounted lamp is better suited for an ordinary ceiling and smooth, even surfaces. They are preferred to be used for large premises, for example, warehouses, school buildings and so on. They are versatile and easy to install. As for the variety of models, on the market you can find a large assortment of both built-in raster lamps and overhead ones.
On the one hand, it may seem that you can use an overhead lamp for a suspended ceiling, but if you do this, then with great care.
Incorrect installation, incorrect fastening – and the lamp will fall down together with the ceiling.
The main difference between built-in and overhead lights is precisely in the method of attachment. Some treat suspended ceilings with care, others are ideal for ordinary ceilings.
Which lamp to choose?
Here the choice is small – the light source for raster lamps can be fluorescent or LED.
Everyone knows about fluorescent lamps, for the most part they have already displaced the usual “Illich bulbs” from apartments. The device of a fluorescent lamp is quite complex – ultraviolet radiation, created by an electric current in mercury vapor, will turn into visible light with the help of special mixtures, also called phosphors (hence the name).
The advantages of fluorescent raster lamps are obvious – they are durable, they are a little more powerful than incandescent lamps, and at the same time they consume much less energy. And they serve for several years (usually about 5). And, like LED, they can be of different types – high-pressure lamps are used for technical purposes and for street lighting, low-pressure lamps are preferred for domestic services and office premises. These lamps have a very high efficiency, and they also have a large color gamut at their disposal.
But even here it is not without its shortcomings. Fluorescents are chemically dangerous, as they contain mercury, so they should be handled with care. They are disposed of in specially designated places. In addition, the spectrum of their illumination is uneven, which sometimes leads to color distortion, more often – to irritation of the retina. Over time, the light output of such a lamp decreases, which means that the efficiency also decreases.
Lamps for raster lamps, intended for industrial premises, are characterized by high strength and take into account all lighting requirements in offices and enterprises.
LED lamps work due to LEDs and are the most ecological type of lamps. They are widely used for street lighting or workplace lighting. Such replacement lamps, unlike others, do not contain mercury, which means that they are as safe as possible.
The raster ceiling LED lamp has its advantages – they are quite durable, can be small in size, and are safe. But the most important thing is that they have a very long service life (up to 50,000 hours), while the energy consumption is minimal.
But it cannot do without shortcomings. In most cases, you can only replace an LED lamp with a similar one, and they are quite expensive. But their price is compensated by their low energy consumption and long service life, which is why they are so common in street lighting. There is also an opinion that the light emitted by LEDs irreparably damages the retina.
These lamps have one common feature, which is their great advantage – thanks to their structure, their housing does not become scorching hot, in LED lamps it does not heat up at all, and in fluorescent lamps it does not heat up very much.
Despite the large number of advantages of LED lamps, preference is still given to fluorescent ones. It is not difficult to find them in the store, their service life is many times longer, besides, there is no need to look for the same lamp every time to install it first. Depending on the room, you can choose a lamp of a certain power and color, which is undoubtedly a huge plus.
Raster ceiling lamps are now very popular, you can see them anywhere – in offices, schools, warehouses. The variety of their models is very large, and each type of lamp has its own advantages and purpose. Their main classification takes into account the features of the grid, and it is the grid that determines the lighting quality of the lamp. The raster ceiling lamp can be overhead or built-in, and the choice of any of them depends on the type of ceiling in the room.
Raster lamps can work on LED lamps and fluorescent lamps. Both of these lamps are excellent for office and industrial lighting, but their characteristics have their own differences, which should not be forgotten when choosing a replacement lamp.