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Sparks Direct Tips: Bring your Bathroom into the 21st Century
Posted by admin in all-time best-seller, articles at Sparks, ask Mr Sparks, bathroom lights, customer service, energy saving lights, guest expert, lighting systems, website update on October 21, 2011
We have recently published and posted an article entitled, Bring your Bathroom into the 21st Century, on some of the article websites out there – and we thought you may want to know some tips on this topic yourself.
Below is the full text of this article – introducing some of the top tips on bringing your bathroom into the 21st century. We’re working on more such small yet cutting edge list of tips – stay tuned!
Bring your Bathroom into the 21st Century
With trends changing all the time, it can be hard to make sure that your home keeps up to date. There are so many innovative and exciting new products on the market today which can completely change the aesthetics, practicality and appeal of your home. So here we take a look at your bathroom and provide you with a range practical and luxurious changes you can make in order to spruce up your bathroom and give it a fashionable look. So if you are looking for a change, then here are some easy ways to bring your bathroom into the 21st century.
Ceiling Speakers – The bathroom is an easy place to go to get away from the stresses that come with your hectic lifestyle and what better way to enjoy a warm relaxing bath than with some of your favourite music subtly playing in the background. Combined with the correct bathroom lighting you can easily create a peaceful and tranquil environment for you to relax in after a hard day’s work. Many bathroom ceiling speakers will come equipped with waterproof designs meaning they are completely safe in your bathroom environment and can be fitted into your bathroom as part of a home audio system.
Bathroom Mirror Lights – Another popular addition to the 21st century bathroom is a bathroom mirror light, which is essentially a mirror with lighting around the edges. This has proved a popular addition as it can be very handy when getting ready for work in the morning or a night out in the evening. Mirror lights also come in a variety of styles which include a wall bathroom cabinet, lit mirrors with fully adjustable arms and low energy bathroom versions.
Open (Walk-in) Showers – More homeowners are looking in to installing walk-in showers in to their bathrooms, predominantly because they allow for more space to manoeuvre when showering. Having no door is also far more convenient as getting in and out is a great deal easier and it makes it easier to clean.
Low Volume Baths – If you are in love with your bath, then you may want to start thinking about the amount of water you use and how you can reduce it. There are now a variety of sleek and stylish low volume baths that will fit in to any bathroom design. Low Volume baths are shaped to match the contours of the human body, thus creating a more efficient area to be filled with water, and reducing the amount of water needed to fill a bath.
Re-tile/Re-decorate – In order to give your bathroom a clean and calm appeal, you may need to give it a bit of a facelift. This includes replacing any stained or cracked tiles and giving the bathroom a new lick of paint. Light colours tend to be popular as it reduces your dependency on very bright bathroom lighting (saving you money) and it generally emits a calming, clean atmosphere which is likely to be what you are looking for in a bathroom. Bathrooms tend to deteriorate far quicker than any other room in your house because of the often moist environment; so making sure you refresh regularly is essential to bringing your bathroom into the 21st century.
Read this article also via: Bath Showers Tips, Articles on bathroom lights, Your bathroom in the present century, Home improvement articles, and Bring Your bathroom up to date.
Outdoor Flood Lights, pictures of the most popular floodlights and sign lights
Posted by sparksdirect in all-time best-seller, energy saving lights, guest expert, lighting systems, products pictures, promotions, website update on September 12, 2011
We have recently noticed that via the NewLights blog we have a lot of Outdoor Flood Lights being introduced – but almost none are on this particular blog! There’s a wide range of Popular Flood Lights and Sign Lights – which are popular both online and offline – and most of you already know them because you either purchased them, you use them, or you have definitely seen one of them!
What we are talking about some halogen flood lights, tripod lights, high illumination sign lights, etc. If price is the only reason that doesn’t allow you to afford high quality flood lights, via SparksDirect you will not have this problem!
Popular Flood Lights at Sparks and Lights
Left: Cheaper Energy Saving Floodlights – the EH38 Outdoor Flood light(Low Energy Consumption; buy it online)
Right: The PFT500 Black Outdoor Flood Light – 500W enclosed halogen lamp (Halogen Floodlight; buy it online).
Left: The Steinel HS150 range of Halogen Floodlights with a PIR sensor (PIR Floodlights; buy it online)
Right: The Steinel HS500W External Halogen Flood Light with PIR, now Cheaper – get it online now!
Left: The PSL126 Single Hydra 4 Black Sign light – Outdoor Flood Light Fitting (buy it online at Sparks).
Right: The PowerSign PSL226 energy saving exterior sign light – Outdoor Floodlight, buy it now online.
To find out more about the Exterior Flood Lights and other sign light fittings (ideal for parking lots, outside the house, public spaces and private homes, etc – keep an eye on the Articles about Lights and the Outdoor Lights section at NewLights website.
Romano bathroom Wall Light, the Astro Romano Over Mirror wall strip light
Posted by sparksdirect in all-time best-seller, bathroom lights, energy saving lights, guest expert, in-house announcements, lighting systems, new light fittings, products pictures, technical data, website update on June 24, 2011
We have recently added a new range of Bathroom Wall Lights from Astro Lighting – the Astro Romano over-mirror light or beside-the-mirror fluorescent light strips. Very similar to the Tallin wall lights but with a slightly different design, the Romano Bathroom Wall Light is one of the latest additions from Astro Lighting to their stylish Bathroom Lighting catalogue. The polished chrome finish together with the white glass give this fitting a contemporary feel. Coming in different sizes(600mm, 900mm, and 1200mm), you can fit these light strips above the bathroom mirror according to the size that you need it. The IP44 rating of the Romano Bathroom Wall Light allows you to place this fitting in bathroom zones 2 and 3(see the new IP zoning and IP rating in the bathroom). Low energy fitting with lower overheads, the Romano above mirror bathroom light is Part L compliant and can be installed either on the side of the mirror or above the mirror to shed light when you need to apply your make-up or get ready for the daily activities.
The Romano over mirror bathroom wall light
- Astro Romano bathroom wall-light fitting;
- Finish: Polished chrome finish, polycarbonate diffuser;
- Energy Saving: uses a T5 fluorescent lamp;
- IP rating: IP44 rated, suitable for bathroom zones 2 and 3;
- Class 2 electrical rated: double insulated;
- This fitting includes integral electronic ballast;
- Dimensions: 60mm depth, 600 / 900 / 1200 mm length;
- Lamp used: 1 x T5 lamp(not included);
- More details about the Romano 600mm over mirror light;
- Energy saving fitting: uses fluorescent light strip;
- F marked: can be mounted on normally flammable surfaces;
- Stylish bathroom wall light for over-mirror mounting;
- Similar to the Astro Tallin range of wall lights;
- The Astro Romano wall light – models available:
# The AX0667 – Romano 0667 Wall Light, above mirror 600mm strip light in polished chrome;
# The AX0668 – Romano 0668 Bathroom Wall Light, above mirror 900mm 21W strip light(polished chrome);
# The AX0765 – Romano 0765 Wall Striplight, above mirror 1200mm 28W light in polished chrome.
Simple and beautiful application of the Romano Wall Light in the bathroom – Modern Above / Beside Mirror Light Strip
ESC advice for Downlighter Safety(2): reflector types and checking your existing downlighters
Posted by the electrician in ask Mr Sparks, customer service, electrical safety tips, energy saving lights, guest expert, lighting systems, new technologies, standards and regulations, technical data on March 10, 2011
This article is the second part of the Electrical Safety Council Advice for Downlighter Safety guide – found online as a PDF via, Downlighter Safety leaflet. Read the first part of the article via, ESC advice for Downlighter Safety(1): types of downlighters and tips for installing new downlighters. In this article you can find out more information regarding the types of lamps and reflectors a downlighter takes(whether a fixed downlight or an adjustable downlight), some of the markings found on the downlighters, and some tips for checking your existing downlighters.
Different Downlighter lamp types
- Twist and lock Mains (230 Volts)
- Push fit ELV (12 Volts)
Downlighter Reflector types
The dichroic and aluminium halogen lamps operate differently from each other but appear identical. It is possible to fit either type in an extra-low voltage downlighter. However, fitting the wrong lamp type can cause overheating, so it’s important to choose the correct type. The type of lamp determines which way the heat generated by the lamp is reflected.
Dichroic or cool beam
Reflects visible light forwards while allowing radiated heat to pass out of the back of the lamp – to be used in downlighters specifically designed for their use only.
Aluminium
Reflects both the visible light and most of the heat forwards out of the front of the lamp.
Markings to look for on Downlighters
- Do not use ‘cool beam’ dichroic reflector halogen lamps in this downlighter.
- Minimum distance from lighted objects.
- Only ‘self-shielded’ lamps can be fitted in this downlighter. The majority of halogen lamps have a protective shield, which blocks UV (ultraviolet) radiation and protects against the risk of the lamp shattering.
- Lamp (or transformer) is not suitable for use with a dimmer switch.
Tips for Checking your Existing Downlighters
- Check for visible markings on downlighters indicating lamp wattage and lamp type
- Check downlighters and their surroundings for signs of overheating such as curled labels and discolouration or scorching
- Ensure that downlighters installed in floor and ceiling cavities have sufficient space around them
- Ensure that downlighters (and associated transformer where fitted) are not in contact with or covered by loft insulation or combustible material, unless they are designed to operate safely in those conditions.
- Check that downlighters are not installed near furniture, curtains or similar combustible items
- If dichroic (cool beam) lamps are fitted in downlighters designed for use with aluminium reflector lamps only, replace them with the correct type – look for the symbol indicating no use of ‘cool beam’ lamps!
# In this case, you need to consider using low energy lamps, such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) or light emitting diode lamps (LED), as they produce less heat than a traditional tungsten halogen lamp and so reduce the risk of fire. They also use less electricity.
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ESC Tips – Safe disposal of the downlighter lamps
Some downlighter lamps, such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), displaying the crossed-out ‘wheelie bin’ symbol, must not be disposed of in general household waste. Take the lamp to a recycling facility that accepts electrical products. Check with your Local Authority for your nearest recycling centre.
This article is the second part of the ESC Guide to Downlighter Safety – read the first part, ESC advice for Downlighter Safety(1): types of downlighters and tips for installing new downlighters. You can also download this guide as a PDF file via the Downlighter Safety leaflet, or purchase online Fire Rated Downlights, Fixed Ceiling Recessed Lights or Adjustable Ceiling Recessed Lights – via the Ceiling Spotlights section.
Introducing the LED technology, the features, benefits, and the LED lamps common applications
Posted by sparksdirect in all-time best-seller, ask Mr Sparks, energy saving lights, lighting systems, new technologies, technical data, website update on July 13, 2010
This article is inspired by the Aurora’s introduction of the LED’s – the LED technology, the LED colour variation, the features and benefits of the LEDs, the history of the LEDs, and some of the most common applications of the LED lamps. Since it is a technology in a continual development, this article is just a theoretical initial introduction – with the current dimmable LEDs and coloured RGB LED strips, etc – there will be more information posted soon.
Introducing the LED Technology, the LED Lamps
- The LEDs are solid state semiconductor devices. The LED illumination is achieved when a semiconductor crystal is excited so that it directly produces visible light in a desired wavelength range (colour). LED’s are small, typically 5mm.
- The light from an LED is practically a pure, single colour. A green LED produces green light only, a red LED only red light, and so on.
- It is the material of the LED chip that determines the colour. The LED’s are driven by direct current, and the amount of current determines the brightness. See the Colour Changing RGB LED strip.
- The brightness of the LED is proportional to the current flowing through the LED, more current, more light. In order to create a full range of colours including white light, we need to use a selection of different coloured LED’s that can be combined in various proportions to create a wide colour palette.
A schematic image of the LED
- The LED Chip;
- The LED Reflector;
- The LED Cathode;
- The LED Synthetic Lens;
- The LED Connecting Wire;
- The LED Anode.
Some Features and Benefits of the LED Lamps
- Energy Saving: The LEDs are extremely efficient low energy light sources;
- Light gains: In 2005 the white LEDs reached outputs of over 30 lumens / Watt and coloured versions 50 lumens / Watt. The light gains continue to grow – doubling about every two years;
- Long operational life: up to 50,000 hours;
- Compact light source: no other lamp possesses such small dimensions for a comparative light output;
- No radiation: the LEDs do not emit ultraviolet (UV) or infrared (IR) radiation. They do not radiate heat in the direction of the illuminated object – they can be used to illuminate materials that fade easily like food, works of art etc.
- Durable lamps: The LEDs are durable against impact and vibration;
- Dimmable LEDs: the LEDs can be dimmed;
- Coloured lamps: Coloured light can be produced effectively – over 16 million colours.
The LED Colour Variation
Due to the manufacturing process of LED’s they are graded into ‘Bins’ of like colour temperature. Even within these ‘Bins’ it is impossible to guarantee the colour temperature of the light. This colour variation can be discernable to the human eye and this should be taken into account when designing lighting plans using LED technology.
A Short History of the LED technology
- In 1907 – Henry Joseph Round discovered the physical effect of electro-luminescence;
- In 1962 – The first red luminescent diode appears on the market. The industrially produced LED is born;
- In the 1970′s – the LEDs are available in further colours : Green, orange and yellow;
- In the 1980′s – to early 1990′s – high performance LED’s (LED modules) in red, orange, yellow and green become available;
- In 1995 – the first LED producing white light by luminescence conversion is launched;
- In 1997 – the white LEDs become commercially available;
Some of the most Common LED Applications
- LED lamps used in Display lighting – compact displays are possible with low operating temperatures(example: the Illuma Shaker Spotlights, LED track spots);
- LEDs used in display case, museum and shop lighting – for the illumination of sensitive objects at close range with ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) free light(example: the IllumaLED Shaker Track Spotlights);
- LED lamps used in underwater lighting – a low voltage supply for safety and low maintenance(example: Underwater LED lights, high IP rated LED lamps);
- LEDs used in outside lighting – the LEDs offer coloured effects to enhance outdoor spaces(example: the LED garden lights, walkover lights);
- LED lamps used in sign lighting – the strips of LEDs can be used for light signage in many different colours(example: the LED strips used for sign lighting outdoors);
- LEDs used in low level lighting – the LED luminaires are cool to touch and are therefore suitable for use in domestic situation where children may come in contact with them(example: the domestic non-threatening LED lamps);
- LED lamps used in architectural detail lighting – the LED’s can be used in applications which traditionally used neon or cold cathode.
You can purchase many of the LED lamps via – LED Outdoor Lights, LED Wall Lamps, LED Table Lamps, LED Strip Lights, etc. Browse through our website and see if the fitting you’re looking for is in its LED lamp version.