Led strip lighting in bathrooms
Can You Use A Dry Rated LED Light In A Bathroom?
LED lights are an excellent choice for your bathroom.
Because LEDs come in so many styles, they offer several different ways of highlighting key features.
Whether it’s the main light in the room, a vanity mirror light, or under-lighting around the edge of a bathtub.
However, unsurprisingly, bathrooms tend to get wet. As you know, water and electricity generally don’t mix.
This is why you may think you need a damp-rated LED light for your bathroom instead of a dry-rated one.
Damp-rated LEDs are more resistant to steam and moisture.
Bathrooms have different lighting zones, based on how close they are to water. Damp-rated lights are needed within 600mm/23″ of bathtubs, showers, or basins. Dry-rated lights can be used outside these areas providing the room is properly ventilated. Still, it’s safer to use waterproof lights if you can.
In this article I’ll explain:
- The main differences between dry-rated and wet-rated LED lights
- Whether a bathroom is considered a damp location
- The hazards of using a dry-rated LED in a bathroom
- The best LED bulbs for your bathroom
Dry Rated Vs Wet Rated LED: Main Differences
The main difference between dry-rated and wet-rated LEDs is in how they are manufactured to deal with moisture.
Dry-rated LEDs are not carefully built to be completely sealed, while wet-rated LEDs are. This means no water can get in or out of the bulb.
The key is in the ingress protection (IP) rating. This explains how sealed an electrical item is against dust particles and moisture. It’s given in two digits.
On a scale of 0-6, the first is how protected it is against solid objects, from ‘completely open air’ (0) to ‘completely dust-tight (6).
More importantly, for bathrooms, the second digit deals with water protection on a scale from 0-9, with 0 being no protection and 9 being protected against high pressure, high-temperature water jets.
For the main lights in your bathroom, you’ll need an IP rating of at least IP44 ideally, which is completely protected against splashing of water.
For shower lights or lights within the bathtub, if you have something like a hot tub, they’ll need to be rated IP67 – safe in total immersion up to a water pressure of one meter.
Is Bathroom Considered As A Damp Location?
The term ‘damp location’ isn’t just one use as a general adjective.
It’s a fully defined term from the National Electrical Code.
You can read the code here in full – you’ll need to subscribe (for free) to download it.
However, in summary, locations are either rated dry, damp, or wet.
A dry location isn’t normally subject to moisture or wetness for a sustained period.
A damp location is somewhere protected from the weather but not from some dampness.
While a wet location is anywhere in direct contact with the earth or subject to saturation.
A bathroom is actually considered by this definition to be a dry location.
That’s because the room is not constantly suffering from moisture. By regulation, all bathrooms require ventilation to remove steam and dampness.
However, there are different zones of a bathroom to consider.
The base of a shower or the inside of a bathtub are wet locations, so any recessed lighting here needs to be completely sealed, rated at least IP67.
Then anything above a shower or bathtub to a height of 2.
25m is considered a damp zone where you need a minimum damp-rated bulb of IP44 or better – but really, it’s best to get IP 65 or more for a completely sealed bulb.
Many shower lights are rated IP65 or better for safety.
Finally, any zone within 600mm surrounding a bathtub, basin or shower is considered likely to be damp, and you should use an IP44 or better bulb.
Hazards Of Using Dry Rated LED In A Bathroom
If you choose to use dry-rated bulbs in your bathroom, then moisture can get into the circuitry.
The reason this is problematic is that water is conductive.
Electrical circuits are designed to flow in a certain way to keep them safe – the current passes through the circuit’s components in a carefully managed way.
As soon as moisture gets into the circuit and starts creating unplanned connections, acting as a bridge for the current, it can cause the circuit to short out.
It’ll only be reactivated once the circuit is dried out, and there’s a chance component could be damaged as a result.
In some cases, the bulb could even pop.
Suppose the light is a good quality bulb. In that case, it should be protected from this, but if you’ve bought cheap LEDs, then not only could a bulb pop, but it might not withstand the internal damage, causing the casing to shatter, becoming a physical hazard.
Which LED Bulbs Are Best For The Bathroom?
You might not technically need damp-rated LEDs in your bathroom. Still, it’s better to be safe if you can and upgrade to one that definitely won’t be damaged by moisture.
It means the lights will be safe to use even if something happens to your ventilation fan and leaves it out of use for a couple of days.
When looking for good lights, you want to avoid lights manufactured in China, where regulations aren’t as tight.
And then you should look for anything with a rating of IP44 or better.
There are various different bathroom lights you might want to buy.
It’s good to start with high-quality ceiling light because you need to safely use the bathroom and see any potential hazards, especially as slipping over in a bathroom with ceramic furnishings can be dangerous.
Here are some good options for damp-resistant ceiling LEDs:
Another good idea for a bathroom is a vanity light. Having a bright light near your mirror helps give a better view, so whether you’re caring for your skin or trimming facial hair, you’ll catch every fine detail.
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Final Words
Because bathrooms are designed to be well-ventilated, they’re not considered damp rooms – even if they do frequently get damp after a shower (or bath time for younger, splashier family members).
So, while you technically don’t need damp-rated LEDs in some parts of your bathroom, it’s safest to get them if you can.
If you do find an LED light you love that’s not damp-rated, make sure it’s installed at least 600mm from showers, bathtubs, and basins so that they’re safe to use.
What lighting do you have in your bathroom? Have you checked its IP rating?
Looking for an LED bulb but not sure what type you need?Check out my free bulb picker and select the right bulb within few clicks.
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How to Choose Waterproof LED Light Strips for Pool, Bathroom, etc.
Q: I would like a waterproof LED strip light, but how can I identify if an LED strip light is waterproof?
A: Generally speaking, when you’re purchasing an LED strip light, you can see its level of waterproofing on the part that presents the product details. Overall, it is mainly divided into non-waterproof, waterproof against drops and splashes, and completely waterproof.
IP20 basically represents that it is not waterproof, suggesting that you not use it indoors where it could get wet with water.
IP65 and IP66 indicate that it is semi-waterproof, so you can put it under water and wash it, but you cannot soak it in water constantly.
IP67 indicates that it is waterproof; you can immerse it in water for a short period of time outdoors.
IP68 indicates that the level of waterproofing is higher and that you can immerse it in water for a long time.
If you are only using it indoors, there are water drops and splashes, and so a waterproofing level of IP65 basically is good enough. If you would like to install it in a place where it will be submerged in water for a long time, then we suggest that you utilize an LED strip light with a level of waterproofing of IP68.
Part 1. When Do We Need Waterproof LED Strip Lights
Part 2. How to Install Waterproof LED Strip Lights
Part 3. Why Choose Lepro Waterproof LED Strip Lights
Part 4.
Understanding the IP Protection Level
Part 1. When Do We Need Waterproof LED Strip Lights?
How to discern whether or not we need to purchase waterproof LED strip lights? It’s mainly based on the location where you install them.
As far as indoors, if you’d like to install the LED strip lights in your bedroom, living room, or all around some furniture as background lights, then you basically don’t need the waterproofing feature. You can just directly purchase non-waterproof LED strip lights; this way, you won’t need as much of a budget, either. If you’d like to install them in your kitchen, bathroom, or other places where often there are splashes of water, we suggest that you purchase strip lights with a protection level of IP65. If you want to ask whether or not you need to purchase strip lights with a protection level of IP67 or even IP68, my suggestion is that there isn’t so much of a need for that; unless you need to constantly soak the strip light in water, generally it’s relatively rare indoors.
If you are getting ready to install the strip lights in a swimming pool, fish tank, and other places directly immersed under water, or to install them outdoors directly exposed to the outside, it might be able to withstand getting soaked under heavy rain for a long time, and we suggest that you go ahead and purchase strip lights with the highest protection level, IP68. If they’re outdoors but there are some coverings and they won’t be soaked for a long time in water, then you can also just purchase LED strip lights with a bit lower of a protection level.
Part 2. How to Install Waterproof LED Strip Lights
There are different categories of LED strip lights, such as 12V LED strip lights and 120V LED strip lights, and their methods of installation differ. Let’s take the Lepro LED 12V strip light for instance and teach you how to install waterproof 12V LED strip lights indoors. Actually, if you purchase non-waterproof LED strip lights, the installation process is also the same.
Step 1. Clean walls/object surfaces
No matter whether you’d like to install the LED strip lights onto the ceiling of your bathroom, the bottom of your bathtub, or behind your mirror, the very first step is to ensure that the surface is dry and clean. Otherwise, the 3M super glue on the back of the LED strip light will not be able to adhere to where you’d like to install it.
Step 2. Tear off the 3M super glue, and stick on the strip light
After cleaning up, you can go ahead and tear off the 3M super glue on the back of the LED strip light and stick the strip light onto the location that you have chosen. After sticking it on, if there is an excess portion, you can use scissors to cut the strip light where there are cutting marks. You can also take measurements before sticking it on, preparing a strip light of a suitable length before then sticking it on.
Step 3. Connect the strip light and the controller
If you have purchased a strip light set, there will be illustrations inside of the connector, helping you to connect your strip light and controller.
The other end of the controller connects to the power.
Step 4. Hook up to power, illuminate the strip light
The last step is to hook the controller up to the power, and then you can use the remote control to light up the strip light.
If you are worried that the strip light will not be able to stick to the wall due to water soakage, then you can use the strip light securing clip to affix it. If you would like to learn how to install waterproof LED 120V strip lights, you can click to check out more information.
Part 3. Why Choose Lepro Waterproof LED Strip Lights
In the market, there are many waterproof LED strip lights. Why choose Lepro?
First of all, Lepro is a brand that has been working tirelessly for over ten years as an LED illumination business, and our control over product quality is especially rigorous, devoting our energies to allow people to enjoy the coolest illumination experiences, and we are extremely popular with consumers thanks to the outstanding quality and reasonable pricing of the products under our brand.
Second of all, there is quite an abundance of Lepro LED strip light product types, satisfying various demands. Besides whether or not you need waterproofing features, the LED strip lights have even more features that you can choose from, such as there being a single color or RGB color, being able to manipulate the smart controls with your cell phone, following the beat of music, and the like, all of which can be customized at will according to your needs. If you so require, you can click on and check out the LED strip lights categories to find out more.
Apart from this, Lepro values user experience very much. Besides providing professional customer service, if you are not satisfied with a product, you may return it for a refund within 30 days.
Part 4. Understanding the IP Protection Level
IP protection levels consist of two numbers. The first number indicates the light’s level of dustproofing and prevention of penetration by foreign objects. The second number indicates the light’s degree of moisture proofing and of airtightness in preventing penetration by water.
The higher the number is, the higher its protection level is.
| Dustproofing Level | Waterproofing Level | |
| 0 | No Production | No Production |
| 1 | Prevents large solids from entering | Unaffected by water droplets dripping onto the outer covering |
| 2 | Prevents medium-sized solids from entering | Unaffected by water droplets dripping onto the outer covering when the outer covering tilts at 15 degrees |
| 3 | Prevents small solids from entering | Prevents splashing water from seeping in |
| 4 | Prevents solids larger than 1mm from entering | Prevents sprayed water from seeping in |
| 5 | Prevents harmful dust from accumulating | No damage whatsoever if you wash it with water |
| 6 | Completely prevents dust from entering | Prevents big waves from seeping in |
| 7 | Can be used to resist penetration by water for short periods of time | |
| 8 | Soaks for a long time under a certain amount of pressure |
LED strip in the bathroom - features of use and installation
There are a lot of rooms in our house where you can make original lighting.
However, some of them really need it. The bathroom is one of these rooms. As you know, the main purpose of this place is to wash your body.
And in the event that the lighting of certain places is poor, that is, there is some darkness, then this process can be carried out poorly.
Another purpose of the bath is to provide physical and mental relaxation. You can enhance the feeling of rest and relaxation with the help of light of a certain color.
Various sources can create this light, but one of the best sources is the LED strip.
It is thanks to the LED strip that it is possible to ensure that subdued and soft light of a certain color is supplied to different corners of the bathroom. In addition, it can provide reliable and high-quality lighting of certain parts of the room.
Summing up the above, it can be noted that the LED strip in the bathroom can provide the following types of lighting:
- Functional.
- Decorative.
In the following, we will consider the features of installation and use of LED strip in the bathroom. However, first we note what conditions are observed in the bathroom, and what properties an LED-type tape must have in order to be safe to use.
Bathroom lighting features
As you know, the bathroom is the place where there is a lot of water. And everyone knows well that it is water that is the main enemy of electricity and electrical devices.
- Using LED strip in the bathroom floor
- Decorating mirrors with LED strips
- Mirror decorated with LEDs
- LED floor lighting
- Ceiling lighting with LED strip
- Decorative lighting with LED strips
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The presence of a large amount of water and steam is the main feature of the bathroom.
At the same time, in some places of the bath there is a high probability of direct contact of water with a lighting fixture (in our case, an LED strip).
Of course, such contact can lead to a short circuit or electric shock to people who are in the bathroom. In order to avoid such a scenario, only those LED strips that are water resistant should be used in this room. That is, they must be sealed.
As already noted, in the event of contact with water, a person is exposed to serious danger. In order to minimize this danger, experts recommend using lighting fixtures that operate at low voltage.
As you know, the LED strip can operate at 12- and 24-volt voltage. This voltage is safe for humans. Of course, it will be better if you use a 12-volt LED strip.
It is worth mentioning another feature of this type of premises. It lies in the fact that not every place in the bath can get water. That is, in some it may be, and in some it may not be.
Here it is appropriate to recall the four zones of humidity.
At the same time, we will also note which LED strip should be used for them.
Bath zones and types of LED strips for them
The first and most important is the zone that houses the bath, shower and sink. There is a constant presence of water here. And if you mount an LED light source in this place, then it will constantly be in contact with water.
Waterproof LED strip
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In this case, it is best to use those strips that have IP67 and IP68 protection. This protection consists in the presence of continuous sealing.
It is worth noting that the IP67 marked LED strip can withstand temporary immersion in water.
As for the tape marked IP68, it can be submerged under water for a long time. True, the loading depth should not exceed one meter. As for their use, the first one can be used to effectively illuminate a washbasin (can be installed above it) or a bathtub. LED strip with IP67 protection is mounted on the upper edge of the bathtub and on its outer sides.
If we talk about the IP68 LED strip, then it can be installed on the inner walls of the bath. Such use can be called purely decorative.
The second zone is the area around the bath, shower or washbasin. Its space is 60 centimeters around the aforementioned items. Water often enters this area as well.
But, it looks like small drops and sometimes streams. Here it is advisable to use a tape marked IP67. The height of the first two zones usually does not exceed 2.25 meters.
The third zone is the space that is located at a distance of 60 centimeters from the edge of the bathtub or washbasin. Only drops of water can get into it.
Tape labeled IP65 or IP67 can be used to create LED lighting in this part of the bathroom. IP65 LED strip is sealed on one side only. The insulation covers the LEDs, contacts and all other items that are on top of the PCB.
The fourth zone is a space that is located at a distance of 3 meters from the water source. Only steam and condensate can accumulate here.
A possible option is to use an LED strip with IP65 protection.
Ceiling lighting
LED strips can also be mounted under the bathroom ceiling, around or behind a mirror, on furniture, shelves and walls. At the same time, ribbons of surface glow are used to illuminate the ceiling, mirrors and shelves. They are mounted in such a way that the eye does not see them.
So, if the ceiling is illuminated, the LED strip is hidden behind the ceiling plinth. This plinth should be on the wall and the distance to the ceiling should be five centimeters. The plinth can be plastic or aluminum and must be fastened with self-tapping screws.
Mirror lighting
Bathroom mirror lighting
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Ceiling lighting with LED strip is a decorative bathroom lighting and is not very popular. More in demand is the backlight of the mirror.
To create it, the LED strip is installed on the back of the mirror. Of course, the installation is carried out along the edges of the back.
Some experts note that a power supply can also be placed behind the mirror. In this case, the mirror should be at a distance of 5 centimeters from the wall. This block must be protected from moisture.
Helpful Hint: A much better and more importantly safe option is to mount the power supply outside the bathroom. In general, you should make sure that the bathroom has as few electrical devices and components as possible.
That is, all power supplies, controllers and RGP amplifiers, as well as switches, are best placed outside this type of room.
If the power supply is mounted outside the bathtub, the mirror can be placed two centimeters from the wall. The source must emit white light.
It is also possible to mount the LED strip on the walls.
Installation sequence
Now let's move on to the very process of creating LED backlight. In the event that you plan to use only a white LED strip, then you need to stock up:
- power supply;
- with the tape itself;
- wires;
- connectors.
If you plan to organize colored lighting, then you need to purchase a controller and if you use more than five meters of tape, you need to stock up on an RGB amplifier.
Before purchasing these elements, you need to determine the total length of the desired ribbon and its total capacity. The total power of such LED lighting is determined by multiplying the power of one meter of the ribbon (this value is indicated on the ribbon itself) by the required number of meters.
In the event that the total length of the LED strip is more than five meters, then you need to stock up on an additional power supply.
Helpful Hint: One block per five meters of tape is allowed. Its power should be 50 percent greater than the power of our light source.
The connection of these blocks to the general network, as well as individual pieces of tape to the blocks, is carried out in parallel. Such a connection is easier to make using special connectors.
Connection sequence is as follows:
Electrical network → power supply → LED strip.
If the source has colored LEDs, then this strip is connected to the controller.
The first two elements are mounted outdoors with a bathroom. Next, install the tape in the right places. These places need to be cleaned of dirt and degreased. Then LED strip is glued on them. Later, with the help of wires, it is connected to a controller or a current source with a 12-volt voltage.
Video. An example of organizing LED bathroom lighting:
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LED bathroom lighting
The bathroom occupies an important place in the life of a modern person. Daily hygiene procedures are more pleasant to carry out in a comfortable environment, with good and well-executed lighting. Lighting, even in a small and compact room, should be mounted according to needs.
The ideal solution could be "zoning" - the division of lighting fixtures into main and target ones.
Main lighting installation
Most bathroom procedures require bright and evenly distributed lighting. Arlight LED panels and Arlight LED luminaires will successfully fulfill this task. Economical and environmentally friendly, these lighting fixtures provide the right level of illumination.
A good solution to the bathroom lighting problem can be Arlight LED strips. The specific choice of lighting fixtures for the main lighting depends on the type of bathroom ceiling.
Spot light for mirrors
For cosmetic procedures, shaving, applying makeup, an important assistant is a mirror. In order for it to reflect the real picture of the face, without distortion and extraneous shading, it is important to install it correctly. But the small dimensions of the bathroom and its workload often do not allow choosing the most convenient place for the mirror in terms of illumination.
A good solution in this case would be LED illumination of the mirror zone.
To properly create local lighting near the mirror, you should leave a gap between it and the wall of at least 50 mm. The Arlight power supply will be placed in this gap. Arlight LED strip (preferably white) is glued around the perimeter of the mirror, from the inside. In this way, you can ensure uniform illumination of the face without glare and shadows.
Decor with lighting
Decorative lighting serves to create coziness and mood when taking a relaxing bath or invigorating shower. It does not affect the overall illumination and is created as an element of the interior. You can use the Arlight RGB strip for this purpose, which allows you to choose the color of the lighting depending on the mood or time of day.
Most often, for decorative lighting in the bathroom, the least loaded functional surface is used - the ceiling or decorative niches. It is possible to decorate with the help of illumination of bathroom furniture items.
Safety concerns
The development of modern technologies provides a rich selection of lighting fixtures, including those suitable for rooms with high humidity. When installing lighting and other electrical appliances, do not forget about the danger of electric shock or short circuit, which increases with the presence of moisture in the air.
Due to the low voltage applied to Arlight LED lights and Arlight LED strips (12V, 24V), they are relatively safe on their own. For additional protection in areas where water jets (splashes) can get in, you can use the sealed Arlight LED strip (class IP65, IP67). It is worth taking care of Arlight sealed power supplies. The main risk area, from the point of view of electrical safety, is the junction of electrical wires that are energized with 220 V and the Arlight power supply. In this place of isolation, special attention should be paid, and even better, take the Arlight power supply outside the bathroom.
For maximum protection of a person from electric shock, increasing the degree of fire safety of the room, experts recommend installing an RCD (residual current device) on any electrical equipment in the bathroom.
And most importantly: the installation and connection of the lighting system in the bathroom and other hazardous areas should only be carried out by experienced professionals.
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