how to position rain head & shower light? and the switch?

16 years ago

hi all - i'm having trouble finding info on this.

i have a rain shower head i plan to install on the ceiling in my 42" x 42" shower, and i also need to put a light in there, or possibly immediately outside of the shower if need be. the vanity light is about 6' away and does not shine enough light for the shower.

i have 2 dilemmas:

1. how do i position both a rain shower head and a shower light? i'm thinking it's important to have the rain head in the middle of the shower, but then where do i put the light so it's not in my eyes but still lights the shower?

2. where do i put the light switch? i already have a bundle of them near the door/vanity, so i wanted to mount the switch for the shower light (& likely the fan integrated as well) just outside the shower. i'm having an electrician do this work, so i'll run it by him, but wanted to see if anyone else had any thoughts or brilliant ideas

if it helps, my room layout is in my master post "lisa's master bath remodel"

thanks,

lisa

Featured Answer

toadangel
Original Author

16 years ago

thanks Mommielady for the kind words about my project :)

and to kob for the suggestions... I think you mean "two" lights?

i decided against the heat/vent/light combo for a couple of reasons -

- my old vent is over the vanity area and is only hooked up to a 3" branch of the 4" vent. I didn't want to string it farther, being only 3", and my friend didn't want to deal with changing it to 4" completely since my attic is no fun. so i got a quiet (- i had heard that the combo units were louder & i wanted to stay away from things that forced you to have the fan on in order to use something like a light or heater that was quiet

- i read that with those units, the fan sort of sucks the heat up as it is blowing, which makes sense... plus i wanted the infrared type of immediate heat rather than heating the whole room

i may end up with a couple of can lights just outside of the shower that i can point towards the shower itself. i'm afraid lights inside the shower will bother my eyes too much when i'm washing my hair or face & looking up at the ceiling, though if i can get them on dimmers, that may work.

lisa

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Comments (9)

kob1234
16 years ago
Yes as you said you should have the rain shower head in the middle,
And if it was my bath I would put the lights in tow side of the shower head,
And donÂt forget that if you use tow lights you can use a frost cover for them and then it will not strong light to you eyes,
And if you trying to save a plate for the electricity you can use one with remote you can
Find it in any home depot store.
Or simple you can convert the main light to the shower light to one switch,
And finely if itÂs not working you can order a nice decorate electric plate up to seven in one plate,
I bought my self in check link this and maybe it will help you.
kob

Here is a link that might be useful: decorate electric plate
mommielady
16 years ago
I am new to this forum, and I am completely amazed by the tenacity of all of you. I read your first thread and cannot believe that you worked like crazy all through Christmas! I think Bill and Mongo are brilliant, and Flyleft is amazingly funny and resilient, and so is Ivette and Monica; and that this forum is a Godsend.

That being said, I looked at your "New Plan." Is it possible that you could use the Panasonic Whisper product that is the Light/Vent or Heat/Light/Vent variety? If you use the Whisper Warm that is the Heat/Light/Vent, you might eliminate the need for the QMark heat lamp that you show as a product choice. I am thinking of switching from the Nutone prduct I have roughed in to the Whisper Warm because so many users on this forum have said how quietly and warmly it performs.

Then would it be possible for you to place this product just outside your shower so that the light could be cast into the shower while bathing, and the heater provide comfort once you step out? Naturally, the fan could be used in warmer months to remove humidity as you showered.

I don't know if your venting system will allow you to place this fixture close enough, however. I think that kob's suggestion of a remote to turn off the light is a good one, I have used such a remote in a tall cabinet, they're great. I'm not sure if it would work on a shower light, however.

Also, in Nutone's heat/light/vent combination, all three switches are housed in a box that fits into a single switch; the 3 are just arranged vertically. That was one reason I liked the Nutone because the 3-function switch fit into a single switch plate (box). I do not know the configuration of the Panasonic switch box. The Nutone is a little noisy in the heat mode, though, as I have it in another bath.

I am not familiar with the "tow" lights kob referred to in his post. Can any one expound?

Good Luck, Lisa. You are a woman to be admired.

Mommielady
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mommielady
16 years ago
I just re-read your original question and looked again at your "new plan." You asked about the wall just outside your shower? Looks like the perfect place for the switch(s) to me. After all, you're not going to need the light (or vent or heat) until just before you step into the shower. And as long as you don't have any plumbing on that wall (depending on the codes where you live) I don't see why your electrician couldn't put your switch there.

Let us know what you decide.

Mommielady
ashlander
16 years ago
How high is the ceiling in your bathroom? I just answered another posting about placement of rain shower head and light in the shower and included a picture.

Well, we have a can light in our shower, but our ceiling is 9' in the bathroom, so I never look up. So the brightness of the light does not bother me, but it is so nice to have adequate lighting in the shower.

When I wash my hair, and especially with the rain shower head on, I never look up and so I had forgotten what kind of lighting we have, even though we have been using the shower for 6 months!
toadangel
Original Author
16 years ago
thanks, ashlander - i think that other post & mine showed up at the same time :)

my friend suggested putting my light right near where my door/curtain will be, which is similar to your setup.

where is your switch located? you said you turn it on right before getting in the shower, so it's next to it? separate from the vanity switches?
ashlander
16 years ago
toadangel: (interesting name)
Our shower is across from our 7' vanity with two sinks. The vanity switch is next to one sink, and the shower switch is next to the other sink. There's probably 3 feet between the shower and vanity.

So I turn on the light for the shower, and then take a few steps to the shower door. We did not have any wall space adjacent to the shower for a switch.
akacindy
15 years ago
I can not add to any of the solutions already offered here, but has anyone heard of a light shower head combo unit? it might be tricky mixing elc with h2o, but there must be a way... anyone?
Corey Machanic
3 years ago
Hello! What did you decide on for this, and how did it work out? We have same situation: 42x42 shower and rain shower head on a bar coming out about 14” from wall. Thanks!

how to position rain head & shower light? and the switch?

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how to position rain head & shower light? and the switch?

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