By Dr. Lawrence Wilson
WARNING: Converting a sauna may require
electrical changes that can easily cause fires and shocks and should only be
done by a licensed electrician or someone else knowledgeable in contracting or
construction.
Infrared
heat lamps give off a lot of heat and can easily burn the skin or start
fires. Be sure infrared lights have a
guard over them and are at least 8Ó from any flammable surface. Also, do not expose the lamps to
moisture, although they are designed for bathroom use.
We
cannot be responsible for your conversion of your sauna unit. Use the utmost care with your sauna, as
you would with any electrical device or heater.
Converting
a traditional or far infrared sauna to a near infrared light sauna is often not
difficult. The most
important consideration is to make sure you can sit about two feet from the
infrared lights. Also, you will
need access to about 8 amps at 110 volts of power for three infrared heat lamps
in the United States. In Europe,
Asia or Australia, you will need the equivalent but with 220 volts.
Two basic situations exist: 1) Your existing sauna is
greater than about 48Ó on one side, or 2) your sauna is smaller on both sides.
If the sauna is greater than about 48Ó on one side, here is
the procedure:
STEP 1. THE BENCH. You will need to rotate 360 degrees or close to it, in the
near infrared light sauna to expose all sides of the body to the infrared light. Most traditional and far infrared
saunas have the bench or benches on one wall, making complete rotation
difficult.
The best arrangement for the light sauna is to have a small
bench or rotating stool in the middle of the sauna, to make it easy to rotate. If there is room in your sauna for a
small bench and room for your legs to rotate, you can move to step 2.
If the sauna is too small for this option, you may want to
remove your existing bench to allow room for a small stool or bench in the
middle of the sauna.
Otherwise, you can leave your present bench, but you will
not be able to rotate as easily with this arrangement.
STEP 2. THE HEAT
LAMPS. Build or purchase an electrical unit
that contains three or four red infrared heat lamps. Four lamps in a diamond-shaped pattern are better,
especially if your sauna is large.
A lamp unit is described in Appendix D of the book, Sauna Therapy, and a
wiring diagram is available by clicking on Free Sauna Plans.
At this time, we also offer a three-lamp unit, all wired and
assembled, ready for mounting, for $249.00 including shipping in the
continental United States. To
obtain this electrical unit, call (888) 330-6456.
Mount the electrical unit containing the lamps on one of the
walls of your sauna in such a way that you can sit about two feet from the
lamps and that you can rotate your body so that the light will strike all sides
of the body.
Mount the lamp unit about three feet off the ground, so that
you can sit in front of the unit and the lamps will shine on your chest and
abdomen.
Run the electrical cord from the unit out a vent of the
sauna so it can be plugged into a regular wall electrical outlet.
STEP 3. THE
EXISTING SAUNA HEATER(S). If your sauna is larger than about 4Õ
by 4Õ, you will need to use the existing heater(s) to heat up the sauna, as the
infrared lights alone will not be adequate. If your sauna is less than about 4Õ by 4Õ, you may remove your
existing heater if you wish, as the lights should be adequate to heat the
sauna. You can also use your
existing heater to help pre-heat the sauna faster and then turn it off when the
sauna reaches about 110-120¡ F. With a heat
lamp sauna, this is plenty hot enough.
We find that far infrared saunas often give off harmful
electromagnetic frequencies, so it is best to turn off far infrared heaters
when using your heat lamp sauna.
IF YOUR SAUNA IS LESS THAN
ABOUT 48Ó ON A SIDE.
If you are short in stature, you may still be able to mount
an electrical unit on one wall, providing the sauna is almost 48Ó long on one
side.
If
you are larger, over 6 feet tall, for instance, you will have trouble
converting a very small sauna by the method described above. Here are four
options:
1. Recess The Infrared Lights Into One Wall. This is a lot more work because it
involves cutting a large opening in one wall of your sauna and placing the
light unit described above in such a way that the lights shine into the sauna. You must use an electrician, a
carpenter or someone skilled in sauna modification for this type of
installation. Be very careful about exposing any flammable material such as
wood or fabric near the lights.
Remember
that you need to be able to sit about two feet from the lights, which are large
bulbs that stick out about 10-12 inches from their base.
2. A Simpler Option. Depending on your sauna, you may be
able to leave the sauna door open and sit partially outside the sauna so that
you are far enough away from the lamps.
You would then need to set up a heavy curtain that seals the entryway to
keep in the heat.
3. Building Out Your Sauna. Another idea would be to "build
on" to the end of the sauna where the door is to make the sauna about 48"
long.
If
none of these options work, you can buy an inexpensive near infrared sauna from
us that assembles easily and works well.
Click
Here To Learn About This Sauna.
CONVERTING A STEAM
CABINET TO A SAUNA
Converting
a steam cabinet to a lamp sauna or adding lamps to a steam cabinet is difficult
because the cabinets are usually too small to allow one to sit about two feet
from the lamps. Also, it is
difficult to turn around in the cabinet.
WARNINGS FOR ALL CONVERSIONS
á
Do
not mount lamps on the ceiling or use ceiling-mounted infrared heat lamps. Too much infrared to the head is
dangerous.
á
Also,
we do not recommend lamps in the corners of a sauna as they may be too close to
the flammable walls. The lamps must be at least 8Ó from any flammable material.
á
You
must have a wire-mesh guard over the near infrared heat lamps for safety.
á
Do
not allow any water, sweat, towels or other clothing to touch the lamps at any
time.
á
We
cannot be responsible for your sauna conversion. Please use utmost care and caution as with any device that
uses high voltage and amperage and high heat.
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