subject: Get On Track With a Versatile Lighting System [print this page] Get On Track With a Versatile Lighting System
Track lighting is one of those features that might make you say to yourself, "Boy, I wish this wasn't such a challenging project." Well, good news-it doesn't have to be. All it takes is some planning, gathering the right equipment and some time to put the project together.
Track lighting is a series of lights that's attached anywhere on a continuous track instrument that conducts electricity. It's a versatile, striking design statement that you can pretty much design by yourself.
The basic steps to buying your track lighting system are:
Draw a layout of the desired system in the room it will be installed
Depending on your application, choose the track system you'll be working with
Choose your lights and location of the system
Determine the total feet of track and add up the wattage of all fixtures
So, what will you be lighting? Is your new system for general lighting or accent lighting (for example, highlighting pieces of wall art)? Also, a good rule to follow is one light per one foot of track to prevent cluttering.
Next, decide what type of track lighting system you'd like. Basic track is the most common system and is very user-friendly. A rigid track is installed flush to the ceiling. The other popular type is monorail, and within that category, we can get a little more specific.
Suspended monorail track systems are hand-bendable so you can put light precisely where you want it. Monorail track must be suspended by standoffs (to be used every 30 to 36 inches) and the height must be uniform through the entire system. A two-circuit monorail system is literally two track systems in one. In essence, this type of monorail system is designed to accommodate two different lighting systems-so you can have one on while the other is off.
Now the fun part-choosing the actual lights. There's a huge variety available, including pendant lights, track heads (best for spot lighting) and fluorescent wall washers (typically used to illuminate an entire wall).
Finally, figure out the total amount of track your system will need and add up the wattage of all of the fixtures. Then to determine the type of transformer you'll need. For a low-voltage system, try a power feed with a built-in transformer (located in the light canopy). A line voltage system will just use the electricity from the house.
As with anything electrical, there are limitations to consider. With a line voltage system, you're limited to 1,800 watts per run. Low voltage track systems are limited to 300 watts per transformer, per run. Most track runs don't use more than 300 watts (think six 50-watt fixtures). Multiple runs can be used together to look like a single-track system, but they must be isolated (with plastic insulated isolating connectors) due to the wattage limitation.
Also, a voltage drop will occur on a low-voltage system along longer lengths of track, and you may notice a decrease in brightness for the light that's farthest from the transformer. This depends on the number of fixtures on a system, the length of track and the length and gauge of wire from the transformer to the power feed on remote transformers.
So, when you're ready to install you newtrack lighting system, we highly recommend hiring a qualified electrician to do so if you don't have lighting installation experience. And always refer to the follow the manufacturer-issued instructions when installing the track system.
