| Track lighting is simple to install yet | | | | a junction box connection, but you will not |
| offers great flexibility to change the | | | | need an electrician to install it. |
| configuration at any time. Whether you | | | | |
| already have a track installed and want to | | | | Step 3: Choose Your Lamps After you have |
| update the look, or whether you want to | | | | decided between, L, H, or J and have designed |
| install new track lighting, we can help. | | | | your track layout, you will need to make sure |
| | | | that you buy track fixtures that fit your |
| Four Steps to Designing a Track Lighting | | | | track. Track fixtures come in two main types: |
| Installation Step 1: Pick a Track Standard | | | | low voltage and line voltage. Line voltage is |
| The foundation of any track lighting system | | | | the raw voltage that you will find in |
| is the track itself. The track is the part | | | | standard outlets and junction boxes - 120 |
| that attaches to the ceiling or wall and it's | | | | volts in the US. Low Voltage Fixtures, which |
| what the light fixtures are affixed to. It's | | | | consume less electricity and provide a whiter |
| important to keep in mind that not all track | | | | light than Line Voltage Fixtures, use 12 volt |
| lights (fixtures) fit all track types. There | | | | power and therefore require a transformer to |
| are three standards and a bunch of | | | | convert the raw 120V to the desired 12V. This |
| proprietary systems. The three standards were | | | | transformer is a rectangular block about 4" |
| developed by the early manufacturers of track | | | | long that serves as both the base of the |
| lighting (Halo, Juno and Lightolier), and we | | | | fixture and the connection to the track, and |
| carry fixtures that are compatible with all | | | | comes as an integral part of any Low Voltage |
| three systems. We refer to each by the first | | | | Track Fixture we sell. |
| letter of each company's name. There are | | | | |
| other track systems out there that are not | | | | Since the conversion from 120V to 12V happens |
| compatible with the above standards; these | | | | on the fixture itself, the track remains at |
| tend to be the cheap systems of flimsy | | | | the line voltage, meaning you could |
| construction that are carried by the home | | | | theoretically have both Low Voltage and Line |
| improvement chains. Besides the low quality | | | | Voltage fixtures on the same track, though |
| of the manufacturing, these track lighting | | | | few people choose to do this. You can have a |
| systems defeat the purpose of track lighting | | | | large number of fixtures on a track; this |
| by taking away the flexibility: once you buy | | | | number is dictated by the total wattage of |
| a proprietary system, you are forever | | | | the fixtures you plan to use. |
| restricted to track light fixtures made by | | | | |
| the same company. To avoid problems, we | | | | Step 4: Pick Your Bulbs Bulbs differ in the |
| recommend you pick one of the standards, H, | | | | diameter and brightness of the light that |
| J, or L, and stick with it. You will ALWAYS | | | | they create. |
| need to buy fixtures and accessories that are | | | | |
| of the same standard. | | | | There are spot lights which create a focused |
| | | | bright light for illuminating specific things |
| Step 2: Layout and Power After you've decided | | | | or places such as a picture, piece of art or |
| where you want to install track lighting, | | | | workspace. Many Low Voltage Fixtures use MR |
| there are a range of track lengths and | | | | 16 and MR 11 bulbs. We provide a description |
| connectors at your disposal to let you create | | | | of the beam angle produced by each bulb in |
| the ideal layout (see more information on | | | | order for you to determine which bulb you |
| connectors below); once you have the parts, | | | | want. Large beam angles (25 and up) are |
| you'll find that they connect easily, kind of | | | | floods. Smaller beam angles (under 25) are |
| like an erector set. One of the most | | | | spots. Combining floods and spots enables you |
| important considerations is the need to bring | | | | to light both specific objects and general |
| electrical power to your track lighting. | | | | areas from the same track. The Line Voltage |
| There are two main methods: a power supply | | | | Fixtures use a variety of bulbs; however, we |
| attached to a junction box or a power cord | | | | don't carry these bulbs because we consider |
| from the track to a standard electrical | | | | them too fragile to ship. |
| outlet. In order to connect the track to the | | | | |
| junction box with a connector, you can either | | | | Other Features That's is all you need to put |
| use a Floating Canopy Connector (if you need | | | | together a professional track lighting |
| power anywhere along the length of the track, | | | | set-up. |
| excluding the ends) or a Live End Connector | | | | |
| (if you need power at an end of the track). | | | | There are numerous ways that you can now |
| You may need to use a Canopy Plate to | | | | modify or accessorize your track lighting. |
| completely cover the junction box underneath | | | | Here are some ideas: Track Suspension Kits - |
| the Live End Connector. Using either a | | | | These kits allow you to hang the track from |
| Floating Canopy Connector or a Live End | | | | the ceiling. |
| Connector will create the finished designer | | | | |
| look that you seek in professionally-designed | | | | This looks great in exposed high ceiling |
| interiors. | | | | environments like lofts or creative spaces. |
| | | | |
| However, if you do not have an existing | | | | Connectors - You can connect tracks together |
| junction box in your ceiling, you will need | | | | into straight lines ninety-degree turns or |
| the services of an electrician to position | | | | any angle for that matter. You can create |
| one for you. If you want an easier approach, | | | | closed loops and boxes without short circuits |
| you can also use a Plug and Cord Set [for | | | | by using dead connectors. |
| L-series][for H- and J-series] to connect a | | | | |
| Live End Connector to a plug on a wall. Make | | | | Special Lenses - You can use special lenses |
| sure that you use the right Plug Set and | | | | to change the shape of the light (honeycomb |
| remember that you will still need a Live End | | | | louver spread lens beam elongating lens) or |
| Connector. | | | | the color (color lenses, color dichoric |
| | | | lenses). |
| The corded solution may not look as clean as | | | | |