Track Lighting Choices

By Murray Anderson

Track lighting provides an easy to install alternative to wired fixtures, recessed lights and even floor and table lamps. The systems are essentially surface mounted channels (or tracks) that contain the electrical circuitry to hold and power the light heads (fixtures). Since the track is ‘electrified’ the fixtures can be mounted anywhere along the length of the track, making the system very flexible and adaptable.

Because the tracks are surface mounted they are easy to install – certainly easier than traditional wired fixtures. This feature makes them particularly popular in remodeling situations where running new wires in an existing ceiling or wall can be problematic. Although the tracks themselves are usually mounted on a ceiling, they can also be mounted on walls, beams or even hung from high ceilings. As well, the lighting heads can easily be moved or changed and the tracks themselves can be reconfigured, extended or made smaller to match with changing requirements.

This versatility of track lighting systems makes them extremely popular, however, this same versatility can cause track lights to be misused. For example, track lights are best suited for situations where the light required is directional and focussed, such as accent or task lighting, they aren’t particularly good at providing general illumination for a large room. Unfortunately some people do try to use in situations, such as providing general lighting in a room, that track lights aren’t well suited to provide.

Popular track lighting layouts

• Room shape helps determine the layout of a track lighting system. By far the most common configuration is a simple straight run with track sections simply linked together to provide a run the length of the room. Running tracks parallel to each other on opposite sides of the room can provide highlights on both sides or on two walls.
• Alternatively, track runs can be configured in a multitude of other shapes based on the design of track connectors. Just some of the various options are L-shapes, H-shapes, T shapes and cross and grid configurations. There are even flex connectors that permit track layouts to be put together at almost any angle or flex for unique applications such as running tracks in a series of curves or running tracks from a ceiling onto a wall.

Power and bulb options with track lights

• It’s important to understand that two types of systems are commonly available and the components aren’t interchangeable.
• Standard line voltage configurations use 120 volts to provide power for regular light bulbs (usually in the 60 to 75 Watt ranges). PAR lamps (halogen bulbs that require line voltage) and fluorescent bulbs are also available for line voltage systems although the high cost of the fluorescent bulbs usually makes them unattractive for residential applications.
• Low voltage systems use a step down transformer to reduce the line voltage to either 12 or 24 volts. These systems are more commonly used to provide decorative low level lighting. MR-16 low voltage halogen bulbs will work in these systems and can provide economical low lasting bulb life.
• Obviously bulbs used in the different systems aren’t interchangeable and trying to put a low voltage bulb in a line-powered system could result in a quickly blown bulb or even a fire.

Murray Anderson is an experienced freelance writer over 500 articles published on the web as well as in print magazines and newspapers in both the United States and Canada. He writes on a wide range of topics and is a regular contributor to DoItYourself.com. He can be contacted at murand@lycos.com.