Electronic or Magnetic remote transformer?

Hey all, need a little help/advice

I'm trying to install a "monorail" lighting system. It a low voltage rail that hangs from the ceiling and you can attach fixtures anywhere along the length. Specifically something like this:

http://www.ylighting.com/monorail-lighting.html

Anyway, the problem is that my ceiling is a concrete slab, with no power and my building doesn't allow any channeling so I won't have a ceiling junction box to provide power.

My option is to bury a remote transformer in the wall and come out from there and provide power to the unit that the rail will connect to.

http://www.ylighting.com/lm-wpc.html

First, everyone keeps telling me about magnetic transformers and electronic transformers, but no one seems to know what the crucial differences are. One guy at a store said that I would need a "third" wire (I can only assume a neutral) if I used an elec. trans. as opposed to standard hot/cold wiring that is ok with magnetic. I don't really know what this means and whether it's an issue for me. My building is old and I'm sure I only have hot/cold. Are there any other differences between elec/magnetic that might impact me in installation or maintenance?

Second, is it really ok to "bury" this in the wall, between studs, behind drywall? Will I have heat issues?

Lastly, any tips from anyone who's dealt with this is welcome.

Thanks,
Scott

 

I just installed two of these systems on opposite cathedral ceilings in a customer's library. Very cool stuff!
He went with the 300 watt magnetic transformers. The ones that look like flying saucers. I honestly can't say why he went with magnetic. They were purchased at Lighting By Gregory in NYC.

The magnetic may have a hum to them, especially if they are dimmed. Magnetic needs a specific magnetic low voltage dimmer.

Some conventional dimmers, usually the bettr ones, can be used for electronic lo-vo. If not, a specific electronic lo-vo dimmer must be used. Actually looking at their site they say their electronic can be used with standard dimmers.

The wall fed you linked still needs the transformer. Where would this be placed? I am really not sure if the transformer can be burried, but I would assume not. Most I see on that site look like they can't

 

Magnetic transformers are exactly what the name says. A standard transformer that changes voltage by using different numbers of wire turns coupled by a magnetic field.
'Electronic transformers' are actually small power supplies. There are a number of ways of designing them, and some contain transformers run at higher frequency to make them very small (kHz to MHz versus plain old 60 Hz). Others use a technique called ?bucking? that uses only a coil. Electronic ?transformers? can be designed to operate on the waveform a ?standard? dimmer produce. Magnetic transformers can be designed for conventional dimmer operation, but can become very expensive. Special dimmers are required for many (probably most) magnetic transformers. They provide a smooth waveform while reducing the voltage for dimming purposes.

 

Speedy, what brand is this 300 watt system? How's the quality?

 

Tech Lighting is the company. Click on products, then monorail.

Very nice stuff and superb quality.

 

You can run the power across the ceiling with wiremold. This is basically a nice looking conduit that is run on the surface of walls and ceilings. You could put a junction box where ever you want with this. As for buring the transformer, absolutly not!. You will need to have some sort of access for repair. (also, it is against the nec) Also, heat may be an issue. The instructions with the transformer should provide you with the requirements.