Designing with Light

Track lighting offers both versatility and ease of installation. Available in varying lengths, tracks are really electrical lines extended from the housing box they tie into (or the wall outlet they plug into); matching fixtures can be mounted anywhere along each line.

Early track fixtures were large and clunky, since they needed to house R(reflector) and PAR bulbs. Now they’re becoming smaller and more stylish, especially those designed for low-voltage halogen bulbs. New cable lights are the latest development – even the “track” is getting smaller!

Tracks can accommodate pendant fixtures, clip-on lamps, and low-voltage spotlights as well as a large selection of standard spots. Some low-voltage fixtures have an integral transformer (which can sometimes be big and busy), while some fit a standard track by means of an adapter. Other tracks require an external transformer mounted away from the track (which can serve several tracks and lights).
For safety, avoid track lighting in damp areas such as bathrooms or laundry rooms.

MAKING CONNECTIONS. Standard track systems are mounted to the wall or ceiling either directly or with mounting clips. Power typically is provided by a wire-in saddle mounted to a housing box (plug-in units or adapters are also available). A “floating” saddle lets you tie in anywhere along the track, not just at one end.

Track connectors make it possible to extend some systems indefinitely – in a straight line, at an angle, or even in a rectangular pattern. Most systems offer a host of connector options.Tracks come in one- and multi-circuit varieties; the multi-circuit type allows you to operate two or more sets of lights independently.

ACCESSORIES. You can modify light output or direct it away from people’s sight lines with track fixture accessories. Lenses focus or diffuse light, louvers cut glare, and baffles and barndoors cut or shape light output. Filters can add subtle or not-so-subtle color accents.

CABLE LIGHTS. After illuminating shops and showrooms for years, these low-voltage lights are now gaining popularity with homeowners. Minimalists, futuristic, fantastic or whimsical, the diminutive fixtures are designed to be at once notable and discreet.

A cable light system has four basic components: power source, cables, lights, and mounting hardware. Some manufacturers offer basic kits that can be installed by homeowners; more elaborate systems may require professional installation.

At the heart of each fixture is the exposed light: a tiny halogen MR-11 or MR-16 bulb. Transformers can simply be plugged into a wall outlet or wired into a ceiling box, in some cases, or be located remotely, with wires run to the room. The cables run in parallel pairs spaced from 1 inch to more than 6 inches apart, depending on the fixtures used. Support brackets, cable anchors, and turnbuckles complete the picture; how much of this hardware you need depends on the complexity of your installation.