We’re using track lights in a few areas in our new house. We like the flexibility it affords and the ability to add or change fixtures as needs change.
Anyone have experiences they’d be willing to share?
Which brands do you avoid? Which brands do you prefer?
Are there companies who’s tracks/fixtures interchange with other companies, or they each brand specific like they used to be?
Thanks for any advice – Jim
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I know that I was looking for some transformers for Juno and in googling found some other brands that would work with Juno.
"Transformers" for low voltage heads, Bill? What's all that about? What are the advantages of low voltage?
I am not sure. But this house that I worked on had large number of tracks.A few of them had regular "bullet" style 120 volt heads.But most of them had small transfomers that mounted on the track and then had a swivel head for a 12 volt MR-16 (I think that is the number) bulb. Some of them also have "director baffles" (like you see on some threatrical lighting) so that you could block off light to certain areas. Those are fairly well focused and a typical track had 4 or 5 on it and in one area they where focused on differnt parts of the wall (up lighting) and in his dinning room he had two tracks on the wall aimmed at both the table and the walls. And a 3rd track directly over the table aim ed 3 ways. Now this was a cathedral ceiling with a peak of maybe 16 ft. He has a new place where he wants to do the same thing over a kitchen table with an 8ft ceiling. I told him that I did not think that it would work. He also had a 2 story entrance area with stairs to the 2nd floor and open balcony.Again that was a large valuted space. He had a track that was hung on rods, maybe 4 ft from the ceiling. Then similar transformers on the track and then 2ft rods to the light heads.Those where the ones from the other company, saw that one labels.They where also MR-16 swivel heads. but had some special bulbs with a differnt contact. Some kind of low UV, color correct $10 bulbs. One of them was a 16 degree bulb that lite a picture. The others where 30 degree bulbs that lite the floor. I got into trying to figure it out because none of them on that track worked and the HO could not remembe which switch(s) where for them. I though all of the bulbs had burned out (That what I started doing was replacing burned out bulbs, many of them where bad). But found out the track was not connected. The wires came down one of the hanging rods, but just taped off above the tracks.
Kathy..........and jim,
There are many very nice low voltage track heads and pendants that hang from the "track". check out-
http://www.waclighting.com
http://www.accesslighting.com
http://www.contechlighting.com
http://www.LBLlighting.com
http://www.techlighting.com
LV's are not cheap, but they are cool, producing some very interesting lighting options.
LV as well as regular line voltage track can do so much more than what was usual a while ago. For instance, 2 maybe 3 circuit track so you can split up the switching on one lone track. Pendants are an option on both, so you're not limited to just the normal track lights. Either can be mounted on the wall or ceiling. You can get all sorts of pendants not of the track brand, then add that lampholder to a separately purchased track ?........thinking its called a head...........
We installed when we built, a bunch of recycled track from a mall reno..........then just recently the wife went out and ordered up all sorts of LV lighting. Tiny parts and some thinking, but what you can do with the new style "track" is pretty interesting. What I remember of old track, Progress ok, halo ok, a couple other brands would interchange .........but many were unique to their brand.
You want some pictures, give me a yell and I'll snap away.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
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Yeah man, let's see some photos!
We have a few pieces of Litolier track here and there in this house (scavanged from mall remodelling in the 80s). Have some Halo track in the shop from the old days, too. But just looking around online it looks like there's a lot more stuff available, and it's a lot cheaper these days.
Thanks for the links, I'll check 'em out. Friggin' roads iced up so I guess the planned excursion to shop for tile, wood stove and lighting is out...geez, might even have to watch a little football. <g>
alright, here's one of a recent kitchen. Cables hang the track from vaulted ceiling. From a distance, almost can't pick up the 1/8" cable. All hung with plastic anchors. Track bent to shape on site........take it where you want to go. There are some spots that mount up at track ht and some pendants down over the bar area. Produce a remarkable light. Don't buy cheap bulbs for LV's, color differences from one bulb to another of the same wattage/manu.
I'll take some more of joyce's later, off for some submerged nature photography down by the river.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
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And here's a shot of it more finished. What do you think of the splash the homowner wanted? I thought it interesting, enjoyable challenge to install, but feel it takes away from the beautiful granite. I did the install on the full pc of granite at the sink. Jeez, that stuff is heavy! Mathone, had to disconnect the faucet, the valance and the lights up behind the valance. But damn buddy, whatever Darlene wants.........know what I mean?
And, you should taste what comes outta that kitchen! mmmmm.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
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oooopsRemodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
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Nice, man, Whole thing looks great. What the heck IS that back splash? Are those individual tiles, or sheets, or what? And those lights, wow. That's impressive.
That granite glued in place, or what? Never worked with that stuff.
I poked around those links you gave me, now I got way too many ideas racing around in the old head. Got to let it cool off a little.
yeah jim, cool off. Football and we have no allegiance. Man the pleasure in that.
I took some of our lights, will post after I load em, after the game, maybe after the second game, maybe after........
You getting kathy involved or is this your designing?
edit: The copper plated tin ceiling tiles (2'x2') were from the old dies of yesteryear. Granite was siliconed to the poured concrete walls. Thank goodness for the PLS 2. Counter and short splash were installed and thhhheeeen she says no to the last bit of room wallpaper we had planned to fill in, in the space. And she says how bout this.................I'm no tinsmith but I fitted the tin, it overlaps itself on two edges, and PL Premiumed it to the uneven poured wall. Cut out the device holes by hole sawing twice for the single gang, 4 times for the doubles.....then straight snipped the corners. Got it nice and close and clear siliconed the joint at the granite, a 1/4" flat trim that hid the furring/cabinet bottom was re-installed. Dig this, I had scribed that flat stock to the wavy wall and darn it looked good......to toddlers, hunchbacks (sorry) and the occasional counter sitters. Think I scribed it to those ceiling tiles and all that relief?
Good game for the steelers, sure hope it gets good period.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
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Edited 1/15/2005 5:19 pm ET by calvin
One reason for using low voltage lighting (less than 50 volts ac or dc) is the installation requirements are much less stringent than they are for regular 120 volt stuff. About all the code book says about it is, "Circuits operating at less than 50 volts shall be installed in the neat and workmanlike manner."
jim.. i buy all that stuff from
Sunstar Lighting in Florida
.. i'll see if i can google anything...
just the phone number..
Sunstar Lighting 800-881-7827
but .. if you get a model number of what you want.. i'd check prices with them..
thing is.. they private label a lot of stuff so you need their catalog... good stuff, cheap
Edited 1/15/2005 6:26 pm ET by Mike Smith
you're getting that armwavingdesigner lingo down pat.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
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say, what ?????...
how's 'bout that first half , huh.... ?
edit: interception- td uh, oh... are the jets gonna wind up in Gillette ?
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Edited 1/15/2005 6:41 pm ET by Mike Smith
Fell asleep in the first quarter, woke up once it was 10-0. Dozed off and woke up to 10-10. Missed another good one. Got the coffee on now, want to stay awake for this half.
ok, here's some of joyce's.
Line v.pendants with new fitting to the original salvaged track.
LV pendants and spots at transition from DR to LR, over couch.
Two LV pendants with Surface mounted transformer (box from old track. And in the background, a single pendant from surface mounted transformerRemodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
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Thanks, bc. Hey, that third one, 0039, is that track, or something else?
You like the Patriots at home, or Indy's offense?
So, let me see if I got this right, you put a transformer at the box, and that converts the entire track over to 12v? Then you just attach 12v lights like we always have?
Or, you can buy those 12v lights with built in transformer and attach them to a 120v track?
ok, lets see about splain'n this lucy.
039 in the foreground is new LV track and the transformer is on the right. The transf. is surface mounted to a box which was for the old track. You'll see the transformer cable connecting to the new LV track.
In the background is the two pendants. These are 120v line voltage fixtures that I connected to new track ends that fit the old Halo track.
In the last pic I show the same LV track set up, powered by the surface mtd transformer. In the background is a single pendant. The transformer is surface mtd to a box. That is a LV pendant.
I like the pats, and I like Indy's offense. Moreover, another game I can watch without living and dying every play. This is the tits.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
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"So, let me see if I got this right, you put a transformer at the box, and that converts the entire track over to 12v? Then you just attach 12v lights like we always have?Or, you can buy those 12v lights with built in transformer and attach them to a 120v track?"Yes.There are both types.Here is the Juno LV track systems.http://www.junolighting.com/productinfo/trac_t12_intro.asp
And here is the LV with transformers to work on 120 v tracks. Note that for Juno the transform is sold separately.http://www.junolighting.com/productinfo/prod_finder_item1.asp?Fid=F005&SFid=SF051&Cid=C0501&SCid=S05203
I got my wish, good football. I didn't check, how's jeff doing in the tauton subsidized betting parlor?Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
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jeff just covered about half of next weeks bet...but he had to sweat bullet
wait... check that .. i think the dude gave 6 points... hah, hah,hah... points in a playoff game....Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Yeah, must be that new found swagger the steeler faithfull have developed. Still happy, just a bit lighter in the wallet.
You're right on the points.
And he'd better not be playing with cory's college fund. Would have to go over there and attempt to slap him around.
OK, what's up next?Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
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well... the rams are phonin it inMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Think I must have been tired, watched that one through my eyelids.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
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2-circuit track systems, if you aren't already thinking of them.