Tips for Using Flexible Track Lighting
Flexible track lighting is a great favorite of homeowners who want to make use of decorative accent lighting to draw attention to their most prized painting or antique. It can also serve as an additional ornament when used to light walkways inside or outside your house.
One Source for Shopping
You get to save more money when you shop for all components of flexible track lighting from a single source. Moreover, buying from a single source can ensure that all components would work with each other
Power Line
When installing track lighting, remember that you don’t need to direct power to each fixture or head that’s attached to the track. Rather, you just have to connect the track to a viable source of power. Electricity will then course through the track and power up every attached light fixture.
Changeable Direction
The term is flexible, after all. You won’t have to uninstall and attach the track to another location in order to redirect lighting. Heads or fixtures used for track lighting may be moved sideways or up and down as well as rotated.
Bulb Types
There are mainly two kinds of light bulbs that are used for track lighting. PAR lamps, which are another name for line voltage halogen lighting, are excellent for providing all-purpose or general lighting. If, however, you’d like to use track lights for accent lighting then you’d do better with MR16’s or low voltage halogen lighting. Do remember that MR16’s use transformers on each side of the fixture or it has to be installed directly into your ceiling.
Ceiling Height
Track lighting, unfortunately, won’t work quite well with low-ceiling rooms. They would provide too much heat especially when there are only small intervals between each lighting fixture. If you aren’t using pendant lighting then they could serve as obstacles to your line of vision as well.
Modern Design
Track lighting is anything but old-fashioned or traditional. It is, in fact, one of the more contemporary trends of lighting and as such, they won’t fit with any country-inspired or Victorian décor. Simply put, combining track lighting with old-styled décor won’t work unless you’re truly after a fusion of designs.
Warning: Possible Building Permit Needed
It’s possible that you’ll be required by your local homeowners association or town government to obtain a building permit before you can install track lighting in your home. You would also have to inquire if your area permits only installation by professional electricians.