Three track lighting standards
It’s important to understand that, over the years, track lighting has settled
into three major standards: ‘H type’, ‘J type’ and ‘L type’. When buying
additional fixtures or components for an existing track lighting system, it is
essential to buy components designed for the same standard. Identify which
track lighting standard you currently have in place.
If you are designing a new system, it is sufficient to understand that you
should use ‘H type’ track. The ‘H type’ standard has certain design advantages
over the other standards and thus makes up the majority of new systems
installed today.
Track lighting limitations
For all its merits, track lighting does have limitations. One limitation
is that, typically, every fixture on a given piece of track is on a single
circuit and thus must be controlled together. Thus, it is impossible to
dim one or more fixtures independently of the others. This limitation
may be overcome somewhat by using dual circuit track.
Dual circuit track allows fixtures to be isolated into two groups and
controlled independently. Often, this is used to dim pendants separately
from track heads attached to the same run of track. It should be noted that
the point of power (the junction box to which the system will be installed)
must be wired appropriately to allow independent control of two groups of
fixtures.
Installing track systems
Track lighting systems are not extremely difficult to install. For those
comfortable working with electricity, the systems may typically be installed
in less than an hour. For those not comfortable with such projects, any
experienced electrician should be able to install a track system of any
standard quickly and easily.
Track lighting offers an extremely versatile and, recently, stylish way to
add accent and task lighting to almost any space.
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