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Low-Voltage Track Lighting
Every kitchen needs good lighting, so we’ll show you how to use one of your weekends to install a low-voltage track lighting system to brighten dimly lit countertops. The system we chose is expensive, about $2,000, but is one of the few that has a flexible track that you can customize to fit your kitchen. In addition, its ceiling mount transformer mounts on an existing ceiling light box, eliminating the need to run additional wires. The low-voltage halogen fixtures mount anywhere along the track and supply bright white light that’s easy to focus on any countertop. The system is easy to install with basic tools, and you’ll be done in less than a day.
Full-service lighting showrooms are the best place to find a large selection of track lighting systems. Take a dimensioned sketch of your kitchen to the lighting showroom. A lighting specialist will help you decide on the number and placement of light fixtures and put together an order complete with all the parts and accessories you’ll need. Ask for an installation instruction sheet to familiarize yourself with the system and double-check the order.
The Track System Eliminates Complicated Electrical
Wiring
The track system is easy to install with basic hand tools
in less than one day, even if you don’t have any electrical
experience.
Besides basic hand tools like a set of screwdrivers, tape measure, etc., you’ll need a wire stripper, voltage tester, plumb bob or weight and string, 6-ft. stepladder and a drill and bits. Our track lighting system included the Allen wrenches required to tighten the fittings. Check your system’s instructions to see if you need any special tools.
Before starting any electrical work, contact your local building department to find out if a permit is required. Then double-check to make sure the power is off before handling the wires. Don’t hesitate to call an electrician if you’re unsure.
When you get the lighting system, unpack it and make sure you have all the parts. Then turn off the power to the light fixture you’ll be removing and take it down. With this system, you custom-bend the track to position the lights where you want them, and then suspend it from the ceiling with the metal standoffs.
Before bending the track, use masking tape to create a full-scale plan of your kitchen, including cabinets, on the floor of your garage or workshop. Now mark the location of the existing ceiling light and cabinet door swings and plan the path of the track with masking tape. Bend the track to match your layout. We bent the track by hand using a 5-gal. bucket as a form to get smooth curves. Carefully move the track to the kitchen and support it on the countertop. Then get help to mount the track to the ceiling and install the fixtures.
Caution: Make sure all connections are tight. Loose low-voltage connections will heat up, creating a fire hazard.
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