Monorail Lighting

 

If you’re new to the term “monorail lighting,” you need to know that monorail systems are basically offshoots of the track lighting systems that have been in use since the 60s. To many people monorail systems are more stylish and innovative than their track light cousins, and they have their own unique characteristics.

So how are monorail lighting systems different? For one, they utilize flexible metallic rails that provide power and support for the suspended heads. Another distinction is the fact that the monorail can be shaped by the end user, allowing you to customize your lighting design and then re-shape it later if that design changes. Monorail systems are also lighter and more compact than traditional track lights, allowing them to be mounted from virtually any location.

Because monorail lighting is typically used as task or accent lighting, the kitchen is one room in your house where a monorail fixture could be a real help. Many older kitchens use a single ceiling-mounted fixture to illuminate the entire room. With a monorail light fixture, you could have additional light for food preparation, chopping, cooking, cleaning, etc. With the flexibility of these fixtures, you can adjust the light to illuminate almost any nook and cranny in the room, from the refrigerator to the stove to the spice rack. Then if the layout of the kitchen changes, the lighting can be adjusted to cover the new configuration.

But monorail lighting isn't limited to the kitchen. In fact, it can be used in just about any room in the home, from the study, to the livingroom, dining room, and especially the basement game or recreational room. A billiard table or dart board could always use more focused light from multiple directions, and monorail lighting it the perfect choice for these hard-to-illuminate items.

There’s also an aesthetic element to a quality monorail lighting system. The metal support rail is often a design feature in itself, adding a sleek, modern look to a commercial or residential space. And since most monorail lighting systems use low voltage power -- which can be safely transmitted through un-insulated components -- these systems allow stylish, bold designs that were impossible in the past.

Although monorail systems have many advantages, also be aware that there are some challenges to overcome when installing these systems. Since the majority of monorails are low-voltage units, you’ll be dealing with transformers, which are limited to 300 watts of power for all of the fixtures in the system. This limitation has been overcome in some newer monorails that do not trasmit power through exposed components.

Other important components include the “rail” or metallic track which supports the fixtures. Monorails usually come in 4, 6 or 8 foot lengths, which can then be joined together into an almost infinite number of possible combinations. Hardware used to suspend the monorail lighting system beneath the ceiling or away from the wall are known as standoffs.

Powerfeeds transmit electric power to the rail system from a transformer or other power source. If you want to hang your fixtures below the monorail to further customize your application, you can add optional extenstions, or stems, which typically come in lengths from 2 inches to three feet.

Whatever configuration you choose, let yourself be creative and have fun. Custom lighting should be an inspiration to your home, and something that adds value and livability for many years to come.

 

 

Further Reading

 

• Monorail Lighting Systems
• Monorail Track Lighting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top | Home | Contact| Privacy Policy | Modern Welding

© LightsOutLighting.com  All Rights Reserved.