Cable Lighting System: Light Fixtures That Seem To Float

You may have never heard of a cable lighting system, but if you have ever seen one in place, you were probably amazed. Cable lighting makes light fixtures seem to float in the space overhead in a room. The look is unusual, but it is really quite simple.

Cable lighting is a set-up where two parallel cables are put up across a room. They are usually put up at a height of seven to nine feet from the floor. This allows room for the fixtures to hang down without danger of being in the way.

Lighting For High Ceilings

This form of lighting works well in high-ceilinged rooms. Rooms with cathedral ceilings, often great rooms for example, are perfect places for cable lighting. Lofts can also be easier to light if you use this system of lights.

The two cables need to have a good separation between them. It usually depends upon how high the ceiling is as to how wide the separation can be. For a ceiling of eight feet, a three and a half inch separation would be fine, but for a ten foot ceiling you need more like an eight inch separation between the two cables. Also, check with your manufacturer for separation requirements for your particular cable lighting system.

Installations Methods

The designs allowed by this lighting method are fairly simple, but there are the few variations. The most common use is putting the cables across the room from wall to wall. You can also attach each end at the ceiling and put the cables straight across the room in much the same manner.

There are other methods that require a little bit more work. One method is to put the cable from wall to wall making a square corner. You do this by attaching the cable to one wall, turning a ninety degree angle on support brackets, and attaching again on the adjacent wall. This is good for lighting up a dark corner.

Finally, the cables can be run in a zigzag pattern across the ceiling starting at one wall and going to another. This is a variation on the corner scheme, but the idea is that the cable can be made to follow simple turns. As long as there is adequate support, they can go across a large room.

All the fixtures used for a cable lighting system will have energy-efficient low voltage halogen lamps. Cable lighting systems are low voltage systems that generally run on line voltage stepped down to 12 volts by a transformer.

There are lighting fixtures made especially for cable lighting systems. You need to choose the lighting elements you are going to use before you do any planning for the installation of your lighting system.

When you finish with your cable lighting system, your fixtures will be suspended between the parallel cables. They will be set at the intervals you choose, taking into account electrical requirements. No one will notice the cables, but the light fixtures will stand out, especially if you have chosen them well. They will seem to be floating in the air above people’s heads.