Low Voltage Track Lighting: Compact Fluorescents And Metal Halide Track Heads

When you opt for low voltage track lighting, you will have the experience of choosing track heads to use with it. There are different kinds, and the thing you have to remember is that not all track heads will work on all tracks. Various track heads deliver different lighting effects, too.

Compact Fluorescent Lights

One choice is compact fluorescent track fixtures. These come with a warranty of three years from most manufacturers. They are so energy efficient that you can get quadruple the light as you can from incandescent fixtures.

The effect of compact fluorescent track heads is to create a wall washing impression. Large areas of wall are covered in light. They give ambient light to a room if they are placed high up, near the ceiling. In other applications, they can illuminate vertical displays.

Ballast is a term you should be familiar with if you are using compact fluorescent track fixtures. This is an element that supplies the higher voltages needed by compact fluorescents to start up. Ballast then cuts back to the lower voltage needed to run the fixture.

Metal Halide Lights

Compact fluorescents and metal halide (HID) track heads are alike in that neither of them can be dimmed. This relates to the way they come into their full power. They both use a ballast system and take a few minutes before they become the full bright light that is expected. These factors preclude dimming.

The HID track heads for low voltage systems are not used so much in homes as they are in businesses. However, there are ways they can be used in a house. If you have a very high ceiling, they might be appropriate. Also, if you have something on display that requires bright light and true color rendering, you might use HID track heads.

There are ordinary track lighting heads that have incandescent lamps and can be dimmed easily. These come in canister shapes and some are cone shaped. They come in different colors from red to blue to iridescent. Others come in housings of different metals such as stainless steel or brass. Some look like pendants, but are not suspended as far from the track.

Ambient And Task Lighting

Some of the low voltage track lighting heads have different effects than the wall washers. Ambient light can also be created by the use of downward pointing pendant-shaped lights. Another type of light, task lighting is a very important concept, especially in the kitchen. You need the areas where you wash, chop, and mix foods to be well lighted.

You also need to be able to see over the stove to cook. Cleaning is more easily accomplished if you can see the mess. Task lighting puts a spot on each surface without putting your shadow in the middle of everything.

If you plan your use of low voltage track lighting heads carefully, you can get the effects you want. If you are unsure about which track heads are compatible with your system, consult your manufacturers. They should be glad to encourage repeat business by helping you have a good experience.