Monorail Lighting Kits: Six Things To Consider

When you decide on using a monorail lighting system, you might be overwhelmed by all the different monorail lighting kits that are available. Assuming you are not an expert, it takes a good deal of research to determine which kit is right for you.

Good Instructions

If you are a do-it-yourselfer, you need a monorail kit with instructions you can follow. You are probably not an electrician or a lighting specialist. You need things to be explained to you.

Often, you can go to an online store and request a copy of the instructions before you buy. If you are going to a local store, you might ask the sales clerk if you can see the installation directions. In either case, you will have an idea whether you can complete the job or not.

Types of Rail

There are different types of rails for monorail lighting kits. Some are pre-bent in store into specified shapes. Some are fairly straight, with possibly some angles built in, but no curves. Still others can be bent by hand to fit your ceiling in any configuration you wish. You have to decide which kind of rail works best for you before you buy or order your kit.

What the Kit Contains

With all the kits available, it is not as easy as one might think to get a complete listing of everything that is included in the monorail lighting kit. Perhaps some of the companies are trying to disguise the fact that their kits are not complete.

The truth is that most honorable kit companies will tell you up front that their kits do not include the lighting elements. However, a good kit will include a monorail, end caps, standoffs, and a transformer.

The Elements It Supports

You need to find out before you buy, how many elements the monorail lighting system can support. You do not just need to know the number; you also need to know the total wattage the monorail will support. You need to know if your monorail will be able to handle all the fixtures you want to put on it.

Pendants

These are lovely additions to monorail systems. However, not all kits allow their inclusion. They are not available on older model kits. If a company will not put its specifications on this and other matters in writing, you might need to deal with another company.

The Details of the Purchase

Certain details are important in buying any product, especially an electronic one. For example, find out about the warrantee. Five years is good for the monorail system itself, but the transformer should be good for 25 years. Then, find out if one of the distributors offers to beat the prices of others. Also, when you are comparing price, add in what each company will charge for shipping.

When you have sorted out all the information about monorail lighting kits, you will know more about them than you ever thought that you would. If you will sift through that information and consider the most important elements, you will be able to come to a decision.