Monorail Track Lighting Troubleshooting Tips

Quick Fixes for Monorail Track Lighting Woes

Any do-it-yourself project, especially those involving electricity, can possibly have problems. Monorail track lighting is no different. There are a few tricks to take care of some of the most common sources of trouble.

The most obvious troubleshooting advice is sometimes the most necessary. If your monorail system does not turn on, do not feel silly if you double-check to see if your switch is turned on. Many people have gone to experts for help, only to find that the trouble was something this simple.

Check The Transformer

Then, you can see about resetting the transformer. If yours is electronic, you might fix it by just flipping the switch off and back on. Keep your ears open, because if you hear a clicking noise coming from the transformer, you have a short. You will have to find it.

If you are using a magnetic transformer, it will not reset automatically by flipping the switch. You will have to check the low voltage breaker and reset it if necessary. If it just trips again, you will be looking for a short, too.

Dimmer Switches

You may have the problem of lights flickering or dimming without being adjusted by a dimmer switch. There can be several reasons for this. First of all, if it happens as soon as you put up the track lighting, you may have a problem with the installation.

The transformer may be located in a location that is too far away from the lighting. Your wiring may not be a heavy enough gauge. The length of your monorail track may be too long. In any of the instances, it is necessary to consult your instructions to make sure you have everything right. If you still cannot make it work, ask for the help of a DIY expert.

One cause for this flickering, dimming situation can be that the transformer has to have the right amount of load on it – not too little and not too much. If you have an electronic transformer, you will need to take a look at the instruction sheet to see that the monorail system you have constructed has enough of a load, or enough lights, on it.

Matching Fixtures With Power Supply

Only certain track lighting fixtures will work with certain tracks. In other words, do not try to put a 24 volt fixture on a track with a 12 volt power supply. If you do that, it will not work properly until you get the appropriate lamps.

On the other hand, your lamps may burn very brightly or burn out completely. This is really the opposite of the previous problem. Therefore, just the opposite voltage situation is taking place. If you are running a 24 volt power supply with 12 volt fixtures, you will have this situation. Another cause could be that you have left finger oils on quartz lamps. A quick wipe with a clean cloth will get your lights burning at the proper brilliance again.

Monorail track lighting is fairly easy to install. If you encounter any difficulties along the way, you will find that there are quick fixes to most of your problems. It only takes some time and a little know-how.