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Easy Track Lighting Installations

You've painted and arranged and accessorized, but your room still looks a little flat? Consider track light to spotlight certain areas and bring your room to life. There are many styles and options available, including halogen track lighting, which uses small fixtures yet produces brilliant light.

Installing track lighting is a relatively simple project. If you have direct access to the wiring from above the ceiling, you can attach the track first and install the wiring later. Or, you can install track lighting in place of an existing light fixture. Either way, the wiring attachments will be hidden by a cover plate.

The average track lighting installation can be finished in one day. A do-it-yourself project should cost no more than $160, but will obviously cost more if you hire an electrician.

1. At the breaker box, turn off the power to any circuit you will be using.

2. Decide where you want to install your light, and drill pilot holes into the ceiling joists. Secure the track to the ceiling with wood screws. Try using toggle bolts if you can't screw into the joists.

3. If you're installing your track lighting where there were no previous fixtures, you'll need to feed the wire through the ceiling. Note: Consider hiring a licensed electrician to do any wiring in your home.

4. Use a stud sensor to determine an area between the wall studs to locate the light switch. Remember to place the new switch at least two inches from any stud. Using a measuring tape, mark the placement of the switch so that it is placed evenly with other switches in the room.

5. Make a cutout pattern for the new switch by using a drywall-mounted electrical box.

6. Drill a pilot hole at one corner of the cutout and then use a long screwdriver to inspect for any obstructions. You can then complete the cutout with a drywall saw.

7. Go to the attic and find the area above the wall where you plan to mount the light switch. Using a one and a half inch spade bit, drill into the void behind the wall. Be sure to wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves and a dust mask to prevent irritation from fiberglass insulation.

8. Slide two pieces of electrical cable into the hole from the attic, and then out through the hole in the wall.

9. Peel the sheathing from the ends of both pieces of electrical cable. Strip one inch of insulation from both the black and white wires.

10. Use a circuit tester to ensure that the power supply is off. When safe to do so, connect one electrical cable to an existing power supply, such as an attic light fixture, or any other handy power source. Use a barrel crimp to connect the bare copper wires, and then use wire nuts to secure the remaining connections. White wires are connected to white and black wires to black.

Caution: Switched fixtures may have complex wiring arrangements. If you're not sure which wires supply constant power, test the circuit or consult with a licensed electrician.

11. Find the cable for the light fixture, and connect a junction box to a nearby joist. Thread the light-fixture cable and the remaining electrical cable into the junction box, and splice them with one another with wire nuts and a barrel crimp. Affix a cover to the junction box.

12. Back in the room with the installation, push the other ends of electrical cable through the back of a drywall-mounted electrical box, and secure the box to the wall by tightening the wall-clamp screws.

13. Strip away the sheathing and insulation from the wires. The ground wires are twisted together with a 5 inch piece of ground wire, and tightened using a barrel crimp. Then, connect the white wires together and secure them with a wire nut.

14. The black wires are connected to the terminals on a single-pole light switch. Attach the remaining ground wire to the green ground screw found on the switch.

15. Attach the switch to the electrical box, and mount the cover plate. If you have multiple track lights, consider using a stack switch.

16. Insert the fixtures into the track so that the three prongs line up correctly with the electrical wiring inside the track. Most fixtures easily snap into place.

Remember, if you are installing track lighting over an existing fixture, remove the old fixture and disconnect the wires. Then, simply mount the track light, connect the wiring and install the light fixtures.

Article Source: http://www.uberarticles.com/articles

Alastair Lydeard is a writer for several popular web magazines, on family fun guide and my family issues. Click here to get your own unique version of this article.

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