Converting track lighting to cable?

last year

Can it be done? Our late 80s track lighting needs to be replaced or updated. Can I tap into what’s there and extend it to cable lighting without spending a fortune?

Comments (6)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
Cable lighting is usually begun at the wall it just requires electrical placed at the beginning. I use Tech when I want kabel so check out what thye have now for LEDs I do know they have some center feed but I have not used it. I sure would try to use cable in that space . I live in a small town now and my clients tend to be a bit on the traditional style wave so I have not been up to date with all the new form Tech
HU-867564120
last year
As Patricia suggested, Kable Lite does have center feed capability:

https://www.lightology.com/index.php?module=prod_detail&prod_id=11574

Your biggest problem, though, will be where to put the required bulky transformer. The transformer is either a surface mount:

https://www.lightology.com/index.php?module=prod_detail&prod_id=71692

or a behind the wall mount:

https://www.lightology.com/index.php?module=prod_detail&prod_id=11489

Obviously, the surface mount is the cheaper option, but can you tolerate a bulky bulge on your cathedral ceiling? With some creative wiring, the surface mount transformer could be mounted near the wall switch (behind the wall in a closet or cabinet??) and the existing Romex used to carry the 12v power up to the ceiling center feed fixture. With an existing 15 amp lighting circuit, the 14 gauge Romex could carry a max of 144 watts of 12v power under the NEC 80% rule.
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I can't answer your track question. However, I can tell you that it's safe to use a CF up to at least the maximum in real Wattage, for the exact reasons you state. Practically speaking in most cases that means the largest that will fit, a 30 Watt or so CF (roughly equivalent to a 110 or 120 Watt incandescent). This is a good, easy way to get more light in your bathroom.
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Wiring: Converting Pool light from 110 to 12V
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680.23 (B)(2)(B)Wet-Niche Luminaires (Fixtures) Nonmetallic Conduit. Where a nonmetallic conduit is used, an 8 AWG insulated solid or stranded copper equipment grounding conductor shall be installed in this conduit unless a listed low-voltage lighting system not requiring grounding is used. The equipment grounding conductor shall be terminated in the forming shell, junction box or transformer enclosure, or ground-fault circuit-interrupter enclosure. The termination of the 8 AWG equipment grounding conductor in the forming shell shall be covered with, or encapsulated in, a listed potting compound to protect the connection from the possible deteriorating effect of pool water.
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Put Plug on Hardwire Track Light?
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"Even if you decide to rewire this fixture yourself (against code)" The NEC does not actually address this. Internal wiring is covered by NEMA and then the construction passes a listing lab (like UL). If you use UL approved components in a workmanlike manor there is no prohibition on making things for your own use and using them (you could even se4ll tham if you are wiling to accept the liability that results). Old fixtures and equipment are rebuilt all the time and used without issue. Adding a plug is not nearly as touchy as cutting one off and hard-wiring. In THAT case the standards get very touchy. Cord and plug connected loads are pretty much outside the NECs purview (except the actual cor used to plug it in).
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Kitchen Track/Monorail Lighting
Q
Comments (2)
bob_cville, looks great! I have components in a box that my contractor is about to install. I'd really like a gentle S curve to the track. Folks at my retail lighting supply house say the Nora rail is easy to bend and you can do it around a garbage can or other cylinder. My contractor is planning to build a curve guide on a long flat board, with posts at the start, midpoint and end of each curve to bend around. Trying to decide if we should just fork over the bucks for the actual Nora rail bending device. Anybody out there have any experience with it?
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PRO
RL Relocation LLC
last year
Short answer yes. its a matter of the right parts.
Painted Peggies (zone 6a)
Original Author
last year
Thanks!

Follow up question:
Can I have the cables go in either direction from the generator? Like to the left and right?

As you can see from my picture of the power source, it’s not centered on the beam or on one side. I’d like it to go all the way across.
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
last year
yes.
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
last year
do you have a lighting store near you? What is your budget for this, have you looked at pricing?

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Converting track lighting to cable?

Comments (6)

Patricia Colwell Consulting

HU-867564120

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RL Relocation LLC

Painted Peggies (zone 6a)
Original Author

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Converting track lighting to cable?

Comments (6)

Patricia Colwell Consulting

HU-867564120

Related Discussions

RL Relocation LLC

Painted Peggies (zone 6a)Original Author

RL Relocation LLC

RL Relocation LLC

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Painted Peggies (zone 6a)
Original Author