Plan your Lay-out
The first step in designing your Tech Lighting MonoRail system is to determine how much light you will need and what you are trying to light. Then lay out your design.
You will need Rail, a transformer, standoffs to attach the rail to the ceiling and last, but not least pendants and heads.
Rail
The rail comes in sizes of 2′, 4′, 6′, and 8′ and in several finishes. It is hand bendable, which gives you a lot of creative possibilities.
Each piece of rail is shipped with 2 conductive connectors to join rail pieces end to end. Order additional connectors if cutting and rejoining rails.
Tip: Lay out your MonoRail run with a hose or string on the floor and shape it the way you want it to look. Mark the end. Then measure how long the rail needs to be. It is sometimes surprising how much you need once you start making bends and swirls. Add a pair of endcaps to your order for a finished look.
Order your MonoRail rails
Choose Your Transformer
The MonoRail system is a low voltage system and therefore it operates with a transformer. You need to know in advance approximately how many lights you need. That will determine which size transformer to use.
Tech Lighting MonoRail transformers come in 150W, 300W and 600W. Each fixture uses up to 50W, so a 300W transformer can power up to 6 lights.
Add up the wattages of the fixtures you’ll be using on the system, then select the size of your transformer. There are two types of transformers, remote and surface mounted.
A remote transformer provides the cleanest look for your system, but you need to have the right location close to your monorail system where you can hide the transformer. A remote transformer can be tucked out of sight inside a cabinet or closet or in an adjacent room, like a utility room. It just has to be accessible and within 20′ of the system. If you choose a remote transformer you need a power feed canopy to bring power to the rail. In case you decide to drop the ceiling to a certain distance from the ceiling you will also need a power extender.
A surface transformer simply mounts to a junction box. The higher the wattage you choose, the larger the surface transformer. (150W: 6.5″ Dia. x 3.6″H, 300W: 9.1″ Dia. x 4.8″D, 600W: 9.1″ Dia. x 5.8″D)
Since the three surface transformers have different depths, the rail extends down a little farther from the ceiling with each transformer. This is something to be aware of when you order the standoffs that support the rail. If you want the rail to run as close to the ceiling as it can you’ll need to order 3″ standoffs for the 150W transformer, 4″ standoffs for the 300W transformer and 5″ standoffs for the 600W transformer.
Order a MonoRail transformer
Determine how far from the ceiling you want the system to drop
Standoffs are used to drop the rail from the ceiling. Use standoff supports every three feet of MonoRail run and at corners. Standoffs can be positioned to cover points where rails are joined.
The field-cuttable rigid standoffs are recommended for curvy runs or runs with heavier elements, such as glass pendants. The adjustable standoff’s have cables that virtually disappear and give the system a clean and elegant look. It is best used on fairly straight runs with a drop greater than 6″.
Order Rigid Standoffs
Order Adjustable Standoffs
And now the fun part: Select your fixtures
Tech Lighting offers a wide variety of brilliant glass pendants. Most of these low voltage mini-pendants are available in many colors.
Enjoy!!!
Order Your MonoRail Pendants
Order Your MonoRail Track Heads
To read a lot more tips and ideas about lighting for your home you can download our FREE 58 page Illustrated Guide to Home Lighting.
This morning when I picked up my latte at my favorite cafe I noticed that something had changed: The place was really gloomy. Why? Well, several track light spots had burned out and had been replaced with squiggly CFLs! Not a pretty sight!