If your old enough, like me, you may remember how popular track lighting was in the 70s and 80s. If you remember that then you surely remember how ugly it was as well. It certainly had its advantages and could be used very effectively where other types of lighting really didn't do the trick. Because of it's past the mention of track lighting today usually makes people shudder as they conjure up images of those big bulky heads.
Well you can get those images out of your head. Today we have a much-improved form of track lighting. Called a monorail system and made by several manufacturers, this new style serves both in form and function. At only about 1" wide and 1/2" thick, it comes in various colors and is bendable. Because it can be bent into different forms monorail has almost unlimited uses.
Monorail track can be bent to follow curves and contours. It can be shaped in circles, spirals, U-Shapes, ovals and S curves just to name a few. The most common type of fixture used on these monorail systems are pendants. These are low voltage systems that require a transformer. If the wiring is new and can be done in advance, the transformer can be located in a basement or another remote location. If you want to add a monorail track to an existing ceiling box, that is possible as well with the use of a canopy transformer.
Tech lighting was one of the first companies to come out with this product, but now there are others including the Long Island company WAC lighting. Both these companies make a quality product and having installed both I can't say I saw much of a difference.
Now the next time somebody mentions track lighting you can think out of the box!
