New Track Light

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#0099FF" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >Applied Technology - Blanchester High School</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Times New Roman" > |</FONT>   <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Applied Technology Blanchester High Sch"><U>Home</U></A>  |  <A HREF="id562.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HowTo Projects"><U>How-To Projects</U></A>  |</div> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#0099FF" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B> Materials </B></div> <div> <B>One 4-foot track system with 1 1/2-inch screws or toggle bolts</B></div> <div> <B>Three lamp holders (fixtures) and lamps</B></div> <div> <B>A quality dimmer switch suited for the track (optional, to provide increased lighting control)</B></div> <bR> <div> <B> Tools </B></div> <div> <B>Stepladder</B></div> <div> <B>Measuring tape</B></div> <div> <B>Drill with 1/2-inch bit</B></div> <div> <B>Phillips and flat-blade screwdrivers</B></div> <div> <B>Wire cutters and/or needle-nosed pliers</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>New Track Light</I></div> <div> Install a new track light for flexible, adaptable lighting that offers plenty of style.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B> </B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Overview</B></I></div> <div> Exchanging an old ceiling fixture for a new track light is a relatively simple job that you can do safely if you follow one cardinal rule: Turn off the power first. Always cut power to the circuit at its subpanel or the main electrical panel.</div> <bR> <div> A standard-voltage track light is the easiest type to install in most situations. But you can choose from many types of fixtures, bulbs, and tracks. If you want low-voltage lighting, which is more energy efficient, consider buying fixtures that are fitted with low-voltage transformers.</div> <bR> <div> Nearly all track lights come with manufacturer’s installation instructions—be sure to follow them.</div> <bR> <div> If an existing electrical box isn't placed in an ideal location for lighting, you can either have an electrician run a new circuit, or you can use special track connectors to route the track from an existing box. Be sure not to overload the track with more lamp holders than it’s designed to receive, and don’t overload the circuit. If you’re unsure about your circuit’s capacity, ask your lighting retailer or a qualified electrician for help.</div> <bR> <div> <B>WARNING:  Never work on live circuits.  Always turn the power off and tag the breaker!</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="65496b70.gif" border=0 width="150" height="183" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>[1] Remove the old fixture.</B></div> <div> After shutting off the power to the light’s circuit, remove the old ceiling fixture. To do this, first remove the bulbs and trim, take off the cover plate, then remove the wire nuts and untwist the wires. If necessary, touch up the ceiling around the fixture with paint and allow it to dry.</div> <bR> <div> <B>[2] Wire the new track fixture.</B></div> <div> Run the track light’s power connector wires through the holes or cutouts in the metal mounting bracket (if your track has one). Connect the new wires to the same-colored wires in the ceiling junction box—black to black, white to white, and green to ground wire and/or grounding connector or ground screw (see Figure 1). Twist the bare wire ends together and add wire nuts. Gently push excess wires into the outlet box to get them out of the way.</div> <bR> <div> <B>[3] Prepare the ceiling</B>.</div> <div> Screw the track’s mounting bracket to the junction box (it may be necessary to screw it to an adapter that modifies hole placement). Hold the track in place and mark the screw locations with a pencil. Where possible, locate the screws so they can be driven into ceiling joists—otherwise you’ll have to drill holes and hang the track with toggle-bolt fasteners.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="655a0c30.gif" border=0 width="160" height="195" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>[4] Mount the track.</B></div> <div> Drill pilot holes and mount the track to the ceiling with 1 1/2-inch screws (see Figure 2). If you’re using toggle bolts, run them through the track into spreading anchors, push the bolt assembly through a hole in the ceiling, and tighten.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="658d4da0.gif" border=0 width="212" height="218" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>[5] Assemble the fixture.</B></div> <div> Secure the power connector to the track and add the canopy cover plate, if your track has one (see Figure 3). Tuck the wires inside. Lock each light fixture into the track, orienting the fixture’s polarity marks according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Finally, turn the power back on, and adjust the direction of the fixtures.</div> <bR> <div> [Fig. 2, Mounting the track]</div> <div> [Fig. 3, Adding the trim and fixtures]</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>