Nick wrote:

Hello.
I'm wanting to illuminate a large dark gloomy old room. 17th century, low
ceiling with exposed beams. Very little natural light.
I am thinking that something like this
http://www.lighting-direct.co.uk/l-v...c-70-rn-0.html
could be suspended between the beams and be almost invisible when in use.

I know little of the subject and would much appreciate any pointers or
comments.
The items in the above link seem somewhat expensive for the area I would
like to illuminate.
Would require probably 4 runs with 3 or 4 lamps on each run when combined
with wall lights and other free standing lighting.
Also, could the transformers be hidden tween ceiling/upstairs floor
(6"/150mm gap) and would this present any fire hazard?

I presume I could use 6mm stranded steel cable with proprietory lamps and
fixings.
How do I calculate the size and type of transformer required. Line lengths
can easily be calculated. The number of lamps & wattage etc. is not so
simple
Sorry, this is very vague and I am literally stabbing in the dark.
Any pertinent comments would be much appreciated.

Thank you,

Nick.

Ouch, those are expensive. QVS (www.qvsdirect.com) do wire lighting
(they call it "wire rope" lighting) from £35 plus VAT for the very
basic set. I have a 5-lamp set in a bedroom with a vaulted ceiling
and they're really great. For some reason that I don't really
understand most wire light kits come with a proper magnetic
transformer. Personally I'd prefer to use a much smaller switched
mode supply and hide it away, which is exactly what I'll be doing when
I fit the same thing in my hallway early next year.

Four runs with 3 or 4 lamps on each is a minimum of 4 * 3 * 20W = 240W
of lighting which is quite a lot. I've not seen your room but I
suspect you might find that a little overpowering. Maybe you could
consider fitting less lamps to each run. Remember that you can cross-
link the runs so that two or more physical runs are one electrical
circuit IYSWIM. Depending on your particular situaltion you might be
able to buy less than 4 kits and a couple of odd bits like coupling
clips and so end up with say two power supplies driving two runs each
and say half a dozen lights spread between them.

Good luck with whatever you end up doing.