RB



Quidnunc wrote:
Hi, all. I'm a first-time poster looking for some advice.

I desperately need to improve the lighting in the kitchen in a rented
apartment. It is too dark to work comfortably at the stove or at the
counter next to it. We don't want to do anything permanent or
terribly expensive (more than $250). The idea I came up with is to
put in ceiling-mounted track lighting using a cord with a simple
in-line switch running down to an outlet over the counter in question.
The track could be positioned so that two lights are shining on the
counter and one is over the stove. When we move out, if we wanted to
take the lighting with us, we could patch whatever screw holes were
left in the ceiling (which is plaster). The wall outlet is in a good
place for this plan, and most of the cord could run along cabinets and
window frames so it shouldn't look too unsightly. The ceiling is 8
feet 3 inches high.

I haven't done much home repair work, and I've never bought or
installed track lighting before, so I have some questions. I looked
at www.lampsplus.com and picked out what looks to my ignorant eye
like it should be a complete and workable system:

Juno 4 foot track (line voltage) $27.99
Juno Cord and Plug Power Feed $24.99
Juno PAR30 Flatback Track heads ea. (Uses 50 watt halogen
bulb).


Now for the questions:

1) Does this seem like a reasonable way to go, or am I missing
something?

2) How heavy are these systems? Do I have to have a beam to screw it
into to?


Not heavy at all. You can attach the track to the ceiling drywall with
toggle bolts.


3) I'm more concerned about simplicity and initial cost than long-run
energy savings, so I have ruled out the low-voltage systems, but am I
overlooking some other advantage they have?

Not that I can see.


4) Does my choice of track heads make sense for the application? Is
the light going to be bright enough and widely dispersed enough to
work under? (If that depends on the specific bulbs I use, what would
you recommend? And by the way, what does the "30" mean in PAR 30?)

We have track lighting throughout our home (Lightolier) and are very
unhappy with it. The problem is that the individual lights are too
directional. There is light where they point but its not well lit
elsewhere. And this is not because of a shortage of fixtures. I
haven't counted them but I'd guess that we have over 200 individual
track fixtures. We have at least 15 track fixtures in our kitchen and
there are still some places that need light. For the problem you
described it may be a workable solution but don't get fixtures that are
directional. Look for fixtures with lamps that protrude beyond the hood
and use flood, not spot lamps. Because of the need for so many lamps I
don't believe that track lighting is at all efficient. More watts are
dissipated than if I just hung bulbs from the ceiling. My aesthetics
wouldn't be bothered too much, but the idea doesn't appeal to my wife.

5) Are there any common mistakes to avoid when installing (other than
forgetting the shadow issue)?

Easy to install. It does help to have an extra pair of hands to manage
a long section of track when you're attaching it. It's not heavy, just
awkward.

Good luck,
RB

Many thanks for reading--with your help we won't need to keep the
bandaid box so close to the chopping board any more!

Mark


Track lighting is great when you have many things you want to emphasize,
light-wise. Have you considered a simple 4' 2-light decorative kitchen fixture,
and installing a cord & plug on it? A "2-light 4' wrap" as they call it would
run you a lot less and still only leave 2 tiny holes wherever it was mounted.

Another option is undercabinet flourescent lights. They're simple, plug in, and
put light exactly where you need it.

What about the existing ceiling light? Is there any way to retrofit it, or
replace to with a more appropriate unit?