Types of Light Fixtures

So you've chosen the style of your new track lighting and picked out the length and design of tracks you need. Think you're all set to install? Not yet - you haven't made one of the most important decisions. It's time to choose your track lighting fixtures, more specifically known as your track lighting heads.

Track heads are the "lamp shades" of the track lighting system - they are the metal or plastic pieces which hold the bulb and provide a shelter around it to soften the light. The type of track heads you choose can make or break your track lighting and its effectiveness. You might be surprised at how complicated this decision can become if you haven't done your research.

Types of track heads
Track lighting heads come in two basic varieties: low voltage and line voltage. These two types of heads differ in how they are built, and the one you choose will be based on the type of track system you have as well as your electrical requirements.

Line voltage track heads use the electrical current which runs through the typical home, which is 120 volts in the United States. These track heads are easy to use and are often ideal for areas where you don't have much room to play with, because they do not require an electrical transformer. They use the current as-is, which means that the track head itself can be smaller and have a flat back, enabling it to lie flush with a wall or ceiling and be less obtrusive in the track lighting design.

Low voltage track heads consume less electricity and have a cleaner, crisper light than line voltage track heads. Low voltage track heads are a great choice if you're concerned with the cost of your electricity, as they require just 12 volts to operate rather than the typical 120. This does mean that each track head will have a transformer built into it in order to convert the power. Transformers are usually a few inches long and are designed to fit in with the look of the track head; nowadays, with advancing technology, some low voltage track heads are so slim that it's difficult to tell there's a transformer there at all. Nonetheless, you may lose a little convenience with the gain in electrical conservation you get from using a low voltage track head. These types of track heads are rising in popularity nowadays, so much so that there are multiple styles available. Don't let the transformer dissuade you.

Of course, if you so chose, you could mix track head styles on the same track lighting system. This is because each track head has its own transformer (or lack thereof); therefore, the original 120 volts is available to all of the lights individually and can either be used as-is or transformed into smaller voltage based on that particular light. Do keep in mind that all of your lights together will equal the total wattage (and cost) of the fixture.