The first step in designing your Two-Circuit Monorail System is to determine what it is you are trying to light. You'll need to decide where the pendants or elements should be installed to put light where you want it, and which pendants or elements will be controlled by each circuit.

The second step is to draw your Two-Circuit Monorail run. Remember, Two-Circuit Monorail can be shaped by hand to follow architectural details or to create an organic shape. Your run must be placed so it runs directly from beneath the surface transformer or power feed and intersects the locations of all the fixtures. Determine how many pieces of rail you'll need. Add one set of end caps to each end of the run for an elegant finishing touch.

Next, add up the wattages of the lamps you'll be using on the system; this will help you select a transformer. A remote transformer with a power feed canopy provides the cleanest look, but the remote transformer must be installed in an accessible, remote location. The surface transformer simply mounts to a junction box. Two-Circuit Monorail transformers come prewired with either two or four 120 volt input lines to allow for independent switching of the circuits.

Finally, determine how far from the ceiling you want the system to drop. Power feed canopies place the rail two inches from the ceiling; Two-Circuit Monorail surface transformers place the rail six inches from the ceiling. If this drop is shorter than you require, you'll need to add a power extender to your canopy or surface transformer. The maximum standard drop for Two-Circuit Monorail is eight feet.

Select standoffs that match the drop of your power feed to support the system. Adjustable standoffs provide a clean, elegant look. Choose rigid standoffs for curvy runs, or runs with multiple glass pendants. You'll need one standoff for every three feet of Two-Circuit Monorail. The power feed counts as a support, so begin adding standoffs three feet from the power feed.

Note: Power extenders and standoffs are field-cuttable, so it's easy to achieve a custom drop length.

The first step in designing your Monorail or Traditional Monorail system is to determine what it is you are trying to light. You'll need to decide where pendants or elements should be installed to put light where you want it.

The second step is to draw in your Monorail run. Remember, Monorail can be shaped by hand to follow architectural details or to create an organic shape. Your Monorail run must be placed so it runs directly beneath the junction box with the Surface Transformer or power feed canopy and intersects the locations of all the fixtures. Determine how many pieces of rail you'll need. Add a pair of end caps to each end of the run for an elegant finishing touch.

Next, add up the wattages of the lamps you'll be using on the system: this will help you select a Transformer. A Remote Transformer with power feed canopy provides the cleanest look, but the Remote Transformer must be installed in an accessible, remote location. A Surface Transformer simply mounts to a junction box.

Finally, determine how far from the ceiling you want the system to drop. Power feed canopies place the rail two inches from the ceiling; Surface Transformers drop it from two to five inches, depending on the type of transformer. If this drop is shorter than you require, you'll need to add a power extender to your canopy or Surface Transformer. The maximum standard drop for Monorail is eight feet.

Select standoffs that match the drop of your power feed to support the system. Adjustable standoffs provide a clean, elegant look. Choose rigid standoffs for curvy runs, or runs with multiple glass pendants. You'll need one standoff for every three feet of Monorail. The power feed counts as a support, so begin adding standoffs three feet from the power feed.

Note: Power extenders and standoffs are field-cuttable, so it's easy to achieve a custom drop length.

Browse through our Monorail catalog. For a free half-hour lighting design consultation, call us at 1-800-922-1469 or simply use our contact form. Our team is waiting to assist you with all of your lighting design and layout needs.