Track Lighting

Track lighting is a great, efficient, and above all beautiful way to illuminate your space properly. Before purchasing track lighting, it’s important to first explore the possibilities it offers. The biggest advantage of track lighting is that you only need one power point to connect multiple lamps. Before you make your purchase, our specialists are happy to explain all the available options. If you already know which track lighting system you want, you can go straight to the correct category below.

Track Lighting Phases

If you are looking for track lighting for your living room, kitchen, bedroom, or office, you’ll soon discover that there are different phases available. The most common options are 1-phase, 2-phase, and 3-phase track lighting. But what are the differences between these phases, and which one is best suited to your situation? We're happy to explain it to you!

1-phase track lighting: with 1-phase track lighting, one side carries the neutral conductor and the other side the phase conductor. You use 1-phase track lighting when you want to control all the lights on the track with a single switch. The power supply for a 1-phase track can be connected directly to the wiring coming from the ceiling.

2-phase track lighting: with 2-phase track lighting, you have the same setup as 1-phase, but with an additional phase conductor. This means you can connect both phase lines to two separate wires and therefore to two different switches. When installing lights on the track, you can set on the fixture itself whether it should connect to one phase or the other. This allows you to control selected lights independently. For example, you could connect two pendant lights above a table to the 1st phase and spotlights to the 2nd phase. That way, the pendants and spotlights can be controlled separately—super convenient!

3-phase track lighting: with 3-phase track lighting, the setup is similar to the 2-phase version, but with yet another phase conductor. This means you can connect three different phase lines to three separate wires and thus to three individual switches. When installing lights, you can set on each fixture which of the three phase lines it should use. This allows you to control selected lights separately. For instance, connect two pendant lights over a table to phase 1, spotlights above the seating area to phase 2, and spotlights highlighting a painting to phase 3. This setup allows for complete flexibility using just one ceiling connection. If you go for a 3-phase power track, it is important to use a 5-core cable for the power supply.

Track Lighting Accessories

The track lighting systems offered by LampsTotal's brands provide you with extra flexibility thanks to a variety of accessories. You may not always want just a straight track—you might want to go around a corner or add a branch. Before ordering any accessories, it’s important to sketch out how the track will run through your space. This is essential not only for determining which accessories you need, but also for an important detail: the position of the grounding conductor.

When planning corners or branches in your track system, it’s crucial to check which side of the track the grounding conductor is on. Once a bend or branch is added, the grounding conductor will either be on the inside or outside of the bend. For example, 143050 and 143060 may look very similar but differ in the grounding side. Depending on how your track is installed, you will need either an L-connector with inside grounding or one with outside grounding. Creating a proper drawing in advance helps avoid ordering the wrong accessories. Below, you will find some example layouts showing how the track can be arranged in your space. For every product on our website where the grounding side is relevant, a drawing is included indicating the position of the grounding conductor.

Additional Track Accessories

Pendant Adapter

In addition to essential accessories, there are also extras that allow you to fully customize your track system. It’s possible that the fixtures available for your chosen track lighting system don’t perfectly fit your space. That’s why most systems offer a pendant adapter. This adapter allows you to connect any pendant light you want to the track. It gives you the freedom to create an industrial look, a rustic vibe, or a sleek modern style. One example of such a pendant adapter is the 143120 from SLV. Note: this one is only compatible with the 1-phase track system by SLV. If you’re using a different phase or brand, you’ll need the appropriate pendant adapter from that product line.

Rail Cover

Since you can mount the lights anywhere along the track, the underside of the rail remains open. To cover this neatly, rail covers are available. Each color of rail has a matching cover. Simply click the rail cover into the track to close the opening in a clean and tidy way.

Suspension Kit

Another useful accessory is a suspension kit. This allows the track to hang slightly below the ceiling instead of being mounted directly to it. See the image below for an example of what this looks like. Depending on your system, you can choose either a short or long suspension, and select the color that best suits your interior.

Frequently Asked Questions About Track Lighting

What types of track lighting phases are there?

Mainly, there are three common types used: 1-phase track lighting, 2-phase track lighting, and 3-phase track lighting.

Which phase do I need?

If you want to switch all the connected lights at once, 1-phase track lighting is sufficient. If you want to control the lights connected to the track individually, you should go for 2-phase track lighting or 3-phase track lighting.

What do I absolutely need to install track lighting?

You’ll need at least a power feed, a track, and a lamp. Of course, you can connect multiple lamps, and with various accessories such as an L-connector, T-connector, or a pendant adapter, you can make your track lighting setup much more flexible.

What lengths of tracks are available?

Tracks are usually available in standard lengths of 0.5, 1, or 2 meters. You can saw a track down to your desired length if necessary. We always recommend ordering a bit more than you think you’ll need to ensure you have enough during installation.

Are there ready-to-use track lighting sets available?

Yes, there are track lighting sets available that allow you to get started right away. One example is set 1002610, which includes 3 spotlights, two one-meter tracks, a power feed, and 2 end caps—everything you need to get started immediately.