Track lighting is very useful especial when there is a need for more lighting within a facility or home.
If you have a continuous track of lighting and probably wonder how to remove track lighting heads, this is the right time and place for you to get some ideas.
Agreeably, tracking lights may not be common in a personal residence, but they are very common in commercial buildings.
Even with that, this article seeks to help guide one step of removing the track light heads.
When track lighting heads or bulbs stop working, the only option to make them work again is to replace them.
How can you replace the heads without removing the old head? It is only possible if you can remove the old head first. How do you remove it? Stay tuned!
Table of Contents
4 Steps On How To Remove Track Lighting Heads
Step 1: Switch the power source
Before removing any lighting head or bulbs, you must remember this easy but very important step. This step is disconnecting the power supply to that particular line or track.
Why are we saying that it is very important?
It is important because it is a safety procedure that ensures that you don’t encounter an electric shock.
That will allow you to remove the old head safely without fearing an electric shock.
Switching off the power supply is also critical as it prevents sudden blows whenever a new head is inserted.
In most cases, inserting a new head while the power is on could blow the new head.
Step 2: Dismantle the enclosure around your track lighting
Although it is common to find track lighting bulbs in an open casing, most of them have an enclosure surrounding them.
You may not understand why such an enclosure is necessary, but it is a protective casing. It protects the heads from physical damage.
Some casings might be made of mesh wire, while others are glass or transparent plastic.
In the case of such an enclosure, you have to remove it to access or reach the worn head.
There is no way you can reach the head without dissembling this enclosure. That is very important.
There are special casings on some of the track lighting heads that may not be easy to remove.
When that is the case, you need to be keen on the instructions written within the enclosure itself.
It would help if you looked for arrows that show the directions, methods, and proper ways of removing them.
Some of the instructions will also include short instructions such as “press here,” push up/down,” and “unscrew here.”
All you need is a screwdriver of the right size for those that require unscrewing. And you will be good to go.
Step 3: Determine the type of head screw for holders
There are two types of head or bulb holders. The first type is crew holders, and the second option is the clip or pin holder heads.
We believe that you have come across a screw holder. That is simply the head holder, whereby one needs to screw a bulb into it to get into position.
The other one is the clip or pin holder. Just as the name suggests, it depends on clips and pins designed to hold bulbs that have been designed to be held by such pins.
In this step, all you need to do is determine the above and then decide whether it requires twisting towards the stated direction.
If the head is held helped by pins, you need to figure out whether to push in twist-pull.
Step 4: Remove the head from the holder.
This is the final step of this procedure. In this step, you are expected to have been successful in the immediate step above.
The removal of the bulb depends on whether it is a screw-in bulb or any other type.
It is very important to exert the right effort when removing the head from the holder. In some cases, excessive pressure could lead to breakage and even accident.
In so doing, your operation “remove lighting head” will be over and successful.
What is track lighting, and how does it work?
Track lighting is a system of lighting were sources of light, or light-emitting diodes, are positioned and attached to a track supplied by electric power from a single source.
It contains a series of head or bulb holders placed at determined locations within the line. It works by the principle of a similar lighting layout.
The bulbs draw electric energy from a parallel source, enabling them to produce light just like other heads on the track.
Each lighting head on the track does not affect other heads if they malfunction. However, if the power line is damaged, the whole track will stop working.
Types of track lighting
There are various track lighting that you can come across in the market. You must be aware of the different types of track lighting to make informed decisions when buying.
The three main track lighting types include fixed track lighting, flexible track lighting, and line track lighting.
Now that you know how to remove the track lighting heads, you must understand the characteristics of the above types of track lighting.
Let’s start with the line track lighting. It is composed of a series of heads attached to a single track that extends four to eight feet.
They are mainly designed in a straight line. The heads are always placed along the li, producing a linear arrangement of lights.
Flexible track lighting is an arrangement where a series of light heads are attached to sockets within a track that can be adjusted to form any dimension.
It contains a track that can be bent to a desirable point. Its flexibility forms a pattern of lights as per your needs.
On the other hand, fixed track lighting is immovable, and it may not be twisted, and the track itself is fixed. That makes the heads remain in the same position at all times.
Benefits of Track Lighting
It adds aesthetic value to your home.
Coupled with the designing of a living or commercial space, different types of track lighting will add more beauty to such a space than traditional lighting.
Allows for more lighting options
It allows for more lights to be fixed along the track when more lighting is needed. They are ideal for photography studios.
It saves space in your room
Track lighting lets you place light heads on those points that you think will leave more space for other decorations.
They can be moved from one desirable place to the next
Even if the light heads are fixed, the track can always be removed and moved to a location of choice within your space.
It is highly efficient
One of the amazing characteristics of track lighting is that it continues serving you even when one of the heads is faulty.
How To Remove Track Lighting Heads: Step-by-Step Guide
FAQs On How To Remove Track Lighting Heads
Are there track lighting options that allow for the regulation of light amount?
Yes, there are. Track lighting comes in different designs and styles.
Whereas some do not allow you to reduce or increase the amount of light emitted, some allow you to adjust the amount of light from each head.
Such special track lighting has special power switches that allow energy regulation.
What happens to other light heads along the track if one blows out?
Considering that all the heads are connected to a single conductor in a parallel circuit, one head will not affect the rest of the heads.
Your other heads on your track lighting will continue working. If the faulty head affects the conductor line, it could affect the whole system.
This calls for an entire repair or replacement.
What is the best type for a small space?
An adjustable or moveable track lighting is the best for small spaces. If your room has limited space, then you may consider this option.
However, the choice of rack lighting is dependent on other factors, such as how much lighting you need and the interior design of your room.
You might want to factor in such needs as well.
Given that a single track has multiple light heads, does that mean more energy consumption?
Absolutely yes. If you settle on a track lighting with more heads, you have more energy-consuming terminals.
Depending on your usage, you will certainly pay more in electricity bills. A small number of lighting heads might save you from extra electricity consumption.
How will I know which track lighting head to buy when replacing the faulty ones?
In most cases, the light heads will have inscriptions within them specifying the bulbs or heads that must be used.
You, therefore, need to go for the right bulbs that are specific to your track lighting. Going for any of them will certainly not work.
Most of the replacements are readily available. You can always order them online.
Can I install the track lighting on my own?
Absolutely. If you are well furnished with the basics of electrical connections, you are good to install it yourself.
However, in most cases, you should seek the services of a qualified electrical engineer or technician. An expert is better placed to do the proper installation than you are.
Verdict
The choice of track lighting depends entirely on the type. However, you must be able to remove your track lighting heads in case you need to replace them.
If you have been pondering how to remove track lighting heads, this article has come to your rescue.
Choosing the right track lighting for your room space is critical as there are different types in the market.
It is important to go for track lighting that promotes the need for elegance, flexibility, ease of installation, and those that are reliable.
Track lighting is easy to maintain and replace, but you might need to seek the services of a qualified electrician when such needs arise.