Cable/rod Lighting in old enviorment ---help Lightwizard

The cable I have used is coated copper (to keep it from turning which could effect the electrical contact on 12 or 24 volt systems) and gives it a matte silver grey or bright chrome finish. Good luck on finding any system without the coating. I suppose if you could find the right guage copper cable to substitute and the fixtures were the type that had penetrating points and the end of the contacts it could work. The trouble is there are precious little in "traditional" looking lamp holders (fixtures). If you don't need a free air span, I'd consider the rod systems which come in all sorts of metal finishes. I'm not sure there is a copper but there is a brass. Again, you're stuck with the fixtures designs that are contemporary -- there are some that are kind of whimsical looking.

The national codes will required a transformer with a voltage regulator and output protection against shorts and poor connections. Low voltage requires very postivie connections as impedance malfunctions can cause problems. In any case, the output breakers will shut the system down and are often automatic reset when the problem is corrected and the system is fired up again. Many cable systems now have a clear plastic insulation which has to be penetrated by each fixture. I'm seeing this show up on rod systems also. It may be local construction codes that aren't accepting the bare cable and rod. Central transformer low voltage although I've been doing it for many years is still a mystery to many contractors and electricians. The cable and rod systems are still being manufactured in the US although several manufacturers may now have the components made in China. I had a Chinese made boxed system (I think I only have two left) from a Canadian company that had four fixtures and could span 10' for a really inexpensive price. although the limit was four 20 watt MR16 (which is actually providing almost double the lumens of standard incandescent lamps). We've actually adapted two kits with a larger transformer to come up with a relatively inexpensive cable system up to 20', with 8 20 watt lamps or 4 35 watt (MR16). One shouldn't load a transformer more than 80% of its capacity.

Thanks for taking the time to respond Lightwizard.

I know that you do consulting work in this area; would you please let me know how I might speak with you? (I would email my phone number, but I have not been a member of this forum long enough to be aloud to send private messages. Perhaps you could send one to me.)

I can't solicite through this forum and unless you reside in my area, I could not really give you a proper consultation or design service. The rod systems designed for your needs are available online. Concocting your own could be dangerous even though it is possible to run cable through beams. They aren't inexpensive as so far as I know the reliable systems are still manufacutured in the US.