How to Replace a Lamp On a Rail-Mounted Lighting System

Rail-mounted light systems are a wonderful and versatile fixture made to suit the needs and décor of any home. This style of light consists of an electrical track that mounts to the wall or ceiling, with individual lamps attached at various points along the track.

The beauty of this fixture is that these individual lamps can be pointed in any direction, lighting different points of a room simultaneously. However, with multiple lamps come multiple chances for breakage.

Replacing lamps on a track light is a straightforward process that almost any homeowner can take on. From finding a matching replacement to the installation, ensuring compatibility is the first step. Read on to find all our tips and tricks for replacing a lamp on a rail-mounted light system. 

How to replace a lamp on a track light fixture

A little bit about rail-mounted light systems

source: Flickr, Phoenix Condo

A rail-mounted light system consists of a series of lights that sit along a track. The most common style of system is a straight line-voltage track. The tracks come in three different configurations, and these are H, J or L, referring to the shape of the track itself. Another style that has gained popularity is the monorail track.

The most basic monorail track consists of a custom-formed track from which lights are suspended. This type of system is great for mimicking or matching the curvature of kitchen counters, bedframes or anything else you’d like your lights to illuminate.

The lights that sit along the rail-mounted light system are called track heads, and these come in a variety of shapes, styles and sizes. As we’ve stated, when taking on a replacement job for this style of fixture, the most crucial step is to make sure the chosen lights match the existing track style and voltage. 

Preparation

Finding a replacement for the broken lamp is the initial step to solving the problem. Unfortunately, not all lamps will be compatible with all tracks. Therefore, it is useful to try and find an identical lamp, or if this isn’t possible, look for one made by the same manufacturer. Light from varying manufacturers is generally not interchangeable, as manufacturers try to have their own proprietary systems.

An excellent way to find a replacement light is to take the broken one with you to your local hardware store to see if they have anything to offer regarding a similar or replacement model. This will give homeowners the best chance of finding a replacement lamp. When purchasing, be certain that the replacement light has the same mounting system.

Once you have found your replacement lamp, or something similar, you can go ahead and begin the preparations within your home. Before beginning any form of work with electricity, make sure that power to the rail-mounted system has been turned off. Homeowners can accomplish this by switching off the breaker to which the fixture is connected.

Make sure to confirm that the power has been turned off by doing a test before moving on with the removal of the lamp. A voltage text can be completed using a non-contact voltage tester. Unfortunately, simply switching the light switch from off to on will not guarantee that the power is off. 

Track light bulb removal and replacement

source: Flickr, reb

Although the lamps themselves might not be compatible with every track, the mounting process itself is straightforward and will not differ all that much from track to track or lamp to lamp. To remove a lamp from the track, simply turn it at a 90-degree angle. Before removing the light, make sure that its location has been marked, and this can be done with a pencil or some masking tape.

Also, some homeowners may want to mark which part of the room is illuminated to determine the orientation of the light. Next, you can go ahead and replace the fixture. The metal contacts on the base of the lamp should slide into the track. As with removing the lamp, turn it at a 90-degree angle to snap it into place. Next, install the correct bulb into the lamp head.

Test the newly installed lamp

All that’s left for homeowners to complete is to test that their newly inserted lamp works. Restore power to the circuit by turning on the breaker that you had switched off. If you find the lamp is still not switching on, make sure to test another bulb to determine that the problem is not with the bulb itself. Lastly, once everything is in working order adjust the orientation of the light so that it shines in the same direction as the original light. 

Would you like to read more on the subject? Check out these articles:

• 3 Things to Know About Interior Lighting

• Recessed Lighting: Keeping Your Kitchen Bright