ACA 48V magnetic track: how to choose and install it

A 48V magnetic track is the most flexible way to light a home. Spotlights, linear modules and pendants click into the track magnetically, slide along it by hand and can be swapped whenever you rearrange the furniture. In this article we explain how to choose an ACA Lighting track, what your order must include, how to size the power supply and how the track is installed.

What a 48V magnetic track is and why it is so practical

The track is a slim aluminium profile carrying safe extra-low voltage - 48V DC. Inside are copper strips that carry the current and a magnetic strip that holds the modules in place. You simply place a module in the track and it lights up straight away, with no tools and no need to call an electrician every time.

• Freedom: move a spotlight to your new painting or add a linear module above the dining table in seconds.
• A clean ceiling: with a recessed track all you see is a narrow black slot.
• One system, many kinds of light: accent spotlights, even linear light and pendants on the same track.
• Safety: 48V is extra-low voltage, and modules can be changed while the lights are on.

Three types of track: trimless, trimmed and surface-mounted

ACA Lighting offers three track lines that all take the same modules. Which one you choose depends on whether the ceiling is still open.

Tracks come in 1, 2 and 3 m lengths, in black and white - a white profile blends into a white ceiling, while a black one makes a feature of it. Longer runs are built from several tracks joined with straight joiners.

The modules: spotlights, linear modules and pendants

All modules run on 48V and fit any of the three track types. The most popular series:

Every module is available in black and in white to match the track, with a choice of light colour: warm (3000 K) or neutral (4000 K), with CRI 90 colour rendering.

H HUBE1230B – ACA Lighting LED floodlight for magnetic track in black31,70 €In stockView productE EDNA2030B – ACA Lighting LED floodlight for magnetic track in black62,88 €In stockView productACA Lighting LUCCA2030B – LED luminaire for magnetic track in black25,56 €In stockView productACA Lighting MEYE2430B – LED luminaire for magnetic track in black37,83 €In stockView productHube HUBEP930B – ACA Lighting LED pendant for magnetic track in black36,30 €In stockView product

What your order must include

The most common mistake is ordering the track and the modules but not the parts the system cannot work without. For every track, or group of connected tracks, you need:

1. The track - the length of the run. End caps come with the track.
2. A power supply - one of two options:
   • a driver that fits inside the track (100 W or 200 W) - simple, with no separate box;
   • an external driver (120, 240 or 320 W) plus a power feed to the track - when the driver is hidden in the ceiling or in a cabinet.
3. Straight joiners - if you connect several tracks: a straight joiner and an electrical connector, which carries the current, at every joint.
4. Corner, T and cross joints - if the run changes direction: a corner joiner (or a T or cross connector) plus the matching electrical connector.

Straight joiners, corners, end caps and electrical connectors for all three track types are available in the shop:

Magnetic MCMT – ACA Lighting mechanical joiner (mounting plate) for trimless recessed magnetic track in matt chrome1,49 €On requestView productMagnetic MSCB – ACA Lighting straight electrical connector for 48V magnetic track in black4,99 €On requestView productMagnetic MCCB – ACA Lighting corner electrical connector with cable for 48V magnetic track in black6,99 €On requestView productMagnetic MT90B – ACA Lighting 90° ceiling corner connector for trimless recessed magnetic track in black9,99 €On requestView productMagnetic MTTB – ACA Lighting T-connector for trimless recessed magnetic track in black17,99 €On requestView productMagnetic MTCB – ACA Lighting T electrical connector for 48V magnetic track in black16,99 €On requestView productMagnetic MTECB – ACA Lighting end caps (2 pcs) for trimless recessed magnetic track in black1,49 €On requestView product

How to size the power supply

The manufacturer, ACA Lighting, specifies that a driver should be loaded to no more than 80%. Add up the wattage of all the modules on the track and divide by 0.8 - that is the minimum power of the driver.

Example: two HUBE spotlights at 12 W each, a 20 W LUCCA linear module, a 24 W MEYE and a 20 W EDNA come to 88 W. 88 ÷ 0.8 = 110 W, so you need a driver of at least 120 W. If you plan to add modules later, choose a larger one.

Rules of thumb for every 48V system:

• On long runs (over 8-10 m or around 200 W), add a second driver or feed the track from the middle.
• Never connect two drivers to the same continuous track - each circuit must be separate.
• If the driver is far from the track, use cable of at least 1.5 mm2, otherwise the modules at the far end will be dimmer.
• Decide in advance whether the light will be dimmed (TRIAC, DALI or wireless) - the driver and the modules must match the control method.

Installation: recessed track and surface-mounted track

Installation must be carried out by an electrician with the power switched off. The sequence for a track recessed into plasterboard:

1. Plan the run and the position of the driver - leave an access opening to reach it.
2. Fix the profile to the ceiling framework before the plasterboard goes up and level it with a laser.
3. The plasterboard butts up against the profile; the track flanges are skimmed over in several thin coats with mesh or tape.
4. Remove the protective tape from the slot only once the filler is dry, then paint.
5. Fit the driver, the end caps and the modules.

The exact slot width and depth depend on the track line - ask us before the ceiling is built. The surface-mounted MS track is fixed directly to the ceiling with its mounting brackets or suspended on wires.

Magnetic MT2MB – ACA Lighting magnetic track for recessed mounting in black38,99 €In stockView productMagne MS2MB – ACA Lighting magnetic track for surface mounting in black35,99 €In stockView productM M100CV48B – ACA Lighting power supply transformer for magnetic track in black43,45 €In stockView productDLP240-1H48V-B – ACA driver, 240 W, 230V AC, IP20, white34,20 €In stockView productMagneti MF05MB – ACA Lighting power supply for magnetic track in black4,09 €In stockView product

Common mistakes

• Mixing brands or voltages. ACA 48V modules only work in the ACA 48V track. 24V modules or modules from another brand will not fit, even if they look the same.
• A driver with no headroom. Loaded above 80%, it overheats and shuts off.
• Forgotten joiners. Without the electrical connector, the second track, the corner or the T joint gets no power.
• A track directly overhead. Spotlights above a seating area cast shadows and cause glare. Aim them at the walls, the artwork and the table instead.
• An illuminated switch. The switch's indicator light can make the modules flicker when they are switched off.

Free consultation and lighting design

At AVA Lighting we offer a free consultation and lighting design for magnetic track systems: we choose the modules room by room, size the drivers and put together the complete order list. Call us on +359 877 259 295 or e-mail info@ava-lighting.com - send us your room dimensions or photos and we will suggest a solution.

Read more: Concept and Full Interior and Exterior Projects and Redo Lighting: Pendants, Wall and Ceiling Lights.