The versatility provided by these new linear systems has made the residential and even the retail sector surrender to their design and functionality.
If in the previous post we talked about the undoubted crown jewel of linear systems, the LED strips, today we are talking about one of the product ranges that we will undoubtedly see grow the most in the coming years, being able to make installations that, until today, we could only dream of.
As we did in Part 1, we are going to gradually explain in detail all the possibilities offered by this “linear” lighting system.
What is the first thing we should consider?
It seems a very common question, but the reality is that before choosing our magnetic lighting system, we will need to know how we are going to install it.
Type of installation: Recessed, trimless, surface-mounted or suspended?
One of the most important features of the MBTS 48v magnetic system is the possibility to choose between different rails, regarding both the type of installation and the colour (white or black, depending on the model) and length (1, 1.50, 2 and 3 metres, depending on the model).
- SURMAG (Shallow surface area. It is possible to suspend it)
- PENMAG (Deeper surface area. It is possible to suspend it)
- TRIMAG (Trimless Recessed)
- RECMAG (Recessed with blades)
When choosing one of these rails, we will also have to consider the type of light fixtures that we will choose for our project, as not all of them are completely integrated into all of the profiles. The SURMAG model, the most similar in aesthetics to a single or three-phase rail system, allows the installation of any type of light fixture, but only the accent light projectors will be integrated, so that the rest of the light fixtures will be visible outside the rail.
Once we have chosen our installation system, we have to choose the most important part of any lighting project: The light fixtures.
Do you dream about many possibilities when choosing light fixtures for this system? Well, it’s not a dream. These systems have allowed new light fixtures for this system to be launched every few months. From accent light projectors, suspended light fixtures, linear diffused light fixtures and many more.
Can I install as many light fixtures as I want?
The answer is, no. As with LED strips, these MBTS systems are powered by constant voltage power supplies, in this case 48v. Once the rail and the light fixtures have been chosen, we will have to calculate the necessary supply in order to power the chosen light fixtures without voltage drops and without forcing the installation.
As with LED strips, one of the most common mistakes is not choosing the right power supply, and a 20% reserve should always be taken into account when calculating the wattage consumption, so that the installation always works correctly.
Can I dim the light fixtures?
The answer is, yes, through the DALI protocol. But you should bear in mind that the rail and the power supply do not change, you just have to choose the DALI light fixtures and incorporate a DALI dimming system in your installation.
Can I generate different linear shapes with these systems?
Once again, the answer is yes. All rails have many accessories to create different linear shapes or structures.
If you want to know more about our CATERPILLAR system, click here and find out all the possibilities.
