We're wrestling with the electricians over the lights for the bar in the basement. The most decorative lights are available for low-voltage track systems, but those require chunky transformers which generate heat... and some design effort on the part of the electricians.

In interiors, however, low-voltage transformers are often best located at the fixture. This allows for the exact desired voltage to be supplied to the lamp. In addition, all wiring to the fixture is conventional electrical work that requires no special knowledge or experience on the part of the electrician.

Remote transformer systems are an alternative, but only experienced personnel should design and install them. The advantages of remote transformers include lower acoustical noise, intrinsic circuit safety, and, occasionally, a lower installed cost due to less expensive materials or simplified wiring methods.

Many remote transformer installations, however, when not properly designed or used, have suffered from poor voltage regulation, severe overloading, and higher installed costs. At least one major manufacturer has stopped marketing remote transformer-supplied track systems.

To prevent significant voltage differences from fixture to fixture, the distribution pattern of the transformer should be radial or star-shaped rather than a long string. Because voltage drop accumulates along a string, improper wiring can produce extremely bright and short-lived lights near the start of the string and dull, yellowish lights at the far end.

The alternative would be a mains-voltage track with individual step-down transformers for each light. The lighting designer we spoke with at Expo felt that method was old-fashioned when dealing with a new installation and expressed confidence that a low-voltage design could be installed in the basement. We'll see - the electricians were equally adamant the other way.