Under kitchen cabinet lighting tech?

[PcarPhil]

Hey there folks,

My wife has been pressuring me to install some under cabinet lighting in our kitchen. These are the lights that mount underneath the overhead cabinets and shine light onto the countertops. I've been starting to look at the various lighting options and I figured I'd ask the Pelican off-topic brain trust if anyone here has suggestions.

It seems that the current under cabinet lighting offerings include fluorescent, halogen, and LED. The prices seem to be all over the place as well.

I think I want a system that allows me to daisy chain the light fixtures together (anywhere from 4-8 fixtures) and be able to turn all the units on/off with 1 switch. I may do part of the installation myself but an electrician will do the final wiring.

So...have any of you recently installed these fixtures? If so what did you end up going with and how are they working out for you?

Thanks for the help!

[masraum]

All I can tell you is that Halogen will be hot. I'd opt for the LED or Flourescent.

[DByers]

There are many options available out there. I would recommend a quality LED product (see link) if the budget allows. Also placement of fixture is key. You want the light towards the front of the cabnit to reduce glare and reflection.
I went with the Trak 12 in the link, but of course my business ( electrical distribution ) allowed for some nice discounts.
Halogen will be hot to the touch, Xenon will be cooler, most people don't like the color that fluorescent puts out and LED can be pricey.
If you have any specific questions you can PM me or even call my office 805-962-9114 and I can help you out with layout and such.

Link
http://www.junolightinggroup.com/

[willtel]

I put some cheap Ikea lights under mine and they are great. They are little halogen lights about the size of a hockey puck and they all connect together. I was able to use the outlet inside my cabinets for my overhead microwave so no wires are showing.

Like these except mine are hidden in a recess and don't look like ****.
http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2008/08/improve-your-kitchen-counter-lighting.html

Don't overthink it, they are just lights under a cabinet.

[jyl]

The Ikea lights, they daisy chain together and the wiring is low-voltage, correct?

Where is the on-off switch? At one of the lights, or at the transformer, or elsewhere?

[Porsche_monkey]

Ikea.They are cheap, they also look cheap, but you don't see them.

They have chains of four or five in a group. Cut the 110 VAC plug off and wire it into your electrical box.

[willtel]

Originally Posted by jyl

The Ikea lights, they daisy chain together and the wiring is low-voltage, correct?

Where is the on-off switch? At one of the lights, or at the transformer, or elsewhere?

Correct, you can take lights out of the string, mine came 5 to a set but I am only using 4 in the strand.

The switch is inline, like a rocker switch built into the cord. Mine is double-side taped just under the edge of the cabinet over my coffee maker. You can't see it from eye level but if you know where it is you don't need to see it.

[dad911]

I used Kichler Linear system. Low voltage. Plug in/wire a transformer in an upper cabinet, Run low voltage wire along bottom of cabinets, wire snaps into a track under the cabinet, and lights snap on the wire/track. Easy to add/move heads.

[schwarz633]

I used 1/2" diameter clear rope lighting. For the countertop lighting, I stapled clear plastic U-channel to the underside of the cabinets (2 pieces, front & back) and the rope is a friction fit in the U-channel. The upper cabinets don't have a soffit, so there's a 24" space between the cabinet tops and the ceiling. My wife has various decorative crap up there, so I also put the U-channel and rope lighting on the inside of the crown moulding that's around the top of the cabinets.

The switches control outlets that are in the wall just above the upper cabinets. The lower rope lighting cords pass through the inside of the upper cabinets and everything just plugs into the outlets.

Every couple of years I replace all of the ropes, but they're very inexpensive. It's a very low profile system and gives very even natural incandescent light to the countertop area.

[RWebb]

decide what you want to illuminate
1. small spot lights are good for a particular area
2. general ambient otherwise

LEDs are best - esp. if you leave them on as a "night light" for those late night snacks

I put in Zenons a few years ago - they aren't real cheap either
Kuchler?? might have been the brand.

[pwd72s]

Cindy went with Xenon...one main switch with a dimmer. She doesn't like them because they flicker. I think they're kind of cool...but I could have bought another nice pool cue for what they cost. Her decision alone. The kitchen remodel was her thing, not mine.

Hey...buy your wife one of these...
http://www.9voltlight.com/

[David]

I installed LED's from Lowes or Home Depot (I forget which). They're slightly blueish in tint, but we like them. They don't put off heat and use very little power. They were difficult to find, but that was about a year ago so hopefully they're in stock now.

[carambola]

seagull has an undercounter light product that is what you wish you you would have gotten. 10 gauge stranded wire which sits in a track, screwed to the bottom of the cabinet, with lamps and lampholders every six inches or so. the effect is spot on. have an electrician install.


http://www.seagulllighting.com/Linear-Lighting.htm

[look 171]

We use to install very pricy under cab. lights in client's homes. When we did our kitchen remod. I went and bought el cheapos at lowes. It held up for 5 years without any problems. THey are xenon bulbs and are not $$ at all. $40 bucks for an 18" lamp, cheap.

[ruf-porsche]

Originally Posted by Porsche_monkey

Ikea.They are cheap, they also look cheap, but you don't see them.

They have chains of four or five in a group. Cut the 110 VAC plug off and wire it into your electrical box.

You can put a fascia in front of the light to hide them. The fascia should match the cabinets material.

[look 171]

You buy cheap you get cheap at Ikea. The transformer sometimes will burn out and the light is no good anymore. Then you will have to install new ones. That = pain in the rear. Many of those transformers are just crap and can't be replaced. Just think, a good transformer of that size will run 25-30 bucks. Just think, you'll have do it again later with the real cheap stuff.

[RWebb]

I never noticed any flicker with my Xenons. Cindy may have an ability to see flicker -- some can see flicker in every store with fl. lights...

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by RWebb

I never noticed any flicker with my Xenons. Cindy may have an ability to see flicker -- some can see flicker in every store with fl. lights...

Yep, she can't stay in the local Home depot for long. Flickering flourescents bring on her migraine headaches. I thought it was bunk at first. So, in the name of saving power, the feds have mandated all flourescent by 2013? We plan on spending a bundle in order to lay in a lifetime supply of incadescent before hand.
Actually, on the Xenons, even I can notice the flicker when the dimmer switch is turned down low...

[911Rob]

We use the mini-fluorescent fixtures the most, which work exactly as you want.
They can be switched on one main switch and strung together.
They also have an independent switch for off/low/high; which is a nice feature.

You'll love them once you do it!

These are the Halogen "hockey pucks":

These are the mini-fluorescents:

[imcarthur]

Other than the physical size & installation, the color of the light can be important.

As mentioned above, halogens will have a blue light. This might be fine in a living room, but it is not so good in a bathroom. When you look in a mirror, your skin looks sickly. Very difficult for women to apply makeup. In a kitchen, food will appear less appetizing.

Incandescent highlights the red tones & makes everything look rosy & healthy. Ever look at lighting in a funeral home? Usually pink incandescent bulbs are used.

Standard fluorescent lighting is cool white which tilts slightly towards blue. In a cheapass department store this is what you get. They don't light it for a pleasant shopping experience. But in a meat counter, they will use warm white or warm white deluxe which casts an over-the-top red tone. Meat looks good. Numerous other colors are available in fluorescent lamps including very sunlight accurate - Chroma 50s & 75s which are used in good paint shops.

fwiw

Ian