Under Cabinet Lighting - HomeModders.com

petriej · 01-04-2008, 09:28 AM

Anyone here install undercabinet lighting? I am putting in new cabinets with my house redux and have spec'd the additional trim to hide the lights. My only questions left are:

1) Which type to get - halogen, xenon, or LED

?

2) What is the best way to run the wiring. I need to get the wiring in so that I can get my rough inspection, but sort of difficult without having the cabinets in. I want the wires to be hidden and just pop out of the rear trim and go to the lights.

My plan - with dimensions from new cabinet specs. I will pop the wires out of the wall and home run everything to a junction box where I will locate the transformer or just tie to the dimmer switch. Any suggestions??

simplegreen · 01-04-2008, 04:07 PM

I used these LED bars from Ikea. Small wires, low wattage and their really thin and bright. Plus they run off of a normal 120v outlet so no real wiring.

briansol · 01-04-2008, 09:39 PM

click lights FTW

lol

ScrapinSTi · 01-05-2008, 10:41 PM

Click lights are cheating... The LED's are the way to go.. The problem with the little xenons are that they put off ALOT of heat...

James · 01-06-2008, 01:34 AM

I'd go with LEDs. in fact, let me know how it turns out because I do want to redo the entire kitchen.

klyph · 01-10-2008, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScrapinSTi

Click lights are cheating... The LED's are the way to go.. The problem with the little xenons are that they put off ALOT of heat...

Werd. I have the halogens and everytime I want a cold glass of water, I grab a cup and it's hot.

briansol · 01-10-2008, 07:01 PM

just walk out side, bam instant cold water

fred333 · 04-22-2008, 04:32 PM

I would go with the LED lights. Much kinder to the environment.

petriej · 04-25-2008, 10:20 AM

I ended up going with Xenon. I haven't got them installed yet, still tiling the master bath. I work in the electronics industry and definitely believe in LED for many reasons. There are three styles that I found, round-puck style, thin bar, and fat bar. I am looking for strictly puck style lights for the affect that they give on the back splash. There are LED puck style lights out there, but they are lacking in brightness and although I could mod them to up the output, this nearly always events in failure.

So to recap, my reasons for Xenon over LED were:
1) output - these are work area lights for me. I need to see what I am doing, and dim LED's won't cut it.
2) lighting affect - the round style gives a very nice halo affect to the back splash which is not attainable with a bar type of light.

01-04-2008, 09:28 AM	#1
petriej Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 26 Rep Power: 0	Under Cabinet Lighting Anyone here install undercabinet lighting? I am putting in new cabinets with my house redux and have spec'd the additional trim to hide the lights. My only questions left are: 1) Which type to get - halogen, xenon, or LED ? 2) What is the best way to run the wiring. I need to get the wiring in so that I can get my rough inspection, but sort of difficult without having the cabinets in. I want the wires to be hidden and just pop out of the rear trim and go to the lights. My plan - with dimensions from new cabinet specs. I will pop the wires out of the wall and home run everything to a junction box where I will locate the transformer or just tie to the dimmer switch. Any suggestions?? Last edited by petriej; 01-04-2008 at 09:35 AM.

01-04-2008, 09:39 PM	#3
briansol Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central CT Age: 28 Posts: 432 Rep Power: 10	click lights FTW lol __________________ 1997 2050sqft Split Level

01-06-2008, 01:34 AM	#5
James Slacking off in the house Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: In IN Posts: 217 Rep Power: 2	I'd go with LEDs. in fact, let me know how it turns out because I do want to redo the entire kitchen. __________________ 1927 2200 sq feet 3 story renovation project. Done Washing Machine - 10.27.07 Windows Install - 02.13.08 (New) Gas Oven - 11.22.08 Needs to be Done Put in the (new) dryer Uh... Alot more.

01-10-2008, 07:01 PM	#7
briansol Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central CT Age: 28 Posts: 432 Rep Power: 10	just walk out side, bam instant cold water __________________ 1997 2050sqft Split Level

04-22-2008, 04:32 PM	#8
fred333 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 24 Rep Power: 0	I would go with the LED lights. Much kinder to the environment. __________________ Looking for some good credit card counseling.

01-04-2008, 04:07 PM	#2
simplegreen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 50 Rep Power: 2	I used these LED bars from Ikea. Small wires, low wattage and their really thin and bright. Plus they run off of a normal 120v outlet so no real wiring.

01-05-2008, 10:41 PM	#4
ScrapinSTi Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: In Debt. Posts: 240 Rep Power: 2	Click lights are cheating... The LED's are the way to go.. The problem with the little xenons are that they put off ALOT of heat...

04-25-2008, 10:20 AM	#9
petriej Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 26 Rep Power: 0	I ended up going with Xenon. I haven't got them installed yet, still tiling the master bath. I work in the electronics industry and definitely believe in LED for many reasons. There are three styles that I found, round-puck style, thin bar, and fat bar. I am looking for strictly puck style lights for the affect that they give on the back splash. There are LED puck style lights out there, but they are lacking in brightness and although I could mod them to up the output, this nearly always events in failure. So to recap, my reasons for Xenon over LED were: 1) output - these are work area lights for me. I need to see what I am doing, and dim LED's won't cut it. 2) lighting affect - the round style gives a very nice halo affect to the back splash which is not attainable with a bar type of light.