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Installing Under Cabinet Kitchen Lights


cabinet--sm by ©2007-2012
Summary: Brighten up your home with under cabinet kitchen lights. These lights are one of my favorite additions for the homes I work in. Whether you are remodeling or designing your new dream kitchen, be sure to include under cabinet lighting on your list.

Home Lighting: Installing Under Cabinet Kitchen Lighting
The benefits of under cabinet lights are many, and with so many new types of lighting available today, you will be sure to find the right style for your kitchen.

These lights are great for wall wash, accenting countertops, a clean bright look and they are a great way to brighten up any dark counter space.

Under cabinet lights serve as great task lights too. When you're up for a snack in the middle of the night, you'll be glad you have soft under cabinet lights.



IN THIS ARTICLE
RELATED ARTICLES
1 - Under cabinet lights blend well with other lighting
2 - Under cabinet lighting provide soft light
3 - Under cabinet light fixtures will enhance countertops.
4 - Cabinet lighting can help balance kitchen lighting
5 - Under cabinet light will help lighten up dark corners
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What you should know about under cabinet lighting for your home.
Under cabinet lights are available in 120 volt and low volt models. Each type of lighting will require additional wiring to be installed with the addition of a light switch. Careful planning will help you understand the necessary steps required for each installation. Close attention should be given to all of the instructions that come with the lighting you select. Low voltage fixtures may require that a transformer be installed into an approved enclosure to prevent damage from heat that can be produced. Wire sizes need to be determined according to the number of lights installed and the amount of watts each lamp will be consuming. cabinet--lg


Feature 1 - Under cabinet light will blend well with other lighting
under-cabinet-kitchen-lights-1 Under cabinet kitchen lights are a great addition for any home. Select a type that will produce the shade of light that will blend in with your existing lighting. Many brands have several types of under cabinet lights to choose from including fluorescent, quartz, xenon and LED. Each of these types of light will produce a different shade and style of light. It is best to know exactly what type of ceiling lights are installed, including the bulb type, to understand the color that is being produced.
 

Feature 2 - Under cabinet lighting can provide soft light
under-cabinet-kitchen-lights-2 Most types of under cabinet light fixtures are concealed and never seen. When the installation is done carefully the wiring is not visible and they are controlled by their own switch. Many styles of under cabinet lights are available that enable you to quickly and easily install these lights, plug the fixture wiring directly into any available countertop wall outlet, and control the light from its own switch.
 

Feature 3 - Under cabinet lights will enhance your countertops
under-cabinet-kitchen-lights-3 When you consider the benefits of under cabinet lighting, I think you will agree that adding these fixtures to your kitchen will produce a new look. Under cabinet lights enhance granite and marble countertops, bringing out the rich beauty and depth of colors.
 

Feature 4 - Under cabinet fixtures will balance kitchen lighting
under-cabinet-kitchen-lights-4 The soft wall wash that is produced by under cabinet kitchen lights actually makes your kitchen seem larger and helps to create a clean appearance.
 

Feature 5 - Under cabinet lighting will help lighten up dark corners
under-cabinet-kitchen-lights-5 Best of all, under cabinet kitchen lights are great for brightening up any dark corner or dark shadow areas of your kitchen countertop. Not only will the addition of these under cabinet lights make you feel better about your kitchen, they most likely will add value to your home as well.
 

Questions that may apply to this project

Question:
Lighting Lutron dimmers - How do I fix humming and dimming after installing dimmers?

I have 4 dimmers to the box, 1 controls 4 high hats which I believe are 40 watt bulbs each, the next controls 7 Xenon under cabinet lights, the next controls 25 feet of led rope light, and the next controls 4- 4 eyeballs that right now I think have the new swirl style energy savers (fluorescent?). What about the humming in the switch, is that part of the same problem?

Answer:
Right away I'll say that yes the swirl lamps are most likely the ones that flicker because they are fluorescent, not made to dim unless stated. The hum could be possibly due to the size of the dimmer. Most start at 600 watts - count your lamps (times) watts - see what you get, you may need to size up your dimmer. Never take the dimmer to the max allowed, size them about 80% load for best performance. Also - some incandescent lamps will hum. This is due to the filament vibrating at certain levels of the dimmer setting, more at low settings. I'll look into the Xenon lights and the Rope Lights for issues.

NOTE: This question is based on a specific project. Ask The Electrician provides help for your electrical project: Ask Electrical Questions

Job notes that may apply to this project
Each under cabinet lighting installation will require investigating the access that is needed to install the required electrical wiring and light switches. Reviewing the installation and planning the locations of the fixtures will determine what wiring materials and labor will be involved.

NOTE: Each home electrical project requires careful planning. See our list of Helpful Low-Cost Home Project Guides: Home Electrical Project Guides

Electrical Codes that may apply to this project
Electrical Codes:
314.16 Electrical Junction Box Fill - The volume of electrical boxes shall be sufficient for the number of conductors, devices, and cable clamps contained within the box. Nonmetallic boxes are marked with their cubic inch capacity.

314.19 Wiring Methods - Junction boxes shall be installed so that the wiring contained in them can be rendered accessible without removing any part of the building.

NOTE: This is a partial list of electrical codes. Other codes may apply. Some codes may be updated.
See the Electrical Code area for more information: Home Electrical Codes

Tools
Materials
Large Straight-Slot Screw Driver
Medium Straight-Slot Screw Driver
Small Straight-Slot Screw Driver
Awl
Lineman's Pliers
Needle-Nose Pliers
Crimp Pliers
Wire Strippers
Sheath Knife
Black Electrical Tape
Red Electrical Tape
White Electrical Tape
Green Electrical Tape
Yellow Wire Connectors
Red Wire Connectors
Ground Crimps
Claw Hammer
Volt Tester
Felt Marker 		The materials needed will depend upon the project requirements for your home.
Add-on fixture kits are available from most hardware stores.
Choose a brand that comes with all the necessary hardware for installation.

The electrical tools for each project may be different depending on the individual project requirements and the access to install electrical devices.
More about Electrical Tools
The electrical parts list will depend upon each individual project and the requirements to wire specific devices added to the project.
More about Electrical Parts


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