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How To Install Led Strip Lights Under Cabinets

Where should under cabinet LED strips be placed?

If you want to install under cabinet lighting as task lighting, you should place the strip lights closer to the middle front edge of the cabinets, so the countertop will be exposed to as much light as possible. For ambient or accent lighting, you may want to place them closer to the back edge.

Can you use LED strip lights under cabinets?

Under the Cabinets. If your kitchen has a row of wall cabinets, stick the LED lights along their bottom, or along the kitchen console table. Then adjust the color to whatever you like depending on kitchen decoration style and your preferences, and make the kitchen exude a different aura.

Do under cabinet lights go in front or back?

When mounting any fixture under a cabinet, position it to the front. If there is a lens, face it toward the backsplash. The bottom-front rail of the cabinet should hide the fixture from your line of sight, whether you’re standing or seated. A plug-in fixture may be used for short runs of under-cabinet lighting.

How do you hide the wires under cabinet lighting?

One of the simplest solutions to unsightly under-cabinet wires is using a cable protector. You can secure the wiring into one bundle with tie wraps and adhere it to the cabinet’s underside with staples. The wiring length itself should extend directly from the light to the wall.

What kind of wire do you use for under cabinet lighting?

Although wire size ultimately depends on your light-fixture manufacturer’s specifications, 12-gauge wire is standard for most incandescent and fluorescent under-cabinet fixtures. A basic installation requires a 12-2 NM cable.

Do under cabinet LED lights need a transformer?

When installing low voltage under cabinet lights, you will have to take some special measures. You’ll need a transformer to convert your home’s voltage supply to a much Page 11 11 lower number, and if you plan to use any accessories, like dimmers, they’ll need to be compatible with your lighting system.

Can LED strip lights be hardwired?

When hardwiring the strips, you will just need to make solid connections between all your strip wires to the output wires on the power supply. This can be done with wire nuts or wiring all strips to a common positive and negative wire so you can make a one to one connection with the hardwired power supply.

Can LED strip lights be wired into mains?

Most — if not all — LED strip lights can be powered by the mains power supply.

How do you wire LED strips to mains?

To get your strip light working, connect the transformer / driver to the strip light ( extending the cable with 2 core flex if necessary). Then you connect your transformer / driver to the mains via a plug or direct to the mains and you’re away.

What do you need to connect LED lights?

There are two main ways to connect LED strip lights together. They consist of a gapless pin connector and a jumper connector . Each allow you to connect two sections of low voltage strip lights together without soldering.

What are lights under cabinets called?

Tape lights, sometimes called strip or rope lights, are an affordable, easy-to-install option. They have a very shallow profile too, allowing them to fit in small spaces. Plus, many can be cut to size and simply adhered to the underside of cabinets, installed under a toe kick, or even used outdoors for decks.

What is the best color for under cabinet lighting?

Best Color for Under Cabinet Lighting 2700K is considered the same color as the classic incandescent light bulb. 3000K is slightly bluer and is similar to halogen bulb light color, but still has a warm, inviting yellow color to it.

How far apart should under cabinet puck lights be?

In general, one puck light is needed for every 8–12 in. of cabinet length. This spacing will provide the best uniformity and distribution of light and avoid any dark areas under the cabinets. Incandescent linear lighting comes in two forms: as a light strip or as a linear fixture or light bar.

Where should puck lights be placed?

7 Creative Uses for Puck Lights Underneath Cabinets. The standard use for puck lights is underneath kitchen cabinets. Highlight Decor on a Shelf. Inside Kitchen Cabinets, Drawers, or the Pantry. Create a Reading Nook. Walkways and Outdoor Seating Areas. Hallways. In the Bathroom. In Your Office.

What type of wire is used for LED strips?

What wire should I use? For single color strips, you only need 2 conductor wire, and for RGB strips, you need 4 conductor wire. We recommend using stranded copper wire 10-22 gauge.

What gauge wire should I use for LED lights?

Most people would likely recommend using a solid core 18-gauge wire for your LED lights. The cost difference between this wire size and a much smaller cable is negligible, and 18-gauge is about as big as you can go if you would like your wires to fit into most holders or terminals.

Can Romex be exposed for under-cabinet lighting?

Romex wire is designed for in-wall use and therefore is not designed to be seen. It is unsightly underneath cabinets when it is exposed. However, in most applications the light mounted toward the front of the cabinet is a much better option.

How long do batteries last in under cabinet lighting?

The under cabinet lights operate on 3 AA batteries (18 AA batteries included) and have a run time of 100 hours.