2700K undercabinet lighting vs 3000K

10 years ago

We purchased these lights from Home Depot in various sizes to install under our cabinets: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-9-in-Soft-White-LED-Under-Cabinet-Light-54197111/205210760). They are plug in, but our electrician was going to hardwire. They are listed as 3000K "warm white". Just before he was about to install, we decided they were much too bright. We would probably keep them on the lower setting all the time.

The electrician likes LED strips and so told us that we may as well return the HD lights and go with LED, so we said that we'd go with 2700K because we liked the 2700K LED strips (in a diffuser) when we visited a lighting store. So we were just about to order these from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/LEDwholesalers-300x3528SMD-2026WW-27K-3318-3228/dp/B0091OYNQI?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_6&smid=A325274ZEF9XYZ

However, reviews here where the 2700K used to be available as a choice say that 2700K has a greenish tinge to it: http://www.amazon.com/LEDwholesalers-Flexible-300xSMD3528-Adhesive-2026WW-31K/dp/B002QQ48TK/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

No one mentions a greenish tinge in the first link--but there are only 6 reviews.

Just wondering if I need to bump up to the 3100K even though we found it a bit too bright/cool in the Home Depot lights. But can the K-rating appear different in different types of light?

Featured Answer

athomesewing

10 years ago

There is a huge difference in how the finishes in your kitchen will appear under the various kelvins. We took a 12" piece of Yellow River granite to the lighting store where they had a kitchen venue appointed with various kelvins. Under the 2700K the granite looked totally gold/brown. Under the 5,000K the granite looked like it was completely gray. Under 3,500K the granite looked as expected, multiple colors including almond, golden brown and bluish gray. I also noticed that their stainless appliances and white cabinets looked vastly different as the different Kelvins were turned on and off. The stainless steel looked dingy under the 2700 and cabinets looked yellow. The 5,000 K made everything seem to cold. We got the 3,500k Cree LEDs and we are totally happy with the "color" of everything in our kitchen.

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Comments (9)

PRO
Anglophilia
10 years ago
Wow! That's quite a price! I love these that my handyman installed.https://www.decorplanet.com/products/kichler-10581wh-direct-wire-3-light-xenon-12v-18w-in-white/10581wh.html?adpos=1o3&creative=81805407387&device=t&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CjwKEAjw_7y4BRDykp3Hjqyt_y0SJACome3T7xPr8LlO01lOtIyfeE34Wj_teYrBj3QFpe978lW4axoCgRnw_wcB
jpmom
10 years ago
Our electrician likes the 2700. Finds the higher ones to be way too clinical
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rococogurl
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
LED light quality and color can vary a bit from brand to brand. In general most you want 2700K or 3000K. Also pay attention to the lumens as that is brightness.

There would be a greenish tinge to fluorescent lights -- there's more green in that light spectrum -- but it would be highly unusual with LED. 2700K lights tend to be more candlelight than 3000K.

LED lights begin to look cool i.e. blue around 5000K, which is categorized as brightest daylight. F.ex. I used those on our driveway as they are brighter and whiter at night.
3katz4me
10 years ago
I always get 2700 for fluorescent or LED. I like warm incandescent type light. Have never noticed anything green about them but have not used under cabinet LEDs. We put in xenon under cabinet lighting.
PRO
Jessie Chapman
10 years ago
To me, 2700 in LED often looks greenish. I don't think everyone sees that, however. I'm working on a house that will be largely lit with LED, and I'm paying special attention to the colors, especially at places like the kitchen backsplash. Client is well-experienced with LED and prefers 3000 almost everywhere, but I do worry that things could end up too green. Can you test out the actual lights with your backsplash material?

And to answer your question: yes, color varies by manufacturer. Higher CRI (90+) should get you a better result, but I'm still having a hard time warming up to LED ;)
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
10 years ago
I love my 3000k LED lights. I don't think they are cool at all, just a clean white -- not blue. I find 2700k to be too yellow and doesn't illuminate as well. Great for mood lighting or ambience but for me, not for task lighting. I guess everyone sees them differently, and younger eyes might not see them the way that I do. I've not noticed green in the LED lights.

Brightness has to do with the lumens produced, not the k, and I have noticed that the lumens can vary a great deal from manufacturer to manufacturer -- even when all are supposed to "replace 60 watts". You could put your too bright fixtures on a dimmer, but if you are just putting them in for ambience, go with the 2700k.

I would look for another brand if the one you are considering has reviews that noticed a green cast to them.
CJ Mac
Original Author
10 years ago
athomesewing, I looked up Cree Lighting and couldn't find any LED tape strips. Do they only do bulbs?
rwiegand
10 years ago
CRI (color rendition index) is much more important than that small difference in color. You really want to be above 90 in food preparation areas. While it's getting better, most cheap LEDs are down in the 70-80 range. If they don;t list it on the package its lousy.
CJ Mac thanked rwiegand