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I just installed LED tape lighting under my cabinets and I really like the amount of light they give off. Be sure to get a warmer light like a 2700k or 3000k, nothing higher. The tapes will be about the least visible.

Cpartist - Is the LED tape hardwired? Also, is it recessed into a space under the cabinet or just attached to the flat surface of the underside of the cabinet? If you want to post any pics, I'd love to see!

I installed these LED bars - they are a cool white - at least 4000k I believe. I don't care for the warm color leds so these were perfect. (They offer a warm white 2700k model as well. ) Very easy to install.

https://www.amazon.com/LED-Concepts-Cabinet-Closet-Linkable/dp/B01CIWLEM0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8&th=1

They are pretty much hidden under the cabinet - you don't see them at all unless you peek under.

If you have an electrician on the project, I would just have them install some lighting to your specifications. I personally don't like tape (looks ghetto and really should be installed with heatsink but often isn't), cheap LED strips. Mine are traditional formfactor but LED, dimmable and vary in length. Don't know the name but my electrician did them, as well as the smart dimmer switch (Alexa enabled).

I personally don't like tape (looks ghetto and really should be installed with heatsink but often isn't), cheap LED strips

That's your opinion and a rather rude one considering how many folks here probably have the tapes that look "ghetto".

I don't have a picture. I'll try and get one tomorrow.

Cpartist - Is the LED tape hardwired? Also, is it recessed into a space under the cabinet or just attached to the flat surface of the underside of the cabinet?

Yes it's hardwired. Not recessed. Attached to the flat surface.

cpartist You beat me to it. I read that comment and said "Seriously?!?!". Sheesh.

Geez... just call me ghetto too then because I have slim line fluorescent lighting under my cabinets and love the soft lighting they put off and they do not show. I could afford to purchase any lighting I want but these suit me just fine.

Kendrah, I did option #1 - go to a lighting specialty store, ask to see examples of different types, and let them help you. Keep in mind your countertop color, and if possible, take a sample to test under different lights. I live in a relatively rural area and even my town has such a store. I took my electrician with me so that he could ask questions about where the driver (transformer in LED lingo) and other hardwired components would go.

I ended up picking LED tape (not because it looks ghetto ;) ), but because it cast the most uniform, even, and warm light in 2700 K with a diffuser. It's also dimmable. Unfortunately I can't post a photo because I haven't yet finished my upper cabinets. I'm my own cabinetmaker and designed the cabinets with a 2-1/4" lower face frame rail because I didn't want a separate light rail to hide the angled plug mold (rear of upper, against the wall) as well as lighting (installed about 10" forward of wall). If your cabinetmaker doesn't plan for hiding stuff from the outset, they can always add light rail after your lighting is installed.

I just finished meeting with our contractor who said we will ideally need to get lights that do not need a transformer. I called a lighting supply store and they said they have one that does not need a transformer. It is made by WAC, is LED. They said their are two different light sources inside the unit that I can select from at the time of installation. He said one has a more incandescent look and is 2700 K and the other has more of a halogen look.

I have an appointment to go on Wed to look at it. I'll bring a sample of my wall color. I had not thought to bring my countertop sample as well. Thanks for the suggestion Salex!

kendrah, i like where you are going. many modern LED units now have selectable color temp. mine has 3:. warm, daylight and cool white.

I am sorry my choice of words has offended some but please, you are sticking what amounts to a thin, bare flexible circuit board tape onto wood. Call me old school but heatsinks should be metal. Circuits should be enclosed.

Thanks mishmash. I appreciate your response!

Kendrah - a heat sink is a device used to absorb excessive/unwanted heat. For LED tape lights, this would mean something as simple as an aluminum track or rail. Something like this:

heat sink track

Whether you need one for LED tape lights depends on the lights - how many, wattage, location. It is certainly safer to use a track/rail, than not to. As far as the light strips needing to be enclosed, no. There are many professional companies that install these all day long, safely, not enclosed.

Mine is similar to Chess. I started with DIY strips plugged together and then into an outlet, and then an electrician wired it into a switch. I have a small kitchen and only have the under cabinet lighting between the sink and range as that is my major prep area. I do not have it on a dimmer - that would be nice, but my aging eyes are just happy to have it at all.

Yeah I don’t have mine under every cabinet either. Only two runs, where I need it. Also mine are plugged in to outlets, but the location allows me to keep the cords fairly well hidden - one outlet is down behind the peninsula and the other comes up from the counter so the cords are hardly even visible. And I have them on WiFi plugs so I just tell Alexa to turn on the kitchen. I do love that.

We installed these from amazon and are happy with them. 3 color levels no transformer and units can be linked.

https://www.amazon.com/GetInLight-Dimmable-Cabinet-Lighting-Finished/dp/B0142E5P2W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1522723229&sr=8-2&keywords=Getinlight&dpID=31OWhXxqqnL&preST=SY300_QL70&dpSrc=srch

We used an online company I read about here called InspiredLED. Sent them our cabinet plan, told them what I was interested in and they gave me a quote. Sent everything needed to install. Our contractor said it was perfect. We got about 70 linear inches of the tape LEDs (Streetman 4300K) already prepared to fit, with all necessary cables, clamps, transformer and very detailed installation instructions for $207. It could not have been easier.

I apologize. I keep forgetting to take a pic of ours. I will tomorrow.

Vinmarks - Are yours hardwired?

No worries cpartist.

We were quoted $120 per 24" unit and we need four of them. Off to investigate the brand. Because we are trying to find ones that do not need an transformer, it will likely limit our choices.

Here's my pic finally.

Kendrah yes mine are hardwired. Here's what they look like. You can't see them unless you bend down and look.

Mine are also hardwired.

vinmarks, are you still happy with your lights? They seem nice, and I like the fact that they don't need a separate transformer (they're also a bit less expensive than the Kichler lights I have been looking at.) I especially like that you can choose the color that works best in your kitchen. We have a similar aesthetic in that our cabinets are a medium maple and our countertops are a medium gray quartz. I need odd sizes (one of my cabinets only has about 16 1/2 inches available width underneath, and I'm wondering if a 12 inch wide light will be sufficient.) Do the lights "spread" beyond their actual width?

Kendrah, what did you wind up getting? I'd love to know, and to see photos if you have them.

Has anyone on this thread had experience with inspiredled, Kichler, or American Lighting Complete 2 under cabinet lights? I appreciate any input. Thanks!

"Has anyone on this thread had experience with inspiredled, Kichler, or American Lighting Complete 2 under cabinet lights? "

Read 6 posts above yours.

I'm the person who used InspiredLED, now 8 posts up. Four years later, still going strong. They look like the pic cpartist posted (although they're not kichler), and are mounted about the same distance from front cabinet edge.

Forgot to mention, mine are also dimmable. We use them as night lights when we have guests, in case they need to get a drink in the night or something. They go from a very low light to very bright.

AR yes so far so good. Lights are working very well. One of the reasons we chose them was the ability to choose different color and not having transformers. I had no clue what light color would look best. The light does spread past the actual fixture. I think you will be fine with a 12 inch fixture in the 16 1/2 inch space.

Thanks so much, vinmarks! I like the ability to choose the color too, as you can't be sure what will work best until it's actually in your kitchen. I appreciate the feedback.