Under Cabinet Lighting

21 days ago

We are installing frameless cabinets and want under cabinet lighting. I will add photo but we just want one strip near front of cabinet. According to our cabinet builder, these are installed in a groove with the wires going inside the cabinetry. That all sounds perfect except we cannot find the lighting product to work with this. Our electrician recommended GM Lighting strips with an aluminum channel. But the connectors are too big to fit in channel and the larger channels are too deep for cabinet groove. I would appreciate any advice and specific product recommendations.

Clearly this has been done before and shouldn't be so difficult but it is holding up our kitchen.

Featured Answer

dan1888

20 days ago

Keep in mind the recommended level of light for a work zone, called task lighting. 70-80 footcandles or 450 lumens minimum. Led tapes come with different numbers of led per inch. Get the high number and include a dimmer. If you also have recessed 4" can lights located 3-6" in from the front edge of your counter at a work zone, you don't need as high an intensity of undercabinet lighting.

Don't cry. You're gaining a level of knowledge almost no one has but is super important to good function in a kitchen.

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Comments (12)

Candace
21 days ago
Our cabinet manufacturer put the lights in for us.. might ask your fabricator folks?
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debbrown0128 thanked Candace
debbrown0128
Original Author
21 days ago
They cannot do this. They can rout the groove for the light channel but cannot recommend an specific products.
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dan1888
21 days ago
COB vs SMD Strip (Tape) LED light (for kitchen under-cabinet light)
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debbrown0128 thanked dan1888
wdccruise
21 days ago
last modified: 21 days ago
This MICRO-NK Aluminum Channel recessed channel requires a cutout 5mm (<1/4") deep. Wires are run through the channel's endcap as explained in the linked instructions.

But you don't have to use a recessed channel as there are surface-mount channels. This MICRO-PLUS Aluminum Channel is only 6 mm (1/4") thick and is unlikely to be noticed when mounted under a cabinet.

You would not need the two rows of LED tape lights shown in your photo.

Be sure to control the lights with a dimmer switch.

After experimenting with various color temperatures, I prefer 3500K lights in a kitchen.
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debbrown0128
Original Author
21 days ago
OK... I watched the video and I am in tears. This is way too involved for me. Maybe kitchen remodeling has finally beaten me. I just need some help with a specific recommendation.
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debbrown0128
Original Author
21 days ago
last modified: 21 days ago
Thank you wdccruise. We were only planning one row on lights at about 2" from edge. The picture was only an example. I will look into these.

Does this link show what size/style/brand tape lights fit the channels?
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wdccruise
21 days ago
last modified: 21 days ago
The links in my comments above are to specific products or categories of products. There are links to spec sheets on the product webpages. Contact the vendor for help if you don't know what to buy. In addition to the tape lights and channels* you'll need a power supply/driver, wires, and connectors.

-----

*channels are optional but give a more professional appearance and can be equipped with diffusers to -- surprise! -- diffuse the light.
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chispa
20 days ago
My electricians just used the continuous "rope" LED strips. Have no idea what brand. If it doesn't have adjustable Kelvin (color), then make sure you specify what you want. I went with 3500K to match my recessed lights.

Once the the light strips and plugmold were installed, the cabinet maker came back and installed thin color matched panels/skins under the upper cabinets for a clean finished look.
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Minardi
20 days ago
You just need Hafele tape lights, with the channels to tuck them into. Your kitchen designer and electrician should be able to deal with this, no problem, without you even being involved. But, you do need a light rail on those cabinets to make it physically work well.
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dan1888
20 days ago
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wdccruise
20 days ago
Minardi: "You just need Hafele tape lights"
- This 16.4 ft Hafele LED Strip Light is $209 at Amazon.
- The 16.4 ft STN-A30K90-C3A-10C5M-12V LED Strip Light with the same specifications is $68 at superbrightleds.com.
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