Under Cabinet Lighting Installation Guide

Under-cabinet lighting serves a dual purpose of both being functional and aesthetically pleasing. Particularly, it has proven very useful in the kitchen because of its task orientation and efficient performance.

By the end of this article, you will have gained sufficient knowledge about how these lights are installed. Along with some essential information that makes the installation more seamless.

What is Under-Cabinet Lighting and Where is it Used?

Where there is a Cabinet, these lights can be used, and that makes the kitchen the best place to use these lights. These lights come in the following fixture types:

Puck Lights

These are small, circular fixtures that can be mounted at equal intervals beneath a Cabinet. These lights are known for their easy installation and are ideal for display cabinets and accent lighting.

A drawback often associated with these lights is that they create a pool of lights rather than a uniform lighting effect across countertops.

LED Strip Lights

One of the most flexible options comes with an adhesive-backed reel, which can be cut as desired. They are known to generate very little heat and are energy efficient.

The only drawback with this light is that it requires a low-voltage transformer, thus compromising the appeal if visible.

Linear LED Lighting

Also referred to as Bar lights, offering the most professional-looking outcome. This is because of its slim and rigid fixture shape. The placement of a cabinet along its entire length has a positive effect on the appearance of the cabinet and allows for a more evenly lit area. LED under-cabinet lighting is the best choice because it has a long lifespan and low heat generation.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Mark's mounting position

By holding the fixture to the underside of a Cabinet, you need to mark the position where the lighting needs to be placed. In marking your position, ensure that the light is positioned towards the front of a cabinet.

And, if multiple fixtures are being installed, you need to make sure that the measurements are consistent. This consistency must be maintained from the front edge and across the entire Cabinet.

Light Fixtures Mounting

Pilot holes should be drilled and screws attached to the mounting brackets on LED bars and pucks to secure them together.Drilling/screwing into any cabinet/unit made of plywood must be done with great caution.

Remove the backing from the LED strip light adhesive and attach it to the surface upon which you want to place the LED Strip Light. Be sure that the surface is cleaned and dry prior to applying the adhesive. 

Wire connection

Each type of light needs a different wire connection, such as:

• For plug-in cabinet lighting, connect the fixture leads to either the driver or transformer. After that, plug the driver into the outlet inside or above the cabinet

• Specifically for LED strips, if multiple strips need to be connected end to end, then use solder-free clip connectors, particularly designed for your strip's width

• For hardwired kitchen under-cabinet lights, you need to route the low-voltage driver. This re-routing is done from each fixture, then back to the central drive. After that voltage wire is run from the driver to a home's junction box.

Install a dimmer

Installing a dimmer is optional but recommended. This is because instead of using an outlet switch, you could just install an in-line switch on the low-voltage wire. They are known as dimmers, and are inexpensive with near to none electrical work needed.

The only thing that needs to be sure of is the compatibility of a dimmer with your chosen cabinet lighting.

Inspection and adjustment

When all of the above is done, you need to turn on the circuit and inspect the uniformity of lights across the countertop. If you should find that there are dark patches or shadows, then light fittings will need to be either added or repositioned.

Common Mistakes To Look Out For!

• One of the most common mistakes is the distance between mounting light fixtures

• Overlooking the dimmer compatibility with the driver, which leads to light flickering

• In terms of LED strip cabinet lights, low-quality adhesive LED strips often fall off because of heat and other environmental factors

• Also, mounting the light over an uncleaned surface can drastically affect the installation

Installation Protips for Under-Cabinet Lighting

First of all, what you need is the premium quality light within your budget, and this problem can be efficiently solved with CIRC Lighting.

Moving ahead, before installation, you need to plan every step proactively. For that, you need to acquire all the necessary tools to avoid any kind of delay during the actual workflow.

Furthermore, you need to measure the complete length that needs to be covered with the under light across the cabinet. And after that, if you are using multiple fixtures, you need to figure out the ideal distance to avoid any dark spots or shadows.

End Note

In the end, choosing the right approach and type for Understanding Cabinet Lighting is a decisive factor in making or breaking your installation. How it can be done productively has been thoroughly discussed in this article by providing you with a step-by-step guide. Thus, to ensure effective and successful installation, adopt this insightful and easy-to-understand guide.