Under Cabinet Lighting Suggestions, Comments

[Deleted User]

Looking at the various options for under cabinet lighting for my kitchen re-model. Very tempted to go for fluorescent but have been considering LED. I like the fact that the LED's are dimmable but I have questions about their reliability. Does anyone else have the under cabinet LED lights ? If so interested to hear your comments. I am also looking for suggestions on a good place to purchase either fluorescent or the LED where I can save a few bucks. As always thanks in advance. :cool:

Syndil

Just put some under cabinet lights in myself not too long ago. Got them from https://lightinguniverse.atgstores.com/ . Decent prices, plus I did have to use customer service and they were very helpful. Went with halogen, mainly because I couldn't find an LED with a housing style that I liked. But they do have a huge selection so maybe you'll find something.

http://www.lightinguniverse.com/under-cabinet-lights_90.html?option4=Features=1000004~LED&linkloc=catheader&hdrgpid=338919

Here's what I ended up with:

disneyjoe7

I put in some fluorescent 4500k lights below and above the cabinets using lights I got from Lowes.

Tbone289

I have been using these LED strips for a while and love them. They fit very tight spaces, and can be purchased in different color temperatures. You can power them with this power supply and use this dimming controller if you need it.

jgido759

We have halogens (from Lowes) installed and although the look really nice, they tend to run very hot. So hot, in fact, that the dishes in the cabinet above become warm if they are left on for too long. I'm actually looking to swap them out for LED types.

disneyjoe7

jgido759 wrote: »

We have halogens (from Lowes) installed and although the look really nice, they tend to run very hot. So hot, in fact, that the dishes in the cabinet above become warm if they are left on for too long. I'm actually looking to swap them out for LED types.

Funny you stated this, I did some work in a home which had these halogens lights and they were off. I'm using fluorescent lights and run them as accent lights like all night long. Now I know why they were off in this home.

tommyt21

Syndil wrote: »

Just put some under cabinet lights in myself not too long ago. Got them from https://lightinguniverse.atgstores.com/ . Decent prices, plus I did have to use customer service and they were very helpful. Went with halogen, mainly because I couldn't find an LED with a housing style that I liked. But they do have a huge selection so maybe you'll find something.

http://www.lightinguniverse.com/under-cabinet-lights_90.html?option4=Features=1000004~LED&linkloc=catheader&hdrgpid=338919

Here's what I ended up with:

That is a Gorgeous Kitchen my friend....

Syndil

Thanks!

Kex

Great job Syndil! Nice blend of modern and classic styling.

Halogens do give off a very warm light that is very hard to beat in terms of visual aesthetics. What you need to avoid are the 60W bulbs, so that excessive heat and pitiful energy efficiency are not an issue. Look for fixtures with 20W halogen instead: they are accent lights after all, and 20W per 1-2' is plenty for illuminating the work surface. Anyone I know with the 60W bulbs always ends up replacing them because of the amount of heat transferred to the bottom shelf of the cabinets.

LED lights have come a long way, but the main culprit remains greenish, blueish, and generally clinical light that makes your kitchen counter look like a slab in the morgue (that's not a good thing). One of the cheapest options is IKEA. They are very good at this, just as they were about 20 years ahead of everyone else in very reliable, design friendly compact fluorescent bulbs that had warm colors and years of life expectancy you could depend on. Some of their LED products have excellent color warmth, better than the best fluorescent lighting, and they're adding more every year. They are very affordable, but not cheap.

The best LED lighting I ever experienced, in terms of design, flexibility and excellent color warmth, was displayed in The Great Indoors (part of Sears) before they closed some stores and reduced their selection to lesser products. The brand was Juno, and used a very flexible, track based system with these fitments, if you can find a source to buy them from:

http://www.junolightinggroup.com/product_detail.asp?ino=9298&Sel_Id=17196&brand=1

samfraser

We just got done building a house, I opted for fluorescent lights, just make sure the hue matches your color scheme, they can sometimes appear too blue, or too yellow.

maximillian

Made/making my own LED strips. The inexpensive stuff is how Kex describes. The nicer stuff is really expensive. I can make uniform, warm-white, 15" strips for about $40-$50 each strip. Not the cheapest stuff out there, but I know the light quality is good. I built a couple fixtures that have been running for about a year with no issues. I have 4 more to make but have other projects first. I am also switching from Osram Golden Dragons to Cree Xlamp LED's and remaking the 2.

Another place to try is:

http://www.furnlite.com/node/248

But I have only used them for the fluorescent desk fixtures. Not sure how their LED stuff linked above is.

[Deleted User]

Syndil wrote: »

Thanks!

Yes, a very nice kitchen ! Right now I am living in a construction zone seperated by sheets of plastic hanging from the ceiling. The rest of the house is a sea of kitchen cabinet boxes. I wish my kitchen looked like yours. :cool:

[Deleted User]

Kex wrote: »

Great job Syndil! Nice blend of modern and classic styling.

Halogens do give off a very warm light that is very hard to beat in terms of visual aesthetics. What you need to avoid are the 60W bulbs, so that excessive heat and pitiful energy efficiency are not an issue. Look for fixtures with 20W halogen instead: they are accent lights after all, and 20W per 1-2' is plenty for illuminating the work surface. Anyone I know with the 60W bulbs always ends up replacing them because of the amount of heat transferred to the bottom shelf of the cabinets.

LED lights have come a long way, but the main culprit remains greenish, blueish, and generally clinical light that makes your kitchen counter look like a slab in the morgue (that's not a good thing). One of the cheapest options is IKEA. They are very good at this, just as they were about 20 years ahead of everyone else in very reliable, design friendly compact fluorescent bulbs that had warm colors and years of life expectancy you could depend on. Some of their LED products have excellent color warmth, better than the best fluorescent lighting, and they're adding more every year. They are very affordable, but not cheap.

The best LED lighting I ever experienced, in terms of design, flexibility and excellent color warmth, was displayed in The Great Indoors (part of Sears) before they closed some stores and reduced their selection to lesser products. The brand was Juno, and used a very flexible, track based system with these fitments, if you can find a source to buy them from:

http://www.junolightinggroup.com/product_detail.asp?ino=9298&Sel_Id=17196&brand=1

Kex,
Many good suggestions here. I'll have to look into the Ikea idea as there is one located about 10 miles from home. Thanks. :cool:

Syndil

I did use the 20W halogens, and honestly they are so bright I can't imagine what 60W would look like.

Also, I haven't tried these myself yet, but they do make LED replacements for the bi-pin G4 halogens that my fixture uses, so you could potentially start with the 20W halogens and then try out the LED replacements. Might open up a bit more selection for you as far as housings go, and if you decide you don't like the LED color temperature, you can always go back to halogens.

Of course this assumes that the LED replacements are any good--which is something I don't know.

http://store.marinebeam.com/side-pin-mount-g4-led-bulbs.html

Syndil

One other thing with the LED replacements... They may not work for you if you have an electronic power supply. Electronic power supplies usually have a minimum load rating of anywhere between 30% to 60% of their maximum load rating. So if you get one that will put out enough current for halogens, switching to LED probably will not draw enough current for the electronic power supply to function. Magnetic power supplies are larger and heavier, so they might be a bit more of a challenge to install, but they are also much more robust. They are not as sensitive to extreme temperatures, power surges, etc., plus they don't generate as much heat, noise or interference. They are more expensive but they last much longer. I've used a Technomagnet magnetic power supply for my installation, so minimum load is not a concern. It's installed in the crawl space under the house.

Frankly I'd recommend going with a magnetic power supply regardless of whether you intend to use LEDs.

http://www.semperfipowersupply.com/casestudies/MagneticvsElectronic.pdf

[Deleted User]

Going to go and look at LED lighting tonight. Hoping to make a decision soon. :cool:

Gadabout

Just to add to the discussion. Halogens can be run on standard dimmer where as you will need a special dimmer for fluorescents. I have never tried to dim LED's. I went with 60w halogens because that is what most of the lights I have came with. Last time I bought a replacement bulb, the 60 watt bulbs were cheaper than the 20 watt bulbs. I don't have under cabinet lights, my lighting is above the cabinets and used for background light rather than task lighting.

All my lights (with the exception of 3) are on dimmers. So, if you decide to go halogen just put a dimmer on the switch for them.

If you interested in the seeing the above cabinet lighting, I think you can see them in the showcase pics that partially show the kitchen. You can also see tback lightingting the plant shelf above the TV.

Scott

Syndil

Gadabout wrote: »

Last time I bought a replacement bulb, the 60 watt bulbs were cheaper than the 20 watt bulbs. I don't have under cabinet lights, my lighting is above the cabinets and used for background light rather than task lighting.

Ah, that explains it. Completely different type of bulb/fixture than what we are talking about.

[Deleted User]

Gadabout wrote: »

where as you will need a special dimmer for fluorescents.

I'll need to look into that.
Went and looked at the LED's last night, wasn't swayed. I think I am just going to go with the fluorescent fixtures. I'll just need to find a decent deal on them somewhere. I really like the GE premium line, instant on with no hum or flicker. :cool:

disneyjoe7

The one's I got from lowes are T8 bulbs instant on with no hum or flicker. Small white fixtures priced right.

disneyjoe7

Any update, what did you decided to do?

[Deleted User]

I am going with the fluorescents. I am shopping to find some decent prices on them. What I may end up doing is just buying piecemeal off of Ebay as they come up for sale. I tried some LED bulbs in a different fixture which is also part of the kitchen remodel and was not impressed at all with the light they give off. They were on a dimmer and they were slightly noisy. I also tried some dimmable cfl's in that same fixture and those things would sing if you tried to dim them. So I ended up using regular bulbs (they are purple) of the Reveal brand name. I absolutely love the light they give off, clean and clear. They also make the fixture sparkle which is Tiffany style glass. :cool:

disneyjoe7

I'm a bit concern by your statement of piecemeal, I first did the same. Brought a figure fluorescent light from Lowes, played a little with it to make sure I liked it and all. Purchased another one same brand, but package was newer. This one was a different light temp whiter, but now the older one is too old to return. So the OCD in me force me to buy all needed for job at one time and be done with it.

Syndil

The noise you heard was probably due to the cheap electronic power supplies the fixtures came with.

My installation was also piecemeal--bought the lights and the power supply separately just so I could make sure I had a high-quality magnetic power supply. I am very sensitive to high-frequency sound and wanted to ensure that I wouldn't hear any humming.

I also use Reveal bulbs in my bathroom fixtures. Great lights.

[Deleted User]

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

I'm a bit concern by your statement of piecemeal, I first did the same. Brought a figure fluorescent light from Lowes, played a little with it to make sure I liked it and all. Purchased another one same brand, but package was newer. This one was a different light temp whiter, but now the older one is too old to return. So the OCD in me force me to buy all needed for job at one time and be done with it.

Noted, after careful consideration I will only buy them all at once. I still will be looking for a closeout deal somewhere.