Best under-cabinet lighting (with no access to run in-wall)

[Varrr6]

I'm finishing off our kitchen pretty soon (backsplash, etc)... I'd like add some under-cabinet lighting, but I don't have access to run wires in the wall. I do, however, have a way to get power from the microwave outlet above the stove. I can get wires down to the bottom of the cabinets very easily.

What's the best choice for something like this? Basically, I need something that can get plugged in to a standard outlet and be chained to feed all the cabinets.

Thanks!

[Tornado2dr]

I'm finishing off our kitchen pretty soon (backsplash, etc)... I'd like add some under-cabinet lighting, but I don't have access to run wires in the wall. I do, however, have a way to get power from the microwave outlet above the stove. I can get wires down to the bottom of the cabinets very easily.

What's the best choice for something like this? Basically, I need something that can get plugged in to a standard outlet and be chained to feed all the cabinets.

Thanks!

If you're doing a backsplash- can't you pull from an existing circuit that feeds the outlets over the counter? (assuming you have a few) You'll never see rough wall work if you're covering it up with a backsplash.

I went the microwave outlet route, and put a couple of holes in the underside of the cabinets. The wires are hidden.

HD/Lowes sells plugnplay kits (leds and halogen), or you can get a bit more custom if you go to a lighting-specific shop.

[Varrr6]

If you're doing a backsplash- can't you pull from an existing circuit that feeds the outlets over the counter? (assuming you have a few) You'll never see rough wall work if you're covering it up with a backsplash.

I went the microwave outlet route, and put a couple of holes in the underside of the cabinets. The wires are hidden.

HD/Lowes sells plugnplay kits (leds and halogen), or you can get a bit more custom if you go to a lighting-specific shop.

Good point

Are all the big box store kits pretty similar? I just don't want the kit to fail after a year and have to screw around with replacing it.

[rich!]

we have the ikea strip led lights - i like em, wife hates em (too bright and too white). ran them down from the microwave where I threw in another outlet on a switch.

[Tornado2dr]

Good point

Are all the big box store kits pretty similar? I just don't want the kit to fail after a year and have to screw around with replacing it.

I went with the plug and play (In retrospect I would be happier with a more custom setup) halogen puck-light kit. They put out good light, but are HOT, and you can feel the heat inside the cabinet from underneath, too. I've only burnt out maybe 2 lights in 4 years or so (out of about 8 pucks). They run off of a tap-dimmer switch, which my wife likes. They all seem the same to me between HD/Lowes

[Slider300z]

Will you be in this house for a while? Are you eventually doing a backsplash? If you're staying there for a while, I would spend a bit more on the lighting situation.

I went with a Seagull Lighting setup for my kitchen. Link to Seagull's Site Used their linear lighting style with two different bulb types. I used the socket type light every 6", and then over my sink I used two directional spot lights. Install of the lights themselves is very easy. Cut and attach the track to the underside of the cabinets, and drill holes where wires will be passed through. Insert the low voltage wire into the track setup, and then clip the lights on wherever you need / want them.

It was around $300 from my local lighting supplier for the track, wire, and lights. I already had a transformer to use, so I based my number of lights on the circuit off that. I went with incandescent bulbs, but they do have LED's available now.

Here's a few pictures:





Crappy shot of the lights over the sink. Festoon style lights on the outside, directional style on the inside:



Transformer is located in the basement, low voltage from transformer is run up to the black box from the wall and connects to two runs of the track setup.



Let me know if you have any questions on it!

[Varrr6]

Will you be in this house for a while? Are you eventually doing a backsplash?

Let me know if you have any questions on it!

That looks great!

And yeah, we're staying put (knock on wood)... Just built the place in 2009 I am doing a bead board backsplash on top of the existing 4" granite. I'll check out that link, thanks! And, I'll probably bug you about your setup, thanks!

Does Seagull offer a power adapter I can use with my existing microwave outlet?

[barry2952]

http://www.e-conolight.com/led-produ...-lighting.html

[Varrr6]

Barry, thanks... I couldn't find any "in action" shots of those LEDs... do you have any experience with them? Are they warm or more white-ish?

[barry2952]

Probably warm. I've used their HID products, but haven't used their LED stuff yet. They are a division of RUUD lighting, a major player.

[Peter]

Here is the UC lighting I did for my kitchen, this is about 3/4 through the redesign. These have an optional hardwire kit but I went with a plug-in setup to an outlet that will probably work just as well for your situation.

Best of all, I did this for under $200 for the full kit.

They are LED lights on a flexible self-adhesive strip that can daisy chain from a single transformer. They are dimmable using a magnetic dimmer and come in both cool and warm light versions. The ones I have are the cool temp version. If I had to order all over again I might have gone the warm route but honestly I'm used to them now and I kind of like the difference in color temp between the warm LED can lights and the cool LED UC lights.

The light strip:



With temporary can lights on and the UC lights at half:



Just the UC lights on:



You can see the reflection of how they are attached:



Off:



On:



Link to the supplier that is very helpful with layout and suggestions: http://www.inspiredled.com/

[samc]

Get the led strips as mentioned above. I've installed a mundo set for a customer which looks similar to the ones pictured above and they do give you a nice subtle accent lighting. And I agree get the warm color tone which I believe was 2500k-2700k. I don't have a pic of the item but here's a video I was able to find. Realistically you can do a kitchen that size for way under $200 including the 24volt dc power supply.

(not my video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z232OOUNJMY

edit:
Here's a left over roll ... which I naturally kept ofcourse from an old install. It says 6 meter and 88w.

[Varrr6]

Get the led strips as mentioned above. I've installed a mundo set for a customer which looks similar to the ones pictured above and they do give you a nice subtle accent lighting. And I agree get the warm color tone which I believe was 2500k-2700k. I don't have a pic of the item but here's a video I was able to find. Realistically you can do a kitchen that size for way under $200 including the 24volt dc power supply.

(not my video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z232OOUNJMY

edit:
Here's a left over roll ... which I naturally kept ofcourse from an old install. It says 6 meter and 88w.

I remember reading about these. We have linen colored cabinets in the kitchen so warm tones will be best. I'll check these out, thanks!