Whats your Idea for Installing Under Cabinet Lighting?

[Danutdlp]

Hello Everyone,
This is my first time posting and using this place. My boss told me about it and so far the site is great.

I am running under cabinet lighting in a new construcion. I was thinking of running the wire from the switch to each cabinet location and stubbing it out of the wall at a heigt certain to be inside the cabinet. And then I am thinking of coming after the cabinets are installed and putting a remodel box with an outlet in, at each of the locations the wire was stubbed out. I will be installing those round lights with cords that have plugs on the end, and I would just drill a hole in the bottom of the cabinet and plug the lights in the outlet. Is this the best way to do it? Or is there something easier or more simple?

[tallguy]

Originally Posted by Danutdlp

Hello Everyone,
This is my first time posting and using this place. My boss told me about it and so far the site is great.

I am running under cabinet lighting in a new construcion. I was thinking of running the wire from the switch to each cabinet location and stubbing it out of the wall at a heigt certain to be inside the cabinet. And then I am thinking of coming after the cabinets are installed and putting a remodel box with an outlet in, at each of the locations the wire was stubbed out. I will be installing those round lights with cords that have plugs on the end, and I would just drill a hole in the bottom of the cabinet and plug the lights in the outlet. Is this the best way to do it? Or is there something easier or more simple?

As a customer, I wouldn't like that - for sure. I wouldn't want to be dodging receptacles and plugs when putting my plates and coffee mugs away. Not to mention all those holes in my brand new cabinets. Blech.

Puck lights in general have a lousy reputation for durability, or lack thereof. If your boss will allow it, I'd highly recommend NM directly into small flourescent fixtures instead.

I have done an in-wall (i.e. the fixture wire is inside the wall) installation of Xenon puck lights in my own home. Fixture wire goes up to the attic where there is the j-box for the transformer. Wouldn't do it for someone else though just because once the pucks disintegrate it will definitely not be a DIY job to replace them.

[CBL]

Originally Posted by Danutdlp

.

I am running under cabinet lighting in a new construcion. I was thinking of running the wire from the switch to each cabinet location and stubbing it out of the wall at a heigt certain to be inside the cabinet. And then I am thinking of coming after the cabinets are installed and putting a remodel box with an outlet in, at each of the locations the wire was stubbed out. I will be installing those round lights with cords that have plugs on the end, and I would just drill a hole in the bottom of the cabinet and plug the lights in the outlet. Is this the best way to do it? Or is there something easier or more simple?

Hello, I'm going to be adding (6) under cabinet lights to a kitchen remodel and would like to know about the different options also, the way I've done them is like tallguy NM directly into small flourescent fixture. I was able to hide most of the wire but is this the only other option and is this code compliant???Thanks, JB

[iwire]

Originally Posted by Danutdlp

I will be installing those round lights with cords that have plugs on the end, and I would just drill a hole in the bottom of the cabinet and plug the lights in the outlet.

Very likely a violation of 400.8(4).

These lights you are talking about are made for DIYs, not electricians.

Find a better quality lighting fixture.

[CBL]

Originally Posted by iwire

Very likely a violation of 400.8(4).

These lights you are talking about are made for DIYs, not electricians.

Find a better quality lighting fixture.

Is there one you would recommend that would be a quality fixture and installation...also is there anything in Title 24 that would need to be concidered???Thanks, JB

[iwire]

Originally Posted by CBL

Is there one you would recommend that would be a quality fixture and installation...

Not really as most of my work is commercial.

If you search this site for 'Puck Lights' you will find very unhappy comments.

Pretty much any fixture that comes with a plug already connected is not designed to be installed in compliance with the NEC.

You can't conceal or attach flexible cords to building surfaces and remain in NEC compliance.

You need a fixture made to be hardwired with NM, MC, AC or FMC etc.

[LawnGuyLandSparky]

Another thing about puck lights- they generate a lot of heat. So much so that a jar of peanut butter or a bag of Hershey's kisses will melt inside the cabinet above it. They all contain a large plastic component which will discolor and become brittle over time.

[CBL]

Originally Posted by iwire

You need a fixture made to be hardwired with NM, MC, AC or FMC etc.

Hello, I did a search and found most of the under cabinet lights were cord and plug but there where quite a few that had 3/8", 1/2" and the ones that were seemed to be better quality also... I found the most informative (I didn't look that long) was Pegasus lighting, has anyone used or heard good/bad reports on them???Thanks, JB

[guschash]

Check out Sea gull lighting.com. They have alot of nice under cabinet lighting. I have install Xenon task lights and I like the light it gives out plus you can hardwire them.

[tallguy]

Originally Posted by CBL

Hello, I did a search and found most of the under cabinet lights were cord and plug but there where quite a few that had 3/8", 1/2" and the ones that were seemed to be better quality also... I found the most informative (I didn't look that long) was Pegasus lighting, has anyone used or heard good/bad reports on them???Thanks, JB

Pegasus is who I used in the puck light post above, and I am happy with them so far (6 months in). They are definitely higher quality than what you would get at an orange/blue store.
http://www.pegasusassociates.com/XenonPuckLights.jsp

They claim that the fixture wires are rated for in-wall use, but I couldn't find any documentation to support this. Like I said before, I used them on my own house, but wouldn't put them anywhere else