LED Driver above cabinets, enclosed

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nhfire77

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Is anyone here installing LED drivers, above built in cabinets, closed in by moulding?



This stems from a fellow contractor I was assisting. He is putting a 60w driver for 24v strip LEDs (ul listed) that are inside a cabinet, above the cabinets. It's enclosed with drywall on 3 sides and above. Very ornate moulding will cover the front.

The builder insists he has done this hundreds of times with out incident, and I believe him. It was pointed out the obvious fact of accessibility, and heat. You can't reason with the guy.

It's an 8-10 sq ft space and probably won't cause a fire. But probably doesn't work for me.
 
nhfire77 said:
Is anyone here installing LED drivers, above built in cabinets, closed in by moulding?



This stems from a fellow contractor I was assisting. He is putting a 60w driver for 24v strip LEDs (ul listed) that are inside a cabinet, above the cabinets. It's enclosed with drywall on 3 sides and above. Very ornate moulding will cover the front.

The builder insists he has done this hundredys of times with out incident, and I believe him. It was pointed out the obvious fact of accessibility, and heat. You can't reason with the guy.

It's an 8-10 sq ft space and probably won't cause a fire. But probably doesn't work for me.
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I think that the NEC would be more concerned with the accessibility of the input and output wiring terminations or splices than with access to the drivers themselves
If a line voltage connection is made to the drivers inside the coveted space, with or without a junction box, it would be a violation.

The UL listing of the drivers may also be in play.

I would definitely consider the covering molding to be part of the building finish unless it is designed for easy removal.
 
There are self enclosed LED drivers/Class 2 power supplies that I use above cabinets in closed in spaces but only when they fit through the opening I cut in for a puck light. I would not feel comfortable at all with a driver being enclosed by the structure around it.
 
You'd better ensure that driver unit has complete access. LED drivers are not all that reliable, and will burn out before the LED's themselves.

They are not much better than the new-fangled electronic ballasts, IMO.

:blink:
 
I agree with the others. This is a serviceable part and must be accessible. Think about if you were the electrician called to service this part would you think that it was installed in the sealed space above the cabinet ? Would you feel comfortable removing the moulding and re-installing it neatly ? It's fine for this builder to say he does this "all the time" but he isn't the one servicing it. The sad part is if you don't do this he will get someone that will.
 
sparky8786 said:
I wonder if they could find a way to put the molding on hinges, or some way to make it accessible. They have come up with some interesting ways to create access to Jacuzzi motors.
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Yup. After learning the HARD WAY you will eventually need access for servicing and repair.

As one who used to work for an authorized Jacuzzi dealer, I can tell you it ain't pretty when we had to remove the entire tub when the motor went bad, or other problems developed.

(Required when the tub was installed "backwards" with the mechanisms oriented to the outside wall)
 
I agree with all of you. Of course there is an access door on the driver and yes, nailed in trim isn't accessible'. It wasn't my job and I refused to touch the driver, but it's in there now. It's quite an expensive project and will become even more expensive when the custom cabinets need a hole cut in them. They could have hidden an access door in the top of the cabinet, the builder custom made them!
 
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