Opinions: Under Cabinet Lighting

[peter d]

IMO, they just plain look better towards the back, and for common sense reasons, towards the back is where the shadow/dark area is...

Funny you mention that. I had to add a second row of lights in the front of some cabinets because the HO's complained that it was "too dark" with just the row in the back.

It seemed kind of absurd to do, but in the end it was as bright as day in there. The UC lights were the Quoizel kind, which look like an NSL clone but are linkable.

 

[George Stolz]

I think it makes a lot of sense to install the lights to the face of the cabinet, especially with the UCs with individual lamps in them that can be very pronounced against the back wall.

The practical reason for their existence is to light up the countertop, so it makes sense to center them over the center of the countertop for that purpose.

That said, I have never installed one to the face of a cabinet, they've all been at the back of the cabinet to conceal the wiring method, if for no other reason.

 

[aline]

Below is from a website for under cabinet lighting. Also see page 17 of the following pdf file. http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/solidstate/assist/pdf/undercabinet1.pdf

Where Should Under Cabinet Lighting Be Placed?

When under cabinet lighting is being used for task lighting such as in a kitchen it should be installed at or near the front of the cabinet to which it is attached. Your contractor may insist that you install it near the back wall but we suggest that you insist that it be installed as close to the face of the cabinet as possible. This position will provide the best and safest task lighting for working in the kitchen. If, on the other hand, the under cabinet lighting in question is intended to provide accent lighting for a work of art housed in a single cabinet, for example, then this under cabinet light fixture should be positioned just forward of center in order to properly light the art piece.

 

[rrr_usty]

I have installed a lot of and at the front of the cabinet a low volt u/c light that shines toward the backsplash a xenon light from task lighting.
I like the look and have not had any problems either, they have come out with a led u/c light that seems priciey but the life of the bulb is about 75,000 hours.
To keep the look clean, I run wiremold along the side of the cabinet and the NMB where it comes out of the wall near the back corner and take off the jacket so you don't have the "pipe in pipe", and I have a nice clean look that is code compliant.

 

[e57]

I have installed them at the counter CL +/or at the UC face a lot. Not the preffered method for installation, but does have better throw at task at hand. Better still for that type of "task" lighting is doing both front and back. But that too is still yet more involved of an installation.

To do this I try to feed from side walls instead of the back, and if that is not available I have the cab maker make little covers for the cable. (As our inspectors or not hip to exposed NM here.) And on a few occassion complete faulse bottom to have a clean appearance - but this is custom cab work at that point.