allenwayne
Senior Member
We all have our ways of doing things...How do you do puck light transformer installations ??
Puck Lt. transformers
- Thread starter allenwayne
- Start date
- Status
goldstar
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Re: Puck Lt. transformers
I believe what you meant to say is "How do you wire transformers for puck light installations". Anyway, there are a number of prior discussions on this. If you do a search for puck lights or under-cabinet lighting I believe you'll find several opinions. The biggest problem is "in-wall" wiring. There doesn't seem to be very many types of wire other than NMC that you can use. If there aren't that many lights and you have the capability to lay the xfmr on top of the cabinets you can snake LV or speaker wire behind the cabinet and inside the cavity to the top.
I believe what you meant to say is "How do you wire transformers for puck light installations". Anyway, there are a number of prior discussions on this. If you do a search for puck lights or under-cabinet lighting I believe you'll find several opinions. The biggest problem is "in-wall" wiring. There doesn't seem to be very many types of wire other than NMC that you can use. If there aren't that many lights and you have the capability to lay the xfmr on top of the cabinets you can snake LV or speaker wire behind the cabinet and inside the cavity to the top.
peter d
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
Re: Puck Lt. transformers
I hate puck lights and their associated transformers and wiring.
I think the NSL (or equivalent) Xenon task lights are a far better choice.
I hate puck lights and their associated transformers and wiring.
I think the NSL (or equivalent) Xenon task lights are a far better choice.
allenwayne
Senior Member
Re: Puck Lt. transformers
I was asking how do you terminate the actual puck light under a cabinet. and what do you do with the trans.I have our guys set a 2 gang box with switch leg entering it for trans.then jump from there to 2nd 2 gang box where individual switch legs go to designated locations in NM runs under the cabinets I have them set a wiremold box and that is where the actual puck light is terminated.Blank it off done deal.Have had one AHJ require a vented cover over the trans J box,since transformers have to be ventilated
I was asking how do you terminate the actual puck light under a cabinet. and what do you do with the trans.I have our guys set a 2 gang box with switch leg entering it for trans.then jump from there to 2nd 2 gang box where individual switch legs go to designated locations in NM runs under the cabinets I have them set a wiremold box and that is where the actual puck light is terminated.Blank it off done deal.Have had one AHJ require a vented cover over the trans J box,since transformers have to be ventilated
allenwayne
Senior Member
Re: Puck Lt. transformers
No takers HUH
No takers HUH
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Hospital Master Electrician
Re: Puck Lt. transformers
Can you hear the uncomfortable silence?
Can you hear the uncomfortable silence?
hurk27
Senior Member
- Location
- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: Puck Lt. transformers
I just wanted to inform you that running low voltage cable even through floors is a violation of 400.8(2) You must use a chapter 3 wiring method
hurk27
Senior Member
- Location
- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: Puck Lt. transformers
Allen most of the systems we install now have a small 60 watt plug in transformer. We leave a switched whip in the wall above the cabinets in locations where we can concealed the transformer's above the cabinets and fish the lv cable down between the cabinets to each light. we use a sg old work box and mount it horizontal about ?" above the back of the cabinet and install the receptacle. This leaves the cover plate just touching the top back of the cabinet and is very hard to see when standing on the floor. Even without crowns. Also the one we use have small mold-ex plugs to make the connections and are UL listed for such use. This doesn't give the AHJ much to red tag.
Allen most of the systems we install now have a small 60 watt plug in transformer. We leave a switched whip in the wall above the cabinets in locations where we can concealed the transformer's above the cabinets and fish the lv cable down between the cabinets to each light. we use a sg old work box and mount it horizontal about ?" above the back of the cabinet and install the receptacle. This leaves the cover plate just touching the top back of the cabinet and is very hard to see when standing on the floor. Even without crowns. Also the one we use have small mold-ex plugs to make the connections and are UL listed for such use. This doesn't give the AHJ much to red tag.
peter d
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
Re: Puck Lt. transformers
1. Smash with sledgehammer or other blunt object.
2. Clean up debris and dispose.
3. Repeat as necessary.
Okay, okay...here's the best way to install puck lights.Originally posted by georgestolz:
Can you hear the uncomfortable silence?
1. Smash with sledgehammer or other blunt object.
2. Clean up debris and dispose.
3. Repeat as necessary.
allenwayne
Senior Member
Re: Puck Lt. transformers
We are skirting the problem.In wall it has to be an approved in wall wiring method.NM in homes what I have told our guys to do is run switch leg to a 3 gang J box for trans and from there to a second J box where the individual leads go to the puck light locations,that way wiring method is all NM On trim a wiremold box under the cabinet and the LV puck light spliced in there.Blank off all j boxes done deal,Give me another option and I am all in
We are skirting the problem.In wall it has to be an approved in wall wiring method.NM in homes what I have told our guys to do is run switch leg to a 3 gang J box for trans and from there to a second J box where the individual leads go to the puck light locations,that way wiring method is all NM On trim a wiremold box under the cabinet and the LV puck light spliced in there.Blank off all j boxes done deal,Give me another option and I am all in
allenwayne
Senior Member
Re: Puck Lt. transformers
Hurk 27 in your method you still have a concealed wiring method from trans to puck light my understanding of the code that still has to be an approvrd wiring method(NM)My question is this.How to comply with NEC and appease the customerMy way IMHO NEC is satisfied .Had oneAHJ insist that the trans. be vented,so we mounted an a/c grill over it yes not UL listed but he passed it
Hurk 27 in your method you still have a concealed wiring method from trans to puck light my understanding of the code that still has to be an approvrd wiring method(NM)My question is this.How to comply with NEC and appease the customerMy way IMHO NEC is satisfied .Had oneAHJ insist that the trans. be vented,so we mounted an a/c grill over it yes not UL listed but he passed it
hurk27
Senior Member
- Location
- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: Puck Lt. transformers
Allen the switch wipe that I put in the wall above the cabnet to latter cutin a receptacle is NM as it is line voltage the transformer is only UL listed to be a plug and cord connected so it plugs into this receptacle. From there I run the supplyed LV wire that comes with the kit down between the cabnets. most have a 1/4" to 1/2" space between each cabnet. This is not going through any building surface? as discribed in 400.8(2) The only wires that run in the wall are the 120 volt romex that runs from the switch to the receptacle. LV wire does not have to be concealed. and the connections are provided by the manufacture are a molex plug and receptacle that are UL listed for use with these lights. This is a UL listed assembly. How can a AHJ red tag you for that? Are you saying your AHJ is saying the cabnet walls are building surfaces? That would be reaching.
Allen the switch wipe that I put in the wall above the cabnet to latter cutin a receptacle is NM as it is line voltage the transformer is only UL listed to be a plug and cord connected so it plugs into this receptacle. From there I run the supplyed LV wire that comes with the kit down between the cabnets. most have a 1/4" to 1/2" space between each cabnet. This is not going through any building surface? as discribed in 400.8(2) The only wires that run in the wall are the 120 volt romex that runs from the switch to the receptacle. LV wire does not have to be concealed. and the connections are provided by the manufacture are a molex plug and receptacle that are UL listed for use with these lights. This is a UL listed assembly. How can a AHJ red tag you for that? Are you saying your AHJ is saying the cabnet walls are building surfaces? That would be reaching.
electricmanscott
Senior Member
- Location
- Boston, MA
- Occupation
- Massachusetts Master Electrician, one man show.
Re: Puck Lt. transformers
2005 NEC 411.4(A)(2) Allows class 2 wiring methods now. As for the puck lights
[ February 24, 2005, 07:29 PM: Message edited by: electricmanscott ]
2005 NEC 411.4(A)(2) Allows class 2 wiring methods now. As for the puck lights
[ February 24, 2005, 07:29 PM: Message edited by: electricmanscott ]
allenwayne
Senior Member
Re: Puck Lt. transformers
If I can get our purchasing agent the owner to buy these transformer/puck lights that would be great.We have shelves stocked with wirenut connected trans./lights.Several of our builders use the same style trans./light (they supply the fixtures)So here we are with j boxes nm stubs under cabinets :roll:
If I can get our purchasing agent the owner
to buy these transformer/puck lights that would be great.We have shelves stocked with wirenut connected trans./lights.Several of our builders use the same style trans./light (they supply the fixtures)So here we are with j boxes nm stubs under cabinets :roll:- Status