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Home > Archive > Building and Construction > April 2006 > ? light options inside kitchen cabinets
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? light options inside kitchen cabinets
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| campn4fun@adelphia.net 2006-04-15, 11:21 am |
| We are having a new house built. We designed the kitchen with a row of
1 ft tall cabinets along the ceiling above the storage cabinets. These
cabinets along the ceiling have clear glass doors and we want a display
light in the ceiling of each 1 ft cabinet. We thought there would be
recessed "hockey puck" style lights in the cabinets. Instead the
electrician put in outlets and told us we could buy individual "puck"
lights to plug in. First off, we cannot find anything like he is
telling us, and secondly if we find something to plug in it will be
projecting down into the cabinet and quite visible when looking up into
the cabinet . We have seen small lights but they would have a cord
leading to the light which you would see. Not the clean look we were
anticipating when we designed the kitchen. The builder got some small
LCD or LED lights to put in place of the sockets but these lights
automatically go off when they sense light and they are just a small
glow, I think they are for floor illumination. Builder says we have no
other option but to get plug ins with a cord visible. Keep in mind the
square cutout has already been cut in the top of the cabinet as the
outlets are in place. There is attic above these cabinets, the cabinets
are on an outside wall and the roof slopes inward over the cabinets,
would be difficult to get to the wiring in the attic I think. If we
have to hire our own electrician after we move in that is what we will
do to get the look we want and have to live with. We hope there are
options out there that the builder isn't aware of. Thanx for all ideas.
betty
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| CWatters 2006-04-15, 7:21 pm |
| Two options...
1) Regular LED deck lights (without the automatic switch) are available on
ebay and a million other places. They don't normally come with an automatic
sensor. They typically use a 12V transformer. Hide the transformer somewhere
and run the 12V wire in a slot routed in the top of the cabinet (eg between
cabinet and ceiling. Caution: Some of these deck lights are quite thick/tall
and might be thicker than the top of your cabinet. You might have to recess
the ceiling.
2) There are some surface mounted LED light available for this where I live
(Belgium). They sell them in the DIY stores for use on the underside of
kitchen cabinets. Some are very slim - only about 1/4" thick. It might be
possible to recess these using a router if 1/4" is too much.
Image..
http://www.brico.be/cat2006/preview/B-3620916-p595.jpg
URL...
http://www.brico.be/wabs/catalog200...=254583¶m=1
For both of the above it would be best to fit the lights into the cabinets
before they are fixed to the wall. eg so the wire can be hidden between
cabinet and ceiling.
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| Dan Deckert 2006-04-15, 8:21 pm |
| If you want recessed, your going to have to get into the attic, or else cut
a hole in the roof. It appears there was a lack of understanding between
yourself & the contractor. (s) If the dwgs. 'show' recessed lights @ those
locations, it's on his butt to fix it, if not, it's on you unless you have
something in writing..................................If outlets were
installed as you say, are they switched or unswitched? If unswitched,
something would seem amiss.
Dan.... 2cents worth. 1st problem below...........
>We thought there would be
> recessed "hockey puck" style lights in the cabinets.
<campn4fun@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:1145109963.541668.214770@e56g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
> We are having a new house built. We designed the kitchen with a row of
> 1 ft tall cabinets along the ceiling above the storage cabinets. These
> cabinets along the ceiling have clear glass doors and we want a display
> light in the ceiling of each 1 ft cabinet. We thought there would be
> recessed "hockey puck" style lights in the cabinets. Instead the
> electrician put in outlets and told us we could buy individual "puck"
> lights to plug in. First off, we cannot find anything like he is
> telling us, and secondly if we find something to plug in it will be
> projecting down into the cabinet and quite visible when looking up into
> the cabinet . We have seen small lights but they would have a cord
> leading to the light which you would see. Not the clean look we were
> anticipating when we designed the kitchen. The builder got some small
> LCD or LED lights to put in place of the sockets but these lights
> automatically go off when they sense light and they are just a small
> glow, I think they are for floor illumination. Builder says we have no
> other option but to get plug ins with a cord visible. Keep in mind the
> square cutout has already been cut in the top of the cabinet as the
> outlets are in place. There is attic above these cabinets, the cabinets
> are on an outside wall and the roof slopes inward over the cabinets,
> would be difficult to get to the wiring in the attic I think. If we
> have to hire our own electrician after we move in that is what we will
> do to get the look we want and have to live with. We hope there are
> options out there that the builder isn't aware of. Thanx for all ideas.
> betty
>
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| campn4fun@adelphia.net 2006-04-15, 8:21 pm |
| You are correct, there was a lack of understanding between the
electrician and us. We met with the electrican before he did the wiring
and felt we described what we wanted, it is not in writing so that is
our fault. We did the final kitchen designing/selections after the
house was drawn and started. The lights in the upper cabinets are not
in any drawings. That is history and we have to deal with what we now
have. The builder put in a couple of hallway/stair lights but are too
dim. They are Pass & Seymour model # TMHWL-CC and are at the link
below:
http://www.passandseymour.com/pdf/B30.pdf
They would work perfect if they were brighter.
The outlets are switched.
We are seeking ideas and doing research to be better informed when we
do get an electrician. Thank you again for all input.
betty
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| campn4fun@adelphia.net 2006-04-16, 12:21 pm |
| That is what we wanted to begin with. Since there are already square
cut outs in the top of each cabinet where outlets were put in, how can
these small, round puck style lights be installed?
betty
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| CWatters 2006-04-16, 3:21 pm |
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<campn4fun@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:1145197349.408635.318670@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> That is what we wanted to begin with. Since there are already square
> cut outs in the top of each cabinet where outlets were put in, how can
> these small, round puck style lights be installed?
> betty
If the cabinets are painted it wouldn't be hard to fill the holes with wood,
then fill any gaps with filler, prime and repaint. Any other finish would
require some imagination.
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| Don't do anything without thinking it through. You may not even be
trying for the best answer.
1. "Puck" lights will glare at anyone looking up at them! That hurts!
They were designed for under-cabinet where nobody sees the fixture.
2. Fixtures mid-way between the front and back of the cabinet will only
light the top of what is in the cabinet. At best the front of an object
must be behind the fixture to have the light shine on it.
What you may need is lighting that runs up and down at the face of the
cabinet, or along the bottom. Both would need to be sheilded from
view!!
Before proceeding try to rig a temporary fixture and put something in
the cabinet. Seeing is believing.
Richard Reid, LC
Luminous Views
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