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Need 3/4' undercabinet lighting depth! Would strip lighting work?

16 years ago

It seems that all undercabinet lighting (the thinner ones) are 1 inch. The space under our cabinets is just shy of that...like 15/16. We want undercabinet lights but don't want to see the light hanging slighly below the cabinet frame. We thought of rope lighting, but most people say it doesn't look good. I did see some "strip lighting" online, but didn't know if this was an option.

We have electricity run to two places above the cabinets, but it is set up for a standard outlet.

Do we have any options other than buying lighting that is 1 inch thick? We only need accent..not really for task...

Thanks!!

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Comments (9)

ltngbolt
16 years ago
There is a light fixture by task lighting called luche which I believe is 7/8", about the lowest profile I know of.

Here is a link that might be useful: luche light
slc2053
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the info..but they require a transformer and we're just wanting something to plug in....
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"low voltage wiring back to a central transformer." Often a painfully expensive way to do the job. Low voltage requires higher current and low voltage drops in conductors, requiring the use of larger wires. 60 W AC to DC supplies are around $15 each and fit in a single gang box. 120 VAC in one end, 12 VDC out the other. You can cut through the cabinet back, mount a device box flush with the inside of the cabinet back, then use a blank switch-plate on the box. The 12 V lines exit through the bottom side of the box, through the bottom of the cabinet, and then to the nearby lights. Repeat as required. If a single large er transformer fails ALL the lights are out. If a single AC-DC power supply fails all you lose is (up to) 60 W of lights. It works especially well with 20 W pucks. 3 pucks per supply. You can even use another low voltage supply (24 VAC, power limited) with relays to switch the segments. Same sort of scheme as a thermostat, with all the wiring relief these circuits have (and common and inexpensive transformers and relays from the HVAC world). You may need to use as 4x4 box with a single gang plaster ring to fit power supplies and relays.
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I really like Tresco's LED lighting. Is this like your 3rd option? We have the ELLI 2 in our showroom and everyone loves them! They are very pricey but will last 12-15 yrs without replacement. They are a very warm and bright light as well. In the display next to it, we have some cheapy LED's from Home Depot and the difference is like night and day. The dimmer switch from Tresco is not very expensive at all. I can't recall...something between $45-$60. Here is a photo from one of my client's home. I think their whole undercabinet LED lighting (4 lengths; 2 transformers, some wiring and 2 dimmer switches came to around $1750 without installation). I know expensive but no bulbs to replace for a LONG time. Here is a link that might be useful: Tresco
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Even thin lights may show when you are sitting and look into the kitchen. It seems most new kitchen installs are done with a light rail added to hide the lights behind. We did an update several years ago and kept our old cabinets which had no light rail or moulding below the boxes. DH is rather handy and we bought some oak (our cabinets are oak) corner moulding about 3/4 or an inch wide. I got stain matched up at a good paint store. Cloverdale I believe and they can make stain to match if you bring in a door from your cabinets. We installed that below the cabinets and I stained and varnished the. They gave a little update to the cabinet look and do a great job of hiding our UCL's. They look like they were always on the cabinets and match perfectly. He also installed our UCL and drilled small holes in the bottom of the cabinet, fished the wire thru them and then behind, thru the wall studs up to a soffit where we have access. Wired in an on and off and dimmer switch in our Zephyr fan hood since it has lots of room in the metal body. Virtually no wire showing and the light switch is with the fan light switch. DH is so innovative!
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birkie_2006
16 years ago
I just ordered these micro fluorescent lights that are 0.75in wide by 1-3/8in high. They come with a plug and you can also connect them in a line.

Pegasus recommended the 3000K warm bulbs.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pegasus micro fluorescent lights
slc2053
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks birkie..I think they will work...at least for two of my cabinets...we have a 12 inch wide cabinet but the cavity underneath is only 10.5 inches and those lights with the cord are 11.5 (shortest one available!)

I can't win! I may go with these though for the other two I just don't want to have different types of light that would be noticeable...Anyway, thanks again!
Jon1270
16 years ago
You might look into getting some light rail molding to make the space deeper.
birkie_2006
16 years ago
I think you only need to use one plug at the outlet end. You can connect up several light fixtures one-to-the-other in a straight line using the direct connector that comes with each light fixture.

If you have to angle to a corner cab, or insert lights into a cavity, you can still connect the lights to each other using their flexible connector.

Call Pegasus Lighting Associates and they will help you if you give them your measurements. 1-800-392-4818.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pegasus micro-fluroescent undercab lights
slc2053
Original Author
16 years ago
I will birkie...maybe they can assist. The one cabinet that is 12 inches isn't beside another cabinet with lighting..it's on the other side of the microwave over the stove and there are no other cabinets that with lighting beside it so it needs a light of its own.

Jon..we really don't want to add more molding to this kitchen, plus the cabinets are in and it would be hard to match the stain and finish. Just hoping to find some lighting that would work....but thanks for the suggestion. Not sure why cabinet makers don't make the recessed area a bit deeper...ahhh...so they can sell molding for outrageous prices!
slc2053
Original Author
16 years ago
I think we're ordering the lights from Pegasus, at least for two cabinets...then, now here's a novel idea, we may use a small lamp in the other area where it's too small to find the right undercabs, plus the lamp will be beside and area under a cab where we can't put any lighting because of a stemware rack attached to the cabinet underneath...At least that is the plan as of today! ;-)
pegasus_2008
16 years ago
Just to let everyone know, the link for this post has changed:

I think you only need to use one plug at the outlet end. You can connect up several light fixtures one-to-the-other in a straight line using the direct connector that comes with each light fixture.
If you have to angle to a corner cab, or insert lights into a cavity, you can still connect the lights to each other using their flexible connector.

Call Pegasus Lighting Associates and they will help you if you give them your measurements. 1-800-392-4818.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pegasus micro-fluroescent undercab lights

New Link: www.pegasusassociates.com/MicrofluorescentT4.jsp

Here is a link that might be useful: Pegasus Associates Lighting

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