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Electrical Wiring

Direct wiring?

15 years ago

With respect to under-cabinet flourescents and in-cabinet halogens, as long as either the ballast or transformer is built into the unit, how can you direct wire units in serial if they originally came with male plugs? Do you just cut off the ends and route them through junction boxes?

Is it a.) possible, and b.) to code?

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Comments (5)

joed
15 years ago
You put in receptacles. Cutting off the plug violates the UL listing of the device and is against code.
chris2009
Original Author
15 years ago
OK, thanks, that's what I needed to know. So if I want direct wiring, then I need to find fixtures initially designed for that purpose. Any suggestions? Home Depot and Lowes have little choice.
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Well, it looks like I'm going to have to consider low voltage then. Direct wire would be more convenient. I will re-read the LED ucl instructional threads now with low voltage in mind. Are there a couple manufacturers you might steer me too that are reasonably priced, have the aluminum casing, 2700 warm light, and reflect well on most counter tops (not intense dotted lines)? The transformer (think that's what it's called) would be placed in the basement, accessed near the kitchen. davidtay, have you ever heard of a low voltage led ucl transformer interfering with another low voltage system in the same room? The Broan make up air damper for the vent hood, as all universal mua dampers, also requires such a system from kitchen to the basement furnace via low voltage signal. I don't want humming and flickering throughout the kitchen. Any thoughts on this? Thank you.
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I'll let you know--not sure yet. Haven't looked at inspired LED; can't make head or tail of the website. Can you direct wire them? Have you compared the costs for your set-up? I'm really useless at all this. I didn't give it a thought when I airily told the builder I wanted UCLs--assumed it was a simple and cheap choice. Hahahahahaha....
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Comments (3)
Kichler has a great, versatile product called TaskWork LED Tape Light. The Kelvin temperature, in this case it is offered in 2700K, 3000K, 4000K, is actually referring to the warmth of the light, not the brightness. 2700K being a warm, yellowish light and 4000K being a cool bluer light. 3000K is a very pleasant, neutral tone used most often for task lighting. The lumen output is what refers to how bright the light will be. Kichler offers two versions of their tape, a low output offering 100 lumens per foot and a high output with 245 lumens per foot. Either can be put on a dimmable or a non-dimmable driver. There are also three types of the tape light for uses in different areas of your project. A dry rated indoor tape, a damp rated indoor tape, and a wet rated outdoor tape. Hope this helps! ES Lighting If you have further questions you can contact us directly at contact@eslightingshop.com
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btharmy
15 years ago
Just curious why you're so set on hard wiring the under cabinet lights? Most (all that I have ever seen) are not intended to be hard wired because the wires and joints would be so hard to conceal.
joefixit2
15 years ago
Yes, go to a lighting store. You will pay more than at Lowes or HD but they will be better lights. The selection of undercabinet lights at the big box stores has always been crappy.

Some brands to look for, WAC, American Lighting, Kitchler.
chris2009
Original Author
15 years ago
I'd like to do direct for two reasons: switching on the wall at rooms entry, and to not be able to see excessive plugs and wires underneath / on-top of cabinets. Same goes for the inside of cabinets with glass doors as well.

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