Want to place LED light strip below/across OTR Microwave

3 years ago

I’m installing under cabinet lighting and the lighting over the range provided by the OTR Microwave is very poor. So rather than a consistently lit area from the left Cabinets across the range to the right side cabinets, even with the OTRM light on the area under it will be much darker. I want more light to see what I’m cooking as well.

So that leads me to my question: Is there some sort of protective heat resistant covering/molding that I can attach to the rear underside of the OTRM (or wall) that I can slide the LED light strip through so that it will be protected from the heat. Obviously I would terminate the ends with the ability to be disconnected if the OTRM needs removing. OR is the an LED light strip

designed specifically for this?

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Comments (8)

oldsparky508
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
There are some LED tape lighting designed for outdoor use ( encapsulated, waterproof for cleaning etc). I think this would be suitable for this application. It requires a separate driver (transformer)), wiring and a switch. This tape comes in a standard output, or a high output (brighter) type which might be better suited for this area. The only concern would be heat bput a properly installed hood is going to have enough clearance, so that I can’t image that you will have an issue. Check at you local electrical supply store ( always best to support small business) they will be very knowledgable about this product, but more importantly can provide you with names of an electrician or two who are experienced at installation.
oldsparky508
3 years ago
My apologies. The screen failed to display the second half question. To make this removeable in the unlikely event(but certainly possible) that the hood needs service you would need remove the lighting. In that case check for an LED Tape encased within a rigid metal frame. several companies offer this and I have used them in houses where the glass cabinets result in the LED tape being visible. This would solve both your heat and removeability issues. Same local supply shops will be the source, but you may have to check a second supply shop if the first says the’ve never heard of such a thing.
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I just got a quote for replacing my existing cabinet lighting for $1500 including labor, so I think you are getting off relatively cheap @$300. I haven't done it because of the price but eventually I will have to since flickering bulbs or half a lit strip look worse than nothing. If you are using low voltage lighting, yes you need the transformer. I did a project that had a strip down the hinge side of each door, (some of the cabinets only had one door) and nothing across the top and it seemed ok to me. I am not sure you want to brilliantly light the inside anyway. This problem with going really cheap or rigging something is that it will look really cheap or rigged, so why bother? Ideally if you are using a strip that goes up the side, you don't want it to be visible at all, the cabinet should just glow.
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User
3 years ago
Get a better hood, with better lighting. Problem solved. OTR’d are terrible for multiple things.
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
I have to agree this is poor venting at the best of times and maybe just change the bulb in the MW if you can't get a proper vent. I do not think running strip light there is agood idea at all. What do you have for pot lights in the kitchen there should be a least that lights the range.
wdccruise
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I wouldn't put LED strip lights above the range. Instead I'd staple them underneath the adjacent cabinets, perpendicular to the wall but far enough from the cabinet's stove-side lips that the light wasn't blocked by them. I might also put the LED strips inside 45-degree channels (example). If I were to do that, I'd probably attach the channels underneath the outer edges of the cabinets so the light was focused (at the 45-degree angle) on the stove top.
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RL Relocation LLC
3 years ago
Where would you hide the wires? this isnt a good plan. Wht light bulb is in your range hood now? have you thought to change that to see if that helps first, and yes adding Under cabs left and right would help balance the light quality a lot. I would start there... otherwise buy one of those stick on battery lights lol...
oldsparky508
3 years ago
I agree with WDuise. Putting the LED strips on the side cabinets would be perfect. As for the wires they would be installed using any of the methods employed when installing undercabinet LED tape lighting
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RL Relocation LLC
3 years ago
I meant if she ran it under the vent hood, i know where wires go on under cabs lol.

Want to place LED light strip below/across OTR Microwave

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oldsparky508

oldsparky508

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