LED lights for mounting under overhead cabinets

[66HertzClone]

I've been looking for some lights to improve the lighting on my workbench top. I have overhead cabinets and near the backsplash area it gets a little dark. I came across these on an iPad app while looking at remodeling information, Pro Series. The longer bar in that series is 16 3/4 overall length, the shorter ones I think are to short to be used for this application. I sent an email asking for pricing on 8 42 LED bars, 2 power packs and 2 in-line switches. The interconnect cables come in various lengths, so I'm sure I can find something that will work. When I hear back from them I will add the cost information to this thread. In the picture below the center fixture is the one I'm looking at using.

The article that had these light in it is Task Lighting

 

[bdamico]

do a search for my saber cabinet thread. i installed something similar

 

[rlitman]

If you don't mind waiting a few weeks for shipping from Hong Kong, and don't mind a little soldering, that last one can be had REALLY cheap.

The flexible adhesive backed strips come in 16' rolls for as little as $16 on eBay. They can be cut every 2" (every 3 LED's), with 19 LED's to the foot, and solderable pads on each side of every cut line. I just installed a bunch in my kitchen, although I paid closer to $50 for them when I bought the roll a year or so ago (shipped from a US seller, which also ups the price, but these are ALL made in China anyway).

The price of the clip on ends and adaptors is more than the price of the LED rolls. Skip that, and just solder it yourself.

 

[Daedalus]

I have the pro series 21-bulb LEDs under my kitchen cabinets. Not real bright, but everything helps. Got my kit from Amazon. In my garage I would go with superbright bulbs, as suggested above.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Anyone try the battery operated ones ?

Costco has strips and hockey pucks.

 

[Elephant_Man]

I have a couple 12V battery powered LED set ups. One in my truck bed and another one in my garage over a work bench area. I'll take some photos for you and give you the details on my set up. I'll try to post everything tomorrow so you can check em out.

 

[Mike14k]

Ditto on the flex LED strips, a bit of soldering, but a nice (and inexpensive) solution.

 

[CitadelBlue]

If you don't mind waiting a few weeks for shipping from Hong Kong, and don't mind a little soldering, that last one can be had REALLY cheap.

The flexible adhesive backed strips come in 16' rolls for as little as $16 on eBay. They can be cut every 2" (every 3 LED's), with 19 LED's to the foot, and solderable pads on each side of every cut line. I just installed a bunch in my kitchen, although I paid closer to $50 for them when I bought the roll a year or so ago (shipped from a US seller, which also ups the price, but these are ALL made in China anyway).

The price of the clip on ends and adaptors is more than the price of the LED rolls. Skip that, and just solder it yourself.

So what/where is the specific source?

 

[rlitman]

Well, I'm not big on advertising for anyone, but this is what I used in my kitchen:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/16-ft-kitch...89?pt=US_Toner_Cartridges&hash=item2ea8e2fa31

I'm happy with it, and what's more important is my wife is happy with it. I used one strip under the width of each cabinet, stuck 3/4" back from the face frame, so the shadow cast by the face is not on the countertop.

At 18" above the countertop, they illuminate the countertop front to back about as brightly as the rest of the kitchen lights, so no more shadows. The color temperature matches my warm white overhead LEDs and the color rendering is ok, but not spectacular.

This setup is more money, but is supposedly a lot brighter too:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/16-ft-under...73?pt=US_Toner_Cartridges&hash=item53e4779581

Now, if you do this search on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw...t=0&_odkw=led+undercabinet+-puck+5m&_osacat=0

You'll find hundreds of similar items at way lower prices, shipped direct from China. Are they a good deal or not? I don't know but for the price, it is worth a shot.

I'm thinking about pickup up a roll in blue. I used three rows of that first roll to replace the sunlight fluorescent bulb above my fish tank. The light level is ok, but it's not quite blue enough now.

 

[rebelranger]

Seriously use the LED strips off Amazon. I used the 5050 LED 3500k stuff and it's great! The 5/6k is better for shop work though, but the girl wanted softer light in the kitchen. Total for everything was $17 for solder gun from HD, $14 for 14m of 5050 LED strip lights, and (free) old computer AC adapter for power.

Here is the finished light pattern at 17" above the counter top.

 

[66HertzClone]

Seriously use the LED strips off Amazon. I used the 5050 LED 3500k stuff and it's great! The 5/6k is better for shop work though, but the girl wanted softer light in the kitchen. Total for everything was $17 for solder gun from HD, $14 for 14m of 5050 LED strip lights, and (free) old computer AC adapter for power.

Here is the finished light pattern at 17" above the counter top.

Do you by chance have a ling to the product you used? Those look vary bright, and that price sure makes it a very attractive alternate.

 

[66HertzClone]

I heard back from them, they said a power pack, a switch, and 6 of the 42 LED strips would be $149. I'll need a minimum of 8 strips and that would require tow power supplies, a second switch and then the jumper wires, not going to be cheap going this route.

 

[whatuusay1]

I'd recommend checking out http://www.ledwholesalers.com/ if you are looking at LEDs. I used them under my garage cabinets - very happy with the light output. I have a few pics on my build thread --> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=121344&page=2

I found them to be very bright and reasonably priced

 

[gatchel]

Seriously use the LED strips off Amazon. I used the 5050 LED 3500k stuff and it's great! The 5/6k is better for shop work though, but the girl wanted softer light in the kitchen. Total for everything was $17 for solder gun from HD, $14 for 14m of 5050 LED strip lights, and (free) old computer AC adapter for power.

Here is the finished light pattern at 17" above the counter top.

I also used the Amazon (Hitlights Brand) SMD5050 Warm White Double density LED flexible strips. They work pretty well and the color temp is pretty decent. The double density ones are 300 LED's per 5 meters, the regular ones are 150 LED's per 5 meters. They are about $30 per roll (5 Meter)

 

[Vinci]

I also used the Amazon (Hitlights Brand) SMD5050 Warm White Double density LED flexible strips. They work pretty well and the color temp is pretty decent. The double density ones are 300 LED's per 5 meters, the regular ones are 150 LED's per 5 meters. They are about $30 per roll (5 Meter)

Amazon has the warm white double-density rolls for under $14 right now.

 

[AirJunky]

The Costco LEDs are made by Mosaic of Sylvania. An 8' strip with controller & remote is down to $20. You can install up to 20' on that controller.

I found additional 10' of LEDs on Amazon for $55. But I think I'm going back to Costco for another 8' for $20.

 

[gatchel]

Amazon has the warm white double-density rolls for under $14 right now.

The ones I ordered were waterproof but yes the price does vary a bit.

 

[CitadelBlue]

Seriously use the LED strips off Amazon. I used the 5050 LED 3500k stuff and it's great! The 5/6k is better for shop work though, but the girl wanted softer light in the kitchen. Total for everything was $17 for solder gun from HD, $14 for 14m of 5050 LED strip lights, and (free) old computer AC adapter for power.

Here is the finished light pattern at 17" above the counter top.

what gauge wire did you use in the "gap" area above the stove?

And what about "gapping" from the left side to the right side of the sink?

 

[sejo]

If I were you, I will go for the LED strip lights since they operate at low voltage, that reduces the shock hazard risk during both installation and operation and generate a very low heat, that prevent overheating risk. They also are available in silicone covered versions, that protect them from water. And also come with many options, which make them easy to be controlled.

 

[miketyler]

Beware of the cheap flexible LED strips on a roll. While they do offer a very bright and efficient light source, the self adhesive strip used on the backside though vey sticky, will not stay stuck to cabineet undersides. In my case, it didnt even stay stuck to the LED strip itself and could be puled off the light strip easily. The release paper on the strip has "3M" printed on it but I doubt 3M actuallly makes this product.

I bought two rolls of these with power supplys but opted not to use then for undercabinet application as I didnt want to tape, tack, or glue on the underside of my new laaminate cabinets.

 

[volleyball]

Very good point. Making a back that you would silicone the led's to and then attach to the cabinets would be a good idea.
You might want to add a trim strip under your cabinets fronts to hide the lights

 

[67carl]

The last post was 18 months ago. He's likely already bought the lights...

 

[volleyball]

Unless he is a procrastinator.

 

[67carl]

My motto...

 

[j-guenth]

Task Lighting makes quality products. Before LED came out I had their lighting installed under my kitchen cabinets and they were great. They used 12 volt automotive bulbs (194) and there still going strong after 30 years.