LED Rope Lighting, String, Cove, Under Cabinet ????

[karoc]

Well as I slowly kinda close in walls some I have come to believe that I like to add some of that rope or string led lighting and some under cabinets in kitchen area. Our lighting right now is ceiling fan lights, plus maybe lamps. In bath rm which is 5’x12’ our lighting is wall mount above sink and can light over shower. I watch YouTube’s so I know little about them, but I kinda have idea of what I want.
1) We’re in our 70’s eyes not that good
2) Don’t want to see dots, want see continuous bright lights.
3) No different colors, just good white light,on by flip of switch.
4) Want them last forever or till death do us part.
5) Simple wiring, low voltage etc?
Members this is all new construction, I like to figure out how pre wire lighting while walls are open. I do lot of woodworking but I really don’t want to put big chunk of crown along flat ceiling but I will if can’t come up with good idea.
I’m looking for y’all voice on this, your thoughts, ideas, links, where buy the good stuff, websites, pics of your lights, Youtubes, and maybe what these types lights are called. Oh, this is for interior. Open living/kitchen area, bathrm area. Nothing fancy, just On/Off switch and more on bright side

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

I would suggest checking out a "high end lighting store" in your area for the latest and greatest fixtures available.
Here is an example of one: https://www.fergusonhome.com/shop-all-undercabinet/c82043549?facets=features:LED

When I was a contractor many designers who did high end commercial jobs purchased their fixtures from lighting stores in New York City (Bowery Area)

Another idea is to check out home design and architectural magazines for ideas because lighting ideas and fixtures change fast.

TIP! AVOID cheap fixtures that have no headquarters in case you need parts or warranty issues.

 

[mikedodge]

Rope light isn't meant to be permanent. The last one I had actually started burning up on itself.

Get LED Tape light preferrably with the aluminum channel option to stick it in otherwise it can come off over time. It's meant to do what you're looking for and you can cut it to the length you need.

 

[larry4406]

At the day job (and I did at my house at wife’s kitchen) we use Kichler tape LED lighting.

It’s mounted under the wall cabinets. We install it along the bottom front cabinet stile so it shines back towards the splash.

Literally cuts with scissors. Order terminals to connect to the cut pieces.

We use I believe 4000K. I will check.

It’s rough wired with I recall 18/2 to the tape light locations.

We usually wire a switch leg into a kitchen cabinet to power the LED driver which is mounted there (inside cooktop cabinet). When we have a full slide in range, we put the LED driver(s) in the basement.

I honestly do not like overhead light. I’m 63. I love the undercabinet lighting as it illuminates the space and no blinding glow.

My eyes like 4000K. Lower and it’s too yellow for me. Higher and it starts getting bluish and harsh on my eyes.

 

[pima67]

A few years ago I bought pack of 3 led, rechargeable, motion controlled under cab lights along with some other stuff from Amazon (just for fun purchase). They have 2 rows of leds and via magnet stick to a flat iron plate "glued" under the cabs and are hidden by the front of the cabs. . They also have changeable colors and can be set to always on. One has died but the other 2 work OK. They keep a long charge but then that maybe because only waved on by hand as needed. May not need them any more since I changed out the CFLs with daylight led floods. My pre-nuclear age eyes appreciate the new lights.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Rope light isn't meant to be permanent. The last one I had actually started burning up on itself.

Get LED Tape light preferrably with the aluminum channel option to stick it in otherwise it can come off over time. It's meant to do what you're looking for and you can cut it to the length you need.

Some of those aluminum channel options also include a diffuser strip that snaps on over the LEDs, so you get more of a constant light along the length, instead of a bright spot under each LED.

There will generally also be a transformer to convert 120vac to low voltage. You put the transformer inside on of the cabinets, along with a switched 120vac receptacle to plug it into. Then you run two small wires out through a hole in the bottom of the cabinet to the LED tape