I put 4 recessed can lights in the kitchen I’m remodeling, but it was still dim over the sink. I was going to add a fifth, but there is a joist spang in the middle, so I decided to try a shallow surface-mounted fixture instead. The guy @ HD said “puck” lights, which I had never heard of, fit the bill.
They do sort of resemble hockey pucks, since they’re discs about 2 1/2-3″ across and 1″ deep. They use 120 volt, 20 watt small halogen bulbs. They are meant for add-on undercabinet lighting, and are supposed to just be plugged into a receptacle. The cords are ordinary ungrounded, 16 ga. lamp wire with 2-prong plugs on the end. Since the pucks are all plastic, I guess the mfr. is relying either on double insulation or that the thing will be plugged into a GFCI. The pucks are sealed, so there is no way to remove the stock wire and substitute Romex.
I had planned to just lead these 16 ga flexible lamp cords through the ceiling and put a regular box in the attic, switching to Romex there. But when I read the instrux, it specifically stated that they should not be led through holes in walls or ceilings and not hardwired, just plugged in. They recommend 2 ways of mounting under cabinets; either recessed or just strapped to the bottoms with 2 screws; no boxes at all.
They warn about the heat, but seem OK with recessed mountings.
So my questions are: (1) If I do lead them through a hole in the ceiling to a box in the attic, is there some danger of fire or of the insulation deteriorating from heat? (2) Is their ungrounded state, and not being plugged into a GFCI, going to be a problem? (3) Has anybody got a better solution than puck lights? Some other form of surface-mounted fixture? I want something compact and bright and not low voltage, just line voltage.
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Toos
I've attached a couple of pictures of pucks under cabinets
the cabinet against the wall I installed a receptacle inside it then drilled a small hole thru inside all the cabs, then installed puck wiring inside small round wire mould and just plugged into the receptacle it seemed like the only for me to do it like you said you can't run the lamp wire inside the wall. The HO didn't like the wire showing under the cabinets so I covered the bottoms and remounted pucks
hope this helps you
zeeya
It's a code/UL thing that regular "lamp cord" can't be permanently installed. Ie, it MUST be plugged in, vs cutting off the end and splicing to romex, and plug-in point must be easily accessible. In addition, the wire must not be subjected to possible abrasion (eg, from running through holes in things).
There are far more varieties of puck lights than the big boxes have.
Go to a good lighting store
Using the one's you found the way you described is amateurish workmanship, IMO.
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If there is a joist in the middle of where the light is to go simply use two small cans on either side. Cans eve smaller than 4" are available to order from any good lighting store.
Puck lights are a poor substitute for what you need.
The electrical regulations are what prohibits a plug in cord from running through walls, not an electrical issue specifically. A box made to hardwire the flex cord to romex is available and would solve the wiring problem, but that still doesn't make a puck light suitable for what you need.
Good lighting
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
Install a small surface mounted pendant light over the sink. This can be attached to one of those pancake boxes. A puck light will probably not illuminate anything at sink level as it will be too far away.
> They use 120 volt, 20 watt small halogen bulbs.
20 watts, even if you could focus it perfectly, won't be anywhere near enough. The best suggestion was to go with two cans, set symmetrically, to avoid the joist. Put them far apart as you can (up to the next outboard joists) to get a more even illumination.
-- J.S.
I doubt if puck lighting would be very useful over a sink. I have four puck lights mounted under the upper cabs in my kitchen and they're great for low-level lighting with the morning coffee or a little additional task lighting.
I had a similar situation and just installed another can light right over the sink. It made a huge difference in how clean the dishes get. - lol
You've convinced me. I took back the puck lights and found 2 nice 3" recessed lights which I will install on each side of the joist.