Replies

1. 
   HammerHarry | Mar 20, 2006 10:04pm | #1

   I will point out that:  line voltage halogens are nice because you can use a dimmer and no transformer, BUT....think about bulb life;  if your coffee pot is where these lights are, that will impact bulb life (the one above our coffee pot does not last a year), and...heat.  I suggest that you don't keep bread below the lights, or things like peanut butter directly above the lights.  The heat from line voltage halogens is quite impressive; bread left out on the counter goes moldy very quickly, and the peanut butter is almost liquid, from sitting in the cupboard directly over the lights.  Given what I know now, I might do it differently.

    

    

    

    

2. 
   torn | Mar 21, 2006 12:57am | #2

   I've installed the line-voltage halogens with the touch dimmer, and wouldn't do it again.  Xenon is cooler, whiter, and the bulbs last longer.  I would think a line-voltage xenon system might be something you'd want to look at.  Check with the mfr about what kind of dimmer to use.  You may or may not be able to use a standard incandescent dimmer.  The systems I've used did come with some wiring, but not enough to make a long run to a wall switch.

   Avoid the cheap HD halogen pucks.  Low quality, and it shows...  Try Outwater http://www.outwater.com/outwater.html.  Kichler has been recommended here before, too.

3. 
   maddog3 | Mar 21, 2006 01:10am | #3

   you may find some answers here

   http://www.pegasusassociates.com/XenonLineVoltTaskLights.jsp

   the site can load slowly at times........

   .
   .
   .
   'Wer ist jetzt der Idiot?'
4. 
   Frankie | Mar 21, 2006 02:02am | #4

   Juno Mini Trac 12.

   Xenon lamps.

   These mini tracks allow you to install as many lights as you'd like, within the restrictions of the transformer wattage. You can also arrange their locations whenever you would like. If you decide to add another lamp in a month, you can rearrange the layout along the track so the lighting is even thereby avoiding hot spots.

   Transformer must be accessible. In the basement below the Kitchen is our norm.

   Wiring is bought separate.

   http://www.junolighting.com/productinfo/prod_finder_item1.asp?Fid=F005&SFid=SF052&Cid=C0401&SCid=8

   Hope this helps.

   Frankie

   There he goes—one of God's own prototypes—a high powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live and too rare to die.

   —Hunter S. Thompson
   from Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas

5. 
   Pnut | Mar 21, 2006 05:30pm | #5

   Thanks all for the input...some good links.

   P

1. 
   sully13 | Mar 21, 2006 07:08pm | #7

   One more Pnut - Try NSL lighting.  They have both the strip lights, pucks, and rope light.  We have used them for a long time and love the quality and ease of installation.

   sully

6. 
   JeffBuck | Mar 21, 2006 06:04pm | #6

   while U are planning this all out ... don't forget to order "light rail" or "under canibet moulding" for your cabinets.

   I installed a coupla kitchens for a place that sold under cab lights with each kitchen ... and never once recommended adding light rail to help hide it. Drove me nuts ...

   How fancy do U want your kitchen to be?

   I worked for another guy that insisted the bottom of his cab's look like finished furniture ... as all the counter tops were granite ... most glossy ... and he didn't want to see any ugly wires in the reflection of the bottom of the cabs ...

   so all the wires were run ... and the bottoms of the cab's were skinned ... then ... we added the light rail to cover the edge seam.

   electricians came back and popped the lights into the holds we drilled for them in the skins.

   real ... real ... nice look. Seamless aside from the occasional, carefully places butt joint of 2 skin panels ...

   Jeff

    

       Buck Construction

    Artistry In Carpentry

        Pittsburgh Pa

7. 
   djj | Mar 21, 2006 09:19pm | #8

   At the recommendation of a number of people here we used the Kichler Xenon under cabinet lights and couldn't be happier with them.

   They run off of 110 (no transformer), and are dimmable using standard dimmers (although they do come with a high/low switch). They come with a wiring module that you hook up to the 110 and then the light hooks to it with a supplied cord. You can daisy chain the lights using their connection cords so that only the first light in the chain hooks to the 110.

   The only drawback is that they are pricey.

   Here is one online vendor.

   http://www.elights.com/uncablig.html

   regards,

   Dennis

1. 
   Sadie | Mar 21, 2006 09:48pm | #9

   Have any of you used flourescents for wired in undercounter cabinet lighting?  Would also like to be able to use dimmers but is this possible? 

   I prefer the pricey Xenon & hubby leaning toward flourescents as he has seen some very thin flourescents in the box stores.  Job on the horizon soon as cabinets already installed.  Wiring was planned for some kind of lighting but doubt transformers planned?  Appreciate your input.

1. 
   BillHartmann | Mar 21, 2006 09:51pm | #10

   You can get special ballast for dimming flourscents, but you can't dim the standard units at the home horor stores.

2. 
   Frankie | Mar 21, 2006 10:58pm | #11

   I have never seen the thin florescents which are dimmable. There are now a few manufacturers producing 1" high/ tall units x about 5" wide x various lengths. Switches can be on fixtures or on wall.They use F13T5 lamps.I use the LaMar brand. They are local and always available.http://www.lamarlighting.com/WEB/displaysubcategory.asp?CatID=65Florescent doesn't even compare with low voltage but ya do what ya can.FrankieThere he goes—one of God's own prototypes—a high powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live and too rare to die.—Hunter S. Thompson
   from Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas

3. 
   CapnMac | Mar 21, 2006 11:51pm | #12

   used flourescents for wired in undercounter cabinet lighting? 

   Have--even grew up with some.  They have every benefit, and every flaw, of fluorescent lighting.  No dimming, will flicker during cold starts, balasts will "sing" or otherwise be annoying.  Against that, it's a very uniform light (once on selects the lamp color one prefers--another entire step in the process).

   My preference is to get them out to the front edge of the upper cabinets--but that can mean needing a whopping big "light rail" too.  (I've installed units with lenses, back at the intersection of the splash & uppers--have yet to not have to find a replacement for a lens after yellowing, cracking, or just vanishing after re-lamping . . . )Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

4. 
   kate | Mar 22, 2006 02:22am | #13

   I had an 8' 4 thin tube fluro., & had to get rid of it because it made so much static we couldn't listen to the radio.  Something about the ballast...