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Project Difficulty:
Moderate
Estimated
Project Time: 1/2 day
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| Tools and Materials: |
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Neon tester
Screwdriver
Hammer
Cable clamps
Electrical cable (appropriate for your house wiring and lighting needs)
Multipurpose tool
Wire connectors
Pencil
Measuring tape
Keyhole saw or saber saw (for drywall)
Power drill
Fish tape
Electrical tape
Cable staples
Switch box
Switch
Needle-nose pliers
Fluorescent fixture
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Flexible conduit
Screws
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Undercabinet lighting is ideal for task and accent lighting. With a properly lit kitchen countertop you can distinguish the salt from the sugar, and in the family room you can highlight the trophy that your child worked so hard to earn. No matter what the location or purpose, there is a style that's right for your needs.
To light your space, you have several options, including incandescent low-voltage or linear systems, and, most commonly-used, energy-efficient fluorescent types. Talk to a lighting retailer about your lighting needs and situation; the salesperson will be able to recommend a system that best suits your circumstances.
Fluorescent cabinet lighting is commonly used in kitchens. Compared with an energy-guzzling 100-watt incandescent, compact fluorescents use 75% less electricity and last longer. Below are guidelines on how to install and hardwire a fluorescent fixture under a cabinet.
Instead of hardwiring your fluorescent lights, you can instead choose units that plug into an existing receptacle; however, if you need more than one or two units, this option would not be practical (and certainly not attractive). On the other hand, if you are not comfortable or qualified to make the electrical connections for hardwiring the lighting system, have an electrician perform the work instead.
As a general rule, mount fixtures as close to the front of the cabinets as possible to prevent reflected glare. Also, use an opaque fixture or shielding on the cabinet bottom to minimize the glare. Add a faceboard if necessary. Remember that undercabinet lighting that's discreetly hidden from a standing cook may produce unsightly glare for those seated nearby. Install cabinet facing low enough to camouflage the light and prevent discomfort to those seated.
When calculating how many fixtures to use, keep in mind you'll need enough fluorescent fixtures to cover at least two-thirds the length of the counter. Lighting that extends into corners and fills the space uniformly is an attractive touch.
The following are instructions on how to install a fluorescent fixture under a cabinet.
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1.
Connect to a Power Source
Locate the nearest fixture box as the power source (in the case of Figure 4, in the floor below an installation of kitchen cabinet lights). Make sure the circuit can handle the additional load. Turn the circuit off at the main panel, open the fixture box, and test for power using a neon tester. If it is off, punch a knockout hole in the box, and install a cable clamp and new cable to the box.
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2.
Cut the Openings
Mark and cut an opening in the wall for the switch's electrical box. (For drywall, you can use a keyhole saw or saber saw.) Be careful not to cut any wires or pipes behind the wall. Choose a convenient area for the switch, such as near the fixture(s) or near an entrance to the room. Make the opening at the same height as other switches, if possible. (Fig. 1)
At the back of the cabinet base where you will attach the fixture, drill a small opening to accept cable from the fixture to the switch. If you will install more than one fixture controlled by one switch, position this opening at the fixture nearest the switch.
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3.
Fish the Cable
Using fish tape and other equipment as needed, fish the power cable through the wall from the power source to the switch's location. Also fish cable from the opening at the cabinets to the switch location. (Fig. 2)
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4.
Attach the Light Fixture(s)
Screw the light fixtures to the cabinets, and wire them to each other through flexible conduit, following manufacturer's instructions. (Fig. 3)
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5.
Make the Connections
At the Power Source
At the fixture box where you're connecting to the power source (see Step 1), strip off sheathing to the new cable and its individual wires. Make the appropriate wire connections to the other cable(s) in the box and cover the connections with wire connectors. Close the fixture box. (Fig. 4)
At the Switch
Clamp the power and undercabinet fixture cables in the switch box, and install the switch box in the wall. Strip the leads, and connect the black wires to the switch. Connect the neutral wires together and cover the connection with a wire connector. Connect the two bare copper ground wires together along with a pigtail and cover the connection with a green wire connector; connect the pigtail to the grounding screw on the switch. Place the switch in the switch box, and then attach the cover plate. (Fig. 5)
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6.
Attach the Diffusers
Finish by clipping diffusers on the lamp cases. They help fluorescents cast a more even light on the counters. (Fig. 6)
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