Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Under cabinet lights
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : Under cabinet lights
jaspers95
08-03-08, 08:26 PM
I'm planning to install under cabinet lights in kitchen. I'm probably going to get the Pegasus Xenon Line Voltage hard wire lights. I have 5 light fixtures that I have to install. I've never done wiring for this type of lighting and have some questions.
Where should I leave the wires in the wall? How much excess should I leave for each fixture? I'll eventually be tiling the backsplash area so if I make a hole in sheet rock it's no big deal.
Are these fixtures similar to recessed lights? Do the fixtures come with an electrical box like recessed lights do so I could connect multiple wires to it?
Can the 5 light fixtures be run in parallel? When I run power from electrical box to first light can I then run another wire back into wall then to the 2nd fixture? This way each fixture would have two wires going into fixture except for the last fixture which would only have one (just like the recessed lights). Or do I need to run wire directly from electrical box to each of the 5 fixtures.
These fixtures come with hi/lo/off switches and are dimmable. Is it recommended to connect all lights to one dimmer switch? Or just use the switches on each light fixture?
Where should I leave the wires in the wall? How much excess should I leave for each fixture? I'll eventually be tiling the backsplash area so if I make a hole in sheet rock it's no big deal.
Are these fixtures similar to recessed lights? Do the fixtures come with an electrical box like recessed lights do so I could connect multiple wires to it?
Can the 5 light fixtures be run in parallel? When I run power from electrical box to first light can I then run another wire back into wall then to the 2nd fixture? This way each fixture would have two wires going into fixture except for the last fixture which would only have one (just like the recessed lights). Or do I need to run wire directly from electrical box to each of the 5 fixtures.
These fixtures come with hi/lo/off switches and are dimmable. Is it recommended to connect all lights to one dimmer switch? Or just use the switches on each light fixture?
pcboss
08-04-08, 07:23 AM
I am not familiar with the Pegasus system but will provide answers based on systems I have installed.
Bring the wire out in the lip of the cabinet below the bottom shelf. Typically this is about 3/4" deep. If the wire is too wire you can slot the wall and the cabinet will hide the hole.
Some undercabinets contain a junction box, but most seem small. I am not sure if 2 wires could be spliced in them. When I install my low voltage lighting I will bring multiple leads into a junction box below the kitchen and splice the wires there.
Be aware that the small appliance circuits that serve the countertops cannot provide the source of power for these lights.
Bring the wire out in the lip of the cabinet below the bottom shelf. Typically this is about 3/4" deep. If the wire is too wire you can slot the wall and the cabinet will hide the hole.
Some undercabinets contain a junction box, but most seem small. I am not sure if 2 wires could be spliced in them. When I install my low voltage lighting I will bring multiple leads into a junction box below the kitchen and splice the wires there.
Be aware that the small appliance circuits that serve the countertops cannot provide the source of power for these lights.