UNDER C A B I N E T L I GH TI NG BUYER’S GUIDE | 2014
There’s no doubt that the kitchen is one of the most important spaces in the home. Whether your goal is task lighting or ambient lighting, it’s definitely worth the time and effort in getting the details right to make it a warm and welcoming place for your family.
Under cabinet LED lights are a great option if you’re considering a lighting makeover for your kitchen. While there are a variety of light sources that you can choose from, LED is the latest in mainstream lighting technology that offers many benefits including longer life, energy efficiency and a compact, modern look. In this guide, we’ll discuss the different types of under cabinet LED lights and share some ideas on what might work well for your kitchen. In most cases, under cabinet lights complement general lighting in the room. Additionally, they can also highlight critical work areas of your kitchen. The first step in your lighting decision is to identify the most important spaces in your kitchen that need to be illuminated. This could include specific work areas for tasks like cutting, shredding and mixing, the place where you keep your spices so you can distinguish them easily, the coffee making area or the beautiful backsplash that you want to accentuate. With that in mind, let’s review some of the key factors in choosing under cabinet lights.
LIGHT SOURCE Under cabinet lights are available in 3 light sources: Halogen / Fluorescent / LED HALOGEN FIXTURES tend to get very hot and are prone to causing maintenance problems. They have a shorter life than LED fixtures. FLUORESCENT FIXTURES are a better option compared to halogen, however they are usually thicker and bulkier because they contain the lamps and a ballast (a ballast regulates the current to the lamps and provides sufficient voltage to start the lamps). LED FIXTURES can generate some heat but it usually dissipates through the back of the fixture. Thus LED fixtures are cool to the touch at the lens surface and are therefore a safer option especially if you have children at home. LED lights come in a variety of styles, light colors, some with dimming controls and motion sensors to create the exact ambience that you want for your kitchen. LIGHT SOURCE COMPARISON:
SOURCE
OUTPUT (Lumens/Watt)
LIFE (Hours)
Halogen
16 – 29
2,000 – 4,000
Linear Fluorescent
80 – 100
up to 20,000
Compact Fluorescent
60 – 70
6,000 – 10,000
LED
60 – 100
up to 100,000
Higher the number, the brighter the light output
Higher the number, the longer the life
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FIXTURE STYLES There are two broad types of under cabinet lights: Strip lights that are linear and light up your counter top uniformly across the counter and puck lights that create an accent lighting effect. Usually, this choice is a matter of personal preference. RAB Design
RAB Design
STRIP LIGHTS
PUCK LIGHTS
Ultra slim profile
Ultra slim profile
0.315”d x 1.3”w
0.315”d x 3.54”w
Strip lights
0.315”d x 1.3”w
15 F.C. 24”
90° 32 F.C.
30”
15 F.C. 24”
90° 32 F.C.
30”
Puck lights
F.C. – Foot candle is a measure of the intensity of light from a candle falling on a surface area of 1 square foot. To put into perspective, 35 F.C.s are sufficient for office lighting and 5 F.C.s are sufficient to light up an underground garage.
POWER SOURCE Under cabinet LED lights can be hardwired into an electrical wall switch, plugged into an electrical outlet or powered by batteries. There are pros and cons to each method.
RAB DESIGN’S PLUG-IN UNDER CABINET KIT INCLUDES:
HARDWIRED LED under cabinet lights offer a clean, seamless
Direct Cable Connector
appearance since no wires are exposed and the lights are
Easy mounting screw with snap-in clip Cable Connector
operated from the wall switch. However, this option is the most
Plug-in power cable
difficult from an installation standpoint. You will need a qualified electrician to determine whether to use an existing nearby source or whether to create a new circuit in the right area. PLUG IN under cabinet LED lights are a great alternative since they are easier to install. Barring the one exposed cord that connects to the outlet, the other wires can be hidden under the cabinet valance. LED strip lights vary in lengths and some have direct and corner connectors to join them. BATTERY OPERATED lights are the easiest to install however
Fixture
the quality of light is compromised and periodic replacement of batteries is also necessary.
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MOUNTING OPTIONS DIRECT MOUNT – Well designed LED strip lights and puck lights, such as RAB Design’s version are barely visible and can be directly mounted on the underside of cabinets since they have a very thin profile. When choosing your fixture, make sure that the depth of fixtures is at least three times thinner than the valance under your cabinets. Even if your kitchen cabinets do not have a valance, the low profile RAB Design fixtures are barely visible. RECESSED MOUNT – If you are particular about getting an absolutely clean and seamless look, then you could opt for the recessed mount option which will involve making structural changes
Recessed installation of LED puck light under cabinet lighting
to the underside of your cabinets. Some puck lights cannot be recessed so check the manufacturer’s instructions before you buy.
COLOR OF LIGHT Most under cabinet LED lights come in warm white and natural white colors. Lighting color is measured through color temperature in degrees kelvin (K) where higher temperatures represent a cooler bluish light color and lower temperatures represent a warmer reddish color. If your kitchen has an earthy look with wooden tones, a warmer color in the 2700-3500K range will create a neat and bright look. If your kitchen has primary colors with stainless steel or glass objects, a cooler color temperature in the 3500-4500k range will better illuminate objects. Another aspect to be mindful of is that darker colors tend to absorb more light. So if your countertops and backsplashes are dark, your under cabinet lights should ideally distribute a higher lighting output. As a guideline, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America recommends a light level of 500 lumens per square meter for kitchen counters when performing critical tasks.
Cooler Tone 3,500K - 4,500K
Warmer Tone 2,700K - 3,500K
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ACCESSORIES In addition to the under cabinet light fixtures, you will need to get power supply / transformers given that most fixtures are low voltage (ie. 24V). Other accessories may be required, such as connectors, outlet splitters, cables and power supply. Some manufacturers also offer preassembled kits. Before buying a kit, make sure that the manufacturer has the necessary accessories you will need to complete your installation. It is always preferred to buy a complete under cabinet system from one manufacturer to avoid any incompatibilities that might arise. Here are some of RAB Design’s accessories:
power supply
direct connector
corner connector
TRANSFORMERS – Different transformers are available depending on the number of strips or pucks used for your installation. PLUG-IN POWER SUPPLY – Generally used for simple designs/layouts and easy installation. HARDWIRE POWER SUPPLY – Generally used where operation of the fixture is required from a wall switch. Used in more complex layouts where multiple runs and configurations are required. Hardwire Kit should always be installed by a licensed electrician. DIRECT CONNECTORS – Used to join 2 units together in a run. CORNER CONNECTOR – Used to join two units in an L shape. OUTLET SPLITTER – For larger installations feeding into one transformer, you may need an outlet splitter which will allow you to connect several runs into the one transformer. DIMMERS – Some lighting manufacturers also offer dimming capabilities to adjust light levels. In case of the hardwired install, the ordinary switch can be replaced with a dimmer and in case of the plug in install; the dimmer is a separate accessory that is generally located closest to the power outlet. Dimmable under cabinet lights can create different moods for your kitchen. So whether you’re entertaining guests or curling up with a book and a cup of coffee late at night, you can create that perfect setting. PASSIVE INFRARED (PIR) MOTION SENSORS – The PIR motion sensor is another useful feature in under cabinet lights through which lights turn on automatically when motion is detected.
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INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS STRIP LIGHTS
PLACEMENT – If the primary goal with under cabinet lights is
Matt / Dull Counter
task lighting, then the recommended position to install under
Glossy / Reflective Counter
cabinet strip lights is a third of the distance from the edge of the wall. With RAB Design’s adjustable mounting bracket fixture, you can direct light outwards toward your work areas. However if you have a glossy counter top or backsplash, it is better to install strip lights closer to the edge of the cabinet and direct the light towards the backsplash. This method of indirect
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lighting can help avoid a glare that can arise from reflective countertops. In case of puck lights, the placement is often directed by the position of the object that you are trying to highlight. As a cautionary note, under cabinet lights and related accessories should never be installed close to heat sources.
NUMBER OF LIGHTING FIXTURES – In order to determine the number of light fixtures required, take measurements of every section of the under cabinet as shown in the diagram below: STRIP LIGHT – It is recommended to use a strip light that covers the entire length of the cabinet since the goal of strip lights is to provide uniform lighting. Ensure you allocate enough space for connections. PUCK LIGHT – Puck lights are generally mounted about 15 - 20 inches apart. So if the length of the cabinet is 40 – 50 inches, you can use 2 -3 puck lights. The distance between the bottom of your cabinet and the counter is also a factor when determining the space between two puck lights. If cabinets are high and away from the counter top, then puck lights should be closer to provide even light levels. If cabinets are low and closer to the counter top, then puck lights can be spaced out. If you want to create more of a cascading effect, then increase the distance between your puck lights.
STRIP LIGHTS 12”
9”
54”
9”
40”
40”
PUCK LIGHTS 36”
36” 18”
18”
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KEY FEATURE ADJUSTABLE MOUNTING BRACKET – RAB Design’s latest under cabinet LED fixture comes with a pivotable mounting bracket which can be angled to direct light exactly where it is needed. The direction of the LED light can be adjusted for 0°, 45° and 90°. This offers more flexibility in creating a more even light distribution for working areas and highlighting specific areas.
LIFECYCLE COST While upfront cost of LED fixtures might be higher than fluorescent fixtures, LED fixtures last longer, save energy and are much easier to maintain. They offer energy savings of approximately 70% compared to traditional sources and typically last a minimum of 5 times compared to other fixtures. If lights are on for 6 hours a day, LED fixtures should last a minimum of 22 years.
CERTIFICATIONS
®
/ WARRANTIES
When buying fixtures in Canada or US, make sure that they have either the cULus or the CSA label. This will ensure that the fixtures have been tested to Canadian and US standards by appropriate authorities. RAB Design offers a ‘5 year guarantee’ on all its under cabinet fixtures as well.
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For further information please contact: RAB DESIGN LIGHTING INC.
222 Islington Avenue, Toronto, ON M8V 3W7 TEL. 416-252-9454 / 800-268-0381 FAX. 416-252-9664 / 800-668-5517 www.rabdesign.ca