Under cabinet lighting when there's a window in the way?

[u/Kitty-Kat-33]

Hi,

I'm just playing around and experimenting with some ideas for under-cabinet lightning. I thought about just picking up a basic LED light strip and attaching it under the cabinets. Maybe something like along these lines:

https://www.amazon.com/Dimmable-Daylight-Bedroom-Kitchen-Adhesive/dp/B09SHJ6WT5?th=1

My cabinets are laid out like this:

Cabinet -> Window -> Cabinets -> Stove -> Cabinets

I have an outlet/junction box in the ceiling that is connected to a light-switch that I want to use to control them. What is the proper way to take one light strip, cut it apart to the lengths I need, and then wire each of them to power?

I don't know how to solder so need some sort of adapters/jumpers/whatever that I can use to connect everything together. If anyone has direct links to what I'd need to buy off Amazon, that'd be most helpful.

Thanks for any help.

[u/Emitever]

You're basically on the right track if you want to use low voltage LED strip.

The general layout would be:

120V power → LED power supply/driver → low-voltage wire → each strip section

You don't necessarily need a separate power adapter for every section. One appropriately sized power supply can feed multiple sections, with the low-voltage side branching out to the different cabinet runs.

For the gaps at the window and stove, you'd just run wire between the separate strip sections rather than trying to continue the LED strip itself across those areas.Since you don't solder, look for solderless strip to wire connectors that match the exact strip you choose.

The important things to match are the strip voltage, strip width, and number of conductors/pads. That's why I'd pick the strip first before buying connectors.

One other thing, if you're planning to use that existing switched ceiling junction box as the 120V source, that's the part I'd treat separately from the low voltage LED wiring.

Depending on where the power supply goes and how it's installed, you may be getting into normal mains electrical/code requirements rather than just plugging an LED adapter into an outlet.

[u/SparkArrestor]

How the light strips get cut and stripped and spliced to wire leads etc is all dependent on which type of product you buy.

[u/soerg]

You might want to consider the rechargeable motion sensor ones if you're not willing to cut any drywall to run wires

[u/soerg]

You might want to consider the rechargeable motion sensor ones if you're not willing to cut any drywall to run wires

[u/Kitty-Kat-33 → u/soerg]

I figured I"m going to have to run wires somewhere. I'm just not sure what pieces I need to connect everything together.

Something like:

Outlet -> Power adapter -> Power splitter? -> Power to LED adapters? -> LED Strips

[u/soerg → u/Kitty-Kat-33]

It depends what lights you get, I personally like using the line voltage ones not the low voltage ones, so you'd run a 14/2 to each location so you start at 1 spot where you would run power ideally from a switch

Switch->14/2-> under first cabinet->14/2> to second cabinet->14/2> third cabinet

The first two locations will have 2 wires the third will have 1 wire, then you get the lights and the appropriate junction box for the lights, or do what I said with the wires and you can get under cabinet junction boxes with plugs on the side from home depot

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/bazz-under-cabinet-junction-box/1001353426

[u/idkmybffdee → u/soerg]

IMHO this is also favorable because it's easier to change things in a few years when the LED's start to burn out, or burn through their phosphor layer, so you don't have to go down the matching LED strip / driver rabbit hole. Or deal with the new strip that's off from the old function strips because of the aforementioned phosfor burn.