Under Cabinet Lighting

Under Cabinet Lighting FAQ

ADJUSTABLE
Q) Once they're installed which under cabinet light fixtures can be adjusted?

A) The Fluorescent T4 Swing-Down Fixtures and the Fluorescent T5 Swivel Sticks can be adjusted after they've been installed. Once they are mounted each of these fixtures can be rotated a full 180 degrees.

COOL to TOUCH
Q) Which under cabinet light fixtures are the coolest?

A) The LED Task Light w/28 LEDs is THE coolest to the touch. All of the fluorescent light fixtures give off very little heat and are very warm to the touch. The xenon (pronounced ze-non) light fixtures are hotter than the fluorescent light fixtures but are still cooler than halogen light fixtures. To learn which fixtures are the hottest please click Hottest Under Cabinet Lights.

DIMMABLE
Q) Which under cabinet light fixtures are dimmable?

A) All 8 of the xenon under cabinet light fixtures are fully dimmable: the Xenon Line Voltage Task Lights, the Xenon Low Voltage Task Lights, the Xenon Low Voltage Light Strip, the Xenon Low Voltage Puck Lights, the Xenon Low Voltage Eyelid Lights, the Xenon Low Voltage Gemstone Lights, the Xenon Low Voltage Triangle Lights, and the Xenon Low Voltage Ultra-Slim Lights are all fully dimmable. The LED Under Cabinet Task Light w/28 LEDs is not dimmable, per se, but does have two brightness levels: full brightness and half brightness. None of the fluorescent light fixtures can be dimmed.

ENERGY-EFFICIENT
Q) Which under cabinet light fixtures are the most energy-efficient?

A) The most energy-efficient under cabinet light fixture is the LED Under Cabinet Task Light w/28 LEDs. All of the fluorescent under cabinet light fixtures are very energy-efficient to operate. Fluorescent fixtures are always more efficient than incandescent fixtures including xenon and halogen light fixtures.

FLICKER-FREE
Q) Which fluorescent under cabinet light fixtures turn on instantly with no flickering?

A) All of the fluorescent fixtures turn on instantly without flickering because they all have instant start electronic ballasts. All of the xenon fixtures, of course, turn on instantly because they are forms of incandescent lighting. The LED Under Cabinet Task Light w/28 LEDs also turns on instantly with no flickering.

HARDWIRED to POWER
Q) Which under cabinet light fixtures can be hardwired to power?

A) To "hardwire" a light fixture means to connect it directly to the source of electric power using a ROMEX® wire. If the fixture receives its power by plugging a cord & plug into the nearest electrical receptacle, then this is not considered to be a hardwired connection. The Xenon Line Voltage Task Lights (the hardwire model OR the cord & plug model), the Xenon Low Voltage Task Lights, the Xenon Light Strip, and the Fluorescent Thin-Inch Fixtures can all be easily hardwired to power. The Xenon Puck Lights, the Xenon Triangle Lights, and the Xenon Ultra-Slim Lights can be hardwired to power if a “remote” transformer is used.  The Microfluorescent Light Fixtures and the Fluorescent Swing-Down Fixtures can be hardwired to power if the proper Hardwire Box option is selected. To learn which fixtures can be plugged in please click Plug-In Under Cabinet Lights.

HOT to TOUCH
Q) Which under cabinet light fixtures are the hottest?

A) Any under cabinet light fixture that uses line voltage (120 volts) halogen lighting with no transformer is the hottest type of under cabinet light fixture. It is for this reason that we do not sell any under cabinet fixtures of this type. To learn which fixtures are the coolest please click Coolest Under Cabinet Lights.

INSTALLATION, EASY
Q) Which under cabinet light fixtures are the easiest to install?

A) If a single light fixture is being installed, the Microfluorescent T4 Fixtures, the Fluorescent Low-Profile Fixtures, or the Fluorescent Swivel Sticks are probably the easiest to install. If a group of light fixtures is being installed, the Microfluorescent T4 Fixtures or the Fluorescent Low-Profile Fixtures are probably the easiest to install. The Xenon Light Strip is probably the most difficult to install.

LIGHT BULBS INCLUDED
Q) Which under cabinet light fixtures are supplied with light bulbs?

A) All of the under cabinet light fixtures are supplied with their own light bulbs except for the Xenon Low Voltage Light Strip and the Fluorescent T5 SlimLite XL Light Fixtures. With these two light fixtures the light bulbs must be purchased separately.

LIGHT QUALITY
Q) Which under cabinet light fixtures produce light that is similar to incandescent light?

A) All of the xenon light fixtures use xenon light bulbs, which are incandescent light sources with a little bit of xenon gas introduced into the glass envelope to help lengthen the life of the lamp. Therefore, all the xenon light fixtures produce the familiar warm glow (low color temperature) of an incandescent light bulb. If the fluorescent light fixture uses a warm white fluorescent light bulb or one that has a low color temperature of 3200K or lower, then it, too, will look very much like an incandescent light bulb.

LINE VOLTAGE (120 volts)
Q) Which under cabinet light fixtures are considered to be line voltage fixtures?

A) Any light fixture that uses the available voltage (usually 120 volts) directly and does not use a transformer to step down the voltage from line voltage to low voltage (12 volts or 24 volts) is considered to be a line voltage fixture. Thus, the Xenon Line Voltage Task Lights and all of the fluorescent fixtures are considered to be line voltage light fixtures.

LINKABLE
Q) Which under cabinet fixtures are linkable?

A) The term, "linkable", means that two light fixtures can be easily connected electrically by simply plugging in a Flexible Connector into the two fixtures. The Xenon Line Voltage Task Lights, the Microfluorescent Light Fixtures, the Fluorescent Low-Profile Light Fixtures, the Fluorescent T5 SlimLite XL Light Fixtures, and the Fluorescent Swing-Down Light Fixtures are all linkable. More than two "linkable" fixtures can be linked in one long line of fixtures. Most of the fixtures that are not "linkable" may be connected electrically to each other but this connection requires the use of household ROMEX® wire.

LONG FIXTURES
Q) Which under cabinet light fixtures are the longest?

A) The longest under cabinet light product is the Xenon Low Voltage Light Strip. Because of its very nature it can be almost any length that it needs to be. Excluding this lighting product the longest light fixture is the 59.0in Fluorescent T5 SlimLite XL Light Fixture. If you are not certain about which length fixtures you should purchase, please consult the Measurement Guides found on each of the under cabinet fixture pages.

LOW VOLTAGE (12 or 24 volts)
Q) Which under cabinet light fixtures are considered to be low voltage fixtures?

A) Any light fixture that uses a transformer so that the light bulbs operate on 12 volts or 24 volts is considered to be a low voltage fixture.  The transformer may be located inside the fixture or it may be located outside the fixture at a "remote" location; thus, the low voltage fixture will have either an integral transformer or a remote transformer. The Xenon Low Voltage Task Lights (integral), the Xenon Light Strip (remote), the Xenon Puck Lights (remote), the Xenon Triangle Lights (remote), and the Xenon Ultra-Slim Lights (remote) are all considered to be low voltage light fixtures. None of the fluorescent light fixtures are considered to be low voltage light fixtures. To learn which fixtures are considered to be line voltage please click Line Voltage Under Cabinet Lights.

PLUGGED-IN to POWER
Q) Which under cabinet light fixtures can be plugged-in to the nearest electrical outlet?

A) The Xenon Line Voltage Task Lights (cord & plug model only), the Xenon Low Voltage Task Lights, the Xenon Puck Lights, the Xenon Triangle Lights, the Microfluorescent Light Fixtures, the Fluorescent Low-Profile Light Fixtures, the Fluorescent T5 SlimLite XL Light Fixtures, the Fluorescent Swing-Down Light Fixtures, and the Fluorescent Swivel Sticks may all be plugged into the nearest receptacle using a cord & plug. To learn which fixtures can be hard-wired to power please click Hard-Wired Under Cabinet Lights.

POPULAR, MOST
Q) Which under cabinet light fixtures are the most popular?

A) The Xenon LINE Voltage Task Lights and the Xenon LOW Voltage Task Lights are our most popular under cabinet light fixtures.

PROFILE, LOW
Q) Which under cabinet light fixtures have the lowest profile?

A) The Xenon Light Strip has dimensions of only 7/8in inches total width by 1.0 inches total height (including the Mounting Channel) while the Microfluorescent Fixtures have dimensions of only 0.75 inches wide by 1.38 inches high. Both the Xenon Puck Lights and the Xenon Ultra-Slim Lights, when recessed mounted, stick down only 0.25 inches from the “ceiling” of the cabinet.

RECESSED MOUNT
Q) Which under cabinet light fixtures may be recessed mounted?

A) The Xenon Puck Lights and the Xenon Ultra-Slim Lights may be recessed mounted.  All of the other under cabinet light fixtures may only be surface mounted. To learn which fixtures can be surface mounted please click Surface Mount Under Cabinet Lights.

ROMEX® WIRE
Q) Which under cabinet light fixtures may be connected to each other with household ROMEX® wire?

A) ROMEX® wire is used throughout your household behind walls to wire your entire house. It usually is made up of 3 wires: one wire with white insulation, one wire with black insulation, and one copper wire with NO insulation and white insulation around all 3 wires holding them together. The ROMEX® wire that is used to connect lighting fixtures is usually described as "14/2 with ground" (although this MAY vary with geographical location). The "14/2" refers to the two insulated wires that are each 14 gauge in diameter and the "ground" refers to the uninsulated copper wire. The Xenon Line Voltage Task Lights, the Xenon Low Voltage Task Lights, and the Fluorescent Thin-Inch Fixtures are connected to power using ROMEX® wire and may be connected to each other using ROMEX® wire. The Microfluorescent T4 Fixtures, the Fluorescent T5 Low-Profile Fixtures, and the Fluorescent T5 SlimLite XL Fixtures are simply too small in their profile for a ROMEX® wire to be inserted in them.

SMALL FIXTURES
Q) Which under cabinet light fixtures are the smallest?

A) The smallest under cabinet light fixtures are the puck-like fixtures like the Xenon Low Voltage Puck Lights, the Xenon Low Voltage Eyelid Fixtures, the Xenon Low Voltage Gemstone Fixtures, the Xenon Low Voltage Triangle Fixtures, and the Xenon Low Voltage Ultra-Slim Fixtures. The shortest under cabinet light fixture that is rectangular in shape is the Xenon Line Voltage Task Light. If you are not certain about which length fixtures you should purchase, please consult the Measurement Guides found on each of the under cabinet fixture pages.

SURFACE MOUNT
Q) Which under cabinet light fixtures may be surface mounted?

A) A light fixture that is surface mounted is simply mounted on a surface whereas a recessed mounted fixture is mounted in a surface. All of the under cabinet fixtures may be surface mounted whereas only two of them may also be recessed mounted if need be. To learn which fixtures can be recessed mounted please click Recessed Mount Under Cabinet Lights.

SWITCH, FIXTURE
Q) Which under cabinet light fixtures come with their own On/Off switches?

A) Both the Xenon Line Voltage Task Lights and the Xenon Low Voltage Task Lights come with their own Hi/Lo/Off rocker switches.  Most of the Microfluorescent Light Fixtures, all of the Fluorescent Low-Profile Light Fixtures, all of the Fluorescent Swing-Down Fixtures, all of the Fluorescent Thin-Inch Fixtures, and all of the Fluorescent Swivel Sticks come with their own On/Off rocker switches.

SWITCH, WALL
Q) Which under cabinet light fixtures can be installed so that a group of them can be controlled by one wall light switch?

A) When several under cabinet light fixtures are being installed all of the xenon light fixtures and five of the six fluorescent light fixtures can all be controlled by only one wall light switch but only when they are hardwired to power. Only a group of Fluorescent Swivel Sticks cannot be controlled by one wall light switch; each of these units is plugged into a separate receptacle and. therefore, works independently.

Valuable Information about Under Cabinet Lighting

 

Our under cabinet lights come in a variety of sizes, lamp wattages, and with 3 different light sources - xenon, fluorescent, and LED.

Functionality

Under cabinet lights can be quite functional by providing very good and sometimes badly needed task lighting in a given situation such as under cabinet kitchen lighting, desk lighting, or even bookshelf lighting. Under cabinet lighting can make a kitchen, an office, or a hospital nurses' station a brighter, safer, and more pleasant place to perform tasks where one is not working in one's own shadows.

Lighting Aesthetics

The light provided by an under cabinet light can also be used to light an attractive vase, sculpture, framed photo, piece of china, curio, or crystal. Under cabinet lighting has the ability to give both a professional look and the look of warmth by providing another "layer of light" to the entire space. When under cabinet lighting is used properly it can give the space a look as though a professional may have been involved with the lighting design.

Light Sources

Under cabinet lights may use xenon, halogen, fluorescent, LED, or traditional incandescent light sources. Under cabinet lights with any of these light sources might provide a good deal of light, a modest amount of light, or just a hint of light. It is sometimes a good idea to control the under cabinet lighting with a dimmer switch since this can provide a good deal of lighting flexibility. This cannot usually be done with fluorescent light sources but fluorescent lighting is generally the most efficient in providing a given amount of light. Fluorescent light sources are also the coolest of all the light sources. This property can be extremely important in some instances depending on what is stored in the cabinet immediately above the light fixture or even what is lying 12 inches to 18 inches below the light fixture.

Where Can They Be Used?

Because of its small size an under cabinet light simply cannot provide good ambient lighting for a large space. At night, however, it might provide good "mood lighting" for a space or enough light to safely see when all the other lights are turned off. Under cabinet lighting can be used very successfully wherever there are cabinets and a need for good task lighting or accent lighting in a confined space: under kitchen cabinets, in museum display cases, within some trade show exhibits, on office desk tops, at hospital work stations, in bookcases in studies or libraries, in display cases in restaurants, under tavern shelves or under bars, in bathroom linen closets, within bedroom shelving, in wall nooks along hallways or stairways, in dining room hutches, in living room shelving, and family room entertainment centers.

Where Should They Be Positioned?

When under cabinet lighting is being used for task lighting such as in a kitchen it should be installed at or near the front of the cabinet to which it is attached. Your contractor may insist that you install it near the back wall but we suggest that you insist that it be installed as close to the face of the cabinet as possible. This position will provide the best and safest task lighting for working in the kitchen. If, on the other hand, the under cabinet lighting in question is intended to provide accent lighting for a work of art housed in a single cabinet, for example, then this under cabinet light fixture should be positioned just forward of center in order to properly light the art piece.

Compare Under Cabinet Lights

FIXTURE IMAGE
FIXTURE NAME	Under Cabinet Xenon 120V Task Lights	Under Cabinet Xenon 12V Task Lights	Under Cabinet T5 Thin-Inch Fixtures	Under Cabinet Swing-Down Lights	Under Cabinet Task Light w/28 LEDs
FIXTURE MODEL #	PLXC-xH	PUC-LV	PUCE	PALFLSW	PDDU-28LED
Finishes	Brushed Steel, Mocha Bronze, White	White	White	White	White or Oil Rubbed Bronze
Light Source	20W, 120V, G8, xenon bipin lamp(s)	18W, 12V, T5, xenon wedge base lamp(s)	T5 Fluorescent lamps (s)	T4 Fluorescent lamp	28 LEDs
Lengths	4 lengths	4 lengths	5 lengths	2 lengths	9.5in
Dimmable	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Pricing	Starts at $23.10 Buy this Item	Starts at $36.50 Buy this Item	Starts at $17.90 Buy this Item	$41.70 Buy this Item	Starts at $69.90 Buy this Item

FIXTURE IMAGE
FIXTURE NAME	Under Cabinet Microfluorescent Lights (13 fixture types)	Under Cabinet T5 Swivel Sticks	Under Cabinet Xenon Light Strip
FIXTURE MODEL #	Varies with fixture type	PSL	PNDSC
Finishes	White, Silver	White	N/A
Light Source	T4 T5 T5HO	T5 Fluorescent lamps	Xenon festoon lamps
Lengths	Varies from 9.5in to 59.0in over 13 different fixture types	3 Lengths	Custom lengths available
Dimmable	No	No	Yes
Pricing	Starts at $21.90 Buy this Item	Starts at $15.90 Buy this Item	About $27.50/ft Buy this Item

FIXTURE IMAGE
FIXTURE NAME	Under Cabinet Xenon Puck Lights	Under Cabinet Xenon Triangle Lights	Under Cabinet Xenon Ultra-Slim Lights	Xenon Eyelid Puck Lights	Xenon Gemstone Puck Lights
FIXTURE MODEL #	PALPX	PTRI-20-BS	PNM-254	PNM-250	PNM-251
Finishes	White, Black, Chrome	Brushed Chrome, White, Black	White, Black, Chrome, Gold	White, Black, Chrome, Gold, Copper, Natural Metal	White, Black, Chrome, Gold, Copper, Natural Metal
Light Source	20W, 12V, xenon bipin lamp	20W, 12V, xenon bipin lamp	20W, 12V xenon bipin lamp	20W, 12V xenon bipin lamp	20W, 12V xenon bipin lamp
Size	2-9/16in diameter	5-1/8in from the tip of the triangle to base of the triangle	2.75in diameter	2-11/16in diameter	2.75in diameter
Dimmable	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pricing	Starts at $21.25 Buy this Item	Starts at $33.40 Buy this Item	Starts at $19.90 Buy this Item	Starts at $22.50 Buy this Item	Starts at $22.50 Buy this Item

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