1

Determine Lighting Requirements.

Determine your lighting requirements including the location, number of LED lights needed, and the load requirements for the Power Supply (Driver) by performing a simple calculation*.

Plan whether your lights will be run in Parallel or Series. If you want dimming capabilities, make sure the LED lights you purchase can be dimmed with a standard in-line dimmer, or if you need a Power Supply with dimming capabilities. (Link to an order form with only power supplies?)

2

Determine Wire and Accessories.

Estimate the amount of wire needed, and determine the required wire size and capabilities. If LEDs are going Outdoors, you will need the correctly sized and jacketed outdoor wire. If indoors, a standard 18 AWG wire may suffice. Basic LED lighting will be a two-wire (Positive and Negative), while RGB will be a four-wire configuration (Red, Green, Blue, and Negative), and RGBW five wires (Red, Green, Blue, White, and Negative).

3

Check Local Building Codes & Standards.

Be sure to check electrical code requirements and regulations for your region, and consult or hire an electrical contractor if unsure, or if hard-wiring is necessary.

4

PLAN LED Locations and Wire Routing.

Carefully plan and mark your LED lighting locations, paying specific attention to cut-out sizes, depths, and wire routing. If installing Power Supplies outdoors, they must be housed within regulation boxes, and wires installed underground must be run within appropriate conduit.

*Calculation:

(WATTS X QTY = TTL WATTAGE) +10% = minimum required wattage of power supply

(ie: 12 x M1 Step Lights =12W, 6 x RD7 Cabinet Lights =12W. TOTAL Wattage: 12+12 =24W + 10% =26.4W minimum. MINIMUM 30W Power Supply is required.)

Requirements

Identify Your Needs and Objectives

Make sure you have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish to set your project up for success. These are a few considerations before you get started.

• Consider your needs
  What do you need from your space. Is it a high-traffic area, like a kitchen countertop or workspace? Do you want to highlight a special design element, add warmth, or make the space look bigger? Some cabinet lighting solutions blend task and accent lighting. For example, under cabinet lighting illuminates your kitchen workspace and your beautiful backsplash at the same time. Other options serve a single purpose, like over cabinet lighting that draws the eye to a sophisticated architectural detail.

• Think about the bigger picture
  Sure it’s important to think about the individual space first, but you also need to consider how your lighting plan works within the overall context of your space. For instance, a room with lots of natural or ambient light may require a different solution than a windowless space. You also can’t forget about day-to-night needs. A room with a skylight and windows may shine bright throughout the day, but needs accent lighting at night. You also need to consider color temperature. Do you want a warm cozy feel or cool energizing light in your space? One way or the other, make sure the color temperature fits with the function of the space, along with other colors and design finishes.

• Find inspiration all around you
  You may not realize the perfect solution exists until you discover it. Dig into magazines and catalogs, flip on home improvement shows, and research plenty of blogs - like this article (well done!). The resources are endless. Our quick introduction to cabinet lighting offers plenty of inspiration.

• Consider installation
  Once you have your vision, you need to think about if you want to DIY or hire a professional. Depending on your skills, budget, comfort level and objectives, this decision impacts your options. If you’re already hiring help for a room remodel or new construction, you can make cabinet lighting part of that plan. Our guide to installing your cabinet lighting can help you prepare for the tasks ahead.

Choose the Right Cabinet Lighting for Your Needs

There are options from floor to ceiling and everything in between. Remember, don’t feel too overwhelmed if you can’t decide which option is right for you. Your plan will likely include many solutions.

• Under Cabinet Lighting
  Extend usable workspace by illuminating high-function areas like countertops, sinks and stoves. After dark, under cabinet lighting can act as kitchen night lights while creating a relaxing ambiance.

• Over Cabinet Lighting
  Lighting the open space between the top of cabinets and the ceiling adds intrigue and interest, especially if you’re displaying décor or plants. It also visually expands the room, giving the appearance of a much larger space.

• Under Counter Lighting
  Effectively illuminate the interior of cabinet drawers with concealed under-counter lighting. It also sets off the architectural edge of the counter. If this is an option you want to consider, it may be wise to discuss concealment options with an electrical contractor or countertop pro.

• Inside Cabinet Lighting
  This option offers the best of both worlds by combining aesthetic and functional benefits. Use it to highlight decorative dinnerware, art or antiques, or make it easier to access supplies in deep cabinets or storage areas.

• Toekick Lighting
  Properly positioned near the floor, toekick lighting gives the visual illusion of floating cabinetry, defines baseline edges and adds depth to floor coverings. It also increases safety, especially at night, by illuminating footpaths and preventing accidental trips or stubbed toes.

• Near Cabinet Lighting

  • Under Table/Island Lighting
    Visually expand and bring your space to life by adding light under tables and islands.

  • Coves and Tray Ceiling Lighting
    Both cove and tray ceiling styles are architectural details worthy of attention. With a cove ceiling, a soft light draws the eye up, creating the illusion of added height. Tray ceilings benefit from a layered effect that adds visual interest.

Motion Sensor Options

Continuously powered lights may be on a timer, a motion sensor, or photocell that will determine when it is dark and automatically turn connected lights on.

Electrical CODE Requirements

Please ensure the correct and proper safety codes for your region are followed when installing your LED lighting.

Codes for British Columbia, Canada

Outdoor Electrical Wiring

When installing lights that are connected to electrical wiring or electrical cables that are hooked up to the main circuit breaker in your home, you must use weatherproof or outdoor-rated light fixture electrical boxes, which safely hold the electrical wire connections and prevent water from coming into contact with the wires. Some locations may require that the electrical wiring for your outdoor stairs be installed inside conduit. Conduit is a type of plastic or PVC pipe, or it can be a metal pipe that holds electrical wiring. Depending on your local building codes, the conduit may have to be installed underground and run from the house to the lights or be installed near the stairs.

Dimming Options

Continuously powered lights may be on a timer, a motion sensor, or photocell that will determine when it is dark and automatically turn connected lights on.

Choose Your Fixtures

Once you’ve picked the right cabinet lighting effects for your space, you need to choose the actual light fixtures to do the job. If you’re looking for recommendations, we have plenty.

• Under Cabinets

  • LED under cabinet fixtures
    Highly efficient, long-lasting LEDs offer low operating costs and minimal heat. These fixtures feature the many components of a system in one - making them easy to install, and offer tremendous light output and quality to match.

  • LED tape lighting is an ultra-thin LED light source that adds design flexibility. The sleek profile of tape light allows for mounting in almost any and can be trimmed to varying lengths or installed as one longer run. The drawback: they deliver a lower lumen output than LED fixtures, meaning slightly less illumination.

• Over Cabinets

  • LED tape lighting provides ambient light output to help illuminate the space above cabinets without a spotlight effect. LED tape lighting is also dimmable, so you can match the intensity of the light to the occasion.

  • LED Hard strip lighting generally delivers more light and is easier to keep clean. The only negative is that these lights can’t be customized by length like LED tape.

• Inside Cabinets or Drawers

  • LED tape lighting - The low profile of this LED tape light is a perfect fit for the small space inside a cabinet or drawer.

  • LED strip lights - The durability of hard strips makes these lights a smart choice for high-use cabinets.

  • Accent disc (or puck light) - although not ideal for drawers, LED accent discs provide ample lighting to glass faced cabinets as well as open shelving. They can be mounted to the surface or recessed for a desired look.

• Below Counters/Toekick Areas

  • LED tape lighting - Its low profile and easy adhesion make LED tape the ideal solution for the often hard-to-reach or small-space installations like below counters or toe kicks. Consider utilizing shallow depth channels with a lens for added protection for the tape.