David Jenkins
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| posted on 5/1/15 at 07:35 PM |
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Looking for advice on under-cupboard LED lighting
Our kitchen cabinets have under-cupboard worktop lights that use fluorescent tubes - they're roughly 500mm long and 15mm in diameter (called
"T4" tubes). Frankly, they're useless... every time a tube goes I have to faff about trying to find a replacement, and usually this
involves an on-line supplier so lots of P&P to pay as places like B&Q no longer stock T4s. I usually have to replace one of the 3 tubes every
10 or 12 months, and they're of 2 sizes.
So now I'm looking to replace them with LED lights, but I have no idea what to look for. They will have to be 240v (but I expect that there
will be a power unit somewhere) and have roughly the same lighting ability as the existing 20W tubes.
Maybe folks can offer some advice - what's good, what to avoid, all that sort of thing!
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DanP
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| posted on 5/1/15 at 07:40 PM |
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If you have 240V coming to under the cabinet and you have pelmets fitted (to hide the lights and wiring) then you have loads of options, B&Q leds
come with slimline tranformers - go into a store and look under their display units and you will see.
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MP3C
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| posted on 5/1/15 at 07:42 PM |
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I have used
these before to light under cupboard lighting in some of our office conversions. They work remarkably well and are
easily hidden. They are powered from basically a laptop power supply block (size wise) which can easily be hidden. They use no power and are very
bright.
Matt
Edit:
This is probably a better representation of what you will receive.
[Edited on 5/1/15 by MP3C]
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serieslandy
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| posted on 5/1/15 at 07:43 PM |
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I've got these in my kitchen. I've replaced the Florecents as
they've died.
They might not be the cheapest but they are good. If you want a pic let me know as I have 1 Florencent and 1 led so you can compare brightness.
Oh and they are 230v and took the old plug that came on the florecent light.
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JoelP
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| posted on 5/1/15 at 08:11 PM |
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When I fit new cabinets, I use a router to recess the round led lights into the base of the cabinet, which requires a 12mm depth, then drill a 7mm
hole through the middle of the panel from the back, so the the wire cannot be seen inside or out. Then up the back to the transformer. Ideally one
light every 60cm. Probably a bit of a polava if the units already fitted though!
Beware! Bourettes is binfectious.
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daniel mason
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| posted on 5/1/15 at 09:06 PM |
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Or just fit T5's
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 5/1/15 at 09:57 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by daniel mason
Or just fit T5's
That's going to be the very last resort - I don't want the same problems further down the line... 
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rgrs
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| posted on 5/1/15 at 10:21 PM |
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I have used the generic led self adeshive strips available on eBay for about £8.00 plus a transformer on top of the cabinets, the light is good but
it's only there to look pretty. They provide enough light to cancel out the shadow caused by the top cabinets, however they are not designed to
provide 'task lighting'.
We are now a year in with no failures and the whole lot cost less than £15.00 to do !
Although the light output will be less than a t4 you can use the full length of the cabinet as you cut to the required length and just solder leads on
as required.
Roger
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Paul M
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| posted on 5/1/15 at 11:06 PM |
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ordered a set of these yesterday as I'm in exactly the same boat as you (T5's though - 4 lights 2 different sizes & fed up of buying
replacements)
led hut
30% off on screen price until end of jan and good cashback via topcashback at the moment.
SSC Stylus 2.0. Blacktop, Omex
ECU & Bodies
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russbost
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| posted on 6/1/15 at 08:10 AM |
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I've used the same self adhesive led strip with an led driver transformer in my kitchen to good effect, but I am just trialing some new led
lights which are small 3 led units & can be daisy chained together to provide as much or as little light in an area as you need, I think they will
be ideal for under cabinet lighting, but am also looking at lighting the whole garage with them!
If they are any good I will be stocking & selling both the units & the drivers, but that's probably at least a month/6 weeks down the
line assuming trials go to plan!
I no longer run Furore Products or Furore Cars Ltd, but would still highly recommend them for Acewell dashes, projector headlights, dominator
headlights, indicators, mirrors etc, best prices in the UK! Take a look at http://www.furoreproducts.co.uk/ or find more parts on Ebay, user names
furoreltd & furoreproducts, discounts available for LCB users.
Don't forget Stainless Steel Braided brake hoses, made to your exact requirements in any of around 16 colours.
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/furoreproducts/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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garyo
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| posted on 6/1/15 at 09:12 AM |
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I have the same problem - and it must be a fairly common one. Given that you can buy very cheap 240V LED GU10's, I wonder why there's no
availability of 240V LED T4 tubes - or something equivalent that doesn't require a transformer?
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dhutch
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| posted on 6/1/15 at 12:51 PM |
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Unless you are going for the ice-white look make sure you get 'warm white' ones, they are quite good these days.
Daniel
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 6/1/15 at 02:53 PM |
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Thanks for all the advice chaps... given me some things to think about!
I did find these on-line, which are the same sort of physical shape & size of the T4 fittings I've got now - but I hate to buy stuff I
haven't seen working.
QVS lights
I also wish all advertisers would quote the lights' output in lumens - some do, some don't. Would be very useful when comparing each
fitting.
[Edited on 6/1/15 by David Jenkins]
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dhutch
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| posted on 6/1/15 at 08:32 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
I also wish all advertisers would quote the lights' output in lumens ...
And colour temp.
Accurately...
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 7/1/15 at 01:36 PM |
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I'm happy if they just say "warm white" or whatever!
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dhutch
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| posted on 7/1/15 at 01:41 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
I'm happy if they just say "warm white" or whatever!
I would be if 'warm white' was a specific temp, but as some warm whites are colder than a 50w halogen and some are warmer than a flat
torch, I no longer am.
Particularly when you are trying to match lights in the same room, as you often are, and almost always will be with under cupboard lights.
Daniel
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Irony
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| posted on 7/1/15 at 01:48 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by dhutch
quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
I also wish all advertisers would quote the lights' output in lumens ...
And colour temp.
Accurately...
You can't really colour match LED Strips. There all bloody different. They seem to vary slightly from batch to batch somethings.
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