Under cabinet LED strip lights

[redlion_uk]

Hi all, please help

I want to put LED strip lights in my kitchen. There is a switch under the first cabinet that is connected to the mains and turns on the lights under all cabinets. It was wired originally for standard lighting. (Please see attached image).

Is it possible to set up LED strips as shown in my picture. The electric cable comes out of the wall in the middle of each wall cabinet. I thought it may be possible to connect one transformer under the first cabinet, and just connect the led strips under each cabinet directly to the mains in the wall. Please advice - sorry my explanation may not be clear - the image should help.

Thanks,

R

 

[Marvo]

Do you want to add to the existing lighting or are you replacing the old fittings with led strips?

 

[Richard Burns]

It is possible that I have misunderstood your requirements but I believe you want to supply all the strips from one transformer, this transformer being switched by the original switch and then use the transformer output to connect to the first strip and use the existing 230V cable running round the kitchen to supply the 12V output to the other strips.

If you are replacing the lighting system then your best bet would be to have three transformers, one at each point where the supply comes out of the wall and each connected to its own LED strip.

If you run the whole lot from one transformer at the switch and use the existing 230V cabling for your 12V supply then you may find that there are radio interference problems. The usual advice is to have the low voltage cable run no more than 2m long.
There could be difficulties in separating the two voltages safely if you need to take the supply from the switch out to the transformer and then back to the switch to connect the 12V back in to all the lights.
You would also need to ensure that the transformer can supply all the strips at once.

 

[Octopus]

I think you'll find that you'll need to locate the transformer close to each string of LED's. Reading the instructions in the box before you buy is probably the best way forward.

 

[redlion_uk]

So I can either use one transformer and the existing cables and possibly suffer from radio interference problems...

or.. use separate transformers for each strip. Would all the transformers receive the high voltage?

last resort - pyramid lights. (not really an option for me)

 

[Richard Burns]

If using three transformers/drivers use the existing 230V supply points under each cabinet to connect the mains voltage side of each transformer/driver, the 12V side of the transformer/driver will connect to the LED strip.
The switch will switch the 230V supply to all the transformers.
you can fix the transformer/driver either behind the cabinets, if they do not have minimum clearances required or just screwed to the base of the cabinets where they will not be seen.

If you are not sure how to do this then I would recommend you get a local electrician in to set this up. It would not take long and should not cost too much. Do not take risks with electricity.

 

[fargon]

Hi all, please help

I want to put LED strip lights in my kitchen. There is a switch under the first cabinet that is connected to the mains and turns on the lights under all cabinets. It was wired originally for standard lighting. (Please see attached image).

Is it possible to set up LED strips as shown in my picture. The electric cable comes out of the wall in the middle of each wall cabinet. I thought it may be possible to connect one transformer under the first cabinet, and just connect the led strips under each cabinet directly to the mains in the wall. Please advice - sorry my explanation may not be clear - the image should help.
View attachment 9154
Thanks,

R

Hi, I found your post from a few years back & think I am trying to achieve the same thing - i.e using the original cables for new lighting. I am hoping to replace 3 ancient flourescent strips with 3 separate runs of LED tape.

At the moment I have two grey cables into the tube nearest the switch, two into the next tube and one into the tube at other side of room. I am GUESSING that the double cables are one live feed and the other taking the current to the next light in a daisy-chain setup (the 2 cables go into the plug-in connector that fits into end of tube casing, so am thinking that they are using the connector as a junction box to feed the next light as well as supply power to this one??). Was your set up the same, as you don't mention 2 cables into your original lights??

Also, how did you eventually wire your LEDs up?

Any words of wisdom much appreciated....

 

[Taylortwocities]

If the existing are mains fluorescents, the mains connection will be looped from strip to strip.

IMO, your best option would be to find some main powered LED lights and use those, rather than LED tape. It will save you doing any extra wiring etc.

Google "LED link lights"

 

[fargon]

If the existing are mains fluorescents, the mains connection will be looped from strip to strip.

IMO, your best option would be to find some main powered LED lights and use those, rather than LED tape. It will save you doing any extra wiring etc.

Google "LED link lights"

Hi & thanks for the response. I was going to go with LED link lights for the reason you state, but unfortunately the light pelmet on my kitchen wall units is VERY shallow, which means that even a slimline strip light can be seen below the pelmet. Pelmet is 18mm and slimmest LED strips I've seen are about 23-25mm & even that is by mounting them on their side. So I've pretty much painted myself into a corner with my option of lighting ....!

 

[telectrix]

i get LED strips that are only 10mm wide. you'd need a driver as they are 12V DC.

12V 5050 LED Strip Lights, 5M Bright Warm White Rope Lighting | LE - http://www.lightingever.co.uk/12v-led-strip-light-300-5050-5m-ww.html

 

[Taylortwocities]

Which is probably back to where he started.
Its not impossible to wire it up, but redlion needs to make absolutely sure that the link cables don't get connected to anything else on the way! The wiring will be quite chunky to solder on to an LED strip, so a JB may be needed at each position with thinner LED wire used for the last few inches.

Redlion, you'll need to put a driver at the first position, you'll need to find one that isn't obtrusive.

 

[Midwest]

Another fly in the ointment, is the adhesive quality of these LED tapes. Only tried them once, trying to stick them to an existing (and very clean) wall units, and it came unstuck after a few days. Even after preparing the surface beforehand.

If you are committed to using led tape, I would suggest getting some bespoke aluminium extrusion for the tape. You can find loads of suppliers of Led tape/extrusion on the www.

Or you could install something like this; Axiom Rigid LED Strip Warm White 13W LED Silver Grey - http://www.anselluk.com/products/AAXLED90WW/p725
which come in different lengths.

Your problem being, will be the driver. Most are about 25mm deep. You can get 240v Led tape, but they still will require some sort of joint box to connect the 'mains wiring' to the pre-prepaid lead.

 

[fargon]

Thanks to all who took the time to reply. Re the driver size, if need be I can tuck that into a wall cupboard. Midwest mentioned the LED tape coming unstuck (I would also imagine it would be a nightmare to clean!!), so I would put it in some sort of ducting. Those Axiom Rigid LED strips look interesting as they are only 12mm deep - I'll have a look at that option as well. I think they need a driver as well though, so I'm sort of back to the original issue of whether to use a driver at each light source and whether that would allow me to use the existing cables up to each driver. I'm hoping Redlion sees my post & can explain what set-up he eventually went for as he looked to be in a similar situation to me .

 

[Midwest]

It all depends on the luminaires you choose. The Axiom for example are 12v and require the 'mains wiring' connected to the driver. In a new install, most would have the jb/driver located on top of the wall units and manufacturers 'lead' down behind wall units to luminaires. Perhaps you should consider getting an electrician in to alter your 'mains wiring' accordingly, so that all you would have below the wall units/pelmet is the luminaires? Might need the wall units temporally removed & re-installed.

 

[fargon]

It all depends on the luminaires you choose. The Axiom for example are 12v and require the 'mains wiring' connected to the driver. In a new install, most would have the jb/driver located on top of the wall units and manufacturers 'lead' down behind wall units to luminaires. Perhaps you should consider getting an electrician in to alter your 'mains wiring' accordingly, so that all you would have below the wall units/pelmet is the luminaires? Might need the wall units temporally removed & re-installed.

Thanks for that info. We probably should have thought about the lights earlier in our kitchen redo (just didn't realise I couldn't get a straight swap with extra-slim LED strips that would be hidden behind our pelmet). Everything else is done, so I'm not in a position to raggle new cables etc, so that's the main reason I'd like to use existing ones. I still have the option to drill into wall cupboards - just would struggle to get a new linking cable to the other side of the room where the 3rd light exists, so have no real choice but to stay with current cable set-up. As far as removing/reinstalling wall units - it's taken me long enough to get to this point so the thought of dismantling some of it has no great appeal.....